CHAPTER FIVE: SNAKES AND REPELLENT
1088 Words
Samara POV
My heart fluttered as I woke up to the imposing fortress that came into sight; gigantic buildings made of dark stone, beautified by oak trees and walled by tall fences. The entire place embodied power, control, and wealth. The pack was so big, considering the fact that our car had been running for the past hour, and we hadn't reached the Alpha Axel's house.
When we finally got to the Alpha's house, Axel got out first, his movement sharp in anger. He moved to my door, and I refused to open the door, which forced him to do it by himself, and gestured for me to come with him.
The main building was as nerve-wracking as the Alpha himself; high ceilings, white marble stone floors, and an atmosphere that felt so cool. Axel walked ahead, his long strides carrying him into the long corridor filled with guards. We walked into an empty parlor that has sleek furniture, a massive fireplace, and a gigantic clock. An old man entered the parlor from another entrance.
”Lucas, I came as fast as I could,” Axel said to the old man; apparently the elder was Lucas and his second in command. The same man whose call made Axel change his mind on abandoning.
“It's a good thing you're here now. The whole pack had grown weary. They needed assurance on their safety. “When would the Alpha return with the Luna? It's been days already,” they say. You know these folks too well; they get frightened and tired easily when you aren’t around.” Lucas paused to shake hands with others who had come through the corridor to honor our arrival.
“And where is the-” He saw me for the first time, then paused for seconds to tweak his eyes.
“Oh, bless the Moon goddess, I never expected Beta Joson's daughter to be as pretty as this,” Lucas said to me.
“I'm highly honored that you think of me as such,” I replied while he beckoned for my hand.
“What's your name, my daughter?” He asked me before kissing my hand.
“Samara,” I and Axel spoke at the same time.
“Lovely name. I'm Lucas, the Alpha's Chief Executive Officer, and I would like to welcome you officially to the Glasgow pack, our Luna.” He welcomed me with a tight hug.
“Thank you, sir,” I replied, trying hard to smile.
“She's so respectful.” He added, giggling.
“Where is your brother, your Beta?” Lucas asked as he led us through the entrance he used to the parlor. Others and guards followed behind.
“Oh, Calen had other important things to attend to. “He'll be back any time soon, Lucas,” Axel replied, but it didn't sit well with him, so he grumbled a little.
“This way, please, my luna. Everyone is excitedly waiting in the ballroom.” He giggled, coordinating me with his hands until we entered a very large room filled with people. The ballroom was elegantly lighted with lights of different colors; the walls had paintings of wolves and artifacts. A bard was playing soft music when we entered.
Lucas turned, facing Axel, adjusting his robe. “Axel, tell me, what exactly could be more important than your wedding? ... “Uhh, but if you say so, I would leave you to it.”
“Trust me, it's a very important thing,” Axel replied, placing his hands on his shoulder, and then Lucas is retrieved by a maid who fell with a tray upon seeing the Alpha.
“Is there always this much staring?” I could literally feel the stares burn into my skin.
“No, it's all for us. Get used to it. They'll be watching us all night,” Axel responded as everyone bowed to him.
“Hmm. “Good,” I sighed.
“The Lycan King is here. The Melange begins.” A man with a saxophone, apparently a bard, jumped about as his team anticipated him.
“Yeah,” the people roared in excitement.
“What is Melange?” I asked Axel, who has been acting perfectly well with the fake marriage thing. He had his hand on me by my waist.
“Dance,” he replied, romantically kissing me on my cheeks before taking me to the center of the ballroom.
The musician began playing sultry music, and everyone danced for minutes until it ended. After the dance, there was a round of applause.
“Marvelous,” Lucas applauded with a tumbler in hand.
A woman beside him added, “Wonderful,
“That was remarkable,” said man 1, applauding with his hands.
“I've never seen....” Another man remarked.
“Thank you!” Said the bard.
Woman 1 exclaimed, “Exciting!”
Woman 2 replied, “Yes, well.”
Lucas walked into the center of the ballroom with his tumbler of champagne. “A toast to love and the return of the Lycan King and his Luna, Samara Joson of the Shadowwing's Pack,” he said, holding his glass high.
“To love and the Lycan King's return,” all responded.
And everyone toasted, except for me, who couldn't find Axel to toast with. Somehow he had sneaked out of sight. I held tight onto my glass of champagne while my eyes hovered, searching for him in the crowd, when I caught a woman elegantly dressed standing beneath the gigantic staircase, isolated from all the activities.
I noticed she was beckoning to someone. It happened that she was calling Axel, who appeared from the midst of some elders. Stylishly, Axel took a glass of champagne from a maid moving with a tray, gobbled everything at once, and dropped the glass, then moved across the ballroom to the woman who had entered a room in a nearby corridor.
As the door closed behind them, I knew right at that moment that something was brewing, yet I couldn't help it. Somehow I've fallen in love with this handsome strange man, and I knew it won't be easy considering how unfortunate my life is.
Not long after, I could hear loud groans coming from the room as I moved closer.
- Writer
