Chapter 6: Cursed Luna
Katherine shifted slightly in the bed, trying to get comfortable despite the dull ache that seemed to permeate her entire body. She had somehow passed out for the second time. Her eyes fluttered open, and she was met with the sight of Astrid sitting in a chair nearby, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
"You're awake again," Astrid said softly, leaning forward. "How are you feeling?"
Katherine jolted up at the sight of the other, guilt eating her up instantly. Astrid furrowed her eyebrows at the clear distress evident on the woman's face.
"I…I'm fine, I think…just sore and tired. Thank you for taking care of me," Katherine mumbled.
Astrid's eyes softened. "It's not often we find someone in such a state near our borders. You looked like you needed help, and I couldn't just leave you there. Although I might have gotten into a bit of trouble with our Alpha, but it was worth it to see you better."
Katherine winced slightly, guilt consuming her from within. Someone had gotten in trouble for helping her, and she had been worried about her father's warnings of the pack. Isn't it hilarious? She's literally been left to rot away, yet she's thinking of her father's warning as though she has other options.
"Oh really, so you don't care about getting in trouble with Kieran? I must say you have some balls, Astrid," a woman stepped into the room. She was tall, with striking features and an air of confidence that filled the room. Her eyes flicked from Astrid to Katherine.
"Astrid," the newcomer said, her voice smooth and commanding. "I see our guest is awake."
"Hey, Rave. You're here?"
"I'm here? Of course I'm here, I heard you left home early to see her. I wanted to know what had you so curious," Rave said, eyes drifting to Katherine's.
Astride huffed, a small smile on her lips. "Katherine, this is Ravenna, Alpha Kieran's sister. Ravenna, this is Katherine. I was just talking to Katherine about her next action. After all, we all know Alpha Kieran would be summoning her soon," Astrid let out, ignoring Katherine's questioning gaze on her.
Ravenna cocked an eyebrow up, "Is that so?"
Katherine tried to sit up a little straighter, wincing at the effort. "Hello, Ravenna. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. I'll be on my way as soon as I can," Katherine mumbled the last part.
"Leave? Do you have anywhere to go?" Astrid asked.
'Leave her alone, will you?' Ravenna said through the mind-link.
'Where can she go in this condition? She looks so fragile and weak. Did you hear what happened to her? I don't think she has anywhere to go,' Astrid replied, glancing at Katherine who was still staring at them, seemingly understanding of them communicating without her.
"Do you have anywhere to go, Katherine?" Astrid asked again, this time watching Katherine get flustered, averting her gaze awkwardly.
'See, she has nowhere to go.' Astrid continued over the mind-link.
"Alpha Kieran will summon you. Now, we know you're not a rogue yet, but we also don't know your intention to the pack. The pack comes first in all circumstances. I don't know what you have in mind, but if you want to spend a longer time in Vaeloria, you will have to plead your case," Ravenna said with all seriousness.
Katherine blinked, lips parted slightly. "Can I really stay here?" She asked, unable to keep the hope that filtered her eyes at bay.
Astrid's expression softened, she leaned forward, "You can stay here if you want, but it all really depends on Alpha Kieran, and I must tell you, he's really difficult to impress. You have to show him you're worth something, Katherine," Astrid replied.
Katherine had heard of him though, the name of the man had made waves into her room at the pack back then. She swallowed hard, looking at the two women who once again looked lost, seemingly having a conversation without her. She's going to try though. She'll try her hardest to impress him if that's all it took to let her in the pack.
Moments later, just like Astrid and Ravenna predicted, Katherine is summoned.
Katherine followed the Beta through the winding corridors of the pack house. Her mind raced with questions, but she focused on keeping her mind calm. She cannot mess this up at all. The Beta, a tall and imposing figure named Sam, walked briskly ahead of her, leading her to Alpha Kieran's office.
Sam pushed the door open and stepped aside, allowing Katherine to walk in first. She hesitated for a moment before stepping into the room. The office was spacious but sparsely decorated, with shelves lined with books and scrolls, and a large desk dominating the center. Behind the desk, Alpha Kieran sat, engrossed in a stack of papers.
He looked up as they entered, his dark eyes locking onto Katherine's. For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. 'So, this is Alpha Kieran,' she thought to herself.
