Chapter 3

I’ve never been one to act on impulse. Quite the contrary, in fact. Even before the heartbreak of losing my parents and sect, I’ve always leaned toward caution.

I guess I got that from my dad. He was a firm believer in thinking things through before diving in headfirst. “Think before you act; it’ll keep you out of trouble,” he’d always say.

I wonder if he’d be disappointed in me now, looking back at his advice. I’ve always tried to follow it, especially when it came to my own safety. But now, I was tossing caution to the wind for Navine.

That thought weighed on me as I finished packing my bag. Three days had flown by in a blur, and it was time for Navine to return for my answer. Truth be told, I didn’t need those three days.

I think I knew my answer that first night, even before Emelio showed up at Anika’s request. I hadn’t seen Lord Jekia’s Mage in about four years. He was still the same tall figure with fiery red hair and an enigmatic smile.

But I was taken aback by the scars marring his handsome face. Something had hurt him badly, and I had to ask about it, since Anika hadn’t mentioned anything.

“Don’t worry about it,” he reassured me with his usual warm smile. “These scars are just a reminder to never let my guard down again.”

His answer didn’t satisfy me, but I had to let it go. We were pressed for time, and Anika brought up the matter at hand right after his response.

Emelio listened to my story about meeting Navine and his proposal, nodding thoughtfully.

Anika asked him, “Do you think this is safe, Lord Emelio? It seems so sudden, and I’ve never heard of Lord Navine wanting a wife, even if he won’t call Raelina his beta.”

“True,” Emelio agreed, “but I don’t see any problems. Lord Navine has always been reliable and respectful, and we’ve depended on him under Lord Jekia’s rule in the Northern Lands. I think having Raelina by his side will be good for him. His nomadic lifestyle and aloofness can be concerning to the Higher Ones.”

Aloofness. I wondered if I’d see that side of him once I got to know him better. He didn’t seem aloof when we first met. Was it because he was interested in me from the start?

Regardless, Emelio’s meeting eased some of Anika’s concerns. She did ask Lord Jekia to keep an eye on things. Emelio agreed to this, saying that Lord Jekia might feel more comfortable doing so, despite his trust in Navine.

But, he added, the final decision was mine to make. And I think I knew my answer all along.

I’ll admit, Anika was right. I was using this opportunity with Navine to forget my heartbreak over Rayne. But I kept reminding myself of the positives.

I’d be connected to one of the most powerful alphas in these lands, have a good home, and maybe not feel so out of place. With that in mind, I double-checked my bag, zipped it up, and stood tall.

I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. It was early afternoon, and Navine would be here any minute to hear my answer and whisk me away.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and left my tiny room. Anika was by one of the front windows, silently watching the sunlit grass and trees.

I paused, unsure of how to voice my thoughts. It was clear as day that she wasn’t thrilled about the recent turn of events. I didn’t think her unease was about me leaving, but more about her doubts regarding Navine’s intentions.

Even though I was old enough to make this decision—to be his—she confessed her discomfort with the abruptness of it all. She would have preferred if Navine had expressed a desire to court me first, then propose.

Anika seemed to sense my hesitation. She stepped away from the window and turned to face me, her arms open in invitation.

“Come here, sweetheart. Let me hold you one last time,” she said softly.

I complied, crossing the room to embrace her. I felt her arms tighten around me, her lips pressing a kiss to my temple.

“Everything will be okay. I trust that Navine will take good care of me, and Lord Jekia wouldn’t let him do otherwise,” I whispered into the silence.

“I want to believe that, just as I want you to find happiness. As your mother for the past fourteen years, I can’t help but worry,” Anika replied. She pulled back to look at me, her hand brushing my hair over my shoulder.

“You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman, Raelina. I’m so thankful to have been a part of your life.”

“I’m thankful for everything you’ve done for me too. I hope you’re not too upset about my decision. You’re like a mother to me, and I plan to keep in touch as much as possible,” I assured her.

“I trust you, and I can’t imagine Navine preventing you from doing so. Just be careful. Being the wife of an alpha can be dangerous, especially for those who might try to harm them, either physically or through manipulation,” Anika cautioned.

