THE MOON LYCAN'S WOLFLESS MATE

Chapter 14

C14: A Humiliating Duty

Raine was in the hallway when she saw her parents walking out of Alice's room, her father reassuring his wife that Alice would be marked by Raphael.

She furrowed her brows as she walked to Alice's room.

She twisted the doorknob, her heart racing as she pushed it open. A soft creak accompanied the movement as she stepped in and closed it behind her. Her eyes fell on the bedside.

Her eyes widened as she felt the blood in her body turn cold. She felt a sharp twist in her heart.

She shut her eyes and opened them once more, but the truth was right in front of her, merciless and brutal.

She blinked back the tears that wanted to fall and smiled weakly.

“What was I expecting? A mate will always be a mate,” she said and turned away. Leaving the room, she went straight to her own room.

Locking the door, she fell onto her bed, gripping a pillow. She covered her face with it as she finally let the dam break.

Her sobs were swallowed by the pillow as she poured her tears, longing, and frustration into it, and eventually she fell asleep.

She blinked as she stared at her surroundings.

“Don't cry, young one. This is only a new beginning. All you have to do is embrace it and be stronger.”

She heard a pleasant, sweet voice ring out. She turned around, trying to find the person speaking to her, but found no one.

“We will meet soon, dear,” the voice said softly before drifting away with the gentle breeze that followed it.

She woke up instantly. A familiar, soft, calming relief washed over her, lingering in the air around her.

A sharp knock sounded on her door twice. She furrowed her brows as she placed the pillow she had been holding aside. She climbed down from the bed and walked to the door.

Opening it, she saw a maid standing there.

“Mistress, the Alpha and his Luna request your presence in the dining room immediately,” the maid said before leaving.

Raine simply nodded and left the room after washing her face.

She went to the dining room, and her gaze fell on the people present.

The Alpha sat at the head of the table while Luna Indira sat beside him on the left. Alice sat on his right, no longer as pale as before, while Raphael sat beside her, his face unreadable.

Alice saw her first and smiled weakly. The others followed her line of sight and saw Raine.

Raphael stared at her with a blank face, but the way his gray eyes looked at her still revealed his feelings.

Raine simply joined them, her posture calm and collected. She would not let them see her crumble anymore.

Alice frowned. She wondered why her sister was not reacting, but she held her tongue.

The greater bomb was about to be dropped right?.

“I want you to know that you will soon have a brother-in-law, and you are expected to maintain the necessary boundaries,” Alpha Elmore said calmly.

Raine nodded, earning a hard glare from the Luna.

“Haven't you understood what your father said, or do you still wish to cling to your stupid fairy tales?” she asked, seething with annoyance.

“I understand perfectly. I didn't fight back, did I?” Raine replied calmly. Her eyes glanced at everyone in the room and lingered on Raphael for a split second.

The betrayal slowly filled her mind, but she quickly looked away, shutting down the emotions that were beginning to build up.

“That's good. Hopefully you behave well this time. Since your sister needs to recuperate and get better, she will need to mate with her fated one. It is necessary for her to get married first so our family's prestige is not damaged,” Alpha Elmore continued, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

Alice smiled shyly as she placed her hand on Raphael's beneath the table. Raphael froze for a second. The sensation from her touch felt both good and uncomfortable.

Raine watched the look on his face change from relaxation to irritation or better still guilt?. She smiled sadly.

“Sister, I didn't expect you to be happy about my upcoming marriage,” Alice said softly.

They had all noticed the smile on her face. Raphael knew it was a sad one, and he clenched his other hand into a fist.

“Of course. In the end, you got what you always dreamed of. The goddess must have a soft spot for you,” Raine replied plainly as she stuffed a piece of grilled meat into her mouth.

The food gave her courage and comfort because she would break watching them together if she wasn't careful.

It was funny that a wolfless girl like her loved meat so much.

“True. It surprises me, considering the fact that you prayed to the Moon Goddess all the time for a favor, yet she didn't grant it. Isn't it unfair? But that is life,” Alice jeered with her sickening smile.

Raphael furrowed his brows at the toxicity Raine received from her own family.

“This isn't the time for that. The marriage preparations should be more important, right?” he asked Alpha Elmore, who squinted his eyes slightly.

“True. That is why I gathered everyone here. I need it to be perfect since other Alphas will be invited,” he said before turning to Raine.

“I am going to give you a chance to prove yourself worthy and free of suspicion by joining your mother and sister in planning this wedding,” Alpha Elmore said.

All eyes turned to him.

“What did you say?” Luna Indira asked in disbelief.

“You want her to curse her sister's marriage?” she added in annoyance.

“She won't. She wouldn't dare, right?” Alpha Elmore said intensely as he fixed his gaze on Raine.

Raine swallowed the meat in her mouth, fighting the urge to reject the humiliating duty he had given her.

“I won't ruin her marriage, but I am not the best option for that,” she replied, still refusing.

Luna Indira scoffed.

“Thank the Moon Goddess you are aware of your negative energy,” she said scornfully.

“Mother, you worry too much. Raine, please do this for me.” Alice paused and glanced lovingly at Raphael.

“For us. Please let me know you wish us well and have forgiven me,” she said as her eyes became teary.

Fake. Everything was fake.

Raine parted her lips as every emotion ran wildly through her veins: anger, hatred, pain, and humiliation.

Before she could speak, her father raised his hand.

“It is decided then. The marriage will take place in two weeks,” Alpha Elmore declared in his authoritative Alpha tone.

It was decided. There was no room for change.

Raine simply nodded, afraid that if she opened her mouth, curses and tears would spill out.

She stuffed the remaining meat into her mouth and left the dining room silently. She could still hear their quiet conversations as she walked out of the room.