Chapter 2

Sorrel’s pov

“Who’s your mate?“ Nathaniel asked the moment we were in our room. He was furious, ready to burn me to the ground with his stare.

He was never going to love me, even after 6 months of courtship to sell this lie.

“Answer me!” He barked and I flinched.

“No one!” I blurted out. I don’t know why I lied, but I just knew that telling him the truth would amount to something far worse.

“I—I ummm,” I shut my eyes willing my brain to come to the rescue but my mouth did. “It was a plan.”

He narrowed his eyes, obviously not buying the lie so I added.

“It was a plan by my parents and me to do that, to make everyone believe that we are fated mates so that they’ll believe our union more.” Everything just flowed out of my mouth with my brain in shock.

He was silent for a beat and my heart wouldn’t stop beating. I silently let a prayer that he should believe it. Believe me.

Nathaniel chuckled darkly. “You’ll do anything to tie me down won’t you?” His fingers combed through his hair in clear irritation.

We’ve talked about this, in the six months of our courtship he knew I didn’t want this any more than he did but he was bent on making me the villain.

“Let me make myself clear,” he grabbed me by the arm and yanked me close. “I do not give a fuck about the court’s arrangement, their stupid plan, or what you were told.”

His claws extended the more he got angry and dug into my flesh.  “You are nothing to me!” He spat and then pushed me back so hard my head hit the closest wall.

Tears pooled in my eyes, but I bit down on my lips to stop them from falling. Something sharp snapped and pain exploded on my side, when I looked down I saw blood.

My heart stopped instantly. 

The corset bone.

I tried not to panic and drew a deep breath rising to my feet.

I couldn’t be mad at him, he was the alpha king and he didn’t have the leisure to love whomever he wanted and he had seen this marriage as a chain on him as it is on me.

*Seriously* Nadia hissed *you are making excuses now for him now? You are literally bleeding*

Before I could successfully get up he grabbed me once again. Nathaniel tightened his grip on me till I felt his claw digging into my flesh. “You behave yourself out there. This is not your home and you have no rights here. You will act as you should and not be seen with any male wolf. You understand me?!”

“Yes, Alpha.” My voice was small and rough, making me sound weaker than I would have liked.

“You have guests, Luna.” His eyes darted to the blood by my side and he scoffed. “Get cleaned up and come down.” With that, he shoved me out of the way and strutted out.

I ripped apart my wedding dress and used the fabric to wrap around my stomach then I pulled a shirt from the wardrobe and threw it on.

“Take me to my room,” I said to the maid outside, clutching my side.

On our way, I ran into the oracle.

I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at him. My anger, hurt and frustration melted away instantly.

The maid left and it was just the two of us. Nadia reared her head, jubilating. 

It was like before, the heat that his eyes provided, it was heady and made my head spin. The world was at a pause, and suddenly it didn’t feel like there was a prison anymore with him close.

I took in his white garment, staff, and the half moon on his chest to mark him as hers.

None of us said a word for a while, however when I took a step forward he moved back.

My heart squeezed in hurt.

I blinked away the pain and smiled. “Hello there.” I curtsied. “I’m Sorrel, what’s your name?”

“I am Kaine, a servant of the moon goddess and the oracle of the pack.” He gave his entire identity. 

I stifled a laugh. “I know all of that.” 

My eyes brightened as I took in his divine features. Damn, he was hot.

*It's no wonder the moon goddess took him* Nadia sighed wistfully at our mate.

“Nice to meet you Kaine,” I tried for a handshake, but he only looked at my outstretched hand and back at me.

“We cannot be together,” he suddenly said.

It was as if a coal or fire was dumped on my chest. 

“Wh—what?”

“The maté bond was a mistake—“

“Don’t you dare complete that sentence!” I lashed out, moving too fast for either of us to see.

Just as I took hold of his arm, he jerked back like touching me would taint him and I fell to the ground. He was beside me in a matter of seconds.

“Are you okay?” He was lifting me when I shoved him away.

“Like you care!” I snapped and stood up. “Were you not about to reject me?” I demanded, but his eyes were fastened on my body.

I furrowed my brows and looked down that was when I saw that I was bleeding from my wound.

“What happened?” 

An exasperated sigh left me. “I’m married to your brother, that’s what.”

He grabbed my arms and pulled me close, it was so abrupt and out of character for him that I gasped.

“What did he do to you?”

This was cynical. Very ironic.

“Nothing.” I blinked back the traitorous tears and asked. “But even if he did something what are you going to do about it? You are not mine, your life, duty, and devotion are to the moon goddess. Is it not?”

My words hit him hard on the face like a brick, he quietly let go and stepped back, then bowed. “You are right, your highness.”

What the hell?

“I am sorry.” He looked at the door beside me, the one I was about to enter. “Let me heal you.”

He walked into the room without muttering a word and after what felt like eternity, I went in as well.

His face was cool indifference, he grabbed a material from the bed and wrapped round my waist while I just stared at him, watching him move with fluidity.

He unbuttoned my shirt and then placed his hand over my stomach. A bright light glowed from his palm and he placed it over my stomach. 

I felt the itch as the wound stitched itself back, faster than normal werewolf healing. When I looked down there was not even a scratch there.

“My brother can be hard, but give him time to adjust to you.” He buttoned my shirt and rose to his feet. “Under the constellation, we believe that everything happens for a reason.”

My heart lurched in my throat as I sensed the words coming. He hadn’t even said the word and yet, the pain was already unbearable.

“Just like us.” He inhaled and I scrambled to my feet.

His jaw clenched as if his mind had been made up. “Some bonds are not meant to exist, Sorrel.” He dropped his head

“No, no, Kaine, don’t do this,” I cried, grabbing his garment. “Don’t reject me, please.”

“I am sorry.”

*No, don’t allow mate to reject us, Sorrel,” Nadia cried.

“We don’t have to be together,” I tried again. “Just don’t reject me. I promise I won’t interfere in your service.”

“I, Kaine, from the order of Whiteness, reject you, Sorrel Ceraveaux as my mate.” His eyes dropped to my pleading ones. “And I sever every bond to you.”

The world slowed to a pause as I sucked in a harsh breath. My weight dropped from under me as I fell to the floor with a thud.

It was like a rope severed into two, my lifeline and the one that linked our souls and wolves.

Everywhere was silent, eerily so, save for the thumping of my heart.

Then suddenly, there was an explosion as pain ran through me at the speed of lightning then a broken cry followed.