CLAIRE

The ceremony ended over an hour ago and there still wasn't any sign of my husband, there's something so sexy about calling Xavier my husband. "Mine" I sigh dreamily, pushing away from the window to admire how beautiful I look in my ceremonial dress once again.

Another hour passed by and still no sign of Xavier, this time I was starting to get worried so I decided to look for him instead. I slipped out of our bedroom, like a teenager sneaking out to attend a college party or something.

The hallway light was dimmed with no sign of anyone, well that was until I cornered into the second hallway which led to an outside balcony and just a few feet away from where I stood, I saw my mate, except that he wasn't alone. There's a lady beside him and they both seemed engaged in a conversation, each of their fingers wrapped around a bottle of champagne.

Xavier must have said something funny because the woman threw her head back and laughed, casually dropping her hand on his shoulder. My heart clenched at the scene before me, I didn't like it one bit and I'm left to wonder what was so important that they can't postpone the conversation until tomorrow instead of opting for making me wait for two hours, wondering where he was.

There must be a logical explanation for this, I thought to myself as I made my way towards them. The lady was the first one to spot me and by then, I was already behind Xavier. Her smile vanished almost immediately, her change of mood went unnoticed by my husband because he turned around, following the direction of her gaze.

"Xavier..." I breathed, wrapping my arms around his waist. "I was so worried, I thought something happened to you." He untangled my hands from his waist, pushing me back and creating some distance between us.

Confused and feeling rejected by his action, I turned towards his companion instead. "Hi, I'm Claire, I didn't see you at the ceremony. Anyways, it's nice meeting you." I politely stretched my hand forward for a handshake.

To my dismay, she hissed, straightening up to her full height. "Let's call it a night Xavier, I'll be seeing you tomorrow." She leaned forward, placing a butterfly kiss on his right cheek before walking away.

"What was that all about?" I asked, once she was out of earshot.

"What do you want?" He demanded, both his tone of voice and expression catching me off guard. Gone were the softness in his eyes when he looked at me, now they've been shielded away and replaced by a sharp, angry, distrustful look.

"Did you hear me Xavier? I was worried about you, after the ceremony you disappeared for two hours and I came here to find you chit-chatting with some lady." I reached for his hands, pressing it against my chest. "What's wrong? Talk to me."

He snatched back his hands, like I burned them or something. "Looks like you want to spend the night here, or else you won't come looking for me when I gave you the entire room." He hissed, walking away.

I ran after him, feeling more confused by each passing seconds. He didn't stop until we reached our bedroom and I didn't stop either, I wanted answers, I wanted to know where the change of attitude came from. Something must have happened because this Xavier right here, isn't the same Xavier I knew a week ago.

"It's our wedding night! What was I supposed to do? You should have been here with me! Not some other girl! And why are you even with her? What was so important that you had to keep me waiting for two hours? I thought we meant more to each other than that."

There was a pause between us but then he threw his head back and laughed, like I said something funny. "That's where you are wrong Claire, you mean absolutely nothing to me. In fact I hate you so much I can't stand seeing your face, so if you know what's good for you, you will leave me the hell alone." He sneered, his eyes filled with so much anger that left me feeling hurt and confused.

I staggered back, he might have as well slapped me across the face. Tears rolled down my face and I angrily shook them away. "You hate me? No, Xavier...you don't hate me, I'm Claire...your Claire...that's not possible." My voice quivered as I struggled to find the right words to say.

He glared at me, leaning forward to directly stare into my face. "I hate you and your people so much Claire Fair-Moon and by the time I'm done with y'all, your world will burn with my fury." He grabbed by wrist roughly, with no amount of gentleness as he dragged me out of the room, back to the balcony.

"Xavier, please let's talk about this." I pleaded as he threw me out, despite my confusion I wanted to reach out to him, I didn't want to believe everything he's telling me, something must have happened.

Ignoring my pleas, he shut the door in my face and a few seconds later, I heard the lock fall in place. The breeze from the balcony was so strong, indicating that rain was about to fall. I knocked countlessly on the door, begging him to open the door, pleading with him to let us talk about it but it all fell on deaf ears.

The way he looks at me, speak to me breaks my heart. I didn't want to think about him hating me, how could he with the way he kissed me go, the way he winked at me from across the room tonight as I walked down the aisle towards him. The way his fangs graze my neck, right before he claims me, the gentle look in his eyes when he looks at me.

