Chapter 59: The morning after
The first light of dawn broke through the sky painting the horizon in soft hues of pink and gold. The excitement from the coming-of-age ceremony still lingered around Ravencourt but in one place the atmosphere felt heavy and tense.
The Obsidian Palace stood quiet in the early morning light. The turn of events from last night still stunned everyone who had witnessed it. Although Alexander had tried to keep the news undercover whispers had already started to spread through the pack house territory.
Whispers that Eloise wasn’t fated to any of the Alphas. No one had imagined things would become the way most, especially Eloise.
Eloise lay on the bed in one of the numerous bedrooms arranged for influential guests attending the spring festival. Her room was one of the largest and most luxurious aside from the private quarters of the alpha family.
So much thought had been put into arranging it. The walls were draped in rich purple silk, her favourite colour, which caught the morning light and shimmered softly. A massive four-poster bed dominated the space with carved wooden posts and layers of the finest linens embroidered with golden thread.
Fresh flowers in shades of lavender and white filled crystal vases around the room filling the air with a delicate sweet scent. Heavy velvet curtains framed tall windows that overlooked the festival grounds now silent after the long night. Every detail had been chosen to honour the future Luna and now Eloise felt like a cruel joke.
Her mind remained in complete chaos as she processed everything. Her entire worldview had shattered before her eyes the moment she saw how protective the triplets had been of Yuki.
They had not even let any wolf close to her, not even a healer to check on her condition. It was only after Alexander had persuaded and suppressed them with his alpha authority that they had finally agreed. In all the years she had known them they had never been that protective of her. Even if Alexander had explained that they were not themselves, that it was their wolves, the other side of them controlling them. It did not make her feel any better.
Eloise stared at the ornate ceiling above her. Her fists clenched the expensive sheets tightly. Even if the real triplets adored her it was all in vain if their wolves could not stand her. Her biggest fear from the moment she had seen Yuki was that the girl would bewitch the triplets with her beauty. Even if she was their fated mate, bonds could be broken but never in a million years had she imagined the possibility that Yuki could be their fated mate.
An orphan with no real rank or authority. What right did she have to be the Luna of Ravencourt? Even if Eloise had not turned out to be Luna, why did it have to be her? It terrified her. It kept her awake all night because she knew deep down she might not stand a chance against Yuki.
A small smirk slowly curled up her lips. "This is not over," Eloise whispered to the empty room, her voice low and determined. "Not until I say so."
She sat up slowly pushing the covers aside. The morning light filtered through the curtains casting a soft glow across the luxurious space. She would not let this destroy her. She had worked too hard and come too far to lose everything now. The triplets might be drawn to Yuki for whatever reason but she still had time. She still had influence. And she would use every bit of it to make sure Yuki never took what belonged to her.
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At another corner of the Obsidian Palace, a soft groan was heard as a pair of clear sapphire eyes opened. Kieran’s head felt like it was being pounded. His eyes pressed shut immediately as he pressed his fingers on his forehead trying to massage it to reduce the ache.
" What the hell happened last night ?" He whispered to himself. He could barely piece together anything that happened. All he remembered was the unease and nervousness while waiting for Eloise to return from the forest.
Aside from that he couldn’t remember much. A soft jolt of sparks erupted from his forearm. His heart paused for a heartbeat. "Eloise.." he called out instinctively. He recognised those sparks, that addictive feeling like it was wrapped in his DNA. His mind could only imagine one person, Eloise.
His head turned but froze halfway. The words in his throat caught immediately when he saw the golden blonde hair covering her face. It took him a moment to process the scene
The lady on the bed wasn’t Eloise. She had blonde hair covering her face. She was curled against him like it was second nature, her head next to his heartbeat as her breath fanned against her chest.
She didn’t have anything on, her hair covered her chest area completely, and the waist down was covered by the sheets. Her back was completely exposed, there were several red marks from newly healed wounds that looked like lashes.
Kaden was curled against her back still fast asleep and her hand was on his arm that was the source of the sparks he felt. He recognised her almost immediately and the name was stuck in his throat.
A quiet whisper rang in his mind like a deadly reminder. "Mate.." Kieran’s body jolted and he fell off the bed immediately. His wolf just had to add that last fucking detail like it was the most important thing.
His body fell on the floor with a thud, he didn’t even feel the pain because his mind was still in denial. "No..no...no.." he repeated. His heart was racing so fast he could not breathe.
Kieran Ravencourt someone who had faced situations that would leave people too stunned or shaken to handle and analyse them carefully couldn’t process the simple fact that presented itself in front of him
His fingers raked through his hair. " What’s going on? What is Yuki doing here?" His voice trembled as he asked out loud. His memories were in pieces. He had no idea what might have happened in this room last night.
