CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

ARIA’S  POV

My stomach was a bundle of nerves and I could barely breathe as all my resolve from last night leaked out of me.

   I slept with a freaking stranger after I found out my husband cheated on me, with my step-sister. Everything was messy.

What the hell am I doing, dressed beautifully and about to get my first renewal with a man who maltreats me and still has the guts to cheat on me? 

The thought alone was enough to make me sick.

“Aria!” I winced as Tasha’s sickly sweet voice drew closer with the sound of her footsteps. “You are shaking. My goddess, you look so nervous. It’s not your wedding, it's just a renewal ceremony. Try to relax,”

She chuckled and shook her head at her private joke.

Perhaps a day ago, her little chuckle might have brought a smile to my lips, now all it did was irritate me and make me think about how dangerously close she stood to me.

So close, I could wring my arm around her neck and snap it in two seconds.

“Jeez,” She let out a breath and shook her head in amusement. “Why’s your stare so intense?”

I blinked and shook my head. Letting a fake smile grace my lips “Forgive me, Tasha. Just wedding Renewal nerves,”

“I can help with that,” She gave me a nod and turned to beckon one of her maids.

“Friya? Come here. Bring the cup,”

I tried to tune out her voice, picking at my fingers, I stared at the worn oak double doors of the throne room that served as my Renewal hall, this was the same place I did my wedding.

 Tasha was acting like she knew about last night, what if she had seen the stranger and me last night, what if Klaus had seen us? Those were some of the multiple questions that popped into my brain, and I wished I had listened to Moxilla.

“My Lady, are you okay? If you require time, I’m sure the orchestra can wait before you walk down the aisle,” Sara, my maid, a concerned voice broke through my haze-like state.

“Nonsense,” Tasha interrupted, shaking her head as she pushed a steel cup into my hands. “She’ll be fine,”

  She smiled at me and said, “Just drink,”

My hands cooled around the cup as I frowned. “What’s this?”

“Just water,” Tasha smiled encouragingly. “For the nerves,”

I shook my head. The last thing I wanted was to put anything in my stomach, but from the insistent look on her face, I knew she wouldn’t give up until I satisfied her.

“Come on,” She urged, glancing at the oak doors and back at me. “It’s almost time. Drink,”

I kept my eyes on her face. Trying to figure out if this was a way of telling me that she saw me having sex with a stranger last night before downing the cup. 

“Now take,” She pushed the decorated box with my ceremonial blades into my hand and took the cup back from me.

I looked straight ahead, my grip on my white dress tightening as I vaguely registered her arm entwining my own.

My husband’s mistress walked me down the aisle. How poetic.

The orchestra struck a chord.

“It’s time Aria, the most important man in Diamond Fortress, is here. Try to impress the Lycan King,” Tasha nudged me, her voice thick with excitement as the orchestra began to play.

Walking down the aisle was relatively easy, probably because this wasn't my first time and it would be my last.

The beautiful music. The guests in attendance stood to their feet watching me with approving gazes. The light smell of Jasmines in the air, and my cheating husband.

My stomach lurched, pulling me back to reality as he held my hand and smiled at me.

“Let us begin!” Elder Arvin announced beaming at Klaus and me.

The ceremony was simple and straight to the point.

  Klaus was giving me a deadly stare, he looked like he knew what happened and was ready to give me a punishment, he came closer to my ears and whispered.

“I will deal with you.”

  He knows. My breath stopped immediately.

“Breathe sweet girl. Breath,” Moxilla tried to console me as my hands trembled.

I bit my lips nervously, the steel bone of my Renewal corset, digging into my side as Elder Arvin picked up our marriage ribbon we used three years ago and wrapped it around my right wrist.

“Klaus Michealson, My husband, and lord, I accept you for another three years of my life, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, til death do us part”

The words made my tongue feel like paper.

 Klaus groaned and squeezed my hand in anger, but I couldn't grimace and opened his mouth to speak.

“I accept to take—”

“STOP!”

Tasha’s loud voice sent a bolt of panic down my stomach.

My mouth popped open as I locked eyes with her and she smiled slowly. 

“She is going to spill the secret,” Moxilla’s voice was filled with dread as I began to tremble.

I tried to signal Klaus. Get a read on the situation as loud murmurings and gasps from the guests filled the hall.