Her warning caught me off guard. “You think there are people who would use me to get to Navine if he starts to care about me?”

“There’s always a chance. But you’re a smart Fae, Raelina. You’ve always been good at reading people. Trust your instincts and you’ll be fine. And remember, you can always reach out to me if you need anything. I’ll do my best to help,” she promised.

“I know. But I’m surprised you’re accepting this so easily, considering how tense you’ve been.”

“Did I really have a choice?” Anika sighed, shaking her head. “You’re old enough to make your own decisions. And I admit, knowing that Lord Emelio will be overseeing some of this does put me at ease. My only concern is that you’re rushing into this to escape other feelings. Did you tell Navine about your feelings for Lord Rayne when you met him?”

Had I? I remembered hinting at it, but I hadn’t explicitly told him who I’d been longing for.

“I mentioned it, but it didn’t seem to bother him. And why should it? He’s quite handsome himself,” I confessed, looking away to hide my blush.

Anika laughed softly. “There’s no need to be shy about admitting that. It’s a good thing to be attracted to the man you’re going to marry.”

I let out a long sigh, my shoulders sagging. “I know. And it’s not that I’m not worried. I didn’t make this decision lightly. I’m genuinely attracted to Navine, just as much as I was to Rayne. I want this to work,” I admitted.

“And it will,” Anika reassured me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Even though it surprised me, I’ve never known an alpha to make a hasty decision about who they want by their side. Navine offering you the chance to be his wife is a blessing, my dear. I hope we can always see it that way.”

“I hope so too,” I said, glancing at the windows and the inviting outdoors. “Can we go outside? I could use some fresh air.”

“Of course,” Anika agreed, understanding my need for a change of scenery.

Stepping out into the open air felt like a breath of liberation. The sun was high and radiant, and a refreshing breeze was wafting down from the mountains.

I dropped my bag near the cottage, basking in the sunlight and relishing its warmth. I found myself wondering if I’d miss this when I moved to my new home with Navine.

I had no clue what mountain life would entail. Anika approached me, smoothing out the skirt of my green dress.

“This dress is stunning on you. You’ve done a fantastic job creating it,” she praised.

“Thanks for helping me find this fabric. It was too beautiful to resist,” I replied.

“You’re welcome. Plus, I love seeing the dresses you create. They’re always gorgeous,” Anika continued.

I glanced at the mountains again. “Isn’t it strange that he’s not here yet? The day seems to be slipping away?”

“Don’t fret. He’ll be here soon enough. For now, let’s just enjoy this beautiful day,” Anika reassured me.

She was right. I needed to savor these last moments with her. Besides, I couldn’t imagine someone like Navine standing me up.

But if I was going to wait, there was something else I needed to discuss with her—something I’d been avoiding. “Um, Anika,” I began, nervously wringing my hands and looking down.

“I know I’m treading on thin ice, but I need to know more about Rayne’s new beta. Have you heard anything about her?”

“You didn’t ask more when you found out about her the other day?” Anika asked, sounding slightly taken aback.

I shook my head. “I was too shocked to ask. Rayne didn’t mention wanting to find a beta when I spoke to him a few months ago.”

“I can imagine. From what I’ve heard, it was a surprise to everyone when he came back with her. Even Lord Jekia and Lady Lana had no idea it was going to happen,” Anika confessed.

“Do you know which village she’s from?” I asked.

“I don’t know the name, but it’s not a local one. I heard she’s from the Western Lands.”

“The Western Lands?”

That was unexpected. I hadn’t even realized Rayne had left the Northern Lands, though he had mentioned wanting to explore other regions.

Who would’ve guessed that he’d find his beta the moment he did? “Yes,” Anika confirmed.

“I heard the story from Esmeralda. She’s always eavesdropping for her Matchmaking House, and she was quite surprised too. She told me that Lord Rayne met this young woman, Luna, while visiting the Western Lands. Luna is a Willow Faerie.”

“Luna,” I echoed.

