Between Three Desires

Chapter two

Chapter Two

Esmeralda

Kael had told me he couldn't claim me as his mate. Yet, here I was, standing in a hall full of people who believed I was about to become his Luna.

I didn't know how to explain the ache in my chest, much less how I was supposed to smile through it.

“Look at them, darling!" Luna Hilda whispered excitedly, squeezing my hand. "Everyone came to celebrate you and my son.”

I managed a small smile.

If only she knew.

The great doors opened moments after.

“Alpha sterling!" Someone announced.

The entire hall rose to its feet as Kael entered with his father.

My breath caught.

He wore a black ceremonial suit that accentuated his broad shoulders. His dark hair neatly styled and his expression was composed, almost unreadable.

He looked like the man I had imagined standing beside me tonight.

My mate. My future. The boy who had promised me that nothing in this world would ever separate us.

Our eyes met. I searched his face desperately, hoping to find something that would tell me he'd changed his mind.

But he gave me nothing.

My fingers tightened around my gown.

Alpha sterling climbed the platform, his expression warm as he surveyed the gathered pack. Kael followed, stopping beside him.

“Please, everyone, be seated." Alpha sterling announced, raising his hand.

The crowd settled and the hall gradually fell silent.

He turned to me. "Come my dear.”

As I approached them, I could feel hundreds of eyes following my every movement.

Alpha sterling smiled at me.

"Tonight we're gathered to witness the joining of what the goddess has ordained. My son, Future alpha Kael, found his mate in Esmeralda Saul years ago and tonight he will complete their joining.”

Applause erupted. Someone whistled from the back of the hall, laughter rippled through the crowd.

I barely heard any of it. I was looking at Kael.

My heart began to pound again.

“Kael," his father prompted proudly, turning toward him. “Step forward and claim your mate.”

Kael didn't move.

For a moment, I thought he hadnt heard alpha sterling.

Then his lips parted. “No."

The word was so quiet that I almost convinced myself I'd imagined it.

Alpha sterling expression changed. “What did you just say, son?”

Kael swallowed hard, his eyes fixed somewhere beyond the crowd.

“I said no," he repeated, his voice still low. "I can no longer accept this mate bond.”

A strange silence settled over the hall.

Alpha sterling stared at him in disbelief before following his gaze to me.

The horror in his eyes didn't go unnoticed when he saw the tears in my eyes.

"Kael,” He said sharply, his earlier warmth disappearing. “What is the meaning of this?”

Kael finally looked at me. The look in his eye told me everything I needed to know.

It was over.

“I'm sorry Esmy." He whispered. “I reject you as my mate."

The words landed harder the second time.

My heart seemed to stop.

"Please.” I begged desperately, taking a small step toward him.

It felt like my whole body was set ablaze, the pain shot in my bones, breaking me until there was nothing left to break.

Before my knees gave out, Luna Hilda hurried to me.

She held me against herself, her eyes wide with shock. "Have you lost your mind, Kael?!”

He simply turned away, ready to leave.

Alpha sterling seized his arm. “Do you understand what you're doing?” He demanded.

Kael tried to pull away. “Let go of me, father."

“Not until you explain yourself!" Alpha sterling roared.

“There's nothing to explain!" Kael snapped back

The hall fell silent.

I could feel the pack watching us, waiting for someone to tell them this wasn't happening.

But it was.

The boy who had held me through my darkest moments was standing before me, telling an entire hall of people that he no longer wanted the future we'd promised each other.

"I can't spend my life in a relationship I no longer want.” Kael continued, breathing hard. He wrenched his hand free. “I can't do it."

His words kept echoing inside my head, each one tearing through a memory I had once treasured.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't even cry properly.

I gently redrew my hand from Luna Hilda's grip. “I'm sorry.”

I didn't even know what I was apologizing for. I turned and walked away. Away from the humiliation and away from the painful truth of Kael's rejection.

I couldn't run even if I tried. My legs carried me through the great doors while the whispers began behind me. I kept my head down, fighting to hold myself because I refused to give anyone the satisfaction of watching me fall apart.

The palace gates opened.

As I stepped out, a scream rippled through the air.

The air suddenly felt thick and cold.

Another followed, louder and more desperate.

Then the entire palace shook.

A deafening crash came down from somewhere and the walls trembled so violently, I stumbled against them.

“What was that?" I whispered, staring towards the courtyard.

People began rushing past me, their faces twisted with horror.

"Run!” A guard shouted, how voice cracking with panic. "Everyone get inside!”

But there was nowhere safe to go.

The palace erupted into chaos as servants and guess fled in every direction.

Somewhere behind me, someone was crying for their child. The sound of breaking stone and terrified scream filled the air.

I pushed througn the crowd, toward the courtyard.

Then I saw them.

Two enormous beings stood among the fleeing people, towering over the guards who tried to stop them. They seized wolves with frightening ease, dragging them away despite their desperate struggles.

My blood ran cold.

I turned to flee when a shadow flew across me.

Before I could react, a massive hand closed around my body and lifted me off the ground.

I screamed, clawing at it's finger as the creature tightened it's grip.

“LET ME GO!" I shrieked, kicking and struggling desperately.

It didn't even flinch.

The creature began dragging me towards it's chariot filled with imprisoned people.

I couldn't breathe. I wasn't ready to die yet but I couldn't escape.

A surge of power rippled through my bones suddenly. It felt like something broke free.

A blinding burst of light exploded from my body.

The creature released me as an invincible force hurled it several metres away.

The ground shook under my feet and the screams around me abruptly faded into a stunned silence.

I stared at my trembling hands.

Light spilled through my fingers, brighter than anything I had ever seen.

“Esmeralda!" I heard someone call from a distance.

Kael rushed toward me, breathing hard.

“A white wolf…." He whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

My heart stopped. The light didn't stop.

I didn't have a wolf.

I never had one.

But why was everyone looking at me like I was the most dangerous thing they had seen tonight?