Alara
The evening was supposed to be elegant, one of those events where I could stand beside Kaelen and bask in the pride of being his wife. Yet, as I stood by his side, everything felt distant, hollow. We arrived together, but it felt like I was attending alone. Kaelen, as usual, was absorbed in the details of the evening, speaking with various pack members and business associates, his attention solely on matters that had nothing to do with us.
I sipped from my glass of sparkling water, glancing around the large room filled with important faces. I had to smile, nod, and make polite conversation, all while Kaelen moved in and out of my peripheral vision. He was present, yet absent in every way that mattered.
I approached him once, trying to loop my arm through his. “Are you doing okay?” I asked lightly, hoping to catch his attention.
“Mhm, just busy. I’ll catch up with you later,” he responded, barely looking at me. His words were dismissive, and before I could say anything more, he was back into his conversation.
My heart sank a little deeper, but I put on a brave face. I knew this was a part of his responsibilities as Alpha, but lately, even at home, his distance had felt like a void growing between us. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something more was going on. Still, I plastered a smile and wandered off to mingle with the other pack members, exchanging pleasantries that felt as empty
as I did.
Then Lucas arrived.
I saw him walk through the door, his tall figure cutting an impressive silhouette. His gaze swept over the crowd before it landed on me. For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes- something that made me feel seen, unlike how I felt next to Kaelen. As he approached, I suddenly felt uneasy. His presence always had a way of stirring the air, making it feel charged, but tonight it was different. There was an underlying tension between him and Kaelen that I hadn’t noticed
before.
“Alara,” Lucas greeted me, his voice soft but steady. “How are you holding up?”
The question seemed innocent enough, but there was something in the way he asked that made me pause. Holding up? It was as if he knew more than he was letting on. I frowned, unsure how to respond.
“I’m fine,” I said slowly, my eyes narrowing slightly. “Why do you ask?”
Lucas’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Just making sure,” he replied, his tone too casual. “It can
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be difficult… when things aren’t as they seem.”
That cryptic comment sent a cold wave down my spine. I blinked, unsure how to process what he meant. Did he know something I didn’t? Was there a hidden meaning behind his words? I opened my mouth to ask, but before I could, Kaelen joined us.
“Lucas,” Kaelen said curtly, his voice tight. He didn’t even glance at me, as if I wasn’t standing
there. “We need to talk.”
Lucas gave a slight nod, but his eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, almost as if he wanted to say more. I felt a chill in the air between them, an unspoken tension that gnawed at my insides.
I excused myself and moved back into the crowd, but my mind was spinning. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something Lucas was trying to warn me about–something Kaelen didn’t want me to know. My heart ached as I thought back to our rushed wedding. It had all happened so fast, too fast. I had convinced myself it was because Kaelen was eager to make me his Luna, but now… doubts were creeping in.
The event continued around me, but I couldn’t focus. Every laugh, every clink of glasses felt distant. I kept catching glimpses of Kaelen and Lucas in deep conversation, their expressions unreadable. I stayed far enough away to give them space, but close enough to overhear snippets
of their conversation.
And then, I heard it.
Kaelen’s voice, low but clear, said something that made my blood run cold. “I’ll keep the marriage going for the next couple of months, just like we agreed. But after that… I don’t know.”
My breath caught in my throat, my heart pounding in my ears. What was he talking about? A couple more months? Was our marriage some kind of agreement?
Lucas’s response was quieter, but I could still make out the words. “You should tell her the truth. She deserves to know what’s really going on.”
My heart sank. The truth? What is the truth about? What was going on behind my back?
I couldn’t stand there any longer. My entire body felt like it was burning from the inside out. I turned on my heel and left the room, my mind reeling. Kaelen and I were supposed to be in love. This was supposed to be real. But now, all I could think about was the possibility that it had been a lie all
along.
I walked outside into the cool night air, desperate for space to breathe. I felt betrayed, confused, and most of all, lost. My chest tightened with a painful realization–I didn’t really know the man I’d married. And now, I was afraid to find out the truth.
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As I stood there, trying to collect my thoughts, Lucas found me. He approached cautiously,
concern etched across his face.
“Alara…” he began, but I cut him off.
“What did you mean carlier?” I demanded, my voice shaking. “What’s really going on? What are you hiding from me?”
Lucas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. His hesitation was all the confirmation I needed. He
knew something. Something big.
“Tell me, Lucas,” I pressed, my voice firmer now. “What’s happening with my marriage? Why did you say I deserve to know the truth?”
Lucas looked torn, as if he was struggling with whether or not to reveal what he knew. But then, after a long pause, he met my eyes and spoke.
“Kaelen married you because… it was part of an agreement,” Lucas said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know if It was out of love or not, Alara. It was a strategic decision I guess, something to keep the peace for a few months. After that… I don’t know what his plans are.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. An agreement? Not love? I staggered back, feeling as though the ground had been ripped out from under me.
“I’m so sorry, Alara,” Lucas added, his voice full of regret. “I thought you deserved to know.”
I shook my head, trying to process it all. My entire marriage was built on a lie. Kaelen never loved me. I was just… a pawn. The weight of that realization crushed me.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I had to be strong. For myself. For whatever was left of my dignity. “I need to talk to him,” I whispered, my voice cracking.
But deep down, I already knew what I had to do. Kaelen and I… it had never been real. And now, I needed to figure out what to do with this broken life he had left me with.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
