Hell and Back

Chapter Eleven

The dress feels sticky on my skin. It feels as if I'm walking in a full latex suit because of how tight it is. I didn't have much of a choice because the other dresses were even worse in style. I hadn't seen Damien since our altercation in his office. In fact, I've been avoiding him since. I've been planning what I'll do to come into contact with Lily. I haven't heard from her since Damien had me start sleeping in his room. I can imagine how difficult it is to send notes to his room when I have yet to even see a single maid up here. I wonder if Damien keeps the place straightened himself. I straighten myself up and stare in the mirror. The guards told me I should be down by 8. Every bone in my body is fighting against me right now. I shouldn't go down and give him the satisfaction. My stubbornness will be the death of me, that's for sure. Both Damien and I are too full of our own pride to let each other in. His dominating personality and my carefree soul conflict like oil and water. I sigh and plop back down on the bed. Being here is making me homesick and I start to feel dizzy.

"Luna, it's time." The woman knocks on the door. This is the only time Damien has sent anyone up here. I don't know what to make of him earlier. I play with the loose fabric of the dress with a frown on my face. "Luna?" She calls. My frown deepens as I imagine Damien now waiting for me downstairs.

"Am I necessary?" I almost whisper. I mean it for her but I can only hear it myself.

"Luna, I'm coming in." She opens the door and she's staring at me with a blank expression as I lay there on the bed. My eyes drop back down.

"Do I have to be there?" I repeat.

I look up at her after a moment of silence and she's stumbling over her words. "Well... I - Alpha told me —"

"I won't be attending. Just leave me alone."

The guard looks conflicted and her face turns pale. "Must I really-" she stops herself from finishing then exits the room. My skin runs cold and I hate the sour mood so I grab the remote and cut on the television. To my surprise, there's no Food Network or Disney Channel. It's footage. Live footage of every angle in the house. I flip through each channel until I reach the Grand Hall where what seems to be the entire house — minus me. I recognize Damien immediately. Through the grainy footage I can see he's wearing a red bow tie with his suit. He looks pleased with a glass of champagne in his hand.

The audio is hard to hear but I can definitely tell he received the message from the guard when he stops in his tracks to hear a message another woman whispers in his ear. The anger flashed through his eyes leaving her frozen after, but it quickly vanishes and he continues as if nothing has happened.

When the ceremony starts, he taps on his glass and gathers the crowd's attention. "Well," a grin covers his face. "after years of fighting, we've done it. I am to become the King tomorrow. What does that mean for you all? I will have a new Alpha assigned to this pack. Along with moving in the palace with a few select team, I will no longer be your Alpha. I will be your King." The room is so quiet a pin dropping could be heard. Not a soul breathes as Damien speaks. He definitely has a way with words. He has a powerful aura around him and even a human with no knowledge of who he is will be tempted to submit to him and bow down to kiss his feet. Damien has a sort of charm to him.

"And as for the questions roaming the house that I'm sure you've all been wondering," he pauses after a second as if he's hesitant to say anything. "Alena, the human, resides in the home. She will be moving with me to the palace, but she is not becoming your Queen." My heart constricts from his words but I ignore it. "I am still searching for a woman. A strong, powerful, intelligent woman who will become my Queen and rule alongside me." This time I can feel my heart tearing and I can't help the tears rolling down my face but the hard expression on his face doesn't change. His eyes are not his. This is not Damien. "I will not let you nor the kingdom down. And on a last note, the burial for my sister, Lily, will be held tomorrow. Thank you all for your time." My head is running with thoughts and my heart can't keep up.