Chapter 6

I wake up drenched in sweat, my heart feeling like I had just run a marathon as I blink, adjusting to the soft light that painted the room.

Turning to face the bedside clock, I sigh in frustration, seeing as it was only just 3am and the nightmares had refused to let me get any more rest.

Just like my first night here, every overthought conversation, interaction, and the worry of impending doom managed to morph into monsters that came back for me in my dreams.

Each night, I tossed and turned, restless as I struggled with the unpleasant, inescapable dreams.

Aurora…

She was the biggest monster that came back for me whenever I closed my eyes.

I sigh, running a hand across my face as I stare at the ceiling in thought, all the words from yesterday replaying in my head like a taunt.

The judgment and distaste from the council, Aurora's barely masked hostility and most of all, alpha Ethan's coldness and empty tone.

He spoke to me like I was part of a business transaction he was trying to get done and be over with.

What favor did he owe my father, even, to be able to agree to such an arrangement?

Not many people were aware of my lack of a wolf outside my pack, so how did he know?

He and my father must've been a bit closer than just allies for him to be aware of such a secret to be shared.

If I was going to survive this, I was going to at least try on making friends with my husband to be.

I just hoped his hatred for me wouldn't be anywhere near that of his unpleasant pack members.

Mind made up, I slip out of bed once the sun comes up completely, quickly washing up before the maid comes by to help me pick out a dress and style my hair.

“The alpha had ordered for breakfast to be brought up to your room, what would you like to have?” The young woman asks me, keeping her eyes locked on the ground.

I swallow the urge to tell her that she could interact with me freely, and we could possibly be friends, worried that it would affect her job.

Who knew what would happen to her if anyone, or worse, Aurora, found out she was befriending the unwanted Luna.

“I'm alright… thank you. Do you mind telling me where the Alpha might be though?" I ask, knowing that I had to see him now, or I would become too chicken to do so later.

This gets her attention and she finally looks up.

I offer a gentle smile, trying to water the ground a bit.

It wouldn't hurt to try making a friend or two right?

If I could keep my secret, it would be possible to keep our friendship a secret.

I just had to get across to her first, it was going to be difficult maybe, but I wasn't going to let the thoughts of getting found out scare me off.

She hesitates for a second before nodding softly with a ghost of a smile on her face.

“He's at his study, if that's all, I'll take my leave.” She scurries off before I can ask her to take me to him.

Today was a ghost of a smile, tomorrow I'd try to get her name…one step at a time.

Sighing, I walk over to the full-length mirror at the other side of the room and take one long look to my reflection.

I couldn't find it within me to meet my stare, my entire face felt worn out, forming around my eyes from so many sleepless nights.

I was losing my natural glow as the stress and tiredness continued to set it on me.

Standing in front of the mirror was a becoming ghost of whom I used to be…

The bedside clock beeps softly, and I'm snapped out of my thoughts, notified if another hour begins to count.

Time to get a move on it…

Taking in much-needed deep breaths, I tear my gaze away from my face in the mirror and then slip out of my room, making my way down the halls.

I follow my gut, letting it lead me around the unfamiliar hallways, hoping I didn't stumble across any of the guards before I located Ethan's office.

Taking a turn right along the hall, I set my eyes on the mahogany polished doors, and something tells me that was definitely his office.

I stop walking once I'm right outside the heavy doors, my hand freezing on the doorknob for a second, my breaths beginning to feel shaky.

He had barely spoken to me after the meeting to the council, watched silently as the guard he assigned to ensure I got to my room safely walked me out.

And for the rest of the afternoon, they had been no sign of his presence, no summoning from him and no message.

It was clear he wanted to keep things one hundred percent professional, didn't see a need to communicate with me unless when necessary.

So why did it bother me so much?

So much so, that I was standing right outside his study, feeling like an absolute fool because now that I was here, I was beginning to have second thoughts.

What exactly was I going to say when I walked in?

What if he snapped and raged out on me?

“How long do you intend to stand there for?” His voice is sharp, curt and slightly muffled coming from behind the doors and I all but gulp as I push the door open, stepping inside.

“I'm sorry to bother you… I just–uhm, I just-” I begin to stutter as I stand before his imposing form, settled in intimidatingly on the polished leather desk chair as he worked on the piles of papers stacked up in front of him.

“Have you had breakfast yet?” His question surprises me.

Not because of its nature, but for the underlying note of concern his voice carried as he lifts his eyes to meet mine for the first time since I stepped inside.

“No… I wanted to discuss something with you first.” I manage in reply, and he hums, making a gesture to the seat opposite his.

“You have my attention, what is it?” He pushed aside the work on his desk, fixing his gaze on me and I feel the lump in my throat as I begin to fiddle with my sweaty hands resting on my legs.

“Why are you really doing this? What exactly do you aim to achieve from a loveless marriage to a weak human who clearly no one wants here?” The pain in my voice is heavy, and my heart clenches from my statement.

No matter how hard the heavy words hit me, I had long accepted the reality of my destiny.

I needed to know though why he agreed to all of this?

A heartbeat of silence follows and his expression remaining unchanged, aside from the brief flicker of something in his eyes that disappears just as fast, leaving me to believe that it might have been a mind trick.

“You're in this because you're useful, not to be wanted. We both have a purpose in this arrangement and that's all that you need to know Lyra, nothing more, nothing less. The sooner you understand that, the easier this will be for both of us.” Comes his cold reply finally.

“I've assigned a guard to accompany you on a walk through the gardens later today, make sure you eat something before then.” The dismissal is clear is his next statement, and I don't need to be told he's done with the conversation as he returns to his paperwork.

So this was it? I was nothing but a pawn in this game? Conveniently fitting right in on his chessboard…had I expected more?

The spirit of confrontation I had come here with had long vanished.

All the fire in me to ensure I got answers today, all the worked up courage, everything, all withering away as I quietly get up and drag myself out of his space.

And not once does he look up at me, call back for me to maybe explain better or give me something apart from his cold dismissive replies.

I knew he had asked me to wait for the guard that would accompany me, but I find myself walking off to the other turn at the end of the hallway.

The walls felt cold, the air empty, eerie silence clouding the entire space as I stop walking outside the only door in that turn.

It wasn't just odd that there wasn't a single sign of anyone around or any other door, but there was a huge padlock right on it.

What could Alpha Ethan or his pack be possibly hiding behind the heavy doors?