Claimed By My Adopted Uncle

13. He Lied

RAVEN

I hadn't seen much of Kael lately since the hospital scene. For some reason he seemed to be avoiding me too. He would leave the room as soon as he sensed me or not show up at all.

I tried not to think much of it. And yet, I couldn't forget about the kiss. Or the fact that he had been so close to marking me.

I waited to see if he would. I wanted him to even with the fear that he would still go to her even after he marked me. But I didn’t mind. Because then people would know whose mate I was.

The night I returned home, Father didn't spare me a glance. He had been too busy going through some papers, his excitement clearly showing and I couldn't help but wonder if it had anything to do with Soren's pack and the wedding. Perhaps they had given him a gift.

And for the better part of that night I remained as quiet as possible in my room. And the day after.

It had since been a week. And I got a sense of deja vu when I woke in the morning for my chores.

The house was suddenly busy with maids running around, fixing things. What is happening today? Were we perhaps expecting another guest today?

I asked a few times, no one would tell me anything of note. “We also don't know, we just know that Luna gave orders and we're getting it done…” one finally explained.

It seemed they were in the dark about this just as I was. I tried to catch up with rush, finishing my work as soon as I could to catch another.

And through it all, I couldn't help but sense that something was off today. And something bad was about to happen. If only I knew what it was.

I checked with Avina. She was present today. Per usually quiet but present.

“Do you know what's happening?” I asked, trying to stir up conversation. It was a stupid start, how was she supposed to know when we were literally the same person?

“Beats me, Raven. I'm more worried about Kael. I haven't felt his wolf for days. Do you think he's okay?” I bit the inside of my mouth at her question. She was more concerned about him and his wolf than she was about us.

“If he wasn't, we would know about it. I just think he's purposefully avoiding us. I haven't seen Kathryn or her brother in days either…” I realized dropping the rag that had been in my hand. Worry seeped into me. What really was going on?

I heard mother coming, the room fell silent and I immediately crouched to the ground to get back to work.

Memories from that day flashed in my mind. How she had lied and covered for Kathryn at my expense. She left me to be humiliated and the gal to say it was for my own good.

No wonder she doesn't have a child. She was as wicked as the devil himself. She treated everyone around like they were nothing.

She spotted me, and stopped in her tracks. Her eyes lowered with an attitude. “Once you're done, get back to your room and stay there for the night. I don't want your presence ruining the evening for our guests…” she spoke with so much venom but it didn't shock me. What surprised me was why I had to hide away and not anyone else.

I nodded. “Yes Luna…”

As if that wasn't enough, she made sure I was escorted back to my room and it locked from the outside. I was beginning to feel afraid now. What was the need for that? I felt like a prisoner in my own room.

“Avina, something is wrong…” I voiced out loud the second I heard the keys turning. “I don't know what it is but something is f*****g wrong…”

“You're right…” she answered back to my surprise.

“Do you know what it is? Can you feel Kael's wolf?”

“No, Raven. But we need to get out of this room…” as soon as she said that, I heard footsteps approaching. I ran to the door and pressed my ear on the wooden frame.

“Did you hear? Apparently today is the wedding. I thought he was supposed to be getting married on the same day as Raven. I guess that's not happening…”

Someone's getting married to day?

I frowned and pressed my ear in more. Their voices, whoever they were, were muffled but I could make out most of the words.

“It's so impromtu too. Like they suddenly decided Beta Kael will have his wedding today instead of later…”

I fell backwards as soon as the words registered in my head. Kael is getting married. And today too. Right now even.

“I won't marry her, Raven…” he had said to me days before. Liar. I should have known. What was I thinking? That he kissed me and made some fake statement and that he and I would end up together like we were always meant to?

Wake up, Raven. He'll never want you.

I remained on the floor, waves of shock coursing through my veins.

“We have to stop that wedding, Raven. I won't lose my mate to that b***h…” Avina growled in my head but I was too weak to move. I had accepted my fate. She hadn't. She was refusing to.

“It's too late, Avi. He'll never want us…” I whispered, feeling tears streaming down my face. I hadn't even realized when the tears formed in my eyes.

“Not until I see with my own eyes, Raven. Get up now, or give me control…” she spoke with so much power my body jerked up standing. She was pissed to say the least. Not just at Kathryn for stealing her mate but because unlike me, she believed his words. They were a promise to her. Something scared and he was on the verge of breaking it.

I walked over to the window and noticed that it had been worked on. And my guess would be Luna had someone come in to bolt it shut while I was working. I banged my fists against the iron, I should have known.

Before I could tell what was going on, Avina had taken full control over my body. She gripped the metal tightly and with a single growl, she pulled it off and tossed it aside.

I stared at my hands in shock. Sometimes I was weaker than an omega in this pack and other times, I felt stronger than Alpha Rowan himself. It was confusing.

I pulled the glass up and easily slid out of the window like I had done many times. The jump was the hard part. I was afraid. But Avina came through. With ease we landed on our feet before quickly running off to a nearby tree to hide.

Luna will kill me if she finds out I left the room. I thought to myself but I was already out now. And the bolt against the window had been forced out. What was done, was done.

I ran between trees away from eyes. Until I made it where the grand hall was. Sure enough there was a party going on. A lot of guests have arrived. One in particular caught my eye.

Soren.

He knew about the wedding and never said a word to me about it.

“That's because he's trying to make sure our mate marries his sister….”

I suddenly remembered Kael's words. Soren wasn't as good of a man as I thought he was. He doesn't know, Raven, calm down. My mind went in attack mode. I almost face palmed myself thinking about it. Of course he didn't know. No one knew. And that was why he was marrying someone else.

The coast was clear after some time, even though it felt as though time was running out with me waiting around. I brisked to the door and was about to open the door when Soren suddenly appeared.

I swear I had seen the man walk inside the hall. How was he here?

“Raven? What are you doing here?” What kind of question was that? He didn't want me here did he?

I didn't answer. I pushed against the door, or tried to before hands held me back.

“I thought I told you to stay in your room, Raven. How dare you disobey me?” Luna found me. And she was here with guards who were now holding me back from going inside the hall.

Her determination to stop me became mine to find out what was going on.

Avina who had been on edge easily got out of their hold and pushed them off one by one. Soren tried to come for me, but I didn’t wait. I ducked, forcing the door open before meeting the ground as I was tackled to the ground.

Before me was a crowd that gasped and murmured at the noise coming. But my eyes were on the two people up stage. My mate had his arms wrapped around Kathryn, kissing her. His bride.

Now his wife.

Avina howled in pain in my head. The room started to spin. Then his head turned in our direction having pulled away from his kiss with Kathryn.

His eyes widened. I was not supposed to see this. I understood now.

“Raven…” I saw his lips move. But I was slipping away. And just like that, darkness took over.