The Alpha’s Arranged Bride

LAVENDER’S POV

The Future Luna? I froze. I stared at her, unable to hide the shock on my face. Wasn’t Luna meant to be his wife? I was his wife, so how was she the future Luna? I wanted to ask, but the words failed to come out. I did not want to believe that it was true. Caramel would not do this to me, would he? I thought he loved me.

Rose noticed my shocked expression and was seething with joy from it. She turned to the maid that had wanted to serve my meal. “Come serve me,” she instructed.

I got out of my daze, but I still could not speak for a couple of minutes. Rose loved seeing me that way. Once the maid was done serving her, she returned to my side. “Should I serve you, Your-”

I raised my hand, stopping the maid from speaking further. “I’ll pass on breakfast,” I told her, then rose to my feet.

I turned around to leave, when Rose scoffed. “I know since Caramel has been busy, you peasants think you own this mansion. I’m back, and I will set all of you straight. Beginning with you, human,” she said.

I bit my lips not to say anything to her before heading out of the living room, but Rose stopped me. “Where do you think you are going, peasant?” she asked.

I refused to turn around and just kept on moving. Just as I left the door, Rose came at me, grabbing my arm harshly. “You’re hurting me,” I said, trying to take my hand back.

“You are really stubborn, aren’t you?” She sneered and then let go of my arm. “Kitchen, now,” she commanded, folding her hands.

“There are maids for that,” I told her.

“And you are?”

I knew she did not know who I was, but why would she speak to anyone in such a manner? “Rose, you-”

I got a slap to my face, making me swallow my words. “You will never call me by my name. Ever!” she warned.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I raised my hand to hit her, but I stopped halfway, folding my fist. She flinched, taking a step back. When she realized I was not going to hit her, she spoke, “Hit me. Hit me and have your head on a spike the next minute,” she threatened.

I dropped my hand and walked away, but just as I ascended the stairs, Rose spoke, “Well, at least you know your place,” she said.

I went into my room, and no matter how I wanted to act indifferent about it, it still disturbed me. Was she really his future Luna? Werewolves were not polygamous, right? Or was the oath a farce? I tried to shake off the thought because I was slowly giving myself a headache.

An hour later, a knock came at my door. “Come in,” I ushered.

Mitchel bowed the moment she stepped in. “Your Majesty, you need to eat. Alpha Caramel will not be happy to know you have not eaten,” she told me, but I did not care if he was happy or not.

“I’m not hungry,” I simply said.

She tried to speak again, but I was not in the mood. “I will not speak further on this. Please leave,” I instructed.

She stared at me for a minute before bowing and leaving me alone. I glanced at the book I held, then sighed before leaving the room. I tried distracting myself with the book, but Rose’s words and Caramel possibly lying to me kept ringing in my ears.

Hours went by with me thinking, then it clocked lunchtime. My stomach growled for the umpteenth time when a maid knocked and informed me of lunch. No matter how I was, my stubbornness was bigger, so I sent the maid away.

I took a nap, but it was interrupted by my stomach rumbling. Only a minute later, a knock came. “Your Majesty, Alpha Caramel is requesting your presence,” Mitchel said.

I said nothing, and she turned the knob, walking in. Before she could speak, I did. “I don’t want to see him,” I said.

“Alpha Caramel will not be happy to-”

“Can you stop with that excuse? I don’t want to see him. Now go!” I yelled at her.

“I’m… I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” she said and rushed out of the room.

I went into the bathroom and took a bath, hoping that would be better than food right now. May my stubbornness not kill me.

I didn’t accept this marriage, so why should I be upset that he has a Luna that was not me? Ugh. I cursed at myself before taking a seat in front of my dressing mirror. “I called,” Caramel’s voice came.

I raised my head, my eyes on the mirror as I watched him approach me. “And I told them I didn’t want to see you.” I threw the words at him, not caring that he might be upset.

He twirled my chair and locked eyes with me. “Did something happen?” he asked.

I rolled my eyes at him, then tried to turn back around, but he stopped it. “What?” I snapped at him.

“I was told you haven’t eaten since I left. Why?” he asked, but I would not be that girl who would tell him his real Luna made me upset and, as such, I was stubborn to eat.

“Come, let’s go eat.” He gave me his hand, but I glanced at it and looked away from him, folding my arms. “I’m not hungry,” and just then, my stomach growled.

Embarrassment washed over me. “Your stomach says otherwise. Do you have something special in mind you want them to prepare for you? I can tell them to do it,” he said to me.

“When were you going to tell me?” I asked him.

He looked confused for a minute as he asked, “What? I’ll never hide anything from you.”

And I believed this before I was told he had a Luna that was not me, which was hidden from me all this while. He was so good at hiding it. I felt upset about believing him in the first place. “I’m going to eat,” I told him as I rose to my feet, not wanting to discuss Rose.

His eyes remained on me all the way. I ignored it, as I knew he was pretending. He was not the person I thought he was. I walked out of the room, and not long after, he was standing beside me, glancing at me now and then as we headed towards the dining table.

While we walked down the stairs, I darted my eyes around, looking for that witch. I did not need them to ruin my day any further. He pulled out a chair for me, and I sat on it, not wanting to make a scene in front of the maids.

Just before Caramel could take his seat, that witch’s high-pitched voice filled the entire room. “Caramel!”

Caramel turned, his eyes widening in shock, and then he glanced at me before returning his gaze to Rose, who rushed towards him with arms spread. He really was hiding her from me.