Chapter 9: A Change

Ruelle’s POV

The hall was packed with people. Several Alphas of different clans along with their Lunas and their Luna’s younger siblings were here. But for the majority, most were yet to be mated. It was like an organized hunt for mates and as soon as I stepped my foot inside these halls and met the eyes of almost a hundred unmated male wolves, I instantly regretted coming here. I had to remind myself that I was here for one person only and when that person came, it will all be worth it.

But that person was nowhere to be found. It was almost thirty minutes into the Gathering and most of the wolves who got an invite were present. The Ceremony had already begun, with several Honored wolves rendering their speeches and raising toasts to my Papa. There was no way you would find me in a place like this on a normal day. I feel restrained. But soon I wouldn’t.

I even went as far as stylishly asking my Mama if she knew anything about the Iron Alpha and why he wasn’t here. She had no idea and told me to ask Papa and I would’ve, but he was at the very front of the hall giving his speech.

Valka, Thessa and Seren were also at the front of the hall, basking in the longing gazes they got from the males in the room. Seren was no longer there, now that I checked. She has probably gone to do her usual God knows what in God knows where. But Valka and Thessa were engaging in small talk with some of the men around them, while their eyes were fixed on other men. It looked like such a chore to me.

Papa had introduced a man named Von-Derrick as a very good friend of his to me a while ago and while I was confused as to why Papa had introduced a man his age to me, a younger male emerged from behind him with a smile on his face and light in his eyes like he had seen the last piece of cake at a party that he knew was his. Von-Mare, Derricks’s son was an unmated male who told my Papa that he wanted an opportunity to speak to me.

I wondered why he couldn’t just come directly to me but then I don’t think I made it particularly easy when I ducked and dodged all the males that came my way. Even females. I didn’t want to talk to anyone and honestly my patience was growing thin.

Where the hell is Thorne?

Von held my palm in a firm handshake, his other hand resting past my wrist in what he expects me to believe is a handshake. I look down at his hand and frown, pulling my hand away.

“I’m sorry if I appear presumptuous, I have not been able to get my eyes off you since you walked in”. He says, his voice somehow managing to be warmer than his eyes.

Von is a young-looking blonde with kind eyes and he seems to be attracting a few stares from the females present on his own. It makes me wonder why he would want to talk to me.

I give him the most genuine smile I can muster. I don’t want to speak to anyone, let alone someone who will bring more attention to me. People were already starting to stare.

“Not presumptuous.”  I tell him, instinctively looking around for certain black haired wolf.

Von looked down momentarily with a blush, “Well I am delighted to hear that. And I must say you look stunning in your dress”

He wasn’t lying. Even I knew I looked beautiful. I made sure of it. Well to be precise, Morra did. But it wasn’t for Von to notice. Or any other male for that matter, it was for Thorne. He is the whole reason I am here.

I was sporting a long black dress with a thigh long slit. It was sleeveless but had matching arm long gloves along with it and a long scarf to be draped around the neck. My white hair that was held in a wavy bun at the top of my head was a sharp contrast to my dress and had several pins in it that were beginning to stab my skull.

I told Von thank you, and that he looked good himself just to seem courteous. I didn’t care that he looked good or thought I looked good. I would give anything to be back in my white nightie or better still be stark naked and covered in fur, or another man’s black cloak.

I endured a few more minutes of small talk with Von before I decided that I had enough. “I’m sorry, Von. I would like to enjoy my solitude for the rest of the night if you don’t mind”. The words spilled out of me, stunning the both of us as it came out. Von looked taken aback for a moment before he collected himself, his kind eyes blinking nervously at me. He apologized with a smile so sad it made me feel bad. But immediately he left the sadness turned to anger at the fact that the man I dressed up and came out for was not present at the party.

I headed to the buffet and picked a few berries to chew on. It was way safer than drowning in wine so I decided to hang around that section for a while.

“Why don’t you be like Thess and socialize for a bit”. I heard a voice behind me and turned to see Seren, perched by a table with a wine glass between her fingers. “I mean you are both waiting for the same person but you are the one who looks like she is dying inside”

That is because Thess is all talk. I am about to ask how she knows anything about me and Thorne. It is not like I ever mentioned it. But then I remember that Seren knows everything.

“I tried”. Is all I tell her, sighing and looking down at the berries in my hand. “I don’t feel like it”

“You only spoke to one person. That is hardly trying.”

“Why aren’t you speaking to anyone?”  I turn to look at her, surprised that she is even here in the first place.

