•Dahlia•
I should quit being Luna and become a writer. I'd make a lot of money telling stories.
I'd start with the tale of how I led my lawfully wedded husband into the arms of his divinely fated soulmate. I bet everyone in the Werewolf Continent would enjoy such a story.
"River isn't with us today," my father, Gerald, spoke up. "Again," he added with a stiff tone, then stabbed the piece of beef on his plate, venting his anger on it instead of me.
"He'll be back soon." My voice was mouse-like, nearly inaudible as I picked up a broccoli.
"How soon?" My mother, Agnes, questioned, her tone pitched high with slight irritation.
That, I didn't know. So I didn't respond.
By my left hand side, Michael sighed and put down his cutlery. For the past three weeks since River found his mate, each of us haven't been able to reach him.
River's family and mine usually come together for dinner every Saturday night. River hasn't attended the last two, including today's own. His line was unreachable. His whereabouts, unknown.
"I'll speak to him. This can't continue to go on." Michael said in consideration, looking at me apologetically.
He and River were copies of each other with only wrinkle lines and gray hairs telling them apart. Seeing such a kind expression on Michael's face that resembled my husband's so much set me off a bit.
"Most certainly talk some sense into him."
"It's okay, though."
My father and I spoke at the same time, respectively. Michael was already nodding in agreement to Gerald's words when mine registered in their heads.
"What do you mean it's okay? You're not troubled seeing your husband gallivant with another woman in his arms round the pack??" Mom yelled in question, her crystal blue eyes that were like mine stared at me judgmentally.
"I—"
"Do you know what people are saying about you? They say you have no standing in your husband's house. As if you're the mistress and not the wife." Dad said before I could even respond to Mom's words.
"River is being silly. You don't deserve to be treated this way. You're his wife and Luna before everything else." Michael preached.
I closed my eyes and allowed their words to sink into my brain. All they could do was talk, none of them were actually going to confront River for my sake.
Even if they wanted to, what would they tell him? 'Stop being with your mate and remain loyal to your wife whom you hate?' It was illogical.
Since I hadn't experienced it myself, I couldn't tell the extent of attraction between mates, but River was so down bad that I feared he'd forgotten that he had other responsibilities besides adoring his soulmate.
"I understand. She's still his mate. He might not be able to help himself. Since it's causing such a nuisance, I'll speak to River about placing her at arm's length for the sake of the pack." My tone was crisp and clear, clever and practiced.
It put the adults to rest. But my father was still wearing a displeased expression on his face. He, of all people, was most upset about the fact that River had not only found his mate, but she was also the most powerful woman in the continent.
It was like the moon goddess was playing a cruel trick on him. After using every means in and out of the book to get me married to River and keep us together, his real mate just swoops in and uproots everything with her mere existence.
"Dad, trust me. I'll get him to listen to me." I reassured my father, extending my hand across the table to cover his own; a simple show of affection.
False, but present.
Dinner passed by relatively smoothly after that. None of us spoke about River again. By the end of the night, I saw my parents and father-in-law out before I showered and changed clothes with no intent to turn in for the night.
I was going to stay up and wait for River. Whenever that was going to be. He would return home, I was sure of it. He always did but only after I fell asleep. Then he would leave before I woke up early in the morning.
All so he could avoid me. Not today, though.
River's car pulled up in the parking lot past midnight. I set the lights in the living room dim, pretending I wasn't there.
He opened the door, and the first thing he did was to brighten the lights. When he saw me relaxed on the couch in expectation, his eyes went wide.
So did mine.
He must be surprised to see me still awake. Whereas, I was surprised to see him walking into our home with a sleeping woman in his arms at past midnight.
"You're back," I slowly stood to my feet and took two steps in his direction.
River hummed indifferently, the discomfort of having to face me was etched on his features.
"I waited up so I could talk to you about something important." My eyes cut to Miley who was peacefully sleeping in his arms.
My nails dug deep into my palms due to the forceful way my fists clenched and unclenched by my sides.
"Let me get her in bed first." River's voice was so soft that I barely recognized it. His gaze shifted to Miley and displayed a considerable amount of affection before he strolled past me.
'Let me get her in bed first.' Of course, River, get your princess in bed before you have a conversation with your wife.
My chest burned with fury as I watched River take Miley to his room upstairs, then return after a couple of minutes with his sleeves rolled to his elbows.
River straightway collapsed on the most comfy chair while I dragged my feet to settle across from him.
"You shouldn't have brought her here," I started with those words.
River narrowed his cold amber eyes. "This is my house."
"It's our matrimonial home," I countered. "Do you know how disrespectful it is to me? People will say—"
"Is this the important thing you wanted to talk about?" River rudely cut in.
I swallowed the rest of my words. Any moment from now, he could lunge the nearest object at me. I looked around him. There was a lamp close by. It was an expensive one. I should speak more carefully.
"I just wanted to let you know that your public escapades with the princess are not good for your reputation and the pack. If you could please cut down the time you spend with her, I'd really appreciate it."
I sounded so submissive and docile. This was a matter of my husband having fun with another woman, and I was adjusting my manner of speaking so I wouldn't upset him by telling him to stay away from her.
Goodbye to self-respect.
"I want to mark her." River leisurely said.
"What?" His words flew over my head.
"Miley is my mate and I want to mark her," he stated clearly.
"But you're my husband. We're married. You can't mark someone else." I spoke without thinking, raising the volume of my voice.
River blew up quickly, standing up from the chair and striding towards me in a moment. He towered over my figure and ground out with force, "I don't need your permission to mark my mate."
I stared up at him at a loss for words. This was the height of disrespect and disregard for me. I could deal with him ignoring me in public and doing the opposite of the things I beg him to do.
I could handle his violence spurts and beatings. But I would not watch him mark another woman and claim her in front of me while I played the obedient housewife game like a fool in front of everyone.
"Annul our marriage first." Someone whispered.
It took a whole second for me to realize that I was the whisperer. River's eyes lit up at my suggestion. He didn't bother hiding the excitement he felt at the idea of separating from me.
"Is that what you truly want, Dahlia?" he asked, almost smiling.
"I won't become the other woman in my own marriage." I said thoughtfully.
My parents would kill me for divorcing River. River's father would be more than disappointed in me. But I had to do this for myself. This was my perfect opportunity to escape from this hellish union.
"Remember that you'll no longer be Luna and you'll lose all the privileges that come with being my wife."
I'd lose the many disadvantages, too.
"I know," I said firmly. "I don't mind."
River revealed a bright smile on his face that startled the daylights out of me. He looked like he'd been waiting for this very moment all his life.
Which was crazy since I wanted out of this marriage more than him from day one.
He placed his hand on my cheek and caressed it almost lovingly as he said, "So be it, Dahlia."
I knew in my heart that everything was going to change after today. I just couldn't tell how much.