Chapter four: Gullible to love

Rhea POV

“You think I don't know of your surreptitious deed with the chief priest to orchestrate this bond?” Damon exclaimed, his voice becoming venomous to my skin.

My stomach churned, my heart running in races as I felt its beat against my ribcage. “You can't say that Damon. I am innocent of this allegation.”

“Spare me that you little brat.” he sneered, closing the little distance between us. “The blood on your clothes proves the sacrifice you had gone to make to ensure this goes to your favour, but you were foolish to take them off.” 

What seemed to be once merriness and butterflies swirling my body turned to a bucket of acid poured on my skin. 

“Damon, please stop. You are hurting me already.” I said, my trembling dewy eyes trying to rest on his but couldn't find a way to.

“Your life is already a hurt.” he said, his tone laced with malice and disdain as he held my face to stare at him. “I really enjoyed that pussy of yours anyway. I would love you to visit me every night, let's have a good time together.” His voice in mockery as he cringed to the bed.

His words sting like a viper as my knees failed me, tears streaming down my cheeks as I tightened the grip on the underwear in my hands, showing the vulnerability and fragments of my heart.

“Stop those crocodile tears and leave my chamber. Don't let me repeat myself again.”

But before I could make any remnant of words I had left from my shattered being.

The knock on the door intercepted–sharp and loud.  

I barely had the strength to get to my feet before the door slammed open, and the air thickened with an eerie tension.

Alpha Alric Blackthorn—the leader of the Moonveil Pack, Damon’s father—stood at the doorway, his eyes locked into mine.

His eyes, dark as storm clouds, raked over me with undisguised disgust.  

“But my son isn't lying,” he mused, his voice hoarse, filled with venom. “We are already aware of your deceitful schemes to become a member of the Blackthorn family, and that can't even happen in your dreams.”

“But that is a….” I was interrupted.

“Shut up and let me finish.” Alric's hoarse, commanding voice was the only thing that filled the room. “You witch.”

I stiffened, my sweaty fingers curling into my palms.

He took an authoritative step inside, scanning through my body like a predator assessing its prey. “Your faint wolf smell irritates me. You are nothing but a slave. A whore. A reflection of disdain.”

Each was a spear to my chest, piercing through my ribs, boring itself deep.

I opened my mouth—to retaliate, to defend myself—but the words escaped my lips. My breath caught in my throat, my hands suddenly cold and clammy.

Then, with a cruel smirk, he delivered his final blow.  

“Now leave my son's chamber.”  

My trembling knees failed in its position as I tried to find my fit, pleading for the earth beneath me to open. The events from hours ago till this moment came reeling through my shattered mind as I shot Damon a last glare. 

But just as I thought this was all over, Alric's hoarse voice cut through the tensed air between us.

“Since fate has made you my son’s mate,” he continued, voice dripping with mockery, “I am inviting you to the Lunar Convergence Ceremony tonight. Garrick, my Beta, will bring you a dress. Make sure you put it on, so you don't disgrace my son.”  

“I am sorry, but I don't think it's necessary for me to be in attendance.” I said with confidence I couldn't yet fathom where it came from.

“Oh well, it will be nice if you don't come. But we are aware that you not coming for the Lunar Convergence could ruin a lot of things tonight for the pack.” Alric's voice resonated with disdain. “And don't dare play any games with this family. You are going to be at the ceremony tonight and ensure to be ready for what is to come.” he said with an uncanny smile that tugged his lips, his fingers fluttering around my cheeks.

Despite the disdainful act from Damon and his father, I still couldn't let go of the lurking bond that hitted deep inside of me. The bond was real and viable, increased by the sex we both had last night.

“I will be there my Alpha.” I said with a quivering tone, my eyes spread on the floor like a liquid.

“Good girl.” He said, shooting me a last warm smirk. “Damon, get rid of your so-called mate.” He instructed.

And then he left. The room filled with awkward silence between me and Damon.  

“You heard him right. Get out.”

The door clicked shut.  

But my world had already shattered.  

**********

The dress arrived at my room two hours after the horrific event at the pack house earlier this morning. What came to mind was to burn it up.

An exquisite pink gown, long and flowing, embroidered with silvery threads. A color so beautiful, so meek, it felt like a mockery to what ravaged deep inside of me.

I moved my fingers over the silk, my throat becoming narrow.

This wasn’t kindness.  

This was a cage wrapped in silk clothing— a silent instruction to bludgeon me into a toy in the game they were orchestrating.

And yet…  

I still wanted to act gullible.  

I still hoped that this meant something.  

The hope of tonight changing everything for good flickering through my mind.

I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing my hands over the fabric, trying to find a figure that didn't reflect brokenness.

Then—  

Laughter.  

A slow, condescending chuckle filled my room, sending ice crawling down my spine.  

Ria.  

She rested against the doorway of my room, arms crossed, a cold smirk tugged on her lips as though she had already won a battle I wasn't aware of. “Well, well well. Who do we have here?” she exclaimed.

“Good day, Miss Ria.” I greeted.

“And what is good about the day?” Her tone was laced in disdain.

“Just showing my kind gesture to you. Nothing else.” I said.

“You know you disgust me in every way,” she said, tilting her head. “If I was Damon, I would throw up at the sight of you tonight.”

How did she know about me and Damon?. How did she know I was going to the Lunar Convergence Ceremony?. 

These questions kept rippling in my mind.

Her words hit me like a heavy punch, but I refused to budge.

“You already know he’s my mate?” I asked, forcing my voice from not quivering.  

“Of course.” She shrugged. “News spreads like wildfire.”  

A large lump formed in my throat. “Please, Ria. Just don't be a thorn to my flesh tonight. My entire being depends on this.”

For the first time, my voice cracked.  

And Ria—that viper—seized the moment.  

She took a primal movement forward, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

“What's my concern with you and your so-called mate?”she mused. “At least I already have a taste of his cock.”

The floor seemed to disappear beneath me.    

“His hard cock so good in my pussy. He’s so good in bed,” she continued, twisting my already combed hair with her fingers. “The fluid movement of his waist on my curves makes me moan my breath on his skin. I still recall our last sex when he cummed in my mouth as I sucked his dick….”

“Stop it!” I exclaimed, my voice barely making it past my lips.

But she didn’t.  

She leaned forward, her smile tugging at her lips. “Did you really think you were the first to taste those hard cock of Damon?” she whispered. “Do you matter?”

I clenched my hands to my chest, trying to hold the pain that ravaged my entire being, but it spilled over anyway.

I had heard the rumors. I had known Damon wasn’t faithful.  

But hearing those muffled words shooting from her mouth—watching the triumph in her eyes as she twisted the sword.

It was unbearable.    

“Your life is already trash, Rhea,” she said, giving me a mocking grin. “I am just so compassionate to remind you.”

My hands held the cupboard in front of me, trying to wage myself from falling.

“Pathetic!” She spat.

She turned and walked away from the room, her perfume lingering in the already tensed air like rotting roses.

I stood there, digesting down the throb threatening to loosen itself.

I had no choice but to go.  And confront whatever nightmare ahead of me.

As I stirred at the mirror, trying to catch the running breath that escaped my lungs, I caught glance of Ria's phone on my cupboard.

I ran to her room. "Miss Ria, you forgot your phone in my room." I shrieked, trying to stealth the furnace that burned deep within me in my tone.

As I waited for her to open the room door, the phone blinged with a text from an anonymous sender: "Where are you babe. I have been waiting for you."