Chapter 2

"Rylan, please, I..." Naida began, but he cut her off with a slap across the face. She was flung back against the wall by its violence. Tears were running down her face as she held her hurting cheek. "You're so pathetic," he spat out. "You have no value. 

Naida felt tears spring up in her eyes. "Why do you treat me in this way? I'm your mate, your Luna. Don't I mean anything to you anymore?"

Naida was thrown onto the bed by Rylan, who used his weight to pin her arms over her head. His expression filled with hatred and disgust, he towered over her. "You're right," with a growl. 

Naida felt the sharp words pierce her like a knife. She had made many attempts to satisfy his desires and be both Luna and his perfect mate. However, it seemed that her efforts were always useless.

She reached her breaking point. Pushing by Rylan, she hurried in the direction of the door. He grabbed her arm violently and growled, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Let me go!" Naida cried, but Rylan only tightened his grip on her arm. She tried to twist free, but he was too strong. Naida sobbed, but Rylan did nothing but tighten his hold on her arm. She attempted to twist away, but he was too powerful. "Please, Rylan," she sobbed, her voice quivering with desperation and terror. 

Naida was thrown onto the bed by Rylan, who used his weight to pin her arms over her head. His expression filled with hatred and disgust, he towered over her. "You're right," with a growl. "You're nothing. Worthless. Useless. Good for nothing but breeding."

Tears spilled down Naida's cheeks as she struggled beneath his grasp. More than any physical pain, his words hurt her. Her attempt to defend herself through words was stopped by the words stuck in her throat. All she could do was look up at him, her eyes battling with confusion and hurt.

With his breath hot against her ear, Rylan leaned down. "You know, it's about time we had our first pup, don't you think? Maybe if you start paying more attention to your duties as my Luna, we'll have one soon." He gave her a cruel smile, his teeth bared in what was supposed to be a reassuring grin. "And then, you can be the perfect mother. Show everyone how wonderful you are at taking care of our little family."

The words stung like poison, and Naida struggled against the grip he had on her arms. She didn't want to have a pup. Not when her husband had a mistress, and treated her so horribly. Not when she barely felt like a person anymore.

Shutting her eyes, she searched for the courage to deal with his words and their weight. She murmured, almost audible, "Rylan, please..." "I don't want this."

With his hot breath on her neck, he leaned closer. "You're stuck with this. It's your duty. Will you now behave well and focus on what matters, or do I need to remind you once more?"

Naida's eyes stinging with tears, she swallowed a whimper. She used all her effort to throw Rylan off her and scramble away from him because he was drunk. With her heart thumping fiercely, she ran out of the bedroom and down the hallway. Her breathing fell in short, ragged gasps, and her steps were wobbly. 

She finally reached the garden. She collapsed to the ground and started crying hysterically, the cool night air soothing her face stained by tears. Was she really so undesirable? So unworthy of love? Rylan's cruel words echoed in her head, taunting her, breaking her spirit.

After a while, Naida's sobs subsided and she wiped her eyes. She couldn't stay out in the garden all night. She had to go back to her room. But what would Rylan do when he saw her? Would he be angry? More hurtful? She was no longer sure what to expect. She forced herself to stand and walked back towards their bedroom, breathless.

Rylan was dozing off on the bed in the bedroom, with empty bottles all over the place. There was a strong stench of alcohol in the air. 

Naida's heart sank as she took in the sight. Naida shook her head sadly at the pathetic sight before her. She took a pillow and slipped out of the room.

She collapsed onto the bed in the guest bedroom. But she was unable to find any peace, not even here. Tears filled her eyes again as she gazed up at the dark ceiling.

 How pathetic she was, to be so unable to escape the pain. Was this really what she was destined for? A loveless marriage filled with misery and humiliation?

Sick with self-pity, Naida sat up abruptly. No, this wasn't supposed to happen. Her husband Rylan was bound to her until death separated them. She couldn't decide to simply give up on him. Not quite yet. She needed to figure out a method to bring her back to his attention and restore their relationship.

She told herself, "I have to fight for my marriage," her voice firm even though she was still on the verge of tears. "I'll get Lilith to leave Rylan alone tomorrow. She has her own mate out there somewhere. If she's gone, maybe Rylan will change. Maybe he'll be kind to me again."

It was a long shot, but Naida had to try. For her own sake, and for the sake of their marriage. She had to make Rylan see the truth about their bond. She tossed and turned in her bed for the rest of the night, her mind whirling with ideas about how she could make him understand. She eventually drifted off to a fitful sleep, dreaming about their better moments together.

Naida got up early the following morning, before six, and went downstairs to the kitchen. In an attempt to ignore her pounding headache and the sour taste of regret in her lips, she busied herself preparing breakfast. She practiced her response to Lilith when she finally confronted her about leaving Rylan alone while she was cooking. She would be tactful yet tough. She refused to let her rage overcome her.

On the other hand, she was determined to help Rylan realize the truth. She still loved him and wanted their marriage to succeed, despite the fact that he had treated her cruelly. Making his favorite breakfast seemed like a nice place to start because she couldn't let Lilith wreck everything they had worked so hard to create.

She cleaned the entire house from top to bottom as she cooked. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs just as she had finished sweeping the kitchen floor. She looked over to see Asher, looking shocked, walk into the room.

"Naida? He approached her and said, "What are you doing so early? "Did you sleep alright?"

She tried to sound casual as she said, "I could ask you the same thing," and smiled a little. 

Asher gave a shrug. "I think I couldn't sleep. You did not, however, respond to my question. When everyone else is still asleep, why are you awake at this awful hour?"

Naida looked down at the floor she had just swept and added, "I'm just...cleaning and making breakfast." 

"I thought Rylan might like some of his favorite foods when he wakes up. You know, to make him feel better."

Asher scowled. "You are aware that's not necessary. You don't work as our maid. 

"I know, but I want to. Please, let me." Naida looked up at him, pleadingly. "I just...I want things to go back to how they were before she came along. I miss Rylan. I miss the way things used to be."

He sighed but didn't argue further. Instead, he gently took the broom from her hands. "At least let me sweep. You've done enough. Go sit down and rest for a bit." 

Naida opened her mouth to protest, but Asher gave her a look that told her not to bother. Instead, she sighed and nodded, reluctantly sitting down at the kitchen table. As Asher swept, his gaze fell upon her face and the swollen cheek. "Naida..." he began, his voice full of concern.

"What happened to your face?"

She averted her eyes. "It's nothing."

Asher narrowed his gaze. "Don't lie to me. Did Rylan do that to you? Did he hit you?" His voice was low and dangerous, and Naida could see the anger rising in his eyes.

"He was just upset, that's all," Naida said quickly. "It's really nothing." 

Asher's expression told her he didn't accept that as an answer. Before he could say anything more, Naida stood up abruptly.

She brushed past him and said, "I should finish setting the table," before disappearing from the kitchen.

The house was spotless by nine in the morning, and breakfast had been set on the table. Rylan's favorite waffles, which included bacon, fruit salad, and maple syrup, had been made by Naida.

 One by one, the others started making their way downstairs for breakfast - Rylan, Lilith, and Lilith's twin sisters Calista and Quinn, both 5'8" with red hair and green eyes like their sister.