The man sat behind the table, buried in a pile of papers, too preoccupied to look up. He wore a black shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders. His raven-black hair was cropped short, highlighting the sharp angles of his jawline, with a single scar tracing a faint line down his right cheek, evidence of the wars he had fought.
Kieran looked up, and their eyes met. Katherine inhaled sharply, her face growing pale, her eyes widening instantly. Kieran's expression mirrored hers, shock evident in his eyes.
"Alpha, this is the rogue..." Beta Sam started but was cut off.
"Leave us, Sam," Kieran said, his voice curt. Beta Sam looked lost but nodded, taking a step backward and out the door, leaving Katherine alone with the man.
"You are..."
"Don't even say it," Kieran's voice was low and dangerous, his eyes flashing with anger, though he didn't raise his voice.
Kieran's jaw tightened. He slammed his fist on the table. "Fuck!" he muttered under his breath. "This wasn't supposed to happen. Fuck, fuck, fuck." He growled, and Katherine flinched.
"You're... We are mates," she finally managed to say, her voice trembling. The words seemed to infuriate Kieran even more. He hissed loudly, the veins in his neck standing out as he struggled to control himself.
"I told you not to say it. Can't you listen?" Kieran gritted out, his voice tight with barely restrained anger.
Katherine swallowed hard, her hands trembling. The pain she had been feeling for the past days suddenly intensified. The moon goddess must be punishing her for something. There had to be something horrible she had done to warrant this level of cruelty.
Kieran's eyes narrowed, a distasteful scowl on his face. "We are not mates, Katherine. The goddess is mistaken. I don't do mates. I don't do relationships."
His words cut through Katherine like a knife. 'Yup, it's definitely a punishment,' she thought to herself. She hadn't even had the opportunity to mourn the loss of her mate that could have been, and the goddess shoved another right at her barely days after being rejected, only to have the second mate repulsed by the idea. It was actually hilarious. She had spent four years waiting for her mate to awaken her wolf, and suddenly, after her misfortune, she was given two in the span of four days.
Katherine took a deep breath, struggling to maintain her strength. It wasn't her first rodeo with heartbreak. She had survived her family's death, her first mate rejecting and banishing her. She would survive this.
"What do you plan to do?" Katherine asked, her voice low and soft, eyes on the man clearly losing his mind at the fact.
Kieran glared at her, and she shrank into herself, feeling more self-conscious. She looked at him again. "Do you..." she gulped hard, the lump in her throat growing bigger. "Will you reject me?" she asked, unable to keep the trembling in her voice at bay.
Kieran suddenly looked at her with an intensity that made her shiver. His gaze bore into Katherine, making her feel small and even more vulnerable. The silence stretched, heavy and oppressive, until finally, he spoke.
"Reject you?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't know what to do with you yet, Katherine. But one thing is clear, I certainly won't accept you as a mate."
Katherine bit her lip, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "So you won't accept me, but you won't reject me either?" At this, he looked at her, really looked at her. She looked small, battered, and even with the treatment she had received, she still looked deathly.
"It's not like you can take another rejection, so stop with the bullshit. Whatever games the goddess is playing, I won't participate." Kieran stood up, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. "You want to stay here, right?" Katherine nodded. She needed a place to stay until she could find her footing.
Kieran hummed, "You will stay here, under my watch. You'll never be recognized as my mate, nor will you be treated any differently than the other members. You will work and earn your stay just like everyone else. I tell you this, Katherine. Not a single soul must know we are mates. I want you out of my sight by all means. We'll see if you're of any use to this pack. Otherwise..." He let the threat hang in the air, unfinished but fully understood.
Katherine swallowed hard, willing her heart to beat slower.
"Astrid will show you to your quarters," Kieran said, dismissing her with a wave. "You are dismissed."
Katherine turned to leave, but just as she reached the door, Kieran called out to her. "And Katherine?"
She paused, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes, Alpha?" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't even think of running away. You won't get far." His eyes were cold and devoid of any warmth or kindness.
"I understand," Katherine said, then quickly exited the room, her legs trembling beneath her.
Katherine paused, turning to look at the now-shut door. 'He doesn't want to reject me, nor does he want me running away from the pack? What kind of person is Alpha Kieran, and what exactly have I gotten myself into?' she thought to herself.