"You look gorgeous, Miss Reana. I'm sure Master Hale would be blown away by your beauty."
"Indeed. Her brothers would have been the–" the maid began but was nudged by the other maid when the temperature suddenly dropped.
"You may leave," Reana waved her hand, the air almost turning electric by the coldness she was exuding.
The maidservants didn't dare to linger. With a bow, they scurried away.
Left alone, Reana's eyes sparkled with unshed tears, her heart heavy with so many thoughts and grievances.
Her six brothers used to boast, shouting over each other on who would give her away to her mate. In the end, their father would always win the argument.
But now, no one would give her away to her mate…no one would walk her to the square.
On top of that, she had narrowly escaped another attempt on her life just this morning, and now, her mind was heavy with the vision of her mate dying in her arms. Although she'd incapacitated the assassin and sent him to a place of no return, restlessness still gnawed at her.
The strange feeling that she'd overlooked something kept getting stronger, but she didn't know what.
Or perhaps, she was just nervous.
Reana's hands trembled with excitement. She would finally have someone on her side after today. Someone who wasn't under her stepmother and Kael's influence. Perhaps, she could return to being that cheerful person she used to be, knowing she wouldn't have to be on guard 24/7.
After today, she would become the Luna of the Black Moon Pack, she would lead it to greater heights, like her father expected of her. With Hale by her side, she would make her father, mother, and brothers proud…
"Miss Reana, Madam Katherine is here to see you," a maid said, poking her head through the double entry door.
Reana rolled her eyes, irritation suddenly built up inside her. The excitement she was slowly gathering slipped. "Tell her she's better off at the square, where everyone else is gathered."
That woman was the last person Reana wanted to see, especially on a day like today. If possible, she wished Katherine would slip and die. That way, Reana wouldn't have to dirty her own hands and break the promise she made to her father.
"Reana dear, don't be like that. You can't go out there alone without your family to accompany you. There are Alphas from other regions. You don't want them thinking you have little regard for me and your brothers…" she paused, as if to remind Reana of their connection, one she couldn't sever even if she wanted to.
"...But If you still don't want me to walk you to the square, at least let Karl and Kael do that. Your brothers are eager to stand up for you, Reana."
However, Reana ignored her. She knew that woman was wearing her garment made of bullshit again, a drama queen, but unfortunately she had no crown.
Reana took her sweet time doing nothing but staring at her reflection, making her stepmother bubble with anger. It was only after Kira, her soon-to-be Gamma, entered to inform Reana that Hale had reached the square did Reana rise from her seat and stride out, carrying an air of quiet confidence and determination.
As soon as the doors swung open, an entourage of warriors and servants bowed at the sight of her, showing her utmost respect.
Madam Katherine stood with a forced smile on her beautiful face, "My dear, don't you look stunning!? Come, I'll walk you to the–"
"Hmph," Reana scoffed. Without giving her stepmother as much as a glance, she held her gown with the allure of a queen and strode forward, her entourage falling in line behind her.
Reana's scoff wasn't unexpected, but it still irked Katherine.
How dare Reana treat her like that? Had those people not been useless, this ceremony wasn't supposed to happen. They should be mourning her instead. But now that she failed, Katherine could only bite her finger in regret.
As the mini crowd drifted into the distance, Katherine's face twisted with hatred and murderous intent. She glared at Reana's retreating figure. Her fist clenched so tight that her nails dug into her palm, drawing blood.
"With your confidence last night, I thought I could finally rely on you to do something praiseworthy, Mother. The pack should be mourning, but here we are, celebrating." Kael's voice drifted with mockery as he stepped towards his mother. "Why is she still alive?"
The woman sighed with exasperation, "I did all I could, Kael. Perhaps, the Witch was right–"
"Don't even go there, mother! We're not about to go down that route, okay?" His eyes narrowed, anger rolling off his body. "Had you let me handle Reana like I wanted, none of these setbacks would be happening right now," Kael spat coldly.
"I'm sorry son. It was my oversight. I underestimated her. It won't happen again. I'll be more care–"
"No, thanks. I'll handle things from here. You don't need to do anything anymore."
