Arya.
Tyler appreciated my choice. I could see it on his face.
I’d chosen the red dress because it complimented the sandy color of my hair and fit my body like a second skin. And even though I wanted to believe I’d worn it to feel beautiful, I knew it was because I wanted Tyler to think I was beautiful.
The compliment warmed me greatly. “Thank you,” I said. “And thank you for the dresses. They’re lovely.”
“You blush quite delicately,” he said, coming close enough to me that I could feel his hot breath fan my face. Would he kiss me again? “I like it.”
At his words, my cheeks heated. Something about Tyler made me feel euphoric, like I was floating in air, not afraid of falling because I had no doubt he would catch me.
“Shall we?” He held out his arm and I looped my hand through it as he guided us toward the stairs. I could hear a soft melody playing on a piano nearby and a distant memory threatened to resurface. I shoved it down with force, focusing instead on the tingling nervousness floating through my body.
Then we were walking down the stairs and every eye was on us. I felt like an object of spectacle, placed in plain view for everyone to scrutinize. I paused, sucking in a shaky breath. Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Breathe in, Little One,” Tyler whispered in my ear. “Everyone here will be your subject when you become my Luna.”
He said the words like he was so sure of them like they were a mantra he repeated too often. I nodded, drawing strength from him as we hit the floor. Even the piano had stopped playing. I felt the hairs on my arm prick as I lifted my eyes. There had to be hundreds of them. Had all the wolves in the city gathered here today?
Curiosity swirled in their gazes as they stared back at me. Refusing to cower in fear, I jutted my chin out, tightening my grip on Tyler’s arm.
“Thank you all for honoring my invitation tonight,” Tyler began, his voice booming, sounding very well like the Alpha he was. Authority seemed to radiate off him and it was all I could do not to gawk at him shamelessly. “As your Alpha and your leader, it is only fitting that I have my Luna by my side. Rogue City had prospered for years under my rulership but alas, I have to admit that sometimes, the burden is too much to bear alone.”
He lowered his gaze to look into my eyes. “For many years, I have searched fruitlessly for her, but now the moon goddess has brought her to me. So, it is with great pleasure that I present to you, Arya, my mate.”
The silence that ensued was deafening. I didn’t know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t the complete silence that spread through the foyer. I inhaled, keeping my gaze on my hand wrapped around Tyler’s arm.
“Well,” Tyler cleared his throat awkwardly. “I half-expected a cheer or a clap, at least. Is no one happy for me?”
“I certainly am not, especially since we talked about this and came to a conclusion.” One man stepped forward, holding a wine flute in one hand. He looked to be in his early fifties. Grey hair flagged the sides of his temple. His thin lips were twisted downward into a frown and I noticed the look of disgust in his eyes as he stared at me before moving his gaze to Tyler. “I never took you as one to renegade on your word, Tyler Lockhart.”
Tyler’s gaze darkened. “I never talked with you about anything, Mr. Steele. You talked. I listened.”
I had no idea what they were talking about but something told me it had to do with Tyler’s announcement. My gaze darted between both men. Both were equally menacing, both terrifying in their own right.
Mr. Steele sneered. “You will not marry another woman when you’re already promised to my daughter. I will not stand for it!”
I gasped. Everyone stared at the man, whose body language and high-handed tone told me that he had a very important sense of self. I recognized it from my father. There was not one day that went by that Robert Shelby didn’t act like he deserved better than what life gave him.
Tyler tensed next to me. “Stand down, Felix. I don’t want to fight you.”
Fight? The atmosphere was getting charged and I could sense the wolves’ agitation. I wanted to know who this Mr. Steele was because it was obvious Tyler was holding back. Who was this man? Why did he think Tyler would marry his daughter?
“Fight me?” he sneered. “We both know I can’t fight the Alpha and win. But what I can do is remove myself from your business. Rogue City will cave in without my investments.”
Things were getting bad. My hand remained wrapped around Tyler’s arm, I could feel anger coursing through him. It hurt to think this argument was because of me. No one had ever fought on my behalf before. Mr. Steels had openly rejected my union with Tyler and if I knew anything about wolves, it was that they hated being gainsaid, especially the powerful ones.
“You think very highly of yourself, Felix, but be careful. I won’t let you disrespect my mate.”
The man’s gaze snapped to mine, venomous. “Who? This… thing? Where did she drop from anyway?”
Even though I was used to insults and jabs, the words still stung. I felt my shoulders sag with the weight of being at the center of this disagreement and suddenly wished I was anywhere else but here. A wave of tears gathered in my eyes. “Tyler, please.” The words were low, spoken under my breath but I knew he heard me. His body stilled but his anger remained.
I wanted us to leave. I wanted him to take me far away from here, away from the watchful, judgmental gazes of the wolves of Rogue City. I knew what they were thinking; why would their Alpha choose a mate without a backbone? A weak, pathetic woman who didn’t know how to stand up for herself. How could someone like her be their Luna?
My breath began to come out in short rasps. Visions of the past flooded my eyes... Alison driving her point home as to why I was completely useless and no one would ever love me... My father telling me over and over again that I was good for nothing as he hit me.
My eyes blurred and my throat was closing. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t be anyone’s mate, much less their Luna.
I needed to disappear. Go somewhere no one would ever find me. Maybe then the stares would stop and I wouldn’t have to deal with the voices in my head telling me they were right.