Chapter 0002

Mabel’s POV…

***ONE WEEK LATER***

I became a shadow of myself after that day. I locked myself in my room most of the time, and every night for the past seven days, I cried myself to sleep.

Cillian had tried reaching out to me a couple of times, but I shunned him away. It’s been a week, but the pang of betrayal still gripped tightly at my chest. Had I known this was how it would turn out between us, I would have never chosen to deceive myself from the start. Life as a commoner was much simpler. I wouldn’t have had to be bothered on the public outlook of my marriage. I wouldn’t have had to be bothered about birthing an heir to the throne.

For a common man, five years spent waiting for a child might not have seemed much, but for an Alpha whose death could result in the end of the royal bloodline, it was a lot. It’s not like I hadn’t tried. I’d visited every herbalist, every birth specialist, done everything I could possibly think of to give him a child. I’d been trying, and I was still trying before Cillian had to leave three months ago. I knew he’d been patient enough, but still, he didn’t have to do this to me.

He didn’t have to go beyond our marriage without informing me, and just to add more insult to injury, he cheated on me with the perfect “princess” everyone else wanted him to marry besides me. I felt shattered till this day.

I might have been broken, but I never allowed my pain to make me neglect my Luna duties. I knew that if there was ever a time I needed to prove my strength to my subjects, it was now. I attended to most of my assignment from within my room, and those that needed my presence, I ensure to do it while avoiding Cillian as much as possible. I hadn’t seen him since that day, and if it could be possible, I never want to see his face again.

After disposing of the heavy pile of soaked tissues near my bed, I checked the time. Already evening. Before now, I never knew that one could spend so much time crying, I guess a broken heart knows neither day or night. I hadn’t done much today, but I still thought it would be nice to go and inspect the stables. Despite Cillian’s effort to keep everything a secret, I am sure the pack members might know a thing or two about my dilemma. So, I tried not to remain in my room miserable for too long so as not to confirm their rumors.

So, I checked the mirror, covered up my black eyes with make-up, and put on the prettiest fake smile I could muster before leaving my room. I greeted the servants and guards as I passed by the halls, making sure I didn’t leave a hint of what was going on in my mind. Before I reached the stables, I bumped into Megan, Cillian’s twin sister. I wish I had earlier known that she would be coming to the pack house today. I would have tried to avoid her as well.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the little Barren Luna,” she uttered mockingly, never bothering to hide her despise for me like she always did.

“Out of my way, Megan. I don’t have time for you today.”

She didn’t move. “It’s such a wonder how you still manage to keep your shoulders high despite knowing what has happened. Or do you think the whole pack doesn’t already know your shame? If I were you, I would have long since realized that I don’t belong here. I would have fled back to whatever hole I crawled out from.”

“That is why you are not me,” I snapped. It took every form of self-control not to show how her words struck my deepest nerves.

“Of course, I am not. I wouldn’t pray to be a commoner who doesn’t know her place. I warned my brother against this marriage, right from the very beginning, but no, he wouldn’t listen to me. Now look at what’s happened, he has humiliated you in the worst way possible, and boy, you don’t know how much it gladdens my heart to say that you deserve it.”

I don’t know what came over me then, I don’t know how it happened, but the next thing I heard was the sound of a loud slap echoing across the halls. My hands trembled as they parted ways with Megan’s face. The red-colored mark of my palm prominent on her left cheek. Megan raged with fury.

Oh, no. I didn’t mean to. I’m not used to losing my temper like this. I’ve always been used to ignoring Megan’s bickering but I don’t know what happened today. Maybe it’s because my emotions were all over the place.

I immediately apologized as she tried to shove me away with tears in her eyes.

Holding her hand, “Megan, I’m sorry for slapping you. I didn’t mean to, I…”

“Get your hands off me!” She barked, and I immediately let go of her hand like it was hot coal.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered honestly, knowing I should have done better. Megan never liked me, but it never stopped me from marrying her brother. In fact, I’d always hoped that she and I could be friends one day. I never expected that her hatred for me would grow by the day.

Megan cleaned her eyes with the back of her palm. “Stay out my way from now on, bitch. I will take this slap with honor, knowing you only did it because you are mad that Cillian’s seed rejected your womb. In a few months time, my brother will have an heir of royal blood, something you could have never given him in your wildest dreams,” she spat before walking away.

Her words cut through my heart like a knife. I was trying hard to control myself from bursting there because people were staring. Forgetting my duties at the stables, I hurriedly rushed back to my room and slumped on my bed. Finally, I could let the tears out. I cried bitterly, not just because of the hurt, but for the fear of losing Cillian to another woman. I know it sounds so crazy what I’m about to say, but despite his betrayal, I still love him with my whole heart.

I was so deep in my sadness that I didn’t hear the sound of my door opening and someone entering. I forgot to lock it this time, but I don’t care whoever wants to see me. Everyone should just leave me alone!

Then I heard his voice.

“Mabel…”

I gasped, raising my head from my pillow to see Cillian looking towards me with a pitiful face.

“What are you doing here?” I yelled at him. “Get out of my room.”

“No.”

“I’m not joking, Cillian. I don’t want to see you here at all.”

“I’m not joking, either, and I’m not leaving this place until you agree to speak to me.”