Claimed By My Adopted Uncle

17. Her Name Is

RAVEN

I was done letting them walk over me.

The drive to Howl Moon was a few minutes, the torture of having to sit in the car awkwardly with Soren finally ended to my relief.

He went to get my door, and I mumbled a thank you to him.

“This way…” he walked me into a mansion that had a striking resemblance to the one back home. It was as though I never left. When we walked inside the house, the maids all froze. I couldn't tell if it was respect they had for Soren or if it was fear they felt. Which was confusing considering he was a good man. They had nothing to fear.

Don't be too quick to think he's a good man. My mind reminded me. I shut the thought down quickly.

I followed closely behind him, clinging onto the little I had come with.

“This is your room, I had it prepared for you the day you agreed to marry me.” My heart thumped. I didn't know what to say. He had just found out about Kael and I being mates. I wasn't sure if he was upset with me for not telling him.

I nodded, pressing my lips into a thin line, remaining as humbly as I could.

The room was beautiful, I could see that he put a lot of thoughts to it. I placed my things on the bed, taking a moment to really look at the room. Soren stood watching. In a way that made my skin crawl. And that made me question my decision for a moment.

“Are you hungry?” He asked out of the blue and my stomach grumbled. I couldn't lie even if I wanted to.

He smiled and led me to the kitchen where some of the maids were busy in.

“Is there anything to eat?” He asked and they nodded, pointing at a pot that was kept on the side. It was still steaming hot. It was some type of soup that had rice mixed up in it. It smelled delicious but I wasn’t sure my taste buds would agree.

Soren served some in a bowl and handed it to me, before taking me out of the house through the back door. As the door swung open, I saw the biggest garden. Dark moon pack was larger than Howl Moon in land mass, though they had more wolves than we did, I never expected that their garden would be more breathtaking.

I froze in place. Soren folded his arms across his chest with a proud smile on his face. “Beautiful isn't it?” He asked and I couldn't agree more.

“I think that's an understatement. Did you plant these yourself?” I forgot about my pain for a while, and I smiled with him. To get a better view of the place, I set the rice porridge down on a bench and walked next to him.

His smile dimmed a fraction, but it didn't completely disappear. “Yes and no. I helped. My ex mate, she…” he paused. His voice broke, and his Adam's apple moved up and down as he swallowed what I assumed was his sorrow.

“I'm sorry I asked. You don't have to talk about it.” I should have kept my mouth shut. I lowered my head as we continued to walk, too ashamed to even continue looking around the garden. Whoever his mate was, he must have loved her dearly. And together they made this masterpiece.

“No, no. It's alright. You remind me of her a lot, you know…” I do? This wasn't someone kind of rebound he was looking for was it? He stopped walking and looked at me. “Beautiful, selfless, kind hearted. You're all of these…” No, Soren. I am the opposite. “Come, let's get you fed.”

We went back to the meal and I took the first bite, praying in my head to the goddess that it at least tasted half as good as it smelled. As soon as it hit my tastebuds, I smiled widely, amazed that rice could be cooked so thickly and this good.

I finished the bowl in a matter of minutes, still hungry for more but I couldn't tell him that.

I was allowed to head back into the house while Soren handled some urgent matters. The maids were kind enough to offer me a smile, some even saying hi. They were different from the ones I knew. Who were obnoxious and rude for maids.

As I got to my new room, and started to settle in, the door was pushed open. I had been a second away from asking who it was when she stepped into the room with so much arrogance it has no space left inside the room.

“Well, well…” she started and I could literally see the best part of my say leave me. Goddess, why is she here now? “Finally settling down aren't you? In her room too.” Huh? I frowned, wondering who she was talking about. “Oh what's with that look? Hmm? Let me guess, you thought he arranged all of these for you didn't you?” You're not wrong. “...let me burst your bubble, this was her room. She loved it here. And she died in here too.” She said this part really slowly as if to make sure I had heard it.

She didn't need to. I had heard loud enough.

“What was her name, his mate?” Kathryn grinned evilly, she knew she had me exactly where she wanted me. Curious, and to know that Soren wasn't mine either.

First Kael, now her brother.

She walked closer, until she was inches from me. “You're exactly where I want you to be, Raven. Kael isn't here to protect you now, is he? Here, I f*****g promise you, I will make your life miserable. You will pay for kissing my husband and mate.” She stressed the last word again and I frowned. Her mate? I gulped. I was in her territory. She could have me killed and get away with it. And she would be protected too.

“Oh and his mate's name is…”