Rain Vale
"You're worth it."
The moment those words left my mouth, I regretted nothing—not the bond, not claiming him, not kneeling before a man everyone said I shouldn't.
His victories weren't ones to be undermined over a wheelchair. While they saw baggage, leverage, and a burden, I saw strength disguised as a burden.
This wasn't our first meeting. I had met him long before I dreamed of a Howling Ceremony. Back then, I was only ten, and at ten, while other children played, I sought ways of protecting myself in a den of wolves.
Back then, he was friendlier with my brother Marcus, who was leading in the place of the king. They had handled every trade business and tax, but one night it all came crashing down.
Marcus had returned cursing and threatening, and since then, their bond was never the same.
Caelan did come to the kingdom after that, but it was never as joyful and eventful as before. His face was stone cold, his eyes carried no warmth, and when he stared at my brother, his killing instincts couldn't be hidden.
I didn't open my eyes. His gaze was fixed on me as if contemplating whether I was sleeping or awake.
"You talk too much in your sleep," he muttered.
I wasn't sleeping, but I stayed quiet, then slowly shifted and turned my back to him. The silence that followed was thick. Then his unease settled after a long pause.
The golden rays of sunlight peeked through the tiny holes in the curtains. I blinked a few times before fully opening my eyes. I turned to my side, and it was empty. The place was cold, like he had been gone for hours, but I could feel him close.
"Caelan… Caelan," I called softly, but there was no answer.
I quickly stood up and rushed toward the door, but I saw him on the balcony. I walked over. Caelan was dressed in so little that his knuckles turned white from the harshness of the cold.
"Why are you here?" I crumbled as I placed my cloak over him, but he instantly pushed it away.
"You don't know me, so stop acting as if you care," he hissed.
"I know enough, Caelan, and if making sure you don't freeze to death is acting, then yes, let me be the actor."
"Tsk." He chuckled bitterly. "Haven't you done enough?"
The question caught me off guard.
"We are… bonded," I stammered.
"It is not by choice, Your Highness," his voice cut through like a sword.
A sharp ache struck across my chest as I staggered back.
"I know…" I whispered, but my honesty only made him furious.
"You know nothing… I am ruined, broken, and nothing but a burden. Call me weak…" He stared at his legs, then his fist pounded on them so hard. "Damaged."
I reached for him, but he pushed me away so quickly my back landed hard against the wall.
"I have accepted this fate. I have accepted the shame, the disgrace, and your humiliation, but I won't accept this facade you claim in the name of bonding… you're not even him," he added calmly. His eyes fell to the ground.
"You will never be him," he murmured, as if assuring himself of those words.
The silence that followed was alarming. I didn't move, nor did he. The cold air swept through us all, but it didn't do much, not when our hearts were colder.
A knock sounded, then the door creaked open with cautious slowness.
"Alpha…" a voice I didn't recognize called out.
Caelan's eyes widened with recognition.
"Over here," he answered, and the figure joined us.
It was the servant who had been with them upon their arrival. A beta, no doubt.
"You shouldn't be wearing so little." He rushed forward, took Caelan's hands into his, rubbed them, and gently blew warm air into them.
My wolf slammed against my head.
I wanted to rush forward and yank him away from my mate… But what right did I have?
"Alvin…" Caelan called softly, a softness that would never be directed at me.
The man on his knees didn't meet his eyes.
"Alvin…" Caelan's voice was firmer, but not cold. "Why are you here?"
Alvin's hands trembled, and his breath hitched. The reaction was small, but I was one to read reactions more than words.
"I couldn't leave," he murmured, his eyes on the floor.
Caelan sighed, then raised his chin to meet his gaze.
"You know defying Vegas is as good as treason, don't you?"
Alvin nodded. "I do…" he said firmly. "But how can you leave you… In a land with no backing, no one but people ready to do nothing but use you?" His voice broke with every word. "But,"
"No, but, Alpha… I will die before I leave you. Come, I brought you some clothes. I will help you have your bath."
He pushed him away, and I could only watch.
Was this him… the one I could never be?
A painful laugh tore through my throat.
I've heard of alphas choosing mates over fated ones… never would have thought that would be my case. No doubt he didn't flinch when Marcus threw me. He could react quickly enough to stop me from touching him, but not to protect me.
"Hahaha… who am I kidding… happiness was never a path aligned with my destiny."
The rest of my day was a blur between watching Alvin do everything to make his alpha comfortable, and I… the side character was left aside.
But sunset did not come with calm, but with rising issues.
Once again, I was summoned before the council, but this time there were no elders, just my father, his hovering seven sons, and their cunning mothers.
"Greetings, Father," I bowed.
"When will you do the right thing, Rain, or do you want me to force it down your throat?" My father's angry voice echoed through the walls.
"I am doing the right thing," I whispered.
"We will see about that," Rhett hissed from the side, and before I could answer him, a loud bang echoed from behind me, and a guard rushed in, stumbling on his steps.
"What insolence," Marcus growled.
"My… my king… fire… the crippled alpha… fire."
"Wh… what… no." Cold sweat broke through me. I stumbled before finding my footing and ran as fast as I could.
"Fire… he caused it!"
Servants scrambled all over the place. Painful cries echoed from every direction. Blood tainted the floor, but he was nowhere.
My breath hitched, and my hands trembled as I desperately searched for him.
"Where is Caelan… where is my mate?" I asked everyone and anyone, but they all pointed toward my wing, which was blazing with hot red flames.
I rushed forward, but a hand dragged me back as more flames launched toward us.
"Are you mad?" Cassian hissed. "He is over there," he pointed to the side.
For a moment, my body relaxed. My thoughts settled, and I took a step towards him.
But Caelan wasn't in his chair.
He was crumpled on the floor, his hands stained with blood, and he held someone.
"Al… Al, please," he begged, his voice desperate.
"Caelan?" I called from behind, but he didn't turn.
"Please…" he murmured, but the figure didn't budge. He was still and stiff.
Behind me, guards' growls echoed.
"Capture the crippled alpha… he set the fire," Cassian's voice ordered.
"No… no, he wouldn't," I stammered as I rushed toward Caelan, but his gaze made me halt.
He looked cold. His eyes were bloodshot red, shimmering with tears that refused to fall.
"You…" he laughed cruelly. "I hate you."
"I didn't." My throat tightened. I don't know what I was justifying, but the hate in his eyes… I couldn't live with it.
"Yes… But you claimed me, and now the only family…" He stared down at the lifeless, burned corpse of Alvin.
"My only legs… you've cut them off."
He closed his eyes. Two tears rolled down.
"Cae…"
He held Alvin to his chest, slowly patting his back like a mother soothing her crying baby.
"I killed you…same as that rainy night…he died because of me."