The rain started, it was as if the heavy was angry along with him and there was nothing to sheltered me from the angry downpour so I stood there hoping that my husband wouldn't have the heart to leave me out there, that he couldn't bear to see me in pain and would come running any second from now but that never happened.

It's dawn and the servants were awake. I couldn't stand or move from where I sat crawled up against the door, with my knees on my chest and my arms wrapped protectively around myself as my body shook violently from the cold. Despite him leaving him out here in the rain, a part of me still refuses to believe what was happening, Xavier would never treat me this way, it just doesn't make sense.

When the door opened, I forced myself to my feet thinking it was Xavier but to my disappointment, it was a maid. "Oh goddess! Luna, what are you doing out in the rain? Please come in." The maid said, a horrified expression on her face. "You're shaking so much, did someone accidentally lock you out?"

I looked at her, her concern making me feel worse. "I'm okay really, is Xavier awake?" I tried walking but fell back, fortunately before I could make it to the floor, the servant girl caught me midway.

"Alpha left with Miss Thalia for their early morning exercise, here...let me help you to the bedroom." I stopped protesting and let her guide me back to the master's bedroom, all the while my mind was putting two and two together.

No doubt that Thalia might be the name of the lady from last night and from the look of things, she shares a close relationship with my mate. I didn't like it, it's hurt to even think about when it should have been the both of us doing things together, instead he prefers Thalia.

Tears rolled down my face and I quickly wiped them away, not wanting the maid to see them, the last thing I wanted was to be a topic of conversation to some bored gossipy servants. I adjusted the blanket she wrapped around my body, muttering a thankful to her under my breath before I was overtaken by sneezes.

"Give me a few minutes Luna, I'll make some hot chocolate tea and hopefully see some cold medicine, you badly need it." After she left, I removed the blanket from my shoulder and left the bedroom in hopes of bumping into Xavier and his exercise partner.

I met them at the bottom floor and once again, her whole demeanor changed as soon as she saw me. Well, the feeling's mutual, I thought focusing my attention on my mate who seemed to be avoiding my gaze. The rejection stings and not knowing what I did to warrant this treatment from him hurts more.

I hurried towards him, instant regret as I collapsed on the floor, hitting my head against the marble floor. Some of the servants who witnessed the fall let out a terrifying gasp, but the best part of all is Xavier, rushing to my side and picking me up from the floor, he carried me back to our bedroom in a bridal style.

The maid arrived just in time with the cold medicine and hot chocolate. Silently, Xavier made sure I took it, his movements were silent and angry, not even looking at me once. After I finished drinking up the hot chocolate, he asked the maid to help me out of my clothes while he stood back.

While that was done, he instructed her to get me another cup of hot chocolate and then turn to leave but I couldn't let him, so I grabbed his hand, stopping him from leaving. "Xavier, please...did I do something wrong?" My voice cracked with the force of emotion coursing through my veins.

Just like before, he snatched back his hand, the action cutting me deeper than knife. "I meant every word I said to you Claire, I really do hate you, this marriage will be political and in name only, just as it was intended from the beginning." And just like that, he ripped my heart out of my chest and stormed on it...

Claire's POV

I could not feel my heart as I gazed into Xavier's cold eyes. It was as if my soul had left my body already and what is left of me is nothing but light bones and flesh.

Xavier's disdain towards me was incomprehensibly imaginary. I was in a deep contrast of doubt and trust to the warmth I had once glimpsed from who I thought was "Mine." Yet, my love and compassion for Xavier only wax stronger and stronger, like a dear who pants for the waters, refusing to be moved or staggered by his rejection and absolutely no show of affection towards her.

I was very determined to make our love and marriage work. I was ready to put out from within all it takes to be visible around Xavier. Convinced in my inner being that I could bring back the spark of affection and vulnerability that once existed between us, even though it was just for a moment we both had that affectionate experience with one another.

As I walked through the narrow corridors of Alpha's building, I could not contain my thoughts. My thoughts spin with more possibilities than the impossibilities of not being loved back by Xavier.

Perhaps, I thought, Xavier's actions towards me were just a put-up act, a shield or perhaps a wall to protect himself from the pain of our arranged marriage. Maybe, yes! Maybe I could find a solution or somehow build a bridge that could reach the heart of the man I had glimpsed, his warmth and tenderness once.

But every effort and action I had put into playing in order to get to Xavier was fruitless. All the strategy put in place by me was single-handedly pulled down by Thalia's ever-present presence.

