Broken Bond

Chapter 3

After knocking on the door and permission being granted, I walk into the room with my head bowed. “Greetings, Alpha. You called for me?”

Alpha Reynold is seated on his high throne, dressed clad in his usual sleek suit. Despite losing his wife just a week ago, he still had a warm smile on his face for me.

“Yes, Raya. How many times have I told you to address me as Reynold when it’s just the two of us?” Reynold climbs down from his seat as he walks down towards me.

“And how could I possibly do that, Alpha? I respect you too much to call you by your first name.” I say humbly.

“Ah, Raya, as obstinate as ever.” Reynold clicks his tongue but smiles at me, stopping a few steps away from me.

“How are you holding up, Alpha?” I ask as I look up at him.

I know no matter how hard he tried to hide it, the loss of his wife had left a dent on his heart and it will take months, if not years, for it to wash away.

Alpha Reynold had loved his wife more than anything and I know he is extremely devastated after she was taken away from him so soon.

“I am trying my best not to crumble, for the Pack and for my mother. But I have to admit that it’s hard, Raya.” Reynold’s eyes glistens with tears.

“She was my everything, you know? The reason I woke up in the morning with a smile on my face was because she was right by my side but now? I don’t know how to live anymore.”

I want to reach out and comfort him but I don’t want to act in a way that is unfit. After all, he is the Alpha of my Pack and I have to keep that clear distance away from him.

“Anyways, enough of me. I called you here because of something I heard.” Reynold’s face changes instantly to a brighter expression.

“And what is that?”

“How dare you postpone your exhibition without informing me first, Raya? I’m deeply hurt.” Reynold pouts playfully.

“What?” I laugh, knowing he is only joking. “There was no way I would launch the exhibition just a few days after the Luna’s death. That didn't seem right.”

“And why do you think so?” Reynold raises his eyebrows. “Your painting brings a smile to people’s faces and I think it would be the perfect thing to take everyone’s attention from Camilla’s death.”

“But Alpha-”

“Not buts, Raya. The exhibition will take place as scheduled two days from now and that’s final.” Reynold says and it is times like this that I find it hard to reject him.

“Okay, okay but only because you insist.” I give in.

“Great, prepare my throne as I will be the first one to purchase one of your paintings.”

I laugh and shake my head, not knowing how I had ended up with such a good friend and Alpha in one person.

I thank the heavens for letting me meet such a great person everyday.

“And also, there is something else I wanted to discuss with you.” Reynold’s expression turns grave.

“What is it?”

“The Council has already started cooking up plans to get me married to someone else but I don’t want to be with anyone for now.”

“What? Why so soon?” I frown, not understanding why they didn’t want the Alpha to mourn his late wife’s death fully.

“It’s the rules of the Pack, not letting the position of the luna empty for too long. They had asked me to pick a candidate and no matter how hard I think, there is only one person who comes to mind.” Reynold says.

“Who is that?” I ask.

“You.”

His words stunned me to the bones and I remain frozen on the spot.

“W-What?” my voice comes out as a gentle and confused whisper.

“I want you to be the next Luna of the Pack.” Reynold declares.

My eyes widen as his words sink into my head. I can’t understand what he’s trying to say or why he is asking this of me.

“W-What?” I mumble out of the shock that’s still vibrating down my body.

“I said I-” he is about to repeat his words but I take a few steps back, and place my hand in the air.

“D-Don’t.” I say in a shaky voice, not wanting him to reiterate his last statement. “Don’t say anything more.”

“Raya.” Reynold takes a step forward but right now, he is the last person I want to see or talk to.

“G-Give me some time.” I spill out before running out of the room.

I don’t head to the Mages’ Lounge, rather, I move to the garden where I know is mostly always empty in the Keper Residence. My weak legs settle down on the bench as I sigh out loudly.

Reynold’s words ring in my ears and I close my eyes tightly to shut his voice out. I don’t know if he had asked me to be the Luna because of the pressure from the Council or because he actually has feelings for me.

