SCARLET’S POV
“I kind of feel a bit awkward lately, Lara” I complained as I searched carefully through my wardrobe.
“A…bout what?” she inquired.
“Alpha Jake. Ever since we returned, he has been distant, I barely see him” I answered.
“Ehm…” she stammered. “What are you looking for?” she asked.
“A pink sequence lingerie. I have not seen it for some time” I replied.
“You should have asked me to help you look for it, my Luna” she immediately came and started searching through my clothes. “Actually, my Luna, most of your clothing was discarded this weekend. I gave the instruction to Kendra and she must have carried it out while we are away” she revealed.
“Oh, I see” I murmured and stepped back.
When she was done searching, she looked at me. “I think the item you are looking for is among the ones that were discarded, my Luna” she announced.
“Okay then,” I replied and went back to the bed.
“I can request for more eloquent lingerie to be sent over right away” she offered.
“No, never mind. Lingerie is the least of my problems now” I replied.
“Or maybe I should just go do the picking myself if that is okay by you” she suggested.
I looked at her, she was acting nervous.
“I already said that you should not worry. What is the problem with you? Why are you all so pale?” I inquired.
“It is nothing, my Luna” she responded trying not to meet my gaze.
“If you say so” I dismissed her. “You can go on and give out my order to Tabitha. Return as soon as you can I need you to help me with some things” I ordered.
“Okay, my lady” she responded and walked away.
I sighed as soon as she was out, and went back to my thought on my husband’s strange behaviour recently.
I am very sure that I was right, as there is no way I could be hallucinating or just making up crazy ideas. Jake has changed since I returned and there is no way I could be wrong about that.
I have tried to think of the event that happened before we traveled but as much as I tried, I could think of none. We were cool then and he could not stop blabbing about how he was going to miss me when I am gone for the weekend. He also had so many activities lined up for the weekend just so as to keep his mind occupied while I was away.
I have also tried to find out from the servants if any odd incident occurred while we were away, but none of them could think of any.
Or maybe he overworked himself while we are away and I might just be stressing myself over nothing. He will definitely come around once he is free.
“My lady, is there a problem?” I felt a hand on my skin.
“Oh, Lara” I exhaled. I had not noticed her enter.
“I have been here for some time now but it seems you are lost in thought. Do you care to share?” she said.
“No, no it’s nothing” I replied.
“This can’t be nothing” she murmured.
“Actually it is about the alpha” I finally revealed.
“Oh, okay,” she said and started to search around the room.
“You have to listen to me, Lara” I demanded.
“What about the alpha?” she asked.
I inhaled. Why does it feel like she is eager to avoid the discussion? Anyways, I waved this thought aside and went on. “He has changed since we returned” I confided.
“Or maybe you are just overthinking” she murmured with a shrug of her shoulders.
“No, Lara, I can tell that I am not overthinking” I replied.
She came and sat on the bed with me and said. “Come one, dear, why would you even think of such?”
“Since we returned, I have barely seen him and then he had not said a word to me. It reminds me of the very first time that I set my foot here” I replied.
“But then we have only been back for three days and he might be very occupied,” she said.
“You think so?” I asked. “But why do I feel so differently about it deep inside?” I murmured.
“You just have to relax. I believe that the alpha will come around soon” she tries to pacify me.
I was a bit relieved and I smiled at her. I am grateful to have her at this point in time.
LARA’S POV
I know what she is talking about. Everyone but her knows what she is talking about. But how do I face her and give such a sad piece of news to her?
Alpha Jake is now with Violet. He carries her around and shows her off to whoever cared to know.
We warned her, we did all we could to stop her from bringing in that beast here or close to her but she wouldn’t listen. She allowed her heart to lead her instead of her head.
I had feared for this day and now there is nothing I can do to help her. There is nothing anyone can do for her.
“And Violet, why have I not seen her yet?” she asked.
At the mention of the name, Violet, my heart skipped a beat. “Vi… Violet…” I stammered.
“Yes, I sent some message to her. She should be here before now” she replied.
“Yes… I remember. She said she is feeling unwell and will come and see you as soon as she recovers” I lied.
I was overtaken by anxiety. My stomach was beginning to rumble as I thought of the lie that I had just told her. But there is not much that I can do as the truth would be of no help now. I will leave her to find out the truth in some other way if she is ever meant to find out. Or better still, not finding out the truth is the best for her.
“Oh really? You know I have never thought of paying her a visit. I think this should be the perfect occasion to do so” she smiled.
“My luna, I know Violet is your friend and I am not one bit against that. In fact, I am beginning to like her very much…”
She cuts in. “See, I know that one day you will come to see her for who she truly is so you must come on this visit with me”
“No, my luna. I am sorry but as your friend, I will not allow you to make such a visit. You are the luna of Black Moon and there is a lot of prestige attached to such a position. You can’t go visiting a nobody” I vehemently objected to her desire of paying Violet a visit.
She giggled. “And when did you suddenly allow titles to get into your head? Even I was once a nobody”
“That is not the case anymore, my luna” I insisted.
I wanted her to know just how serious I was. She must not make that visit, especially for the sake of her sanity.
“Okay, I understand your take on Violet and I will respect that,” she said.
I heaved. A smile immediately radiated my face. I was very grateful that she has finally heeded my words.
“Thank you, my luna,” I said overtaken by joy. But my joy was short-lived as her next word brought me to my toes.
“Then I will have to take someone else along,” she said.
“What!” I exclaimed and almost jumped up.
“What kind of a friend would I be, dear? Okay, what kind of a luna will I be if I don’t visit a sick friend?” she asked.
“My luna, you can always send down emissaries to her” I persuaded.
“If I was the one sick, she would have come and would never have left my side” she replied.
“But you are her luna” I countered.
“That is where you get it wrong. Moreover, I think I need something to distract me and take my mind away from my husband. A visit to another part of the city would be just perfect. I will go see Violet, spend a couple of minutes with her and keep my mind away from Jake” she announced.
I felt completely helpless. Now I know that there is nothing I can do to stop her. But then, why is she this stubborn?
I bowed my head in total resignation. If this is meant to be, then who am I to try to stop it?
“And speaking of Jake, I need to go inform him of my purported visit to Violet” she announced.
“But he is not back” I replied.
“He is. Some servants brought him some lunch some minutes ago” saying this, she stood up and made to leave.
“No…” I murmured. I raised up my head and brought my hand forward to stop her but she was gone.