Thaila somehow seemed to consistently burst out of nowhere, always inserting herself between Xavier and me. It was as if Thaila was gaseous and happened to exist in the atmosphere where one can't breathe without her. Somehow, Thaila seems to always be ahead of my actions in saving my love and marriage with Xavier.

I was getting frustrated and worn out, my insecurities grew daily, my jealousy was almost at its peak. Every presence of Thaila around Xavier was detrimental to me. And the more I think about it, it escalates my pain, it was like adding salt to an unhealed wound.

'Why does Thaila always have to be around?' I murmured to myself. My self-control was gradually leaving, and my patience was becoming more impatient.

As I watched Thalia chit-chat, laugh, and giggle effortlessly around Xavier, I couldn't just comprehend but question what my eyes saw. Is there more to their relationship than what I am seeing? Or was Xavier ever married to Thaila? Could it be that Xavier was hiding something?

Did he truly detest and hate me, or was there a secret agenda in place?

All these questions rapidly revolved in my mind, awakening so much uncertainty and doubt. I was in prison, in a thought of inquisitivity, with no escape route behind or in front of me.

"The seduction."

My efforts and strategies put in place to communicate and get closer to Xavier were answered with silence and just lukewarmness.

Xavier's cold response towards me was a barricade I couldn't go across.

Dying to connect and bond with Xavier, I couldn't help it but turned to my handmaids, Selina and Anna for advice.

They suggested a weird idea that one needs boldness to make such a move.

To seduce.

I never saw this suggestion coming. I wondered in her heart.

"How will somebody that detests my sight, fall for what I'm about to do?"

I queried.

But there was no response from either of them.

Nevertheless, I was ready to give it a try. Anything to save my marriage with Xavier, to me, was worth the try.

Anna and Selina assisted me passionately.

They prepared my dress, styled my hair and had my makeup done. My dress was very revealing and seductive nightwear.

My heart was already in my stomach as I made my way into the narrow hallway of the mansion. I headed directly to Xavier's study room.

I breathed in and out gently, then took a deep breath one last time. Gradually, I opened the door to Xavier's study and stepped in, gradually counting my steps like a model on a runway.

Xavier heard his door open. He looked up, his eyes fixed at the doorway. He couldn't help it but got lost as he looked into my revealing attire. But I could not really tell if his stare was the one to believe that he wanted me or the one to be afraid that I was disgusting him.

"What do you want?" he queried authoritatively but in a romantic kind of tone.

My heart was already racing very fast. Nervous, but I moved closer to him. I put my arms around him, allowing my breasts in contact with his chest. I went round him seductively, using my right hand to smooch his head.

Xavier's expression was literally showing how unmoved and unimpressed he was with all the act I was putting up.

"You're not serious," he said, his voice was so loud with no interest.

"I'm not interested," he added.

At this point, I was ready to be swallowed up by the ground. My pride vanished and I felt embarrassed.

"You're annoying!" I exclaimed, with so much rage.

The moment I thought would have been magical, eventfully unveiled as a myth.

Xavier's unapologetic utterances were cutting deep as they echoed in my thoughts.

"You're just another character in your father's story," he yelled.

"You're useless without him," he added.

My ears couldn't contain what I just heard from whom I thought was going to be my peace.

My eyes were welled up with tears like the clouds about to give out rain.

I stumbled backward, staggering out of Xavier's study feeling like I had been stabbed with a knife to my chest.

I mistakenly stepped on my gown and fell to the ground. I literally felt like the world had lost its gravity and everything around me was spinning.

Xavier was still not moved even when I fell to the ground. He didn't even move to help me. Instead, he returned to his table and the papers on it, asking me to shut the door behind me.

I was dumbfounded, I sobbed, helping myself from the ground as I found my way out of the study feeling more rejected and humiliated than ever.

So many questions were running through my mind.

I questioned my existence, my self-worth, my meekness, my affections and my strength.

As I lifted my head I saw Thalia, staring from the hallway. Everything in me froze.

Claire's POV

My patience had run out. I was fed up with Thalia's constant dealings and her unwavering presence in Xavier's life.

I detest Thalia, and couldn't help it anymore. I couldn't even stand the sight of Thalia as a result of her frustration from all her fruitless attempts to save her marriage with Xavier.

"Leave him alone." I yelled out loudly with my voice firm.

