Chapter 3
CLAIRE’S POV
"Mate, Mate!" My wolf, Lynn growled with excitement just when she spotted him.
My heart took a weird beat, making me panic. This was not going according to plan. I couldn't be caught in such a situation that would expose my lack of chastity.
Almost instantly, I felt his eyes rake through me. Probably looking for loopholes but I averted them. It would be better for me not to ever get l entangled with such a man of such caliber because it was only going to cause more problems.
"I don't want to have anything to do with this man. I am not a virgin, remember?" I reminded her, hoping that she didn't do something stupid such as jumping into his arms because she was love-starved.
"It doesn't mean anything. You could always explain to him, and we would find a common ground." She said ignorantly.
I rolled my eyes. As if that had ever stopped anyone from getting on my last nerve. I would have preferred it if I didn't have to speak to anyone yet but I guess I have no choice but to dance to whatever tune was played for me.
The alpha King rose from his seat, also fixating his eyes on me. I guess I had become the epitome of fascination. "Did you hear what my son said?" He thundered and the whole clan went silent. At this point, I didn't even know what to do anymore.
I nodded gloomingly. "Yes sir. But I don't want to be identified as the Luna." I said catching him off guard.
His head whipped around in shock as gasps filled the air. "You don't mean that do you?" He inquired from me hoping that I was lying.
Apparently, they didn't need to know that I was only running away from being publicly disgraced. There had to be a way for me to deal with this situation.
The Alpha Prince looked in his son's direction. "What do you have to say concerning this?"
Dimitri gazed at me for a second before responding. "I believe that she understands the gravity of her words, doesn't she?" He responded, gazing at me fiercely, daring me to leave.
I refused to answer her, instead the Alpha King raised his hands in support. "She is the one for my son." He announced, nailing me to the coffin and making me almost weep at the pains that I was passing through at that moment. I wouldn't have ever imagined that a day like this would come when I would be very unhappy to become a Luna.
Why couldn't time just roll back for a few hours?
"Yeah, she is very stubborn," Dimitri answered.
"That settles it. Other processes would begin adequately. It felt like they were driving the last nail into the coffin.
My fate was sealed.
The pack erupted into cheers and began again, while Dimitri signaled to me. "It's time to leave." He said in a gruff voice.
I nodded and followed him wordlessly.
{THE ALPHA’S RESIDENCE}
"Come with me," Dimitri said and I walked with him morosely. We passed through various bends and ended up at a door. "This is my room." He announced
"You can take a shower to ease your nerves." He suggested, catching me partially off guard. He chuckled at my startled expression. "I knew you were going to react that way." Pinning me a long stare, he spoke. "How are things going for you?"
"Fine," I said in a harsh tone.
He raised his hands in a placating manner. "I understand your sentiments, but like you, I'm not a big fan of tradition, but I also understand the importance of playing one's role. I am the prince."
That thawed my icy heart and I reconsidered. Maybe he wasn't as bad as I thought anyway.
His hands grabbed mine, "Let's go to bed." He urged, and guilt flooded my heart. He didn't deserve to be betrayed this way.
I suck up and headed onto the bed with him. He approached me and my hands suddenly began to tremble. This wasn't in any way right! "I have a confession!" I piped up just before his hands connected with my skin.
A raised eyebrow was my answer. "I am not a virgin," I said solemnly.
He shoots up angrily. "What the hell?! You have been touched yet you want me to get married to you, a trickster?!"
I broke down in tears, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to." I apologized profusely. "I was raped last night, I don't even know who did it," I confessed.
He pinned me with an angry stare almost in disbelief. "Only one question... Why the hell did you even bother to come, huh? I would have been a lot better without knowing you were my mate." He said in a calm tone but I couldn't help but get scared.
I wrung my hands, hoping that he saw my sincerity. "I apologize. My father forced me to be here." I explained.
Dimitri shook his head in more disbelief as he processed the words. "Where are you going?" I asked in horror when he headed out.
His stiff muscles explained it all. My heart dropped. "Please help me save some face, I would disappear from this place if you want."
He headed out despite my plea.
I followed after him immediately and caught up with his silhouette heading to the West Wing.
He stopped in front of a room and walked in.
I waited a few seconds before tiptoeing there. "So, how are things with your bride?" I overheard someone ask Dimitri.
"I believe that we can be rest assured that everything is falling into place, right?" Another person spoke up.
It was the elders according to the tradition.
I held my breath in anticipation of his answers. "I appreciate your concern but wouldn't be able to continue with the processes," Dimitri answered.
"May I ask why, Prince?"
"Because Claire is not a virgin." He announced, eliciting gasps from the elders.
I shut my eyes in shame.