Phoenix

Isabelle

3 days before

I sit numbly in front of the mirror and try to hide my bruised face in a thick layer of makeup.

I don't remember why I got the beating this time. Something to do with some missing papers. It must have been my fault. I couldn't remember where he placed them, but he was insisting that he gave them to me, so he must have been right. I am so forgetful these days. It's as if large chunks of my memories just disappear.

The door opens and he walks in. I flinch imperceptibly, as he walks towards me.

The wolf inside me picks up her head and starts to bear her teeth, but I quickly squash the feeling.

He puts his hands on my shoulders and squeezes gently.

" Honey, you aren't ready yet? The guests are going to arrive shortly."

And just like that, he is back to his old self again. I can't help release a sigh of relief as the tension leaves my body.

It was just a phase, I think with relief, he is sorry now, that he hurt me. I must have deserved it.

And as if on queue, he kisses my temple and says casually,

" You missed a spot, can't have you looking anything less than perfect. After all, we will be entertaining royalty tonight."

"Oh.." I look in the mirror and notice that he is right. I have missed covering an ugly looking bruise on my cheekbone.

I am so stupid, I think hopelessly, no wonder he loses his patience with me.

I hastily start dabbing makeup over it, ignoring the dull pain I feel at doing it.

He is now standing by the bed, where I have laid out my dress.

"Is this what you are really wearing?" His voice is laced with annoyance.

The dress is a black gown, adorned with small silver crystals, with a cinched waist and an illusion neckline. I thought it would look both elegant and, appropriate for the occasion.

His expressions are slowly changing.

I know his moods enough by now to know, what's coming.

" If you don't like it, I-I c-can," I am trying to stammer out the words, but he is already opening our wardrobe and taking out a much more revealing dress with a plunging neckline and a large slit down the side, that would extend to just above my hip.

"I think you should wear this, I want all eyes on you tonight," and then he adds, "I want everyone around to know, how lucky I am. " And with this, he kisses me.

You are the Luna and the Alpha of half the pack by birthright, not some object to showcase. My wolf grouses inside me, but I quickly silence her, before he can sense my thoughts.

He releases me and smiles.

" Hurry up, will you?"

" Y-yes, I'll be down in just about t-ten minutes," I stammer again.

God, why can't I talk properly? I want to smack myself.

"Good girl," he pats my head and leaves the room.

You are gonna turn me into a dog with the rate you are going, my wolf growls.

But I ignore her, and get back to my makeup.

Please, no more mistakes tonight, I silently plead to my reflection in the mirror.

********************

I descend the stairs leading towards the main hall, where everything is set and ready to receive our royal guests, including the heir- apparent Prince Keiran Jacob Stone the Third and prominent ministers of the kingdom.

Since my marriage to Matt, with both of us the Alphas of our pack by birthright and the joining of our pack, we span half the kingdom and it's only natural that the heir to the throne visits us, to ensure our allegiance and co-operation regarding military as well as trade.

It's his Highness's first visit since Matthew and I took charge, and my husband is in a frenzy. I can see him barking orders to everyone, while the betas and the omegas cower and run around, stumbling over themselves to follow his commands.

I smile proudly, while looking at him. He is so good at being the Alpha, I think, our pack is so lucky to have him.

I start walking towards him, and that's when I hear them. The whispers...

They don't even try to hide it, anymore.

"Oh goodie, our Luna has finally decided to show..."

"What is she wearing..."

" Thank God for our Alpha, because she would have been too busy with herself to notice us..."

The whispers grow as I reach the landing, but I have to keep my head high and my face expressionless, as I walk towards Matt. He has stopped what he's doing and is looking at me with so much love in his eyes, that my heart stutters. But a part of me wonders if he can hear the whispers too, because if he does he doesn't show it.

Look at him, I tell myself shaking these thoughts away, he's the only one that matters.

" She is so lucky, our Alpha is so in love with her. I wouldn't have put up with her..."

Another whisper. Well he's right, I think, Matt does put up with me, alot.

"She is an Alpha too, but I bet even I can easily bend her into submission and ...." My wolf growls at this and I can't stop but turn towards the man who whispered this. An Omega. He quickly bends his head but I can clearly see the defiance in his eyes.

My wolf claws inside me to get out and rip his guts to pieces, but I stop myself.

It's been so long since I let my wolf out that I have forgotten how, and also because I never need to. My Alpha is right there.

I start moving towards my mate and try to push everything else out of my mind.

It doesn't take long for Prince Keiran to arrive. He arrives in a long, sleek black Limousine with our kingdom's flag mounted atop it, flanked by security cars and a few cars of his ministers and advisors trailing him.

His guards quickly exit their cars and stand on either side of the red carpet we have laid out to welcome him. There is a short pause while his ministers and advisors get out and wait near his car.

One of the guards opens the car door, and the Prince steps out.

For some reason, the breath catches in my throat. The only word I can think of when I see him is, power. It radiates from his every gesture. From the way he looks at us, like he could squash us in between his fingers and couldn't care less, to the way he carries himself.

He almost looks bored while he surveys our pack, until finally his dark eyes land on me.

His eyes are pitch black and I look into them, and get lost. It's a strange feeling, almost as if he can read my soul through them.

I am still looking at him, when I feel a small nudge to my side. I blink returning back to the present, and realize that I have forgotten to bow. I quickly bend my head down, but the prince doesn't seems to have noticed.

He lets Matt greet him, and enters our mansion before I can murmur something.

I look towards Matt, and he looks disappointed. I curse myself at my stupidity and follow him inside.

