Adria was escorted along with her father, the council of elders and the majority of the people of her pack.
Today was still a great day after all, the marriage of the Alpha King’s daughter has been finalized.
They arrived at the forefront of the border and she decided that it was time to say her goodbyes. She proceeded to hug her father as well as Declan who reciprocated.
"Do not stop searching for her Declan and when you do, you can tell her to come back home. I am scared of what might become of her and the thought that I’m no longer around to look after her, troubles me a lot." She whispered to Declan who patted her shoulders in understanding.
"You don’t have to worry, Adria." He assured her "I will make it my life’s mission to look for her and when I do, I’ll pass a message across. I’ll also make sure that she gets your message too."
She nodded once "Thank you Declan. Take care of my father as well as the rest of the pack. He might not look like it but I am worried that I have to leave him all by himself now."
"He has me Adria." He told her in a faint whisper "You should actually be worried about your new life from now on. It won’t be easy, that I can assure you."
"I was well aware of what I was getting into before I chose this path for myself Declan. I don’t regret it because I did it for father and my people so you don’t have to worry. I’ll be fine."
He hugged her again "May the goddess be with you and guide your path always little sister."
Adria pulled away from the hug and after waving her father goodbye for the last time, she made her way towards the car with the Lycan King trailing after her.
"In here, My Lady." The one she had come to know as Degar gestured to the well furnished and decorated car in front of her.
"You will be riding with the Lycan King." He added and she froze monetarily.
"Isn’t there another car that could take me separately? Do I have to ride back home with him?" She inquired and Degar shifted his gaze from her back to the cold ones of the Lycan King.
"I’m sorry My Lady but as per tradition, you’re supposed to ride with him after the ceremony as his wife." He explained. Adria rolled her eyes in irritation.
She had wanted to take a different ride back. In as much as it was a tradition, she had no desire, whatsoever to ride back home with him.
The mere sight of him repulsed her to her core. Curse her wolf for choosing him out of all men alive as a mate.
Left with no other choice, she stepped in and he followed suite. She made sure to sit very close to the window so that she would not touch him even in the slightest.
When they were well settled, they started the journey to his pack. As the car moved, Adria couldn’t stop the tears that fell freely from her eyes.
She cried for her father that she had left behind and she cried for her sister that had run away because she was scared of getting married.
She might’ve been able to save the day but she still felt like she had lost the battle.
She felt lost and deep down, she didn’t know exactly how to cope with her emotions but one thing was certain, she had to be strong.
If she was playing the part of her sister then she needed to be tough like she was.
The journey to his pack and her new home took longer than expected but after all and sundry, they finally arrived a little later than noon.
Degar helped her out of the car and Cullen stepped down through the other door.
"Welcome to the Huntbound pack and the Valtheris household, My Lady." He bowed his head and she smiled at him.
"Thank you so much, Degar."
Along with the other elders, they approached the mansion and Cullen stood to address them, thanking them for aiding the marriage process as well as the role they had played to make it happen.
All the while, Adria looked on, uninterested. She was awfully tired and her body arched from sitting down for a very long time. She wanted nothing more than to take off her clothes and rest as quickly as possible.
"We will be holding a special feast to welcome our Luna into our pack." Adria darted her eyes towards the man who had just said that and she realized that it was the same man who had smiled weirdly at her at the ceremony earlier.
"Please endeavor to grace us with your presence tonight My Lady; that is, if the King permits."
She nodded her head at them and as soon as everything was settled, they all dispersed, leaving them together with Degar, their maids and other subjects.
"Can you please show me to my room?" Adria spoke up, her hands held firmly in front of her as she refused to look at him, scared that it would only fuel this want, growing deep inside her.
"You’re back, My Lord." Someone said from afar and Adria looked up to see an elderly woman approaching them.
She bowed her head at them when she got close and Adria acknowledged her presence as well.
"I have been waiting for you. It is nice to see that the ceremony went well and that you are back in one piece!" She uttered in a calm voice causing Adria to smile.
The woman sounded nice and it felt reassuring hearing her say those words. It’s good to know that not everyone here is like him.
"My Lady," She faced her "You are even more beautiful than what they had described. My name is Moira. You are welcome to the Valtheris household. I will be your lady in waiting and if you need anything then don’t hesitate to let me know."
"Thank you so much Moira, I appreciate the warm welcome."
"My Lord, you haven’t assigned a bedroom for her or will she be sharing your chamber with you?"
Adria’s eyes flew open at that statement and her jaws dropped to the ground. Why would Moira ask that question?
She doesn’t want to be around him. If she even had her way, then she’d even wish that he was dead. As far as she was concerned, he was her sworn enemy.
Adria looked at him briefly in a bid to decipher his reaction. As usual, he had a scowl and a deep frown on his face. His thin lips were pursed in anger and his brows were squinted together.
"Prepare Lady Natalia’s chamber for her in the women’s quarters. She will be be the new owner since it’s empty and has been locked up since she passed away. I don’t want her anywhere near my sleeping chamber." He ordered.
"Let’s go, Degar." He called out to his friend before storming away.
Adria was tempted to know more about this Lady Natalia who had passed. Was she his wife whom everyone had said that he had killed or did it run far more than that?
She itched to ask Moira but decided against it. She had only just arrived here. It won’t be nice to go snooping around for answers.
"This way, My Lady." Moira led the way and she followed. As they walked through the large hallway, she couldn’t help but admire its magnificence. It felt like she had stepped into a fairytale like the one she reads about in books.
Even her father’s mansion back at home wasn’t as big and elegant as this. The mansion’s sophistication couldn’t be described with mere words as she felt herself getting lost in its beauty. It was almost like a private palace.
With the type of stories she heard about him, she had thought that his place would resemble that of a cave to fit his personality but she was stunned to see that he has refined taste.
They arrived at a locked door and Moira unlocked it. She stepped aside, giving Adria enough space to make her way inside before she joined her.
"It’s beautiful, isn’t it?" Moira took the words right out of her mouth. The chamber felt like a part of a fairytale.
"Lady Natalia designed it herself when she first came here as the Lycan King’s bride." She went on to tell her.
"I’m in awe at the beautiful paintings and decorations." She ravished the sight in front of her with a smile.
"I feel so lucky to be in the chamber of a woman who was known to be so talented. I wish that I had met her."
Moira gave a sad smile "She is in a better place now, My Lady. We had no idea that the King would ask you to stay here and so, we didn’t do much cleaning My Lady but not to worry, we will make sure to transform this place to your liking."
"If there’s anything you would like us to do or change, then we’d be happy to do so immediately"
Adria looked around "I honestly do not want anything changed. Just the usual clean up and touch up around the roughened edges will be fine Moira. Thank you very much."
"It is nothing, My Lady."
Adria gestured at the maids to bring in her belongings and they did so with immediate effect.
"I think that you should rest for a while." Moira suggested "I’ll run you a bath and send your meal to your chamber."
Adria nodded in understanding.
"I do need to rest. I also heard that they are holding a special feast in my honour tonight. Is it of grave importance that I attend?" She asked. "Because, I am already tired from the long journey to this place."
"The feast is a necessity to welcome the new Luna and introduce her to everyone so yes, you are expected to be there. It is tradition and if you don’t, the elders will consider it as a form of disrespect." She answered and Adria cussed herself from within.
Why on earth did that man have to announce that feast? Now, she had no choice of backing away. Could this day get any worse?