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.

Claire's POV

It's the night of the first official gathering as Alpha and Luna have finally arrived. I had spent unnumbered hours getting ready for this gathering.

First, it was the struggle with how to style my hair, then secondly, it was the indecisiveness of what to wear to the ball, and thirdly, my make-up wasn't sitting pretty on my face. But with the assistance of my handmaids, Anna and Selina, my hair was styled perfectly and beautifully, my dress glittered in the light. But as I walked into the ballroom where everyone was gathered, my heart raced rapidly.

"Courage is the first diffidence of every princess, so walk magically to the ballroom as the princess that you are." Anna and Selina gave me their words of encouragement.

I felt encouraged and was ready to face the world.

Xavier stood right at the center of the hall with Thalia standing next to him and her hands right inside his. He announced Thalia as his mate, and the hall was filled with cheers, applauds, murmurs and whispers.

I was sad at the hearing of this and my eyes welled up with tears as I ran out of the hall feeling embarrassed and disgraced.

Sitting alone in my chambers, thinking on what notes and whatsoever my heart could feed my mind.

My handmaids, Anna and Selina, walked in because they overheard me sobering.

"My princess, are you okay?" they asked.

I was lost in thoughts that I didn't hear them walk in.

I felt a hand on her right shoulder and startled, wiping off my tears and pretending like all was okay.

"My princess, are you okay?"

We could leave if you want to be alone, Anna, one of the handmaids uttered.

" No, I'm fine," I responded, please stay.

I will really need your company and Selina's funny jokes.

I replied and they all laughed at my statement.

"We will always cherish our princess's happiness." They both chorused.

"Thalia and Xavier are just friends, Luna."

Anna said gently, clearing her throat as she pats me on my back.

"Their bond is strong, but it's not the romance sort of thing, so don't let it get to you," They commented.

But their words didn't seem like any medicine to my heartbroken soul.

"And, Xavier's actions tonight were not cool. It's likely a mistake," Selina added.

Xavier always knows the vitality of presenting a deceptive front.

I breathed in and out, then took a deep breath. I seemed a little consoled and convinced by what my handmaids just told me. My hopes were raised a little bit and some level of comfort spurts from the company of Anna and Selina.

You can tell from my looks that I am determined not to let Thalia's mischievous acts and manipulation ruin my night.

The music played in the ballroom could be heard in my chambers. I stood up, held my handmaid's hands as we all danced in a circle. We all fell backwards on my bed as the result of the little dizziness we experienced while going in circles dancing.

I stood up immediately, as if I had just remembered something very important.

I arranged my makeup and adjusted my dress, kissed my handmaids on their chin, then returned to the party like nothing happened. With my head held high and wearing a wide smile on my face, I majestically walked into the event hall like the princess that I am and always has been.

Immediately I entered the hall, unplanned, my eyes met Xavier's.

I gently walked toward him, maintaining the wide smile on my face.

"A dance wouldn't be harmful, right, Alpha?" I asked, as I stretched out my hands right in front of him, my voice so sweet that not even a beast would have escaped the warmth in my voice.

He couldn't resist. Xavier's eyes got contact with mine, but he couldn't refuse the offer. He took my hand, and we dived onto the dance floor gently.

Xavier mistakenly stepped on my dress and I lost my dance balance, about to fall, but he quickly grabbed me by the waist as my whole body rested on his both knees till I regained my balance.

Back on my foot and our fingers entangled in each other, we continued dancing at a very slow pace and romantically.

Thalia's attention was drawn by the whispers of outraging the pack.

Curious to know why the whispers were getting louder, she made her way past the crowd and to the center of the hall. She couldn't believe her eyes.

Thaila's jealousy was predictable, you could tell from her eyes that she was staring at Xavier and me with so much rage and glitching.

I had never thought a moment like this for me and Xavier would be real. I felt some sort of satisfaction within me knowing that even after Xavier introduced Thalia as his mate before now, I didn't let the humiliation from it get the best of me.

I was glad I had taken control of the situation.

The music sound aroused from the four ends of the hall as Xavier and I lost ourselves in the moment.

For a few minutes, I forgot about Thalia and Xavier's complicated history.

I reminded myself that she was not Luna, and she would be ignored.

Before I knew it, we got talking as we danced holding each other's hands. And magically, we were both whispering into each other's ears and laughing. It was such a sight to behold.

My handmaids stood at a corner in the ballroom and admired Xavier and me from a distance.

Anna, one amongst my handmaids, whispered into Selina's ears.

"Look how peaceful they looked together."

"The moon goddess never abandoned her own," they said and chuckled even as the dance continued.

Thalia overheard them while passing by,

She got so furious and her hatred for me rekindled in her as she planned in her heart to deal mercilessly with me.