Chapter 9
1287 Words
LUCY
A crashing sound startled me out of my sleep and I heard movement beside me just as I sat up.
"Is anyone here?" I called, my body alert as my eyes struggled to adjust to the dark room.
Only silence greeted me. I looked closely around me from the comfort of my bed. My room was spacious and the bed was set in the center of it. The canopy covering the bed was draped with shrill white lace curtains which were tied back with a thong to the bedpost.
Then it came again— the rustling, coming from the far corner of my room.
I c****d my head in the direction of the noise and froze. A pair of glowing yellow eyes stared at me, wide and unblinking. My breath hitched. It growled, revealing sharp, blood-tainted teeth.
Before I could react, it lunged forward, knocking me off the bed. I screamed as it sprinted toward the window, folding myself on the floor in case it decided to come back.
The door to my room flew open and I screamed again.
"Are you… are you alright, Lu?" Blake's voice came from the doorway, thick with panic. "What happened?"
He rushed to my side, cradling my head against his thighs. "Shhh, it's alright now, love. I'm here. Everything's gonna be fine."
"There was someone in my room.” I gasped, my breath ragged, my words barely above a whimper. “A wolf. It—it came out of nowhere and just… left through the window.”
His fingers gently stroked my hair. "Here? Are you sure?"
"Yes,” I wiped my eyes, but it didn’t help. Tears poured out freely. “I didn’t know what to do… it was so fast. It caught me by surprise. Right there by the closet.”
"You did what anyone in your position would have done. Don't be hard on yourself." He took my hands and gently helped me on my feet. "It won't happen again. I'll make sure of it."
Slowly, he tucked me in, wrapping the blanket around me like a shield. I shuddered as his hand slightly grazed my shoulder before pulling away.
“Stay,” I pleaded, gripping his arm. “Please.”
He obliged, climbing into the bed and we lay there in silence. When he made to stand, I tightened my hold on his hand.
"I'm just going to close your window,” he muttered. “It's letting the draft in."
"No. Please. Don't leave…" my voice trembled and I didn’t care that I was begging.
He cradled my head in his arms and planted a kiss on my face. "I wouldn't. Not for anything in the world."
I couldn’t understand why his words made me feel lighter. Maybe because I wanted to believe it, despite the obvious?
I buried my face in his arm, inhaling his scent— a mix of aftershave and something warm, familiar. Everything felt right in my world and I believed it as I drifted off to sleep.
****
"Oh finally, you're up!" Ma called as she passed by, arms filled with clothes. "Blake said not to disturb you. He said you had a fright last night. You’re feeling okay?"
I nodded quietly, trailing behind her as we moved through the house. It was bustling with activities, everyone rushing to prepare for the evening. I couldn’t believe I had slept through it all.
"We're running behind time." Ma continued, flustered. "And she will be here any minute. I'll have Uriel run you a bath. Would you check on Blake? Make sure he's keeping to time?"
"No," I answered, the word slipping out more hardly than I intended.
Ma stopped and turned to look at me, her eyes narrowly slightly, but she didn’t press further. If she knew something, she wasn’t letting on.
"Okay,0 she said softly, though her eyes lingered. “Why don't you have a snack, then? You missed breakfast. It will put you in a better mood."
"I'll help you around the house first,” I walked ahead, not waiting for her response. “You said you're running late."
We worked together, mostly in silence. I helped with the decor, food and supervised the room Raelle might be occupying if she decided to spend the night— Ma had insisted.
"They’ve arrived," Someone whispered into Ma's ears as I made my way to my room. I quickly freshened up and returned downstairs, eager to get this over with.
I walked towards the dining hall, trying hard to maintain my front. The room had been arranged to impress our guests. A long table sat in the centre of the room, adorned with white roses and laid with gold plates.
"There you are! You've been gone for long." Ma motioned, standing at the head of the table. She was beside a lady I hadn’t noticed before.
"You look beautiful, little one. This dress was a perfect choice." She complimented, pulling the lady closer. "Lucy, this is Raelle. I was just telling her about the troubles you and Blake used to get into when you were little."
The two women laughed, sharing some private joke. I forced a smile, feeling out of place and jealous. Raelle was beautiful—slender and gorgeously dressed in a backless long gown. She had her hair wrapped in an updo which flattered her neck. I felt insecure in my ruffle-neck dress.
"Nice meeting you, Lucy,” she smiled, offering her hand. “I've heard so much about you."
"Likewise," I replied, shaking it. "You're looking beauti—"
"Oh, hi Blake." Raelle interrupted me, her voice breathless.
Blake stood in the corner of the room, eyes fixated on Raelle. He must have been in the room for a while, because he looked relaxed, watching her openly with lust in his eyes.
My heart twisted as I watched him. Last night, I had convinced myself that it had meant something, but now? The reality was clear. It had all been a fleeting dream, one only I was foolish to believe in.
He strode towards us and Ma excused herself. I should have done the same but I couldn't think of anything else at the moment except him.
"Hi. You look ravishing." He said so close to her ears, that I could only catch the words in bits.
She chuckled and I watched, helplessly, as they gravitated towards each other. His hand moved over her bare back, pulling her closer until their lips met in a kiss.
A round of applause erupted in the room, pulling me out of my trance. My eyes darted across the room, meeting the smiling faces of everyone while mine was frozen in pain.
"Alright let's have the food before it gets cold." Alpha Marcus' voice filled the room and everyone filed to the table.
But I stood frozen to the spot, unable to move my legs. My gaze rested on Blake as he kissed Raelle again, oblivious to me. My heart shattered into a million pieces.
This was different. Worse than when he had rejected me in the confines of his room. Today, he kissed her in front of everyone. He was acknowledging her as his Luna, in front of the entire room.
My eyes trailed his hands as they caressed her back, travelling lower until they disappeared.
"Lucy, come over to the table," Ma called.
I stumbled back, ignoring the eyes that followed me. I knew I was making a scene but I couldn't stay. I couldn't stand there and watch them, pretending everything was fine.
It was clear now. I had to leave. And this time I won't be coming back. I would leave the pack — for good.
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- Writer