But he loved Luna Camilla dearly. He just has a lot to handle which is why he is asking this of me. But then, why me?

There are a lot of other dignified ladies in the Pack or even the daughters of other Alphas. He has such a wide range of choice so why did he choose me?

A mere human and a lowly Mage?

My thoughts wander off to the man I loved five years ago and how much I wanted to hear these exact same words from him then. Instead, he pushed me away in the most brutal way possible.

I wonder how you are doing now, Havier?

*****

The day to my exhibition is here and I am busy with preparations for the event to run smoothly today. Thankfully, I have been able to avoid the Alpha with my business being a great excuse.

I know I can’t run away from him forever but that’s the only choice I have in the meantime. I don’t know what answer to give him to not sound rude or disrespectful to the man who saved me.

I am definitely not in love with him so rejecting him will be the best thing to do but then, I don’t know how he may react and I don’t want him to take his anger out by kicking me and my son out of his Pack.

I ran away from my home five years ago and this is the only place that I am able to live my life on my own terms. If I have to leave here, I have nowhere else to go.

“Is the flower okay here, ma’am?” I snap out of my reverie to see Aria, my assistant, looking down at me, expecting an answer.

“Yes, thank you.” I smile at her from where I am seated.

“A lot of people have sent you flowers and congratulatory messages, Both from within the Pack and the neighboring Packs as well. Looks like today is going to be a huge success.” Aria jumps with excitement and I smile slightly.

I wish I am as half as enthusiastic as she is for my art exhibition. This is my very first exhibition and frankly, I don’t know if I am good enough to be holding it.

I only decided to place my works in the public space because of Reynold’s insistence. He has always been a fan of my paintings ever since he first saw drawing in the attic room where I used to stay when I was first brought into the Pack.

He was the one who encouraged me to pursue my arts even further and the only reason I had the guts to do this was because of him. I don’t even know how people will react to my work.

“Mommy, mommy, see. I got some cookies.” Noah runs into the room as he holds some pieces of cookies in his hands.

“You did? That’s amazing, let mommy have a bite.” I open my mouth and he feeds me.

“Yum.” I smile at him before tickling his tummy.

“It’s time for us to launch, ma’am.” Aria reminds me and I get up from my seat.

Moving to the mirror, I straighten my forest green suit and pat my hair softly. With one last look of encouragement, I move out of the room and the exhibition kicks start.

I give a small speech at the beginning before more people begin to show up to view my paintings. I answer a few questions asked and I also sell a few pieces.

Everything is going well so far and I feel even more relaxed when I hear that Reynold won’t be able to attend the exhibition because of an impromptu meeting.

“Miss Raya?” Aria calls me and I look up from my conversation with one of the customers.

“Yes.” I step forward to see her and she moves in slowly to whisper to me.

“Someone wants to get the ‘Pain’ painting,” she informs me and I frown.

“But I already told you to tell them it’s not for sale.”

“Yes, I know but this man is very adamant. I think he is a Lycan Alpha from another Pack and I don’t want to anger him. Maybe you should go and talk to him?” she suggests and I sigh under my breath.

“Fine, keep an eye on Noah and make sure he doesn’t sneak off anywhere,” I tell her before walking down the room, giving a few smiles to those who congratulate me on my achievement.

I get to the main painting of the day which I named Pain, as it symbolizes what I went through five years ago, especially when I found out I was pregnant with his child.

It’s a grey, black and white picture with a heavily pregnant lady crying under the rain. I didn’t want to bring it out today due to the significance it holds in my heart but the Alpha wanted me to show the piece even though it was clearly stated that the painting is not for sale.

I see the man standing before the painting with his back turned towards me. I move with my head bowed and stand in front of him.

“I am very sorry, sir, but this painting-” my mouth comes to a still shock when I see the one person I never thought I would see here.

My heart sinks as I see him right in front of me, looking more dashing than the last time I saw him. I am in deep confusion which makes me take a few steps backwards to process what is staring right at me.

Standing in front of me is Havier Cabrera, the one who took my heart and tore it into pieces five years ago.