ARIA’S POV:
I heard it–all of it.
I laid quietly in bed, with Ella in my arms.
He had no idea I wasn’t asleep.
His words sunk deep into my heart and echoed over and over in my mind.
“When she was struggling, I tried to save her. I tried to heal her, but it only ended up speeding up her death. I can’t watch that happen again, not to Ella or her.” He spoke about Luna, his first mate.
After the doors shut and I was sure they were far gone, I opened my eyes.
The more I got to know things about Draven, the less terrible he looked before me.
‘Anyone would end up a monster if they were in his shoes.’ I thought, gently stroking Ella’s hair.
I spent all afternoon, thinking about the things he said, until I eventually fell asleep.
“Mummy,” her small hand on my face made me open my eyes.
“Baby,” I swiftly responded.
I opened my eyes to her soft smile.
Ella was a ray of sunshine.
I adjusted, still making sure she was wrapped in NY arms.
“Look,” she pointed to the table.
The first thing I noticed was the digital clock, telling me that it was dinner time.
The next thing, which was the most obvious thing, was the array of meals on the table.
“Would you look at that! Dinner came to us,” I said.
“Yes,” she chuckled,”How about we freshen up and come back for dinner?” I asked.
Ella excitedly jumped out of bed and I followed behind her.
Every moment with her melted my heart.
I saw myself in her and I hated that her perfect world was going to come crashing because of mistakes she knew nothing about.
“Are you excited?” She asked me, as I cleared the table.
“Excited?” I wasn’t sure what we were talking about.
“The ceremony, tomorrow,” Ella clarified.
She reminded me that tomorrow was the long scheduled wedding.
“Then of course, I’m excited,” I said.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back,” I immediately instructed, so I didn’t have to face any more questions.
I picked up the dishes and headed for the kitchen.
On my way, I met Draven, sitting at the dining table, just before the kitchen.
“Good to see you decided to wake up.” His words froze me on the spot.
“For a second I thought you wanted to take my daughter with you to the greater beyond.”
I squeezed my toes, folded it in, since my hands were too full to clench.
“Do you want anything?” I probed, refusing to be intimidated by him.
He quietly stuffed his mouth.
“Nothing,” he pushed the words out.
Our conversation was enveloped in a friction that could be felt.
It was not difficult to get weary of it.
I walked into the kitchen.
‘This is going to be more difficult than I thought,’ I stood at the kitchen counter and processed.
As much as it was peaceful to be around Ella, I couldn’t have her around all the time.
The few times I had to interact with Alpha Draven felt like punishment for my sins.
It was an active battle against the mate bond.
I waited about ten minutes in the kitchen, concluding that Draven would have left my path.
I listened in, but heard nothing.
I peeped into the dining room and was relieved to find no one there.
“Oh! There she is! The bride!” I heard an excited male voice, halfway through the dinner space.
The young man seemed so full of life and extended a handshake to me.
I looked quickly at Draven and Ragner.
Their faces had blank expressions, making it even more difficult to make anything of the display.
“Oh, she looks like a dream!” The guest proceeded by showering more praises.
He held my hand softly and stared deep into my eyes.
Something about his gaze made me weak in the knees.
“Thank you,” I traced him with my eyes as he walked slowly around me and spoke like an impressed parent whose child just said his first words.
“We didn’t think Draven would consider another mate, or that anyone as stunning as this would want to end up with the monster,” he air quoted the last two words. This story is hosted at g.com.
I forced out a struggling chuckle.
I had gone through several emotions, but then I had landed confused and uncomfortable.
That was the point Draven stepped in.
“The wedding is not until tomorrow evening,” Draven walked a few steps towards us.
“I know that, but I had to come in early, get acquainted with the bride and who knows…maybe catch up with you, since you left everyone behind, creating a world of your own.”
My gaze constantly switched between them both.
“You didn’t think to notify me first?” Draven asked.
He didn’t seem very excited.
“Did I or did I not get an invitation to your wedding?” The visitor asked.
“It’s a big mansion. Surely, you have room for one guest for a night. Isn’t that right, Ragner?”
Ragner nodded.
Then silence followed.
“Take his bag,” Draven ordered Ragner.
There was an energy in the room that I could not quite explain.
On one hand, they seemed friendly with each other, but in between the gazes, felt like they wanted to tear each other apart.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Draven followed behind Ragner.
“You know it.” The visitor walked over to the bar, went behind it and picked up a glass.
He acted too familiar with the environment.
I didn’t want to be confused anymore, so I walked over to the bar.
“Forgive me, but you are?” My question shocked him.
“Of course he didn’t introduce us. Son of a bitch!” He jokingly said.
“Logan,” he extended a handshake.
I hesitated for a few seconds, but then took his hand.
“You’re quite early for the ceremony,” I said.
Making small talk was stressful, but I brought myself to him and it seemed like basic courtesy.
“Oh, I’m very aware of that,” he replied, staring straight into my eyes.
His hands slid across the counter and rubbed my hand on the table.
My blood froze and my brain screamed.
‘What is going on?’