ARKISHA
The melody of my cheerful humming echoed through my study as I meticulously reviewed all the invitations I had received this week. They were numerous, ranging from tea gatherings and birthday celebrations to anniversary parties, charity events, and simple social meetups.
Although I wished to attend one of these occasions, my responsibilities with the pack's internal and external matters kept me occupied, especially since my husband had just returned from the war.
I had no time for leisure, particularly because my mate had been irritable since he came back two weeks ago after a year-long absence. Besides, we were already scheduled to attend the victory celebration at the palace tomorrow.
"Luna, the Alpha has returned," Charlotte, my devoted personal maid, announced with a knock on the door. I was about to respond when the door swung open abruptly, startling me.
"What's wrong?" I asked, my brow slightly furrowed as I watched Damien, my destined mate, storm into the room with a stern expression. The strong scent of alcohol clung to him, prompting me to quickly stand and steady him when he stumbled.
However, when my hand made contact with his shoulder, he shoved me forcefully, causing me to hit my back against the edge of my desk and fall to the floor.
I gasped, pain radiating from my back as I gazed up at him with wide eyes.
"Don't touch me, you disgust me," he snarled, his eyes boring into me as if I were a threat to his very being. I knew he'd just returned from the war in another Kingdom, and I understood that experiencing such life-and-death situations could impact one's mental state.
But for him to behave this way, as if I had committed some unforgivable act... It felt so unlike him.
He had always been affectionate and caring towards me, and we had known each other since I was 18. When I came of age, my wolf instinctively recognized him as a mate. So, when we discovered each other, both the Silver Howl and Moon Bridge packs agreed to merge once we married.
However, before our engagement became official, a war erupted between my pack and a neighboring one, leading to the tragic death of my foster parents and many pack members.
Despite the immense heartache of losing the couple who had adopted and raised me after I was abandoned in the woods at just two months old, I was able to lead and win the war, thanks to my undeniable Alpha lineage.
At the age of 19, my reputation soared, particularly due to my position as the Alpha she-wolf, and as the sole heiress of our pack. Two years later, I married Damien, who became my rock and solace through everything that followed the war.
We were content together, co-leading the newly formed pack, which we named Silverbridge. People started calling us a power couple, as we seemed to be the perfect match. Everything was ideal until last year when Damien went off to war as the Alpha King had summoned several Alphas from across the Kingdom to join the battle against a rival Kingdom.
Although they were victorious, my mate returned as if he were a stranger. He wasn't physically hurt, but his unexpected mistreatment of me raised questions. The night he returned, he even forced me to mate with him, and it was extra painful and rough because he didn't prepare me.
"What did I do?" I questioned, gathering my strength to stand and confront him directly.
"Do you realize how exhausting it was for me to constantly hear your name during the war?" Damien replied, his words almost slurred with frustration. "Everyone kept asking the same thing: Why did the King choose me to assist in the war instead of you? Even after the war ended, that same damned question lingered!"
"Must be nice, right? Having such a stellar reputation when you're just an orphan."
"W-what?" I stuttered, shock evident on my face as I looked into his once affectionate gray eyes, now filled with a chilling coldness I didn't recognize.
"I regret marrying you, and I wish you weren't in my life," He snarled before abruptly turning and leaving the room without another word.
The slam of the heavy oak door made me wince, and I let out a deep sigh before sinking onto the couch.
Though the urge to follow him was strong, I realized that giving him space was the best option for both of us.
In the end, I spent hours in my study, pondering how to cope with my husband's temper, especially when his actions stemmed from a wounded ego, hurt by my reputation. I knew I needed to find a solution before it ruined our marriage, but unfortunately, it was already too late.
"Ugh!" A sudden sharp pain pierced through me, making me clutch my chest. It felt as if a knife was repeatedly stabbing me, nearly knocking the air out of my lungs as my knees weakened.
My heart raced with fear, imagining Damien might be with another woman at this very moment. Just the thought of it sent a chilling dread down my spine.
