Ivory
Auden's words kept echoing in my head long after he left.
I was yet to fully wrap my head around that.
Didn't he say he wasn't ever gonna touch me? He said I wasn't his type, and he didn't kiss me today. What did he mean by we'd be spending the night together?!
Was he just pulling my legs?
That has got to be it, right?
Auden was presently discussing with some people who looked relatively important, and Violet, the woman from last night who tricked me, was right beside him, her arm entwined with his.
She was in a striking white dress that was exquisitely dramatic, one might actually believe she was the one getting married today.
And from the way I could see so many people fawning and staring at her with so much admiration and respect, I just knew she was this pack's beloved.
If they all loved her this much, why didn't auden just wed her instead?
"You look pathetic." A voice echoed from behind me.
The voice was so familiar, I whirled around fast, my eyes landing on Jaden. His dark suit hugged him like a second skin, and his eyes raked over me as he stepped close.
I felt frozen in place, so many hurt washing over me at the same time.
"If only you had given me what I wanted, you wouldn't look like death itself on your best day ever. All you needed to do, was to spread your legs, ivory."
As those words washed over me, my limbs shook and so many emotions swelled within me. All the frustration, anger, hurt, betrayal, that I've been feeling since the morning he was supposed to select me as his Luna— all came rushing through my veins.
I didn't realize when or how I moved, but I was suddenly slapping him hard across the face.
He reared back, taken aback and frozen in shock, cause he never expected me to ever do this. Silence hung in the air and I could feel so many eyes on me. I knew I should backtrack and apologize, but instead, I screamed at him, clawing at his face and pulling on his tie.
"Where's my maid? Where's Raine? You disgusting bastard!" I kept screaming and clawing at anywhere I could touch, completely uncaring about anything else.
Jaden finally pushed me away and he was visibly fuming, his reddened face looking like it would explode from his anger.
However, Auden smoothly slid between us before he could hit me.
I gasped at the same time as everyone else.
"What the hell is this about?" Auden thundered darkly, his eyes on Jaden.
"You were about to hit my wife, Jaden?" Auden questioned darkly, shocking me further.
Jaden's angry face reddened even more as he bit out furiously while pointing at me. "S- she came unto me first! She should be punished! I demand her punishment for her laying those filthy hands on me!"
"I didn't give you permission to attend this wedding, Jaden. So, why are you here?" Auden demanded and Jaden's shoulders stiffened, and now he looked uncomfortable, stumbling over his words.
"I just… I thought it would be nice to stop by—-"
"No; you thought it would be wise to act stupid, clearly. And you dare demand my Luna be punished? Do you wish for death?" Auden stepped forward.
I was frozen in shock behind him, unable to believe my ears.
"Aren't you aware that her being my luna now puts her over you?" Auden continued, and now, Jaden's face was as white as sheets.
"S- she s- slapped me—" Jaden's voice was now weak and febble, and I've never heard him sound like that before.
"And she can do it again if she likes, because she is your Luna." Auden barked and gasps could be heard echoing around us.
Across the room, my eyes landed on violet's face, and she was glaring so hard at me, it was like she wanted to strangle me.
At that very moment, Auden stared at his beta, then they came over to me and ushered me out of the hall. I felt so embarrassed and didn't bother to object, following after them, but not before my eyes caught Auden's.
And he looked mad as hell.
Oh fucking hell.
In the private room the betas took me to, I barely spent a minute in there before the door flew open and Violet marched in, her face a mask of fury.
"You silly little girl! What were you thinking causing this much trouble on a day like this?!" She bit out angrily while pacing. "I knew this was a bad idea and I told Auden countless times!"
"You tricked me last night. Why?" I asked bluntly, my voice low.
She finally stopped pacing to regard me, then she scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Cause you're clearly stupid and definitely don't deserve to be in this position right now. Auden would certainly soon realize what a mistake this is." Her voice was as cutting as ice.
"Do you like alpha Auden?" I asked bluntly after a few seconds passed by.
Cause to me, that was what all this unnecessary greasing was pointing at.
Violet let out a scandalized gasp, and before I saw it coming, she was slapping me hard across the face. My head whipped sideways and pain shot into my skin.
Her voice shook with rage. "Don't dare utter such words to me ever again!"
She stormed off after that, the door loudly slamming after her.
I had barely managed to relax before the door was flying open again, and Auden was marching in this time. He seemed to suck all the air in the room Witt his mere presence alone, and I struggled to breathe when his eyes focused on me.
"Did you realize how much you just disgraced me today?"
I cowered under his harsh voice, my chest tightening at once.
"You think you can go about slapping anyone you like? I should have let Jaden have his way with you out there for unfortunately, I had to defend you, else it would reflect badly on me. You put yourself in a line of disrespect on purpose, knowing you now reflect me now."
He pointed a hand at me. "On moving forward, you must avoid situations like this no matter what. Got it?" He barked and I flinched hard, my throat feeling tight.
"I- I'm sorry. I was just asking about m- my maid." I admitted quietly and he let out a dry laugh.
"It's high time you let go of everything related to your past because this is your life now. And your maid is most likely already dead anyway."
The world tilted around me and tears sprang in my eyes before i could stop it.
He was wrong just now. No way is my maid dead. She's alive! She's alive! Jaden's yet to hurt her!
Right?
My heart crumbled because there was no one to give me a response right now.
When I realized Auden was silently watching me, I hurriedly wiped my wet cheeks, worried that the sight of me crying was starting to get on his nerves.
"What happened to your cheek?" He asked gruffly and my shoulders stiffened, my hand automatically clamping over my burning left cheek which Violet just slapped moments ago.
I swallowed hard, unsure it would be wise to be truthful right now, cause I have a feeling he'd never believe me over Violet, seeing as he undoubtedly cared about her.
If I tell the truth and Violet denies it, he might chose to punish me for daring to lie against her.
I swallowed hard, my throat tight and sticky.
"I- I grazed it against the door edge." I finally mumbled quietly.
A scoff left his mouth, and he had an exparated look on his face now.
"Are you always gonna be this clumsy?"
I swallowed hard and shook my head, remaining silent and feeling sick to my stomach.
He broke the silence again.
"We should leave for the palace now. We have a consummation to carry out tonight."