Rain Vale
Everyone was staring. The ceremony had turned to chaos in seconds. My brothers stood by the side, fuming, claws out and ready to bounce on me at any given chance, and my father and his ministers stood still, bewildered and so angry smoke threatened to sprout from their wrinkled ears.
"The ceremony is over," my father announced like a death sentence.
The gates flooded with departing, angry guests. Some cursed to the hearing of all, while others snorted and threw dirty glances at me.
"In the inner council hall now!" my father barked and took the lead. His ministers followed, then my brothers, then I and the Moonfang brothers. I went for his wheel, but Caelan slowly pushed my hands away.
"I can take care of myself," he whispered.
His rejection stung deeper than the crowd's nasty stares.
In the inner council hall, everyone stared at me as if I had cursed the land… well, from their perspective, I had.
My father first cleared his throat, then glanced at the man by my side as if he were dirt beneath his feet.
"Rain." His voice dropped coldly.
"Yes, Father." I bowed
"The kingdom comes first," he said.
I nodded. Certainly it did. I was nothing but an identity in their eyes, something they wanted to get rid of at their convenience.
"You have bound us to Moonfang with your impulsiveness. However, like Silverreach, Moonfang is powerful and cannot be humiliated." He paused, then glanced down at Caelan, then up at Vegas.
"We will not insult an allied pack by publicly rejecting their prince," he continued.
"But he is."
"Silence, Rhett!" the king barked.
My brother's eyes darkened as he stared at me like he would skin me alive.
"From this moment, Prince Caelan Moonfang will remain in Silverreach Palace as Prince Rain's official mate candidate until the next full moon."
The room erupted instantly.
"This is madness!" Elder Abel Meeks hissed.
"The kingdom will be mocked!" Elder Cowell Logan snapped.
"How are we going to face everyone with such disgrace hanging on our necks?" Cassian added.
My father raised one hand, and silence rippled through.
"This," he said coldly, as if he was tossing aside a leftover dish, "is diplomacy." His gaze shifted to me. "If this destroys the kingdom," his voice dripped with hate, "you will carry the blame alone."
I lowered my head. "As I have always," I murmured, but not to his hearing.
My father was the first to walk out, followed by the ministers who nearly spat on me, then my brothers. The echoes of their steps soon faded, and it was just the silent breathing of me, my mate, and his brother.
I turned and reached for Caelan's hands, but he pulled away too quickly; one would think my touch burned.
"Stop pulling away," I hissed, already annoyed. It was clearly the third time already in barely an hour.
"I will stop pulling away when you stop holding me, as I belong to you."
His words hit harder than the rejection of my family. But before I could answer, another imposing voice echoed from the side.
"Release my brother. Moonfang will hold nothing against Silverreach."
Alpha Vegas Moonfang stepped forward and held Caelan's chair possessively. Papa Bear finally found his words; my wolf hissed from within; he hated the stench of him.
"Do you have to make it so obvious how much you hate your blood?" I snapped.
"I don't hate him, but this is not good for him. The spectacle is over, so let him go." He turned Caelan toward the exit. "Go to your father and take back your words. Moonfang is not interested in this alliance."
"He is not your brother right now," I said calmly as I walked over to Caelan. "He is my mate."
"You,"
"Vegas," Caelan called calmly. "I can speak for myself."
Vegas's body stiffened, and his grip on the wheelchair loosened. Caelan went ahead to wheel himself smoothly with so much ease and mobility. While his brother stormed out like a jealous side piece.
"I am not interested," he added, but I wasn't going to let him off so easily. Not now.
"Wait," I called out, and he halted.
I walked over, every step measured with precision and determination. Before him, I dropped one knee on the floor, letting those pale storm-colored eyes assess me from every angle. From the side, the guards watched me as if I were mad.
"I,"
"You just declared war between kingdoms," Caelan cut me off. "And for what… A man, you don't know?"
My lips curled at the corner, and I watched his silver hair peek from behind his ears.
"I didn't start the war," I said quietly. "The moon did."
Caelan's gaze hardened. He didn't find my sense of humor amusing.
"You are using me to spite your father and brothers." It wasn't a question. So I didn't intend to lie.
"Yes… and not only them, but the entire kingdom."
His breath hitched, his hands trembled, and his eyes flickered softly, but his cold gaze was back too soon to remember that softness. He pinched his nose, frustration running within his eyes.
"You pity me," he whispered, too quietly; I almost didn't hear it.
"No." I blinked.
"You want revenge," he added, and I exhaled softly.
"Yes."
A soft breath escaped Caelan's lips, and then a sharp chuckle followed.
"An honest omega prince… this is new," he murmured amidst a chuckle. "That's rare."
I held his chin up. His gaze settled solely on me.
"I do not pity you," I said honestly. "I chose you."
Caelan's gaze didn't soften. No, his eyes darkened.
"Amid a hundred eligible suitors, it is a cripple you chose," he growled
My head tilted to the side. "I chose a man everyone fears."
"Used to fear… there is a difference, my prince," he corrected.
"Rain," I murmured.
Caelan's gaze softened just a little. I straightened up, and Caelan's hands went to his wheels. Beside him, I walked out, matching his pace. The doors opened before we reached them, and the palace pillars extended before us.
The air was heavy with unspoken words, the tension cutting through like a blade.
"Welcome to your new prison, Caelan," I whispered.
Caelan looked ahead, his expression cold, and his fingers tightened on his wheels.
"Funny," he murmured. "I was about to say the same to you."
And behind us, the doors closed with a thundering echo… the chaos had only begun.