Chapter 59
Rhea
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I don’t feel good about this. At all. I had spent days pondering and wondering, but all I felt was dread and anxiety. All the while, my body and mind ached. It’s like there’s a black cloud above me, and it’s following me, making me feel uneasy, scared, and nervous.
The full moon is here. The day has arrived. And now I have to go with Aron to the packhouse, and I have to face everyone.
But what scares me the most is what Aron has planned for them, for everyone there, and what he’ll do. It will be a bloodbath. I can feel it in my bones. He has been on my mind ever since that night, the night he came into the room and spoke to me. He doesn’t talk about that night, what happened, or the things he said and did.
Nothing about that.
He doesn’t even talk to me, just to that one friend of his. I try to eavesdrop, but I know it’s not the right thing, so I avoid doing that.
In the morning, before we leave, Marcella helps me pack a few things. I beg her not to, as I’m not staying longer than a night, but she insists that I take a dress and some clothes with me.
I’ll be attending Catelyn’s wedding to Alpha Elias. The idea of it makes me want to gag.
“Marcella-” I stop her, holding her hand, and she glances at me. “Can’t you come with me?”
She laughs at that, “Of course I can’t. I’ve too many responsibilities here. But you’ll be fine with Aron, he’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”
I really want to believe that.
But I don’t.
We leave shortly after. There are a few men that gather at the outside of the house. One of them is that man who came that night. Kovas. I don’t forget his name. There’s another one as well, a familiar face and then a few more.
I wait by the door with Marcella by my side, wait for Aron to come. My eyes linger over the men that are already by the car. They don’t pay any heed to me; they just take a quick glance before they turn their heads. It’s a long ride.
“You’ll be there by nightfall,” Marcella says. “And back by two days time most.”
I nod but before I say anything to her, I see Aron coming toward the foyer with something in his hand.
“Excuse us, Marcella. ‘I want to speak with her.” Aron says.
“Of course, safe travels.” She nods at me before giving me a small hug and disappearing into the hallway.
Aron steps an inch closer to me, closing the distance that’s there. “There’s something you should know before we get there,” He starts, keeping his eyes fixed on me. I don’t know how to feel about his words. What is it now? “I don’t want you to talk to anyone when we are there. At all. No one should know what we’re there for-”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“I know
you won’t, but don’t talk to anyone either.”
I nod, and he turns me around before slipping something over my neck and clasping it behind. It happens quickly. I don’t even register it until it’s over my neck. My hand runs through the leather, it’s a band–a collar.
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“Why did you do that?” I ask, aghast.
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He reaches for my arm and turns me to him, “Because when we are there, I want everyone to know that you belong to me. They will know. They will see.”
I swallow tightly, my fingers trembling as I run them through the collar again. It’s tight, and it’s making me feel breathless.
“You’ll not remove it until we return.” He orders. “Understand?”
I give him a small, timid nod. I understand. I just don’t like this. I don’t want to wear a collar like an animal. But I get why he wants me to wear it there. So they can see. So that they know I’m not free, that the person that tried to kill their Alpha isn’t running free. Instead, it’s leashed and bounded.
It’s in a cage.
We get on the road after that. It’s a long ride after that and for the most part, it’s a quiet ride. The more darker it’s get, the closer we get to the south, to the packhouse. I don’t know if it’s the cold or my own fear that makes me shiver. I’m scared. I’m very, very scared of going back.
I don’t know how I’ll be able to bear it.
I especially fear seeing my own family again. But the thing I fear the most is the wedding and the ceremony–the things that will happen later. I don’t want to stay there to see it, and I don’t want to be a witness to Aron’s plan. But I have to, don’t I?
There’s nothing I can do.
I try not to think about it. I don’t. But it’s hard to ignore it.
In no time, we are already there and I’m walking behind Aron. He gets a greeting from Alpha Elias, who’s a little surprised to see me. I don’t meet his eyes. I keep my head down, as I’m meant to, as I’m told to. Stay silent and still. Just like that.
Catelyn appears a moment too soon and my hands curl. I don’t look at her either, but I can feel her gaze. Her eyes are burning with fury and hatred. And it burns inside of me too, just the same. The scar she has given me over my neck still stings at night sometimes. I don’t forget. I won’t forget.
“Congratulations on your union,” Aron says, holding out his hand.
Elias looks at him for a moment, and then at me. There’s a brief look that appears on his face before it vanishes, and he takes Aron’s hand in his.
“My deepest gratitude,” He says. “We’re honored that you came for the celebrations. It means a lot.”
“The honor is mine.”
Elias moves his gaze away after that and I hear the voice of Catelyn. She’s saying something to him. And then, he speaks. “I hope you’ll enjoy your time and the festivities. We’ll be seeing you later in the morning. All arrangements have been made so one of the housekeepers will lead you to where you’ll be staying.”
“Thank you.”
With that, Alpha Elias and Catelyn move on, going into another hallway. Aron doesn’t move, and I stay by his side, silent, looking ahead. I feel him wrap his hand around my wrist, his grip gentle yet firm. He turns me to him, and I look up, meeting his eyes, and then my gaze drops to his chest.
There’s a whisper that reaches my ear, barely so, but it does.
“Why is she here?”
“Oh, Cat, I can’t do anything about this now. Our wedding is in a day’s time. If he wants to bring a guest with him, then so be
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it.”
“But, she’s tried to kill you? Did you forget-”
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There’s not much I can hear after that. They are too far gone. But everyone else that’s here, with Aron, has heard the same as
I have.
“Alpha Killer.” Kovas whispers and the rest laugh under their breath.
“Manners, Kovas. We are in a different territory.” Aron replies to him, a little warning in his voice.
Before anything else happens, we’re attended by no one other than Ethel who comes with Nyla by her side. She pauses on her tracks when she sees me, and I do the same. It’s like my heart stops. She doesn’t looks away, not at all. Her eyes fall on my neck, on the collar that’s there and then back onto my eyes.
I don’t know what she’s thinking, but a look of shock passes through her expression.
“Alpha Aron,” she clears her throat a moment later. It’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise.”
“Please,” Her eyes go past me, looking at the men that are there. There aren’t many, only seven. The rest are somewhere else -the rest sixty of them. “Follow me.”
She sends Kovas and the other guys with Nyla onto the second floor and then she takes me and Aron to the third floor. I keep following Aron as I’m meant to, not taking a second glimpse at anything or anyone that passes by me.
“If there’s anything you’ll require for your stay, you can inform me or anyone from the staff. I’ll have someone stationed in the hallway outside for you,” she smiles and tells him as we reach the door.
“Thank you. It’s fine, I believe everything is in order.”
“Please, enjoy your time here,” Ethel says as he steps inside.
She remains outside, as do I. I believe this is my cue to leave too. I don’t think Aron expects me to follow him into his room, does he?
“I’ll go to-”
“You’re not going anywhere.” He cuts me, wrapping his fingers around my arm, and pulls me inside. I almost stumble, taken aback. “You’ll be where I am.”
“But-”
“No, buts,” He looks at Ethel and gives her a nod. “That will be all.” He closes the door after that.
I take a deep breath and look at him, completely startled. I didn’t think that I’d be in the same room as him–sharing the same bed. That thought itself makes me nervous.
“I’m staying here? In the same room, as you?”
“Is there a problem?”
My lips part, “I-”
“Speak up.”
He’s looking at me, like he’s trying to read my mind. “Nothing,” I answer him quietly. “It’s okay.”
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