Word Count: 1613
~Hunter
I stare out across the crowd, feeling my breakfast churning uneasily in my stomach.
The last time I stood before a crowd like this, my brother was being announced as Alpha, taking over my father's position. That day I felt sick to my stomach as well, but for an entirely different reason...
Back then, I was angry that despite being older than my brother, I wasn't allowed any power. I hated that instead, I was destined to marry someone else with power, to give him heirs then disappear into a void of unimportance.
Today, I'm the focal point. All eyes examine Kaan's new bride to be, their new Luna.
"What an incredible day this is, where we can finally announce that our son has proposed to his beautiful fiancee, Hunter," Cyrus announces to the crowd, sweeping his arm around to encompass us.
Cyrus and Allira wanted to call me Livia to the crowd, although I pressed them not to. Thankfully they agreed to my terms, but only when I begrudgingly accepted being a lifeless, passive body on stage for people to stare at.
Allira steps forward, her lavish plum coloured dress shifting with her movements. "Their love story is quite unique, however, we cannot stop their love, and will allow Hunter to step in as your Luna, to support your wonderful Alpha."
Her words are clipped, although the crowd swoons.
People assume that the generous ex-Alpha and Luna are allowing Kaan and I to come together out of love. They are letting those who don't know who I am to assume a commoner who has had a chance to fall in love with the Alpha.
It would be a beautiful story, if it were real.
Kaan looks down at me, smiling widely. I don't think he has ever smiled to me like this. He's an impressive actor, gazing at me with a warmth that suggests to onlookers that he is obsessed with me.
For a moment, I almost believe he is...
He squeezes my hand tightly, the leather of his gloves soft despite his harsh grasp. It's a reminder of what my duty is today.
"I am excited to be amongst such amazing citizen's. And I cannot wait to rule next to my true love, Alpha Kaan," I exclaim loudly, painting a faux smile on my face, despite my inner terror.
People clap, although there are some wary faces.
Most will be wondering if I'm equipped for this job. Others will wonder why Kaan hasn't mentioned me before, perhaps even doubting the story of our love.
Not that I care...I'll be gone soon, once I'm recovered. Currently, I can barely stand, my legs trembling slightly.
"I hope you will accept Hunter as your new Luna. I have fallen deeply in love with her, and there is no one I would rather rule beside, than her," Kaan states.
His posture is unnervingly straight, his smile perfect. He truly is an excellent Alpha, and his people can see it. That's part of the reason why Kaan scares me so much...it goes beyond all his secrets, and to the cold reminder of all the terrible Alpha's I grew up around.
Kaan slips his hand from mine, drawing it up to grasp my forearm. He leans toward me, his mouth coming close to my ear.
"Smile, and don't pull away," he whispers.
I open my mouth to respond, before quickly heeding his advice, plastering a smile onto my face. He presses his hand onto my lower back, his fingers bunching in the fabric of my dress. Pressing me closer, he leans down and kisses me.
My entire body goes rigid, a gasp catching in my throat. The kiss is chaste, but it's enough to leave me reeling.
To Kaan's credit, he pulls away smoothly, although his eyes are wide and alarmed from the sensation that overwhelmed us both the moment our lips touched.
Sparks...we are mates.
I've always contemplated what the feeling would be like, but having Kaan touch me tells me everything I need to know. There is no doubting that feeling, like something is clicking into place.
And that something is telling me I'm a fool for not seeing it sooner. Yet, this revelation is horrifying.
"These two shall be united forever on their wedding day, which will proceed within the month," Cyrus announces, jerking us back into reality.
I turn back to the ground, smiling awkwardly. Kaan waves, giving the crowd a departing nod before we hustle off stage quickly.
"Within a week?" Kaan snaps the moment we are cleared off the stage, glaring down at his parents.
"The sooner, the better Kaan," Cyrus mutters dismissively, waving his hand.
Kaan grits his teeth, sweeping a hand through his dark brown waves. "You know I would argue with you about this, but I have far more important things to deal with right now."
Grabbing my hand, he practically yanks me away from his parents, heading around the stage and past a neighbouring building. My feet trip along the cobbled path, my back screaming in pain.
I don't know this village, nor do I know the alleyway he drags me into. The buildings swallow the sun, a chill shuddering over me.
The moment we are out of view of anyone, Kaan drops my hand and backs away a few steps, like he can't bear to be too close to me.
"You're my mate," I say first, deciding I need to fill the silence with something, and this has officially become the most pressing issue.
What am I supposed to do now?
"Yeah, I kind of figured," Kaan mutters, shaking his head in disbelief.
I rub my bare arms, feeling my stomach pitch. "What do we do?"
"There is nothing to do. We are marrying soon," Kaan reminds me. He's as panicked as I am, but for entirely different reasons. He probably hates the idea of being bonded to a stranger who he can't stand, and I'm scared of people tied down to him with no escape.
Each breath I draw in feels painful. I can't be stuck here...
"You have to get it put off...I mean, I can't marry you yet," I stammer, backing away a step. My back bumps against the brick wall, a jolt shaking through me.
Kaan's expression grows dark as he steps closer. "Why? So you can run away?"
"I can't stay, Kaan. I have to go," I insist.
He doesn't know what I'm running from. He has no idea what it was like to me to be promised to a monster, and now I'm risking repeating the same terrible reality I was once subjected to.
"You're not going anywhere. Especially not now," Kaan warns, his deep green eyes pinning me, warning me.
This is what happens when people find their mates. They lose their minds. I can't let that happen to me.
"You being my mate changes nothing. You're a royal, who you're bonded to does not dictate your life," I snap, wrapping my arms around myself. Despite the cool air from the shadowed alleyway, I feel like I'm stuck in a stuffy room, my lungs straining for oxygen.
A muscle in his jaw ticks. "In this case, it does."
I shake my head. I wish I could tell him the truth. I wish I could tell him about the monster my parents, my brother, promised to me to. Who is now hunting me down to take me back as his bride.
But I can't...I can't risk him doing something with that information that could hurt me.
"So what, you want us to fall deeply in love and pretend like we don't hate each other?" I question, propping my hands on my hips.
He frowns, flinching a little. "I don't hate you...Especially not now."
"Don't do that. Don't pretend to suddenly care." I press further into the brick wall, wishing I could phase through it and into whatever lies behind.
I waver a little on my feet, the pain in my back overwhelming. Why won't this damn pain just go away already?
Kaan sighs, his brows knotting together with concern as he looks over me in my miserable state. "I don't think you're going to be healthy enough in a week. So you'll have to marry me."
"Forcing me into this isn't how you win my love," I warn. My past fiancé couldn't win my love like that, and he won't be able to either.
He closes his eyes, exhaling slowly. When he opens them again, the hardness has faded from them, replaced instead by a vulnerability I've never seen from him before.
"I can't believe you're my mate..." he whispers.
My heart suddenly aches, the wind officially blown out of my sails. "Let's just see what happens in a week. And don't you dare tell anyone, especially Tay."
If Tay finds out we are mates, she will never let me leave. Even less so than Kaan.
"Of course I won't tell anyone," he breathes, sweeping a hand through his hair. "Not unless you wanted me too."
"If you want to give me any kind of chance, you'll let me leave." He could give me a head start, a chance to really get away before his parents decide to add to the list of people chasing me down.
He shakes his head, having already decided I'm not going anywhere. "We'll see, Hunter. We'll see."
ðâ¢â¢ð
If you want to support my writing, you can always read 10 chapters ahead on Radish or GoodNovel (:
My latest novel, the Cold Prince, is out now on Wattpad! I hope you'll check it out (:
~Midika ðð¼