The royal dinner proceeds uneventfully and I manage to not make a fool of myself again, thankfully. But it's also because Matt doesn't give me another chance. He takes over everything, from presenting the royal party with dishes as well as talking to them about state affairs. The more he does it, the more I get a sinking feeling in my stomach.

No matter how hard I try, I end up making a mistake. Maybe, I am stupid, I think hopelessly.

I am too absorbed in my self-reproving thoughts that, it takes me a minute to realize ,that I have been asked a question by the Prince himself.

Everyone around the dining table goes silent and all eyes are on me.

I swallow thickly because I don't even know what I was asked in the first place.

I panic slightly but before I can open my mouth, Matt interjects, laughing.

" My dear wife is too pretty to be bothered with these boring affairs. That's always been my job, while she sits in front of the mirror and worries about how she looks." He finishes and barks out a laugh, and our pack joins him.

My cheeks heat at such a condescending remark but I guess he's right.

No, he isn't, my wolf protests, he is calling us dumb.

I hush her quickly and it seems as if the Prince agrees with her because he silences Matt with a look, who immediately stops laughing and looks down.

"She is also the Alpha by bloodright, so I would like her opinion on our ongoing war with the Kingdom of Moonfire. After all, half the military support we receive from you, belongs to her pack as well." The Prince says with a hint of fire in his voice, and there's something in it that washes over everyone in the room, and silences them.

It's Matt's turn, now, to turn red. But he doesn't say anything.

The prince turns his eyes on me, again.

" So, my lady, what do you think of our century old war with the Moonfire Kingdom? Can I, as the future King of Moonstone Kingdom, expect your pack's allegiance and co-operation in fighting our enemies?" His voice has a strange effect on me. I feel goosebumps all over my body, but something long asleep inside me, awakens.

I take a moment to ponder his question, and the words flow out of me automatically.

" With all due respect to your Highness, but no..."

There is a collective gasp and whispers ripple around the dining table, but I ignore them and continue

" Let me clarify before your Royal Highness take offense, this battle has been going on for a century, which means that it started way before anyone of our pack members were born. Our ancestors have passed on this enmity against the kingdom of Moonfire to us, but already the reasons behind this battle have blurred in our minds. Times have changed a lot, and it's been getting a lot difficult to convince our pack members to part with their young sons in the name of a battle, when they can't see it end anytime soon. " I take a breath and continue, " I humbly request your Highness to find a peaceful end to this battle through negotiation between the two kingdoms."

" And how do you suppose we can do it?" The prince looks interested now.

" Your Highness, it's no secret that the Moonfire king has been dealing with a lot of rebellion amongst his armies, because he has foolishly spent the national treasure to near depletion, and he is now desperate to open trade with his neighboring countries, to replenish his economy. It's been getting difficult for him to motivate his troops, while their families starve back home. We should exploit this opportunity and extend a hand of peace, and offer trade agreements as well."

A minister scoffs at this.

" So, we should bow our heads first? Why not wait for our enemy to starve and then rip them apart for good." He says savagely and a few nod their heads.

The prince is still looking at me, curiously. I turn towards the minister and say with a small smile.

" I can see you wearing the color of Riverstone Province. So, tell me this minister, isn't it true that most of the wolves there, have refused to pay taxes on account of an expected flood, and many of your subordinates have bribed the military officials and saved their sons from recruitment."

The minister sputters but before he can say anything, I turn towards the prince,

" His Majesty the King was right in his time, to start this war to establish that our Kingdom should not be messed with, but it has gone on long enough that the circumstances have changed. Therefore, I urge you as the Luna of the largest pack of your land and one of your loyal subjects, to end this war in the most peaceful way possible because what is now plaguing our enemy's land has started here as well, and ending this war will not only serve to benefit your rule but also establish your image as a wise ruler among your subjects."

I finish, and the prince looks impressed. There are a few who look ready to disagree, but many are silently nodding their heads in agreement.

" So turns out, she has been hiding intelligence beneath all this beauty as well," Prince Keiran says to my husband, who gives a tight lipped smile and says nothing.

I might have been wrong but I think I saw a flicker of anger pass through his face before he quickly hid it away.

The Prince left later that night, and I came into our bedroom finally, after bidding farewell to the rest of the pack members in attendance. Some appreciated me on expressing my take on the war. The people who were whispering against me were looking at me now, with a hint of respect. And I couldn't help, but feel proud.

My wolf was also happy with me after a long time.

I am taking off my earrings when Matt enters and I smile at him through the mirror, expecting his praise as well.Because he was the only one who kept quiet.

But my smile is cut short when I see that he is annoyed. He starts yanking at his clothes aggressively and smashing things around.

I know what I have to do when he is in this mood. Just sit in a corner, and hope that I don't do anything to annoy him.

But I can't help, but wonder why he is in that mood, in the first place?

Like most days, my attempt at being invisible proves futile, because he whirls towards me suddenly, and screamed.

"WHAT A FILTHY w***e YOU ARE.." He has turned into that monster again.

"I...I..." I stutter in confusion.

" SHUT UP...." He slaps me so hard that I fall off the chair and he proceeds to kick me. I whimper in pain.

" You liked it didn't you, to bat your eyes at that prince in this half naked dress of yours and try to act all smart."

His spit is flying everywhere and his eyes are glowing. He looks ready to turn.

I cower and manage to say what I always say to end this situation.

" I am sorry, it won't happen again. I will try to be better."

He kicks me one more time, and leaves the room.

I pick myself up again, ignoring the pain in my ribs and try to get out of the dress, he put me in.

We made love later that night and he kissed and caressed every inch of my body, and it was as if nothing happened, an hour earlier.

But for the first time, instead of feeling relieved I can't shake the thought pounding inside me, that I don't deserve what he's doing to me.