All their attention was now drawn to me, but that couldn't stop the rage I had pulled out.

"He is my mate, not yours." I yelled loudly at Thalia.

Thalia's smile was sarcastic

"Oh, Claire, who are you talking about?" she queried, as though I didn't know what I was saying.

"Xavier! Of course," I answered furiously.

Thalia chuckled, as she replied,

"Xavier doesn't want you, oh sorry, Xavier doesn't love you."

"You are nothing but just a desperate whore," she added.

"I was there from the beginning. I lent him shoulders to lean on whenever he was tired. I listened to his heart, each time he bled, I bled with him, I was there for him, I am here for him, and I will always be here for him. Can't you see?" she queried again, now showing how important it is to be there for him as always.

"Xavier is only putting up with you because of the marriage arrangement." She fired with so much rage in her voice this time around.

Thaila's words were like a dagger butchering a cow by a butcher as her words pierced through my soul and raised my insecurities concerning my marriage to Xavier.

"Thalia really got some nerves."

I muttered to herself.

"That's a very bad lie." I screamed out as I countered Thalia, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"Oh dear, hahahahaha!" Thalia's laugh was detectable.

"Are you really convinced that Xavier is into you or interested in you?"

"Please, please, please, he's been hiding from your presence since the wedding."

"I guess you were so lost in your fantasy that you didn't even notice that you were a piece of work to him."

" Yes my dear, you are a burden to him," she ended her statement with the blunt view that I was nothing but an arranged piece of statue for Xavier.

It was as if the universe was against me, my doubts were birthed daily, Thalia's unending taunts were consistently hurting me and pulling down my confidence.

I began to notice Xavier's constant absence and avoidance even in the narrow corridor, he'd pass me unnoticed, even in the hallways or even ignore my attempts to have a very proper conversation with him.

As time went by, seconds to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to days, days to weeks, weeks to months, I was battling with my emotional stability.

And the fact that my conviction was being countered by my daily experiences was overwhelming.

Gradually, I began to feel a decline in my health. I was getting down with a fever, my body was weak and tired.

Xavier wasn't happy about my health issues, it was difficult to say if his unhappiness was out of concern for me or something else.

As the days went by without a solution to my sickness, Xavier wasn't happy that, at this point, he had to be there to witness the doctors administer treatment to me, but then again there was nothing fruitful.

"I would suggest that you take care of her yourself," one of the doctors suggested to Xavier.

But as he couldn't stand me, he uttered, saying,

"I can't do that. I have other things to do," he replied.

"Okay then, you will have to take her back to her father's pack, because she needs someone who cared for her willingly at this moment to take care of her, and you, as her mate, should be able to do that." The doctor commented.

Eventually, he admitted to taking care of me, but his behavior could tell me he was forced to take care of me. His presence was a mixture of concern and obligation.

And for a moment, I felt a ray of hope. Perhaps, or just maybe, Xavier has concern for me after all.

Not quite long, my hopes got dashed as I saw him with Thalia, conversing and laughing, my doubts were ignited and resurfaced.

I was sad as I saw myself as a duty to Xavier. I thought to myself,

'I'm I just a responsibility he would rather not have?'

My mind kept conflicting questions and my heart bothered with so many uncertainties.

It felt like the decision I took happened to be the ugliest moment of my life.

While walking towards my chambers, someone shouted,

"Stop there right away," the unfriendly Thalia spotted.

It was at this point in time that I actually had to get myself back on track because I couldn't survive this kind of maltreatment next time.

"And what just happened there?" Thalia queried.

The entire environment was quiet, strenuously none of us could utter a single word. After a moment of silence from us both,

I moved straight to where I was addressed to stay.

Thalia didn't hesitate to follow suit.

"We are here!" She exclaimed happily, as though she had been waiting for us to reach my chambers.

"What are you doing in my room ?" said Thalia.

"You don't have a choice, this is not your pack, where you choose where to sleep, if you are not comfortable with people, then pack your luggage and move straight to your father's house," Thalia yelled at me.

"And as to why I followed you here, it's simple: stay away from Xavier, you desperate whore." She added.

"I didn't mean to offend anyone," I reported.

"Better, I thought you were going to change your mind and say something silly."

The joy and happiness in her facial expressions made it all that she was so eager to have me agree to her terms of staying away from Xavier.

"I couldn't utter a word," I stood there so foolishly.

I would have to suffer for a crime I hadn't committed.