Chapter Four

/-Aria-/

I didn't know what to say to him or how to respond. Dammit, I didn't even know who he was!

“We can leave now, Jasmine. We don't need to wait for the…” I pulled away from him and he looked up in surprise.

“I am not running away…” I was going to say his name but I realized I didn't know it. “I am engaged to Adonai as you know and he is already furious enough about the incident.”

I didn't know how deep his relationship with Jasmine ran but I was trying to be cautious to avoid attracting problems and doubts.

“But you have never cared about what my brother thought. Why now?” He asked. I blinked.

Jasmine was sleeping with her fiance's brother? Could this day get more complicated? Before I could answer the door opened and Ariel walked in.

Her eyes darted between the man and me and I could swear I caught a glare. She walked to him and draped herself around him.

“Darling, where have you been? I've been searching all over for you. I wanted to inform you about the good news but it seems you already found out,” Ariel said, staring doe-eyed into his eyes.

“I had to come as soon as I heard, my love. I was expecting to meet you here,” he answered, caressing her cheeks gently.

With the way he looked at her with such tenderness, one wouldn't believe he was the same man asking me to run away with him minutes ago.

Disgust rose in my chest. He was just like Asher. A liar, manipulator and a cheat.

I wasn't cut out for the kind of drama that was brewing in this place. All I cared about was acquiring enough power to set the Moonbeam pack ablaze, just like they did to me.

I walked past the lovebirds, heading to my bed because I was still in extreme pain and weakness.

“We should go, Dante. She needs to rest,” Ariel said to him.

“Alright, we'll see you later Jasmine,” his eyes were expressive but I gave them a blank stare and nodded, mentally noting that if my plan was to work, I had to stay away from those two.

I shut my eyes, willing myself to get some sleep because I needed it. It felt like I had only just closed my eyes when the door flew open, slamming against the wall.

My eyes fluttered open in panic and I felt like sinking into the bed when I met the eyes of the mean guard.

“The Alpha demands your presence in the courtroom immediately. Everyone is waiting,” he informed me.

“I will be there soon…” I started saying but his expression grew harsher.

“He said I should come with you,” he stated. I had a feeling he would bundle me off the bed if I dared refused.

I didn't understand the reason for his unprovoked harshness towards me but I got off the bed, taking cautious steps towards him.

“Can you hurry up?” He snapped and I flinched. Then annoyance shot up my chest. What right did he have to address me like this, anyway? Wasn't he just a mere guard?

“Maybe if you were more polite in your approach, I would put some effort,” I retorted, brushing past him in exasperation.

Stomping ahead, I realized I didn't know the way to the courtroom so I slowed down until we were walking side by side. If he noticed, he didn't comment on it.

He stopped by a set of double doors and the guards opened it to make way for him. The minute I stepped in, I felt a chill run down my spine.

My steps faltered as several pairs of eyes shifted to me. I never wanted to disappear as I did now.

Adonai was sitted in front, staring blankly as I made my way towards him. I spotted Ariel and Dante in the front way along with my mother and the girl I saw the first time I opened my eyes.

I was still yet to know her name.

My palms were sweaty and I was pretty sure they could hear my pounding heart as I made my way to the front.

The pindrop silence evaporated the minute I faced them. Murmurs filled the courtroom and the judgemental stares made me panic.

I could see them circling me with sneers as I lay helplessly in the middle, weak from childbirth. I forced my eyes shut, sucking in calming breaths.

I couldn't afford to have a breakdown before this people. The weak Aria was gone. When I opened my eyes again, I was more than ready to face them, matching their glares with mine.

“Silence!” A voice declared and the mumblings seized. “We are gathered here for an emergency meeting but before then the Princess has something to say to everyone.”

It was a middle aged man I assume is the clergy man.

The pindrop silence was back and I realized they were waiting for me.

“Uhm…” I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Hope… you all had a lovely day…” I stuttered.

They exchanged glances, clearly unimpressed my tacky greeting. I tore my eyes away from the crowd, afraid to drive myself to another panic attack.

“I want to formally apologize for the unfortunate event that disrupted my wedding to the Alpha, yesterday. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and assure you that there wouldn't be a repeat. I would appreciate a second chance at being crowned your Luna,” I voiced out.

There was a deafening silence but I didn't mind. That was the most decent speech I have rendered in my twenty-two years of existence.

If anything, I was proud of not shitting in my pants. I glanced at where Adonai was seated but I couldn't see his expression through the mask. Just the blankness in his eyes.

Please say something. Anything at all.

He didn't. Instead, he signalled at the clergy man to come over and whispered something in his ears.

My heart pounded as the man returned to his position.

“There will be no second chances. From now on, Princess Jasmine shall serve as the King's personal slave and join the line of mistresses until a new Luna is chosen,” the clergy man announced.

My blood ran cold.