It was already past midnight when I forced myself to leave my study and follow my husband's scent. Then, I stopped in my tracks as moans echoed through the empty halls, coming from our bedroom.
Despite the turmoil, and the unbearable pain I was feeling, I couldn't stay away.
I pushed the door open and stumbled inside, collapsing from the agony. I only managed to lift my gaze when I heard my mate's voice.
"What the hell? Why are you interrupting us? Get out!" He yelled. Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw him naked, with a woman I'd never seen before beneath him, smirking at me.
Rage boiled at me, and my inner wolf, Fay, wanted to take control. But I held her back, instead, I stood up and stormed toward our bed. As soon as I reached it, I shoved Damien off, hard enough to send him to the floor. Then, I grabbed the woman's hair and dragged her out of the room.
She fought against me, screaming in pain as her long nails scratched my hands. Yet, no physical pain could match the condemnable betrayal I was feeling right now. I continued pulling her along, but Damien, now in a robe, blocked the door.
"What do you think you're doing to my woman?" he demanded, making me tremble with anger.
"Your woman?" I shot back, my voice quivering as rage surged through me, my grip tightening on the woman's hair as her cries of pain grew louder. "Do you hear yourself right now, Damien?!"
"I'm warning you, Arkisha, let her go before I reject you right here." He growled.
Those words hit me like a dire threat, one I knew he wouldn't take lightly. I couldn't let him reject me; I couldn't let him destroy the relationship and reputation we had built over the past three years.
The fear of losing everything overwhelmed me, causing me to hesitate. Yet, before I realized it, I had already released the woman's hair, tears spilling from my green eyes again. I wanted to scream, but didn't want to cause commotion.
I just gritted my teeth and shoved him aside, slamming the door behind me.
That night, I let Fay take over, and ran as far as possible. We didn't return home until the evening before the victory celebration at the palace took place.
"Vien will be living here from now on," Damien said as I brushed my ginger hair, staring at my reflection in the mirror. "She's going to stay in the annex, and our relationship will remain within the pack, so you don't have to worry about our reputation. I've already warned everyone that no one is allowed to tell anyone outside the pack about my lover."
"I endured hardship during the war while you stayed here, basking in all the praise and admiration everyone showered on you," he said, but at that moment, I was too exhausted to pay attention to his nonsense. I didn't even have the energy to ask where he met that woman and where she came from.
"I'll keep my lover here and remain married to you, so you can't touch her like you did last night," he added.
"If you do, I'll reject you. Do you understand?" He moved towards the vanity table where I was seated, his reflection locking eyes with mine as he stared at me from behind. I wanted to argue, to slap some sense into him, but I couldn't. If he rejected me, I'd lose everything.
With the packs merged, I had nowhere else to go. I had no choice but to tolerate his nonsense, no matter how foolish it made me look and feel.
I clenched my fist, meeting his eyes.
"As long as your mistress doesn't damage our reputation, I couldn't care less," I replied, though inside, I was hurting deeply.
When we reached the palace for the victory celebration, Damien and I acted as if everything was normal. I linked my arm with his, and he looked at me with a warm smile.
Just how? How could he smile at me like that?
To everyone else, our relationship seemed sweet and perfect, as always, but in truth, it was just a facade that caused me deep pain.
"The Alpha King has arrived!" Announced the Royal Beta from the stairs. As a result, Damien and I moved forward after chatting with an acquaintance.
The entire room fell silent, and we all bowed our heads in respect as he made his entrance.
All of a sudden, a powerful and intimidating presence engulfed the room, making me shiver.
This was the first time I would see him in person, and honestly, I was so nervous that it momentarily distracted me from my heartache.
"You may lift your heads," a deep, resonant voice echoed throughout the room.
As I slowly raised my head, my heart skipped a beat when I locked eyes with the Alpha King Eros. His eyes were strikingly different in color—one blue, the other hazel. They were mesmerizing, and the sight of them took my breath away.
However, when I realized that he was staring at me with such intensity, I instinctively looked away, wondering why his gaze was focused on me.