What a ridiculous idea – treating marriage as transaction.
Who does she think she is?
I have never been plagued by such absurdities.
+5
Love, devotion–these things should be earned, not bought. And yet, here I am, standing in the middle of a grand banquet, staring at the undeniable proof taht Siena sees me as nothing more than a means to an end.
Her words still echo in my mind, clar as if she’d spoken them to my face.
[One million dollars per day.]
…That’s thirty million ove the course of three months!
She has established a price on herself, as if love, as if our history, as if I could be bartered and sold.
I can only take comfort in the idea of being right all along.
The shock is passing, but it’s leaving behind something far worse–disgust. I see her for what she truly is–a gold digger like her miserable father Alpha Zeno.
What kind of woman, of Luna, values wealth over loyalty, money preferred to love?
It’s no secret Zeno gave her everything, raised her in the same sorts of indulgence as he enjoyed. She is privileged, had never wanted for anything a day in her life.
Clenching my fists, my jaw i straight as I watch her cross the room. The only thing that seems remotely redeemable about her is that she still loves me–doesn’t she? Even if her methods are as twisted as obtuse, maybe this is all a desperate attempt to reclaim my attention.
TO make me see her.
Try as she might; her plan is faulty. It won’t work. Not as long as hot blodd runs through my veins will I let her break me.
Beside me, Lila notices the shift in my expression. Always so precerptive, so observant.
She titlsts her head slightly, a silent questions in her eyes.
“Forgiev me, Lila ” I murmur, relaizing how distracted I must seem. “I’ve been so neglectful this evening.”
“It’s nothing. Raiden. You know, as long as I stand by your side, I’m satisfied.” Lila says shyly.
[I hate her.] My wolf says.
[Shut off.] I say.
Lila was my fated mate…. ex–fated mate.
I met her only after I had already married Siena and made her my chosen mate in a political union.
Wolves always chase after their fated mates–but I already had a luna. Naturally, I rejected Lila.
Yet, she never resented me for it. She worked hard. Out of guilt, I made her my Delta.
1/4
08:34 Sun, 20 Apr
Chapter 8
63%
Lila came from a poor background, something Siena always looked down on Siena was insanely jealous of her, to the point of obsession, and that only made me lose respect for her.
Just let me stand by your side. Raiden. Tils smiles, warm and understanding, as the loops her petite arm through mine
She is steady, kind, genuine–nothing like Siena
But strangely, my wolf despised her.
Perhaps there is a disgraceful side to me as well.
Lila is a good she wolf, but I never considered making her my Lanx in the past. Every time I thinked about it. I remember the way Siena cried–and it gives me a terrible headache.
As we move through the banquet, greeting guest and dodging whispers, the murmurs of the guest still roar fiercely in the background. The weight of her eyes bore into my back.
…Why isn’t the King with his Luna, but some lowly commoner girl?”
“Shh, keep your voice down. That’s the delta the Kingchose…”
Let them talk, I gnore them. It’s not as if their opinions concern me.
But Siena–she does.
Against my better juedegemnt, I can’t push her from my mind.
Lila, ever the considerate one, overhears the whispers and feigns generosity. “Perhaps you should invite Siena to dance later, because this is the first dance.” she suggest lightly.
Despit ethe event sof this night, Lila makes her suggestion sound so reasonable, so kind, so practical. But it only sharpens the conatsr between th two.
Only shows me how Siena is lacking.
… Maybe it’s time for me to make the final choice.
“I’ll divorce her after the Summit.” I say to Lila.
“I respect all your choices, Alpha King.“Lila says.
