Luna of the Broken Bond

Chapter 3

Velari's POV

I felt my stomach tighten as soon as I heard those words. Ceremony? Tobias didn't even give us a moment to mourn.

My mother slightly bowed again and calmly said, “We will be there”.

Ronin nodded and turned towards me sharply. “Velari….your Alpha expects your earnest obedience”.

He didn't utter another word and turned on his heel. As soon as he left, the air suddenly felt heavier, and I swear I would have collapsed on the spot. I was still surprised at how calm my mother was.

“Velari..” she began while I still tried to think, “we will talk later”.

I walked to my small room and curled up in my bed. My wolf stirred again. It was restless and unsteady. It didn't come like some force, it came like a whisper. It wanted to be let out, but I couldn't.

The last time I tried to let out my wolf, I stood at the edge of the forest overlooking a glassy lake under the bright moonlight. I prayed that it would just come forward. I tried so hard but with each movement came a sharp, unbearable pain.

But I wanted to be able to shift. I wanted to feel braver, to feel like I could protect myself and my mother. But it was all a dream.

That longing for freedom, it itched so badly.

I reached into my pocket, feeling the letter again. Tobias's words burned in my mind like sulphur. “You will learn your place eventually, as all wolves do“. My place? My place was supposed to be by my parents’ side, not some overbearing Alpha.

Outside the pack was thriving with movement. Conversations flowed everywhere coated with laughter. To them, it was just an ordinary day. To me, it was a countdown to doom. Seven days till the next full moon. Seven days until everything would come crashing down in earnest.

Later that night, I headed to my mother’s room and met her getting dressed. Shoot….I had forgotten all about the ceremony.

“Velari….” she began slowly, “let's talk”. Her voice was firm with purpose and belief and I sat down immediately.

“Your father wasn't a bad man, I blame myself for what happened”. She noticed my change in expression and smiled a little bit before she continued, “Alpha Tobias had come with an earlier proposal which I turned down, but somehow your dad's work led him to his doom, and now I can't say no. I must do this”.

To be very honest, her words didn't soothe me one bit. If anything it made me feel worse. More confused and in more distress. What in the heavens did she mean by ‘my father's work’?

She knew I had a lot of questions but knowing my mother, she wouldn't be the one to provide any answers.

“Velari, get ready. We don't want to be late”.

I sighed and went to my room to get dressed. I didn't have a choice but to obey.

We got a taxi and headed straight for the Grand Hall. On getting to the entrance, a guard demanded that we explain our mission. We had no invitation card whatsoever, so it wasn't a surprise.

From inside the hall, I saw Beta Ronin step out to meet us. He just patted the shoulder of the guard and then signalled us in. We didn't offer a greeting, nor did he. From his movements, there was no time to exchange pleasantries.

He led us directly into the main hall, but I found it odd that we were the only ones there. I remember Ronin saying it was a “ceremony”, but before I could process my thoughts, I saw him.

He had an air of authority around him, as he should. He exuded some sort of grace and elegance. But sitting on that silver rimmed throne, I would forever remember him as the one who ruined my life.

The longer I stared at him, the more the hall seemed to cave in. From where I stood, I could feel his gaze, cold, sharp, and piercing like a blade.

Tobias didn't speak yet, he didn't have to. His silence pressed my chest harder than Ronin's words did. I could feel my wolf cowering in fear, hiding away at the back of my mind.

My mother stepped forward first. The ruffles of her silk dress brushing the polished floor sounded way too loud in the eerie stillness.

“You came”. Tobias said calmly, but his voice carried a weight that made the hairs on my skin stand.

“Yes, we did”, my mother said evenly as she bowed a little lower.

I could feel his intense gaze on her, but in the next second, his eyes slid past her and landed on me. I clenched my wrists with rage, but I hid it behind my dress.

“And the girl?” he asked with an air of mockery. My mother jerked a little and gave me a nod signalling me to stand beside her.

I moved slowly, unsure of my footsteps. Eventually, I found my way towards my mother's side and bowed a little. Not out of respect, but just because I wanted to make my mother happy. Tobias fully sized me up like I was some piece of art that didn't fit in with the others.

“You've grown..” he said at last, his tone very unreadable. “But….still fragile”. At that moment I felt nothing but rage. My mother could feel my rage, and in that moment, she stretched out her arm towards me and held my wrist warmly. The insult burned my skin, but I said nothing. I didn't want to give Tobias the satisfaction of seeing my reaction.

He stood up from the throne with an air of mocking grace. His coat shone like polished diamond under the light. “Seven days from now…” he began, “your place would be made known to all. Disobedience of any form would not be tolerated”. His eyes sharpened like swords.

My stomach twisted at the utterance of those words. “My place?” I said before I could stop myself.

He turned to me with a cold smirk. “Yes, Velari Thorne. Your place.”

“Every wolf has a place…” he continued faintly, yet dangerously. “Some are born to lead, some are born to serve. Others…” he turned to me with a sharp expression, “....are born to be reminders of what happens when one forgets the order and nature of things”

My mother held my wrist tighter to prevent me from saying anything. Tobias stepped closer, close enough to get the hint of cedar and fur.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Ronin. I couldn't remember how long he had been standing there or if he had just materialized out of the shadows. He exuded an air of arrogance and as expected, he didn't utter anything that'd have made me feel better.

“You are to appear at the palace every day until the full moon to get you accustomed to the customs and traditions which you so eagerly seem to have forgotten.”

“I didn't—” I began but Tobias's sharp look silenced me before I could continue.

“An escort would be provided for you every day. We expect your compliance.” Ronin said finally.

“Dismiss them,” Tobias said with a wave of his hand while he walked away from the hall into the inner chambers.

Ronin gest

ured for us to follow him and we did calmly, while stepping into the cold, dark night.