RAELYNN'S POINT OF VIEW
"I... I don't know anything about this, I swear" I stammered, head spinning with confusion as I turned to face my mom and dad who had looks of disappointment crossing their expressions.
"Of course you don't, Rae. But it's simple. You have yourself and your sister's mate dragged in the mud, you get the wedding you've always wanted" my father spelled and another tear slipped out of my eyes.
"I didn't ask for this. I don't want this! I can't marry Lucas" 'He hates me!' I added inwardly and my father stood to pat my shoulder for the first time in eleven years.
"Alpha McGregor wants it, and you asked for it the moment you decided to be wayward with your sister's mate. The guilt would live with you for the rest of your life" he murmured, before adding; "Prepare to meet the Alpha and Luna by sun set" and then he was gone, probably too disgusted to stand a disgrace like me.
"You still have a chance to prove to me that you're not just coveting the good life I managed to snag barely hours ago, Raelynn. And the only way is for you to make the Alpha change his mind. No. Matter. What!" Diana threatened with a murderous glare before she walked out as well.
"You don't believe me as well, do you, mom?" I asked, my voice cracking into a million pieces.
"I don't know what to believe, Raelynn. For years, you could barely stand a man being meters close to you, but now there's suddenly news that you spent an entire night with the Alpha prince! He is your sister's mate, Raelynn. And now I can't help but start to think you've been faking this part of you all these years. You smell like him. He's not your mate but he could touch you without getting a reaction?" My own mother outrightly accused me of doing something I wasn't even capable of and I just stood there, speechless, my heart breaking even more.
"I don't understand it too mom, I swear. I don't know how I could stand his touch without reacting badly to it" I sobbed desperately, hoping she goes back to the woman who would always listen to my side of the story and believe whatever I said but she simply shook her head.
"Your father just patted your shoulder, Raelynn. And NOTHING happened! How would you explain that too?" She added and I didn't bother responding because it's obvious that the woman I learnt to grow up with was gone. This woman right here doubted me and she already believed what she wanted. No matter what I said now, it would only make me look more guilty in her eyes so I just stood there with tear-filled eyes, watching my mom walk out on me too.
I wiped my cheek with the back of my trembling hand as I made my way into my room, peeling my gown off my body to reveal the deep red rashes that covered my skin after that simple pat of my father's hand on my shoulder.
When my mother said NOTHING happened, this was what she was referring to. My post traumatic reaction to any man's touch after what happened to me eleven years ago.
This rash reaction, severe panic attacks and days of withdrawal wasn't limited to just other men. It extended even to my Father.
Just because the rash didn't spread to my arms and face, she had concluded within herself that I'd faked all the other reactions in the past. For what? A long awaited night with a man that hates me but strangely didn't provoke a traumatic reaction from me even after he touched me?
My body started to feel extremely cold and hot at the same time and I curled up into my blanket, crying myself to sleep and trying to avoid falling back into the inevitable abyss of those dark memories I never want to recall till the day I die.
*
At sunset, my mom, my dad, my sister and I all headed to the main palace for a well needed meeting with the groom's family.
I would force a smile most times when Luna and the Alpha talked to me, but the truth is, I barely heard anything anyone was saying to me.
Lucas was not here.
The entire family was gathered but Lucas would rather save his eyes the sour sight of the woman whom he hated with every fiber of his being.
That alone was enough to make me realize that marrying a man like that was probably the biggest bad luck I would ever experience.
"You look so pale, Raelynn. Is everything alright?" Luna Vivianne asked and I forced another smile but she just maintained the poker face that told me secretly that she knew that was a completely fake smile.
"I'm okay, Luna. I look like this literally all the time" I lied smoothly and she raised a brow as if humoring my response but she said nothing else.
"I'm sorry my son couldn't make it, we came to a conclusion so quickly that there was no time to alter his schedules for this meeting" Alpha Gregor said, eyes training on me for a few seconds and then back at my Father.
"It's okay, Alpha. Those two will have plenty of time to get to know each other" my father said and the Alpha chuckled slightly as he nodded.
"I'm sorry, Alpha Gregor... Isn't there a way to revoke this wedding?" I asked before I could stop myself, my nails biting into the skin of my hands nervously.
"What?!"
"Raelynn!"
Alpha Gregor and my father exclaimed, their wide... Probably angry glares rounding on me.
"I mean, I heard an Alpha wouldn't be at his strongest without his mate to rule by his side. And I'm not even... His mate" I muttered, the last words coming out so forcefully, I feared they would notice.
My gaze remained fixed on my plates, fearing the next words the Alpha would say to me but instead, a laugh ripped through the tense air.
The Alpha laughed.
"Oh, Raelynn dear. You need not worry about Lucas not being at his strongest with a mate. He doesn't need a mate to be strong kiddo. He's stronger than this Alpha you're sitting with right now, it's only a matter of time until he succeeds me... Does that do anything to reassure you?" He explained and I nodded stiffly.
That did absolutely nothing to reassure me. If anything, it caused my agitation to grow even stronger.
And even more when the loud clatter of iron on glass echoed in the air.
Well, that was— my raging little sister. I feel so bad for hurting her like this but it couldn't be helped. I was hurting as well... This wasn't the perfect romance I'd pictured for myself. This was me, burying my ass into an inescapable pit of hell.