Chapter 3
1151 Words
“I object.”
Two words. That was all it took.
Chaos erupted immediately, whispers filled the hall. Heads snapped toward her. Confusion, shock and outrage rippled through the hall.
“Who is she?”
“How dare she?”
“What does she think she’s doing?”
Emily stiffened beside him. Cold eyes fixed on the woman who had just interrupted the ceremony.
“How dare you!” Erica’s voice rang out, sharp and furious.
She stepped forward, eyes blazing with anger. “Who do you think you are, interrupting a sacred ceremony like this?”
The woman didn’t flinch.
“I'd advise you to hold this wedding and postpone it till further notice.”
Then she turned and walked out. The doors closed behind her with a final, echoing thud.
The hall was plunged into stunned silence.
Erica looked back at Raymond, her anger giving way to confusion.
“Are you just going to stand there and watch this nonsense unfold?.” she fumed.
Raymond didn’t answer, his heart was still racing. Something about her presence had stirred something deep inside him. A feeling that made no sense.
“Alpha, what should we do?.” The officiant asked.
“The wedding is postponed,” Raymond said after a brief pause. “We’ll re-announce after the council meets.”
Raymond’s voice carried across the hall, shocking everyone into silence.
Unfortunately, the ceremony could not continue.
Emily’s smile had vanished entirely, her hands clenched tightly at her sides, she did not look happy at all.
“Are you out of your mind Raymond?.” Erica asked. Dumbfounded at her son's sudden announcement.
But Raymond didn't give her any response. He walked out of the hall without waiting for permission.
Murmurs followed him, he could make out confused voices, anger and disbelief, but he shut them out as he strode down the corridor. His jaw was tight, his pulse still hammering from the moment those doors had opened.
Ashton fell into step beside him almost immediately.
“Has she been detained?.”
“No Alpha, she immediately called for a meeting the moment she left the hall.” The beta said, voice low.
Raymond halted in his steps, turning to face Ashton.“Who the hell is she?”
Ashton shook his head. “We don’t know. She didn’t explain either, just demanded for a meeting.”
Raymond's had clenched at his sides.“I want to see her. Now.”
“Of course.” Ashton replied and they resumed walking.
They turned down a quieter corridor, away from the ceremonial halls, toward the chambers reserved for meetings and diplomatic disputes.
The guards stationed there, straightened as Raymond approached, quickly stepping aside.
Raymond took a deep breath before walking in. She stood at the right side of the room, beside the table used during meetings.
She didn't sit, she just stood there in confidence, as if she owned the pack, the behavior got under Raymond's skin in a wrong way, he didn't know why.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Up close, her scent hit him first.
It wasn’t Amelia’s, he would have known that anywhere. And yet, something about it twisted deep in his chest, it felt wrong. Like something that was not supposed to be there.
Her eyes were the wrong color too, unlike Amelia's deep ocean blue eyes, hers were deep green, very unfamiliar, but the way they held his gaze looked like this wasn't the first time.
This makes no sense, he thought.
She was a stranger, how was it possible to be giving him these mixed signals?.
“Who are you?.” He asked. Cold voice cutting through the silence. “Explain yourself,” he said, his voice firm despite the confusion clawing at him. “You interrupted a sacred ceremony.”
She tilted her head slightly, studying him, there was no fear in her expression. It irked Raymond even more, who is this woman and where did she get that audacity from?
“I’m doing you a favor,” she said coolly. “Do not hold this wedding if you still want your pack on its feet.”
The words sent the hairs on his neck standing.
“You don’t walk into my pack and issue threats.” Raymond bared his teeth.
“I didn’t threaten you,” she replied evenly. “I am only giving you a warning, and trust me, I wouldn’t be here if you had a choice.”
Raymond analyzed her, asking again the question he asked the first time.
“Who are you?.”
Sarah stared at him, for a heartbeat, the room seemed to shrink, and the air thickened with unspoken tension. Raymond felt his wolf stir beneath his skin, they were both confused.
She took a slow step forward, not close enough to touch him, but close enough to insinuate her presence and drive Raymond more mad than he already was.
“My name,” she said calmly, “is Sarah Reed.”
A low hum stirred in his chest, the feeling felt familiar and wrong. His wolf pressed forward, increasing the confusion even more.
“I'm an envoy from the stormridge pack.” She said, eyes not leaving his.
Raymond’s eyes narrowed, Stormridge. Of course, they were the only one who could pull this kind of stunt and get away with it.
“Stormridge didn't inform us they were sending an envoy.” Raymond reasoned.
“And Ironclaw didn't inform us their Alpha was taking a new Luna.” Sarah shot back.
Raymond looked down at his feet, he didn't have anything to say, he knew he had barely any power at the moment, and he was very much in need of the help Stormridge could offer. So that rendered him helpless, powerless.
“You will call your council and delay the wedding. I have informed the Stormridge pack Alpha and he'll be here tomorrow.” She informed.
Silence crashed down between them, Raymond knew something was wrong, very very wrong, and before he could ponder any further, Ashton’s voice cut through the tension, as he opened the door and walked inside.
“The council is assembled, Alpha.”
Raymond didn’t take his eyes off her, nor did she look away.
“Alright, we'll be with them in a few minutes.”Raymond replied. “Also, have a room prepared for our guest, she'll be staying.” He informed.
“Of course Alpha.” Ashton replied and left the room.
Sarah broke eye contact first, momentarily subduing the tension between them.
“The council is waiting, Alpha Raymond.” She said and walked out.
The doors closed behind her and Raymond remained where he stood, pulse roaring in his ears.
Because for the first time in a year, the emptiness inside him stirred. And something he had buried with fire and ash whispered back to life.
- Writer