“What is it, girl?” Elder Arvin snapped. “The Lycan King is here. Show some respect,”

“Let us continue,” I tugged Klaus’s arm trying to urge him.

 “GET THAT WOMAN AWAY FROM THE ALPHA! YOU WHORE” Tasha spat loudly. Her voice filled with fury and fake worry “She committed adultery, I caught her in the arms of another man.”

 The throne room exploded. My vision swam. Klaus dropped my hand like it was on fire.

The hall was mayhem. Commotion as Pack elders got to their feet, some royal officials began to call me a whore in a hushed tone. A sudden sharp pain began to burrow in my brain. 

“Tasha stop this!” I hissed anger and fear threatening to blind me.

I turned to see Klause standing in front of his guards, wanting to take me to the dungeon, like he had not committed the exact crime.

“Stop what? Will you deny that you slept with a palace guard last night in front of your chamber? I saw you–”

“Lady Tasha! “ Elder Arvin snapped. “Lady Aria is Luna. This isn’t a light accusation!” he sounded angry but I couldn’t help but notice that he was just trying not to be judgemental, he believed her story.

I clutched my head, the pain in it was getting worse with each passing second. My blood burned hot and I tried to call Moxilla for strength but she too, was weak and unable to help me.

“This isn’t just an accusation. This is a fact!” Tasha strolled towards me, Her eyes gleaming with hatred and triumph. “She slept with a palace Guard, that's cheap of you though,”

“Don’t be stupid Tasha! Klaus is not just the alpha but also my husband. Why would I cheat on him?! And you—”

I shut up immediately.

Oh, how I wanted to tell the whole world about the cheating. Watch Tasha suffer as she cries and apologizes to me. But…

To reveal the cheating would be to give up on being Luna and implementing the laws I want. And without my power as Luna, I am nothing.

A fresh wave of pain shuddered through me but I gasped gripping my silk wedding dress instead of exposing the cheating.

“Did you sleep with the palace guard?” Beta Maxwell questioned. His voice was angry as the other elders murmured loudly.

My mouth dried up, pain racking every length of my body.

“Yes, she did!” Tasha answered for me. “That wasn't the first and if this renewal continues, it won't be the last!”

“You bitch!” I choked out, my eyes burning. I couldn’t believe this woman was my best friend and stepsister. Besides, I cheated once.

“She’s lying,” I shook my head, trying to explain myself through the pain as I felt my legs lose all power and I crashed to the floor. 

“Am I?!” Tasha’s taunting voice seemed to run circles around me. “Then explain to everyone why you lost your ability to foresee things, the moon goddess took it away from you,  because you were committing adultery!”

In that instant, I knew she had won.

From the triumphant gleam in her eyes. And Klaus’s overwhelming silence. 

It was over. No use concealing the cheating, Klaus would never continue the renewal with me and the throne would never be mine.

I opened my mouth to yell angrily. Scold her and expose her secret to the elders. 

But my throat had closed up. My voice failed me as the pain in my head intensified and I clawed at my throat pitifully.

If my late family could see me now, they’d be disgusted.

“You're Luna aren’t you?” She mocked and turned to the important guests watching with wide eyes.

 “I can promise, she’s a whore. I saw her strip naked in front of several guards and She planned to get rid of the Alpha. So she can rule this pack!”

I shook my head vehemently. Unable to speak or defend myself as Tasha’s eyes teared up and her voice dropped to one of worry.

“I know all about this because I am her best friend and step-sister. “I’m only revealing it because I care about our pack and our alpha, we can't have a whore for a Luan.”

No. No! The words played in my head but my mouth wouldn’t cooperate.

“Who is your witness? Let us see her,”  

Klaus’s voice sent shock waves down my spine. I turned an accusing gaze to him but he ignored me as she held up and called Sara, my most trusted maid, as a witness to my adultery.

“I saw her with another man, last night, in front of her chambers and rushed to call Lady Tasha,” Sara said, without any hint of guilt.

“That wasn't the first time,” she stated and I stared at the ground with tears in my eyes, this betrayal was too much.

Through my pain, I raised my head. I stared at Tasha, who had triumphed in her eyes, and then I stared at Sara, she smiled sheepishly at me and mouthed;

“The Alpha would be mine soon,”