“I just did.”  She said. “And now I am going to speak to the next one”

I squint my eyes, trying to remember. The last time I saw Seren in this hall she was speaking to a woman. I was too busy trying not to die of boredom while talking to Von that I didn’t even register it. And now, as I watch her back retreating, I notice she is going in the direction of two beautiful unmated females standing by the wall and giggling at themselves. I raise my brows, at the same time Seren looks over her shoulder at me with a sultry smile and a raised brow that somehow conveys that she owes me no explanation.

Is Seren into women?

Well, now that I think about it, it wouldn’t really be among the seven wonders of the earth considering Seren is the most spontaneous person I know. I would not be surprised if she ends up being mated to a mystical sea creature.

A little commotion stirs from the people by the door and it grabs my attention. Not just the commotion but the familiar feeling that comes to life like a sharp bell ringing in my ears. My eyes light up even before the doors open. The guards are already on stand by to pull it open for guests and I know exactly who is on the other side of it.

The doors pull open slowly and just as I had expected, the man I have waited all night for stood on the other side. My lips curled in a smile as I placed the glass of water I had sipped on earlier on the table and stood straight. My night was unfolding.

From my spot on the far left end of the hall, I could only see Thorne’s side profile. I didn’t need to go so close to him to notice the tick in his jaw and the tight expression on his face. He looks like he is staring at his nemesis. The commotion only grew louder as Thorne began to walk in and for a moment I wondered if he walked in with tail, but then he walked further in and I saw what the commotion was about.

There was a woman by his side.

Not just any woman, but one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. And their arms were linked together. Like the perfect couple. The people gave away for them like ants as they walked in, until they somehow stood at the very middle of the hall, surrounded by surprised and mostly envious gazes.

I felt the heat in my cheeks first before it spread all over my body. My foot tapped repeatedly against the cold floor as if begging it to open and swallow me whole. My chest burned, it burned so bad my hands flew over it. It was as if I was looking at a nightmare unfold.

I have never been this violently ashamed in my entire life.

The woman was all smiles, her eyes twinkling under the light and her silky brown hair curling around her face. Thorne on the other hand, couldn’t look more furious. He seemed like he was about to burst. A few people came around him for handshakes and pleasantries but he ignored them.

His eyes moved to my sisters on the other end of the hall and I saw him light up. He skimmed the entire area with his eyes, before moving to the middle and then the very back. Finally his eyes met mine and I watched in both shock and horror as a thousand emotions passed through them. From where I stood I could see his fists clench and unclench, I habit I noticed he does whenever he is on edge.

I didn’t even realize I was shaking till I almost lost my balance. I had to grab the edge of the table to hold myself up and my vision was getting blurry.

I need to get out of here, fast!

With no sense of direction whatsoever in my frenzied state, I held my hands out slightly in front of me as I weaved my way through the light crowd to find the exit.

“Ruelle!..”. I heard a familiar voice scream but I barely registered whose it belonged to because I just needed to get out. And I finally did. I breathed in the cool night air like a diver finally resurfacing from the water, holding my head up with my eyes shut.

I heard the door open and close behind me and immediately started walking. I had no idea where I was headed but I knew I didn’t want to see or speak to anyone. I wanted to gather my thoughts and I could only do that alone.

My mistake was coming here in the first place. My hope and expectations were so high that now it feels like I was dropped from a plane without a parachute and left to die. I should’ve just stayed back and hung out with Morra.

I walked and walked farther into the night until my legs were like jelly beneath me. I had long left all forms of illumination and was now surrounded by thick darkness. I doubled over and rested my hands on my knees, my lungs taking in as much as air as possible in long deep breaths. I wanted to scream, cry, laugh. I didn’t even know. The cold air on my face told me that the tears I had been shedding during my walk here were now drying on my cheeks and some strands of my hair stuck to them.

Where am I?

I turned my head to look around me. The light whoosh of trees was a telling that I walked completely out of the keep and into the forest but for some reason, it didn’t feel as welcoming as it usually did. I tried to summon my wolf so I could see and hear better but I was so out of it that I could barely focus.

Then I heard it.

The light footsteps that signified I wasn’t alone. Was it Thorne? Had he come after me? If he did why doesn’t it feel like it? There is no pull, no warmth filling my mind or ringing in my ears, instead the hairs on the back of my neck are rising and I feel terrified.

There is someone here with me and it is not Thorne.

I shut my eyes tightly in regret. I really shouldn’t have come out here. I hear the footsteps heavier this time but before I could turn to see who it was, a force knocks into me so hard I find myself flying in the air. I land so violently on the grass that my head spins and my ears ring. I wince and try to sit up at the same time a golden paw comes into my line of vision.

“Who…?”  The words come out as wail, my entire body and head aching. The more I try to gather myself the weaker I become until eventually, I collapse on the grass and everything goes black.