Chapter 2
1126 Words
Arlenna's POV
I couldn't believe it. My mother said it out loud, right in front of Orion. That I was a virgin.
She said it like it was some sweet lullaby and I wished the ground would open and swallow me whole.
We all sat down at the dinner table. Everything looked perfect, like a picture from a royal banquet. We were all waiting for Orion's mate, his betrothed.
I sat directly opposite Orion. My mother sat at one end of the table like the queen she always believed she was, while Father sat at the other, calm but observant.
I avoided looking at Orion. My cheeks still burned from earlier. We had almost kissed. Almost.
My thoughts kept spinning, circling back to the way his breath had touched my lips.
The way his hand brushed mine like it meant something. But it shouldn't mean anything. He was my brother.
Well, stepbrother. But we were bonded by our parents’ marriage. Family. And yet, here I was burning with feelings that shouldn't exist.
"Have you heard the news in town, darling?" Mother asked, breaking the silence with her trademark dramatic tone.
She looked at my stepfather like she had some grand revelation.
He looked up from his drink. "What news?"
"We have a bachelor in town."
My heart dropped. My eyes sank to my plate.
Here we go.
"A bachelor?" Father asked, clearly confused. Then, turning to me, he added, "Your mate?"
"N... No... I..." I tried to respond, but Mother jumped in quickly.
"He's from a powerful pack," she said, "And Arlenna would make a perfect bride."
Of course. That was always her goal. Position. Power. Matchmaking me like I was some prize hen.
Under the table, something brushed my thigh. Orion’s leg. Then his knee gently nudged mine, then slid further.
"Or what do you think, Orion?" Mother turned her sly eyes to him. "Isn't your sister beautiful? Don't you think she'll make a perfect bride?"
His leg dropped. His face changed completely. He cleared his throat and looked away, focusing on the empty plate in front of him.
"My mate should be here any time now," he said.
I didn’t understand why he reacted that way, but I didn't care.
Just then, the door creaked open and Nimara walked in. Orion’s mate.
He stood up so fast, you’d think he’d been shot out of his chair. He walked to the door to welcome her like she was the sun after a long night.
She was beautiful, there was no denying it. She had long black hair, full lashes, and confidence that I lacked.
She wasn’t just pretty. She looked perfect.
With her was her father, Alpha Talon of the Mooncrest pack. The moment he entered, Father stood up immediately.
"Alpha Talon! It’s an honor to have you here at the Crimson Pack."
I just sat there, watching. Observing.
"It’s going to be the biggest mating ceremony Crimson Pack has ever experienced," Mother said.
She was already bathing in the attention, even though nothing had happened yet.
All she ever wanted was a storybook event. Not for me. Not for Orion. But for herself. More guests meant more attention. More power. More money.
I didn’t even know who my real father was. There were whispers that Mother had a scandalous past in her home pack, rumors that she’d been with too many men, but she never said a word about it. Never told me where we really came from.
She brought me to the Crimson Pack when I was five. Married Orion’s father three years ago.
He was the pack’s beta, exactly what she needed to clean herself up and climb higher.
"Everything is perfect," Mother said, "And the wedding should take place in three months’ time."
I looked at Orion. He couldn’t take his eyes off Nimara.
Then, right when he leaned closer to kiss her, I couldn’t take it anymore.
My chair scraped loudly across the floor as I pushed it back and stood.
"Are you okay, darling?" Father asked.
"I... I want to get some water," I said quickly, already turning to walk away.
I rushed to the kitchen. I needed to breathe.
I grabbed a glass, poured water, and drank too quickly.
"Don’t choke yourself," a voice said softly behind me.
I choked the minute I heard his voice.
"Orion!" I gasped, turning sharply. The glass in my hand shook. "What... what are you doing here?"
He stood at the doorway, calmly. "I came to make sure you were fine."
My fingers tightened around the cup. "I'm... I'm okay," I said, though I knew the tremble in my voice betrayed me.
"Your mate is right at the diner. Don’t leave her there."
He didn’t listen. Instead, he stepped further into the kitchen. "Why did you leave?"
I gulped, forcing the words out. "I... I was thirsty."
“Right when I was about to kiss her?"
I gulped, my fingers curling tighter around the glass. I had no words, only the sound of my heart thudding in my chest.
"What’s happening, Arlenna?" he whispered. then came closer as his nose brushed against my neck.
"And why do you scent so familiar all of a sudden?"
"I... I... I don’t know," I stammered. "Your fiancée is at the diner... with her father. Anyone can... anyone can walk in."
"We aren’t doing anything wrong. Are we?"
I turned to him slowly. "You're getting married soon."
"And you’re yet to scent your mate. Else, Mother is going to marry you off to the next bachelor with a fortune.”
“Do….do you love her?"
The moment I asked, I regretted it. I had no right to ask that question, no reason to care. But the words were already out.
He looked at me. Really looked. And for a second, the world stopped moving.
His lips shoved mine and I closed my eyes until…….
"Orion?!" Nimara’s voice echoed into the kitchen.
Like lightning had struck him, Orion shot back. His hand shot behind me to grab the bottle of water from the counter.
He turned with a sharp breath and a crooked smile.
"Water!" he said quickly. "I came to get us some water."
Nimara stood at the entrance, her eyes scanning the room. They landed on me,
"Oh..." she said. Then she smiled and stepped forward. "This is your sister, right?"
My heart was beating too fast and I prayed she didn't hear it. I forced a smile that barely even touched my lips.
"I can't believe we’ll be sister-in-laws!" she chirped, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "We’ll probably be best friends!"
I gulped hard.
How do I tell her I’m going crazy over her future husband, who just happens to be my stepbrother?
- Writer
