༺ AN UNEASY SITUATION

~Xander~

The way her eyes grew round like saucers and her face turned drastically pale, made me feel - something I definitely wasn't used to feeling.

Guilt.

And it annoyed me like hell because this isn't me. I don't easily snap at people, I always keep my emotions in check yet this woman with her red hair, was making emotions I've kept long kept locked away, stir.

It really annoyed me.

But she needed to hear the truth. I hate the shadows under her eyes, the way she was moping and looking like she had no life left in her.

So she had a miscarriage.

Fucking big deal.

I detest when people act like cowards instead of getting up and facing their situations.

She recoiled into the bed, but the scent in the room shifted slightly from the disgusting stench of self pity and sadness to the sweet beautiful scent of anger.

Good.

Let her be angry.

“Thank you for the food,” she said calmly, looking everywhere but at me, “I appreciate it. You can leave.”

“Nope. You are in my house, Red. My territory, you do not get to command me. I'll leave because I want to leave.”

She sighed but said nothing and that just annoyed me more.

I turned and left the room, banging the door. It was when I got to my room that I scolded myself for the childish behaviour - which was totally out of the line for me.

Zephyr is the one who tends to get childish, not me.

This woman, no matter who she is, should not have this manner of effect on me.

My door creaked open interrupting my thoughts and my muscles tensed because I knew that my mother would be the only one to dare walk into my room without knocking or being summoned first.

And honestly, I was in no mood to speak to her right now.

These days all our conversations have become pretty one dimensional. She doesn't have anything else to talk about, and it was starting to get on my nerves.

She walked in with an exaggerated concerned look on her face and I cursed under my breath.

Not this drama again.

“Hello, mother.” I greeted as she took a seat beside my bed.

“Xander, I'm sorry to bother you but I was worried about something.”

She always is.

“I saw a strange lady here in our manor and Mindy mentioned she was your guest. I'm shocked because I had no idea we were having a guest over, neither do I know who she is. And I do not like being confused.”

I frowned, contemplating what exactly to tell her, “Mindy was right. She's a guest- more like a friend of Mindy's but she's welcome here.”

“Since when did Mindy start making friends?” She said, waving her hand with a scoff.

At least she pays enough attention to know that about my sister.

I'd wager my life and say that that's pretty much all she knows about her.

“Anyways, I wanted to talk to you about the marriage arrangement with Alpha Marvel's daughters. I got words back from our messenger and the daughter will be coming here in seven days to meet you.”

I grunted in response because, 1. I do not care. 2. Nothing I say would really change anything.

I've learnt a long time ago, that when my mother wants something, that's what she fucking gets and she would do anything possible to ensure she does.

This marriage alliance has been her concern for months now and I've never tried to object or say anything about it.

“Thank you so much for agreeing to do this, Xander,” she says, placing a hand on my arm, “I know you might think once in a while that I'm controlling. But every single thing I do - is for you and for your future. This marriage will give you more power, more leverage over Zephyr and Ryder. And to get the throne you will need as much power as possible, to the point that they wouldn't dare challenge you ever again.”

I almost scoffed but kept my expression stoic. She has no idea who my brothers are.

Zephyr and Ryder have always been stubborn and fearless as fuck. Nothing would make them back down.

“Rightfully, we aren't even supposed to be fighting over the throne. It belongs to you as your father's oldest son. But unfortunately, he never gave me the respect that I deserved and never gave you too _ which was why he abandoned us for his side pieces.”

She sniffed, as she said the last word dabbing the corner of her eyes with her fingers.

Yes I was my father's oldest son, but I was also his bastard. Legitimately, Zephyr is his son because his mother was the one who our father married, took as his bride.

I gripped the sheets tightly and exhaled shakily as memories of my father flashed through my mind.

And they weren't pleasant memories.

They never were.

The fact that I was his first son never really mattered to him. Zephyr was the one who got recognised, Ryder was the one who was dotted on the most.

And me?

I was nothing more than a shameful bastard.

And I've tried…. Goddess knows I grew up trying, striving to at least do something that will make my father look at me with something other than contempt.

At some point I stopped trying and accepted the fact, which only made me despise him and my brothers.

The day he died, I had stood over his death bed and whispered into his ears a few minutes before he took his last breath, a vow — that I'd be the one to take over his empire. The son he had neglected.

And that's why, no matter how overbearing she was, I never complained about my mother.

After all - we share the same goal.

“What are you thinking?” Mother probed, but I shook my head.

“Nothing much, mother. Thank you for all you do. I cannot wait to meet my betrothed.”

Her smile was that of satisfaction as she rose from her seat.

I'm betrothed and it's for a cause.

But now there's one tiny problem which my mum doesn't know about yet — The fact that I now have a mate.

The fact that I share the same mate with my two brothers whom I hated more than anything.

Dear moon goddess……

She sure does know how to fuck us all up when she wants to.

My mum gave me a kiss and left my room, and I just threw myself on the bed when she closed the door behind her.

This has got to be some messed up situation.

I don't even know who Aurora is, or where the fuck she came from. And who was the father of the child she miscarried?

It was already late outside when I went outside my room again. Everywhere was quiet although I could hear the quiet footsteps of my bodyguards around the manor.

I prefer them staying out of sight which makes the place seem unprotected.

It should be midnight, but the whole place was well illuminated by the brightness of the full moon.

A movement caught my gaze, and I stilled when I saw Aurora sneaking out of the room she was placed in, which was right in front of mine.

I backed away, into the shadows so she would not notice me and carefully watched as she walked out to the open yard and lifted her gaze to the sky, as if saying a silent prayer, or staring at the moon.

Her lips stretched into a smile, and the beauty of how free, and peaceful she looked at that moment knocked me right in my gut.

Her long red hair, were shining under the moon's light, her fade glowing with her smile and no one- I mean no had ever looked so beautiful.

I stared at her, totally transfixed as she just looked at the sky with her smile in place.

Unmoving, just frozen in place, as if she was one with the earth, and with the sky.

It was when I noticed my heart thudding frantically against my chest that I made myself stop looking, and scolded myself.

This isn't going to be a pretty situation.