Bloodfallen; bride of alphas

Episode2

RUE

“That’s no way to say hello to your brother,” Carlos said, walking in.

His presence gave me some sort of relief. Finally seeing someone who listened to me and cared about me.

“You should be in Wraithen City with our father. If you’re here, and Rue is here, then who’s watching over him?”

“Your father is an adult,” I cut in. “And he’s very much sane,”

“No one asked you to speak,” LeBron fired. He was back with his attitude towards me when people were watching. “This is family business.”

“Rue is part of our family,” Carlos chimed. He crossed LeBron and helped me to my feet. “Despite how much you hate to admit it.”

“Thanks,” I whispered. I leaned on Carlos due to my swollen feet which made standing alone a chore. “I need to get my things so we can head back,”

“Head back?” LeBron asked, gaze shifting between us. “You just got here a day ago,”

“It’s clear she’s not wanted here. Why would you watch the city humiliate a woman you call your mate?” Carlos tone took a high note.

“Carlos I’m fine,” I pulled his arm after sensing the brewing argument. “I deserve it. And LeBron was just acting like any alpha would,”

“Stop making excuses for him,”

“It’s fine. Okay!” I snapped. “Just let it be,”

At that moment, the loudest thing in the room was Lebron's unsaid words, carrying the mix of his expressions. I limped to the chair where the few clothes I brought with me were kept and started packing them.

“Send my regards to father,” LeBron said before leaving the room.

The tension in the room settled before Carlos started with his usual speech. He went on and on, reminding me of the most embarrassing day of my life. My wedding day. He narrated in detail how Arlene was given the ring instead of me. A few months later, LeBron sent me away to Wraithens, the land where his father was cast after the title of the red alpha was taken from him due to his mental illness.

I was sent away and given an instruction to only return six times in a year. And every single time I journeyed back to Shadowmere, it was always one embarrassment to another. LeBron used me to satisfy his s****l desires then cast me out like I meant nothing. Carlos went on and on until he was out of breath.

By the time he stopped, tears had already wet my cheeks.

“It’s been three years since you started living with us in Wraithens. You need to move on, Rue. LeBron chose who he wants three years ago. And I’m sure you’ve seen Arlene now,”

I sighed and paused for a second to get a proper picture of Arlene’s protruded belly again.

“There’s still some good in him. We were okay for some time before she arrived”

“Okay?” He scoffed. “How is nicknaming you a fat duck and treating you like a second option okay?”

“Maybe he’ll change. He just needs time,”

Carlos stared at me for a long moment. “Three years is enough time.”

I looked away. He sighed and reached for my bag. “Come on. Father is waiting.”

I followed him out, but something about his words stayed with me. Three years. Maybe he was right. Maybe I had spent too long waiting for a man who had already made his choice.

We had barely reached the courtyard when a familiar voice stopped us.

“Rue.”

I turned.

“Uncle Gomad?” I muttered, studying his very…new appearance.

Uncle Gomad took me in after the death of my parents. After a few years, he sold me into the alphas slave home. Nothing much was offered for someone as big and wolfless like me. So Gomad’s implied message was clear after he accepted the money. He didn’t want me under his roof.

“I heard you came in a few days ago,”

“Yes. Two days ago,” I answered, already squeezed in his arms. He shook Carlos after he pulled away from the hug. “Uncle, you look…different. Your robe,”

“Ohh…” my uncle exclaimed, glancing all over his black robe like something that suddenly started shimmering. “You noticed. I’m part of the council now. LeBron’s personal adviser,”

“The sage?” Carlos cut in.

Uncle Gomad’s smile widened with pride. “You can call me that too. It’s one of my most infamous names,”

“How?” I didn’t intend for the question to be heard by him, but my tone was louder than I expected.

“LeBron recognizes real. I guess that’s all I can say,”

“If you’re his adviser then you can speak to him on my behalf,”

“Rue.” Carlos bellowed. “We should get going,”

“Yes, you should,” Gomad rubbed my shoulder before Carlos pulled me along. “See you in a few months, niece," he called out from his distance.

I could sniff Carlos’s anger and agitation mixing with the air as we drove back to Wraithens. We’d grown so close over the years that we could tell when any of us was angry but didn’t want to speak about it.

After hours of driving, we finally arrived in Wraithens, a city buzzing with life and energy.

No one expected anything good to come from Wraithens. It was a land cast aside and rumored to be haunted by spirits of dead wolves. After Alpha Gray’s title as the red alpha was taken from him, he was sent to Wraithens.

At least that’s what the council made everyone believe.

But a few months after living under the same roof with Alpha Gray, I figured he chose this land.

What used to be a quiet, desolated land developed into a city with one of the most revered wolves.

On getting to the Grail keep, I noticed certain things were not in place. There was blood trailing down the walls, wolves limping back to their posts. The car moved slowly passed the series of events until Carlos packed in front of the Grail keep.

“What do you think happened?” I asked.

“Get your things inside. I’ll check on my dad.” He instructed.

I let him walk into the building before following behind. Workers worked their way around, arranging and cleaning items that were in position before I left days ago. Most of them spoke in hushed tones when I crossed.

“Finally. His son is home,” a lady whispered.

“Whose absence do you think drove him mad? His son? Or hers?” The girl beside her replied.

I stopped walking to listen, but they stopped gossiping and walked away. By my right, another group of persons were discussing in the same tone, stealing glances at me as they spoke. Their whispers swallowed my thoughts, leaving me frozen at the center of the hall.

“Rue,” Carlos’s voice snapped my mind back to reality. “He wants to see you”.

**************