What a lovely name. I imagined she must be a beautiful Faerie. I’d never seen a Willow Faerie, but I’d heard tales about them.

They were said to look otherworldly, as if kissed by the moon. It made her name seem fitting. Anika’s sympathetic gaze brought me back to reality.

She held my hands, her eyes full of understanding. “Please, Raelina, don’t compare yourself to Luna. You’re both unique individuals. Maybe you and Lord Rayne weren’t meant to be. Maybe you were always meant to be with Lord Navine,” she suggested gently.

“You might be right, and I appreciate your blessing. I just hope I can live up to his expectations,” I confessed.

“Just be yourself. That’s all he can ask for,” Anika said simply.

Right on cue, we heard the sound of wings in the distance. We looked up to see a figure flying toward us from the mountain.

My heart fluttered as I recognized Navine. At last, he was returning for me. Navine’s ivory wings spread wide as he neared, allowing him to glide down and land before us.

His captivating, powerful eyes locked onto me, and I could’ve sworn I saw a flash of appreciation in them, though he didn’t show it.

“It’s good to see you again, Raelina. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting,” he greeted me.

He then turned to Anika. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Even though I didn’t expect you to show interest in my Raelina, it’s happened. I didn’t think you were even venturing down from the mountain these days,” Anika replied.

Navine didn’t seem fazed by her words. “I do descend when I feel like it, but I confess, I haven’t been too keen on socializing lately, so I’ve been keeping to myself.”

“But you understand why I have to ask, right? Why the sudden interest in Raelina? Surely, you must have heard she was here before you saw her the other day?” Anika probed further.

“Yes, I knew about the Sun Fae incident and that you were looking after her, but I didn’t see any reason to dig deeper. What Jekia decides to do is none of my business, and he did the right thing by saving the one that was left,” Navine responded.

He then turned to me. “However, my decision to take Raelina back with me is personal, and I assure you, there’s nothing sinister about it. I promise to take excellent care of her from now on.”

Anika wasn’t entirely convinced. “I trust you will, but you must understand my position. I’ve raised Raelina for the past fourteen years. She’s like my own daughter, and it doesn’t sit well with me that you’re taking her away to the mountain where I can’t see her.”

“I wouldn’t be comfortable with that either. Anika is my mother,” I chimed in.

Navine looked slightly taken aback, but he didn’t hesitate in his response. “I’m not a monster, so naturally, I wouldn’t do that to you. I’ll bring Raelina down to visit you whenever she wants, although I’d prefer if she gave us some time to get to know each other before coming back here.”

“How much time are you asking for?” I asked.

“Just a few weeks. Is that acceptable to you?” Navine replied.

“I guess,” I agreed reluctantly.

Anika, however, wasn’t as quick to agree. She placed her hands on her hips. “You do realize that you were giving her a choice before, but now you’re talking as if you’d decided from the start to claim her. Was she mistaken before?” she questioned him.

“Not at all,” Navine reassured her. “I’m just confident that Raelina has agreed based on her reaction to all this.”

“You’re not wrong,” I confirmed. I moved closer to him, trying to appear nonchalant despite my heart pounding with anxiety.

“I don’t see any reason to reject your offer or suspect you of having ill intentions toward me. Besides, it might be better for me to stay with you. Maybe I’ll fit in better there than here, where I constantly feel out of place.”

“That’s true, and I won’t argue if that’s what she wants, but please, my lord, take good care of her as you’ve promised,” Anika pleaded.

“I fully intend to, and I’ll keep my promise to bring her to see you occasionally. But for now, I’d like to take Raelina home. It would be best if she could get familiar with her new home before it gets dark,” Navine told her.

“All right,” Anika hugged me tightly. “Take care, Raelina, and please be happy. I’ll see you soon.”

“I will. See you soon,” I replied, hugging her back.

I won’t lie, it was hard to let her go. I was going to miss her and this cottage.

But I knew I had to keep moving forward. All children have to leave the nest at some point, even if it’s difficult.

Navine waited patiently as we said our goodbyes, allowing me to step in front of him.

“Let’s go,” he said. “It’s time to take you to your new home.”