Chapter 3
1389 Words
Rune's POV
I ran back upstairs as soon as I got the chance. However, it never felt as though I never left. His presence was so strong that it followed me anywhere I went. Ivy was starting to notice my uneasiness, so I decided to share a little burden with her.
“Do you know anything about my brother's deal with the guest?” I looked away, trying not to sound nosy or too desperate.
“Guest? You mean Alpha Alaric?”
I nodded furiously, finally showing how uneasy I was and desperate for answers.
“Well, I don’t know much. I've only served them once and ever since then, I think he stopped me from going to serve them whenever he was around.”
“Did you do something?”
“I'm not sure… he said something about your scent being on me and it displeasing Alpha Alaric,” she shrugged.
Strange. How can the same Alpha who was threatening my brother to give me up in marriage be displeased by my scent?
“I think he dislikes you, and your brother is just trying to protect you from him, or maybe, your brother just doesn't want you to have anything to do with Alpha Alaric.”
“You're indirectly saying he lied?” I scoffed.
She sighed and left the materials she was sorting to meet me on the bed.
“If there's anything we know too well, it's the fact that Alpha Theo has been doing everything and anything to remain the Alpha and protect his pack. Lying is the least he has done,” she reminded me calmly.
“No. Every time he lied, he lied to protect me,” I shot back defensively but only then did it hit me. What did I just say? She raised a brow at me before her lips gradually spread to a smile.
“I hate you, Ivy!” I threw my green embroidery yarn at her.
“Now we're on the same page,” she giggled, throwing it back at me.
“Does that mean he's lying to protect me again—”
“Ahem,” I heard Theo clear his throat from the door.
Ivy quickly adjusted her dress, cleared her throat, and lowered her gaze in respect.
“Excuse us,” he continued while walking in. I waited for Ivy to leave, before watching him curiously. He seemed to be looking at me in the same way, and it was starting to feel awkward.
“So…”
“So?” He raised a brow.
“How did everything go?”
“Everything went well, Rune. I told you that there was nothing to worry about, didn’t I?”
I cringed inwardly at his lie, withdrawing my feet as he tried to touch them before sitting on my bed.
“Are you sure? You know, you never told me about the deal. What he's offering us, and what our pack gives up in return. Don't you think I'll get curious someday?” I looked into his eyes, hoping to catch him straight on if he tried to lie again.
“I already know that you are, and I promise,” he reached for my hand. “I will explain everything to you at the right time. I won't keep anything from your knowledge.”
‘Don't believe him, Rune.’ ‘Believe him, Rune.’ Those were the words that battled in my head. I took a deep breath before reluctantly placing my hand on his.
“Alright then.”
I gave him a small smile, deciding to do my investigation since it was clear I'd still be sitting in the dark for a while.
“I'll be back to check up on you before you sleep,” he informed me before leaving.
Soon, Ivy came back in. None of us spoke a word as if waiting for who would speak first.
“I need to know everything about Alpha Alaric. Now,” I announced, taking her aback.
“Wow. Calm down,” she laughed nervously while still taking a seat beside me. I pushed the yarn and material aside and turned towards her fully.
“Tell me everything you know about him.”
“There's nothing much, aside from him being the mysterious Alpha of Alphas. The clan whispers his secret in the dark. They say he killed his wife and only heir in a war. Some believe he got cursed by the moon goddess for it, while others believe he killed them as a sacrifice to the moon goddess for an eternal victory in every battle. He hasn't had another Luna ever since and he has been nothing but cold and unpredictable. He moves like the wind at night, and—”
“Enough,” I cut her off. “Did he really kill his Luna and heir? Is he that ruthless?” Images of my parents’ death flashed through my mind. I had never gotten over the guilt, so how could anyone do this intentionally?
“He did kill them in a battle, Rune,” she tilted her head to the side. “However, everyone knows what Luna Aurora meant to him. I strongly believe that there was more to that incident on the battlefield. He could never kill his Luna just like that.”
“There is no excuse for an Alpha to kill his Luna and heir,” I argued back. “He is as ruthless as they say,” I whispered to myself.
“You are the first to call him ruthless, Rune,” she tried to defend her knowledge about him, but I wasn't sure if it was what got me pissed or the fact that her tone was very calm. Couldn't she not sense the tension and danger around me?
“Fine. Please excuse me. I want to be alone—”
“But–”
“Alone,” I repeated my last word only to watch her swallow whatever she wanted to say. I didn't know why his business bothered me or why I'd be so affected by his actions and possible grief. But it did. It was setting me ablaze from the inside.
It didn't last long after she left before Theo came in again as promised.
“Are you here to give me to him already?!” I snapped with no intention of being too loud.
“What did you say?”
“He asked that you give me up in exchange for whatever you two had, right? Are you here because you've agreed to it?!” I yelled, no longer able to contain the pain ripping my chest open. He knew Alaric was this ruthless, yet he… Damn! He never dared to disobey Alaric so what was even the guarantee that he wasn't going to give me up now?
“My instruction was simple, wasn't it? Stay in your room just for a while, but no. You never listen,” he shook his head. “For this same reason, mum and dad died, but even with that, you don't learn,” he chuckled darkly. “Please tell me what you gained from disobeying my order now?” he asked with his eyes darkening.
“Will you give me to him or not?” I steadied my voice amidst all the quakes and cracks his words conjured. My fears of being betrothed to someone like Alaric, the unfathomable feeling I got from merely being around him, and the pain that burned my chest from having to be reminded that I was responsible for my parents’ death.
His hesitation and silence spoke louder than his voice could ever be. Things were different now though. He had stirred this fury once again and had reminded me of how every single breath I've taken since my parents' death was his decision to make. I'd rather burn this time than leave this pack knowing that it was his decision to make as well.
Maybe… Just maybe… I'd be free from the guilt… from the invisible shackles he calls protection… from every lie he has told to protect me… and from his will which always overshadowed mine.
“What do you want?”
“I want to be his Luna,” the words left my mouth before I could even process them.
- Writer
