Bound Betrayal, Ruined By Revenge

POV: Vaelira Ashwyn Kaelor's kitchen was filled with the aroma of simmering broth and my stomach twisted painfully at the scent. After four days of fasting I was lightheaded, but I didn't complain. The Mating Ceremony was tomorrow. Tomorrow the Moon Goddess would finally say what I already knew in my heart for five years. I mixed the pot gently, looking over at Kaelor, who was standing by the counter chopping herbs very intensely, more than was needed. I placed my spoon down, "You've cut that root into a hundred pieces! “Do you want to turn it into dust? He blinked, as if pulled from somewhere far away. “Excuse me, I lost track.” "I noticed." I wiped my hands on my apron and looked him over. You haven't said much since arriving here, and you're typically too quiet, or has my knife skills improved.“ “Your knife skills are still crap,” he said, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Kaelor." I came closer, lowered my voice though we were alone. “Something's not right, I can tell.” "It's nothing." He put the knife back and pressed his palm lightly against his forehead. “Just... tomorrow. There's a lot riding on tomorrow.” Gently I said, "There's always been a lot riding on tomorrow. We have been aware of that for 5 years.” "I know." He smiled tiredly at me. I wanted to go further but a loud knock at the front door interrupted. I could see the muscles tensing on Kaelor's shoulders before he even opened it, and when he did, he stood on the threshold, a stern expression I hadn't seen on him much. “Your highness.” Auren said, dipping his head. “I need to speak with you, in private, if I may.” I caught Kaelor's eye, and he looked at me. "Give us a moment?" "Of course." I struggled to get my smile on and moved towards the bedroom, keeping the door quiet shut. I lay on the edge of the bed with my hands in my lap saying to myself it's nothing. Pack business. Guard duties. There was nothing about that that concerned me. As I sat there, however, my own voice grew louder. Kaelor's mysterious nonchalance throughout the night. Auren's surprise visit, and the gravity on his face. I said to myself, "Stay in place. It is not my business to listen. I didn't listen to myself. I went to the door and put my ear up against it. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Auren's voice was low and urgent. "Absolutely certain?" My breath caught. Certain about what? “I don't know anymore,” Kaelor admitted, and there was a hollow ache in my chest. “Auren, I can't dismiss the doubts, do you really think that fate would allow an Alpha heir to be mated to an Omega? There has never been a time like this in the history of this pack.” "Kaelor—" "I love her." He broke his voice a little. “I love her more than anything, but what if the Goddess has picked someone else for me? What if tomorrow I'm in front of all of them and I see her heart break because it's her fate and she's not enough?” I pressed my hand to my mouth to not make a noise. “Believe in the ceremony,” Auren said. “Let fate take its course – wait until tomorrow as everyone else.” "I can't." Kaelor's voice became firm. “Before I stand at the altar, I want to know the truth, bring back the witch.” "Alpha, that's forbidden—" "I don't care." It was a long pause. Finally, Auren said quietly and grim, "You know forbidden magic always comes at a cost. If you see something, I hope it is worth it.” A pair of footsteps approached the door. I froze, and scrambled back across the room and threw myself onto the bed when I heard the front door close behind Auren. My heart pounded in my ribs and I was staring at the ceiling. An Alpha heir and an Omega. Not in five years. It made me feel something cold and heavy in my chest to hear the fear in his voice, to hear it out loud. Could the day tomorrow bring us together? Would it be the end of all the things they had built in secret? I tried to catch my breath. What the Goddess decided would not change because of worry. Whatever tomorrow brought, it would come whether I feared it or not. The bedroom door opened a few minutes later, and Kaelor came in, his face now more mild. He reached out his hand to him and said, "Come out with me.” I took it and through the back door into the garden he led me. It was cold out at night and under the old willow tree was a small table which had a tray of food I had never seen him make. "You made this?" I asked, surprised. He led me to sit, "While you were resting. You have already fasted long enough, let me make it right now.” We sat under the stars, and for a moment it seemed as though there was nothing beyond that garden. “What did Auren say?” I said carefully, looking at his face. He gave a small smile before he replied, "pack business. Nothing important." "Kaelor." I met his eyes. “I heard you through the door.” He rested his hand on the tray with a pause. He didn't get angry. He only let out a heavy, long sigh, as though something in him finally had to give way. “I'm scared Vaelira, scared of what fate will take away from me tomorrow after all.” I said quietly, "I've been frightened too. I didn't want to say it out loud, I didn't want to make it heavier for you.” He stretched out his hand and gripped both my hands. “If the ceremony is confirmed tomorrow, I will stand in front of the Grand Council, in front of the Moonridge, in front of all the packs watching and I will tell them that I have only ever wanted Vaelira Ashwyn to be my Luna.” I felt warmness permeate my chest, displacing some of the fear that had taken hold there earlier. He took a small bite of something then reached his hands to my lips, I accepted it, and he started feeding it to me and I accepted it – breaking my fast. There we sat for hours, quietly discussing our futures, our family we wanted to create, our life that we were no longer afraid of hiding. As it got darker ,, Auren came back, I knew he came to walk me home since kaelor could not do it. “Whatever happens tomorrow,” Kaelor said, "our hearts belong to one another. Always. We've promised this a hundred times before.” I departed with a hope in my heart, which was lighter than it had been for days. On arriving home, I saw Elira Fen , my best friend, folding her blanket, getting ready for bed. She turned her head up and asked, "Did you eat? You have been fasting for 4 days now.” I could not keep my smile from showing, “Kaelor made dinner for me,” I said. “He broke my fast for me.” As soon as I said his name, there was a change in Elira's face. For a split second her smile was broken, but was quickly covered. "What's wrong?" I asked. She hesitated. “Vaelira... don't put all your faith in tomorrow; fate can be cruel even for those who believe that their love is unshakeable.” “It will be OK,” I assured her. “We love one another, that has to have some meaning.” She didn't say a word more, and then we both went to our rooms, and soon I fell asleep. I can't remember what time it was when a nightmare got me out of bed. There I froze, as an endless black void consumed Kaelor. I extended my arm, I was yelling his name, but it didn't matter how far I stretched my arm I couldn't reach him. “Kaelor!!” I awoke screaming. A few moments later, Elira came running into my room. "What happened? What's wrong?" And I told her everything, every detail of the void, Kaelor's outstretched hand, my helplessness. She wasn't dismissive of it as I thought she would be. Rather she was silent, her face blanched with something that was unpleasantly like recognition. “You’ll be fine. Just pray and sleep.” She said at last as she left the room. I couldn't calm my racing heart and instead stood and walked outside for some air. I raised my gaze to the heavens and my heart instantly skipped a beat. The moon was no more of silver. It was now blood red. A Blood Moon. The night of old legends and forbidden magic. I gazed at the red light that was bleeding into the sky, my fears tightening in my chest. Is it a dream...or a message?