"But Kael, I –"
"Mother, please!" He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress his anger. "Leave it to me and don't do anything, otherwise you ruin my plans." With that, he stormed off.
The mother sighed. Her son had the right to be mad, she thought. She'd repeatedly done things without telling him and none of it worked in their favor. She hoped that this time, things would be different.
…
The ceremony immediately kick-started when Reana arrived.
Katherine and her children had sour expressions on their faces, especially Kael. He'd just found out that the assassins - rogues to be precise, that he sought to kill Hale failed, and now he could only watch Reana and Hale go through the ritual in harmony. But even though he failed to kill Hale, he had other plans in store for those two.
A while after the two had finished the ritual and were waiting for the coronation to commence, Hale, a towering hunk with a chiseled physique, stood before Reana, his gaze locked onto hers, but his hands trembled from the overwhelming emotions coursing through him. He couldn't control himself. Hale couldn't believe that Reana, the Late Alpha's only surviving daughter would ever be his mate.
For years, he watched her from a distance. He caught her happy moments, sad moments, times she was enraged, times she showed bravery, and most of all, times she showed weakness. He was a warrior without a rank, so he couldn't go too close. Moreover, his build scared many women, and he was afraid to make her despise him.
Six months ago, when the tragedy struck her family, that was when she turned eighteen, and also when they realized they were mates. Hale was scared, thinking Reana would reject him - his looks were ordinary, his intelligence was lacking too. But he was loyal to a fault, and was willing to be her sword, after all, when it comes to brute force, no one could defeat him.
But surprisingly, Reana didn't reject him. She boldly took his hand to the Elders and requested they got them married. And now, he was standing before that woman that had long turned his world upside down, but still couldn't believe she was his.
"You look like you're about to cry," Reana pointed out, her tone lace with subtle teasing.
"I — I still can't believe I'm your mate," he smiled nervously, his fists clenched. He didn't know where exactly to put them.
Reana's hand suddenly brushed against his, sending sparks through him. Hale froze as if he'd been electrocuted, his heart thundering in his big chest. She touched him, again!
The first time was when she held his hand and led him to the Elders and now was the second time. He suddenly held her hands, eyes sparkling with tears. "I promise to be your rock and your pillar, Reana. I know I cannot fill the huge gap that your father and brothers left, but I'll do my best to make you happy. I'll love you till my last breath," he subconsciously squeezed her hands a little too tightly as he tried to contain his emotions.
Reana suddenly frowned, causing Hale to panic, wondering if he'd said something wrong.
"You're holding my hands too tight."
Hale abruptly let go, as if he was holding a hot coal. "I– I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."
A slight smile tugged at Reana's lips. Although her face was cold, her eyes held warmth for this man. He wasn't very intelligent nor handsome. In fact, tracking him by his face, you could lose him in a crowd, but he was a fresh air from the toxicity that plagued her world ever since the tragedy.
She was grateful to finally have someone by her side, someone she could rely on, who wasn't under her stepmother and Kael's control.
Those people had made her life miserable for the past six months, and she hoped they were ready for what was to come after she became the Luna.
Reana cupped his face, "Hale–" but before she finished, her eyes suddenly froze in a trance. The same vision flashing in her eyes once more, but this time, it was clearer. The pieces she missed came together. Reana's eyes widened in horror as her heart ran cold, hands trembling like leaves against Hale's face.
"Reana? What's wrong with you!?" Hale panicked, worried about Reana despite the erratic beating of his own heart, but Reana didn't reply.
Her face was drained of color as tears welled up in her eyes. "Ha—" just as she began, Hale's brows suddenly furrowed as he let out a thunderous roar that shattered the merriment in the air, drawing everyone's attention. He clutched his chest and doubled over, his knees hitting the ground with a sickening thud!
"Hale!" Reana screamed and dropped beside him. She reached out and held his big body close, hugging him so tightly, as if she wanted to mold him into her, but her hands barely encircled his big frame.
"Get the healer!"