Arya.
The next day when I woke up, there was a buzz in the air. Since I’d spent the better part of yesterday running from my pack and going around Rogue City with Tyler, it was almost noon by the time I awoke.
I sat up on the queen-sized bed in my room—a gesture I was thankful for because back at home, I’d had to make do with a bunk-sized bed—feeling a certain buzz in the air. Groggily, I got to my feet and walked into the bathroom to begin my morning routine of freshening up. Not in a million years would I have thought that I would be treated with such respect after running away from the worst set of people I’d ever met. It felt good to have my own room and my own bathroom and have the people around me call out my name without venom in their voices.
But how long would it last? How long until the fairytale was over and I had to go back to wearing rags instead of a princess dress?
An hour later, a knock sounded on my door. Frowning, I walked over to it and opened the door to reveal Tyler in his glory, smiling at me.
“Good morning,” he said.
Feeling suddenly self-conscious, I wrapped my arms around my chest. This man was so handsome that it was actually intimidating and for some reason, he wanted me. It was unbelievable. “Good morning,” I replied.
“Sleep well?” he walked past me into my room. “I hope you like your room. Left to me, you would be sleeping in my bed but I’m not very certain I can keep my hands off you.”
A blush crept up my neck to my cheeks. “I like it. Thank you very much. I uh… I really appreciate your generosity.”
He nodded, walking to stand by the pretty dresser with an oval mirror. “I’m glad. There’s going to be a party today. Thrown in your honor.”
My eyes snapped up to him. “What? Why?”
“Because you’re going to be my Luna. Everyone should know that.”
“I…” I searched for what to say unsuccessfully. Everything was moving too fast. I barely had time to stop and breathe. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
He shrugged, “That’s alright. Get dressed and we’ll go to a stylist. We have the best seamstress in this part of the world.”
***
Tyler had been right about his seamstress. I’d entered the pretty shop uncertain about what I wanted but Tyler had quickly taken charge and by the time I was leaving, I had a new hairdo, jewelry and so many clothes I had no idea what to do with. It had been at the tip of my tongue to protest, to reject at least some of the gifts. It was too much. But Tyler had shut my protest down, saying that he wanted to make me happy.
I was happy but I was also scared.
Scared of giving myself to him and having my heart broken in the process. Because I was not so dense I did not know that falling in love with Tyler was easy to do. He was a kind man, and kind men were the most lovable.
We got back to his mansion early evening. The party preparations were in full swing and some guests had started arriving. Tyler led me into the house and up the stairs to my room.
“Does everyone know the reason for the party?” I asked him when he turned the knob to open my door.
He shook his head. “Not yet, but they will. I plan to announce you during the party.”
Walking in, I turned and saw that he was still standing outside the door. “Tyler, isn’t all of this too quick? I mean, I only just got here yesterday.”
Reaching me in two strides, he grabbed my face in his hands and pressed his lips to mine. “I’ve waited for you my entire life. The moon goddess has brought you to me and I will not lose you, Arya.”
I stared at him in silence, my heart pounding inside my chest. He was so intense as a person that I feared I would get consumed by him.
“Get dressed, Little One. I’ll see you soon.”
And then the door closed.
***
Tyler.
I closed the door gently, turning to press my back against the rigid wood. Arya had no idea who I was. I’d thought she would slowly figure it out. I mean, it had only been four years. But forty hours later, she still didn’t seem to know who I was.
Had Ethan succeeded in wiping away every single memory of me in Crest? The thought of my brother made my blood boil. After he’d planned and carried out an uprising against me, the then Alpha, just to take my throne and name me a power-hungry monster, I couldn’t think of him without anger coursing through my veins.
The anger only multiplied when Arya told me Ethan had been her mate. And what was worse? He’d rejected her and married her sister. Four years and my younger brother was still the savage I’d always known him to be. I’d previously thought his irrationality did not exceed his morals but after what he’d done to me all those years ago, I would not put anything past him.
I’d left because I hadn’t wanted to kill him. Treason was an offense punishable by death in the werewolf world. Ethan had pushed my hand far too many times. The last straw had taken all of my strength to not end him; he was my only brother. Before our mother had died, she’d entrusted his care to me.
What kind of brother would I be to kill him? So, I’d left. Quietly. Not even minding that Ethan had told everyone of my defeat. I’d swallowed the shame and I’d disappeared. And it had worked out well in the end. I was the Alpha of the rogues and the richest man in the kingdom. I’d done well for myself in the end.
But now Arya was here, in Rogue City. A city that was hidden in the woods. I’d built this place from the ground up with a couple of my trusted friends who’d left Crest with me. Was this a sick twist of fate? Was the moon goddess trying to tell me that my past was slowly catching up with me? Otherwise, why would Arya be fated to two brothers?
Still thinking, I headed to my bedroom for a change of clothes. It didn’t matter why she was here. What mattered was that she was here. And she was mine. I was going to protect her from whoever sought to hurt her. That included her sick family.
Once I was in an attire fit for a party, I walked back to her room. Arya didn’t know it but my bedroom was very close to hers. Just two doors down. I wanted to be as close to her as possible until I marked her.
Lifting my hand, I rapped my knuckle on her door twice. When she opened the door, my breath hitched. She’d packed her hair up into a loose bun and sandy curls fell down her face. The gown she’d chosen was a deep red knee length with a short slit that stopped at her thighs, hugging her curves perfectly. In all honesty, she looked breathtaking.
My mouth opened. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”