Sold by my Alpha, bought by my Mate Chapter 28: The same place

Mildred

Despite everything that had happened in the bar and then in the castle, I had never once thought of returning to Red Moon. If someone had asked me, I would have said I wouldn't go back for anything in the world.

And yet, here I was, in the king's entourage, on my way to the pack that I had fought so hard to leave.

They had tried to kill me, they had humiliated me, I had been brutally rejected by my Alpha... and here I was, next to him, on my way to the pack that hated me so much.

Randall looked nervous, no doubt this decision seemed beneficial to everyone but him, but he kept his composure and tried to smile as if this was the best thing that had ever happened to him in his life.

In just a few days, he had changed quite a bit; he was a much kinder and more gentlemanly man... yet he still sometimes said things that seemed like red flags to me, even if he seemed to regret them immediately.

I was far from forgiving him, but I had to acknowledge that he was making a great effort.

Ever since I started crossing the territory of Red Moon, I felt something strange... something that wasn't right.

The nightmares still haunted me and I had them over and over again, unable to shake them off. These creatures called me a dreamer, and they were so terrifying that there were times when I couldn't sleep.

Asher was on my other side, trying to stay close to me, and I... I needed him. He was also uneasy but continued with this game, this agreement of which we were only puppets.

When we arrived, we were greeted by Randall's parents, Alpha Lazarus and Luna Brenda... and I couldn't help but notice how empty everything looked.

It was just them, nobody else, it wasn't anything you could call a reception. They both had light brown hair, tall and thin with a stylized appearance, they were well-dressed as if they were guests at the king's castle.

I got out of the car, touching the bracelet Asher had given me, something I used to do and that comforted me.

The Alpha and Luna looked at me with hatred that turned to growling when they saw Asher.

"What is this man doing here?"

"Murderer!" they shouted, while Asher did not even flinch.

"Alpha, Luna... I remind you that this is a request from the King, Alpha Asher is a guest of His Majesty and expects to be welcomed here as requested in the previous correspondence," Constantine said very diplomatically.

"Of course, Counselor..." said Lazarus with a snarl.

"What a warm and spirited reception..." I heard Asher whisper to his Beta, who seemed very happy since we left the castle.

"Please, come this way... for the protection of our future... Luna... we have organized a secret reception," Luna Brenda said, and the look he gave me was anything but friendly.

They hated that I was here, and I saw their expression when she mentioned that I would be their next Luna. Asher looked at everything with suspicion, but we all followed the Alpha and Luna to the back of the pack house.

All that fleeing... just to wind up in the same place.

"We have prepared a special place and dress for you," Luna Brenda told me, pointing to a small room and showing me a dress.

"You will look very nice..." she said, practically stripping off my clothes and dressing me in the garment that concealed the dreadful collar, its skirt flowing long and wide. It was oversized, appearing old, dark, and heavy, and I felt ensnared.

"And this is the final touch..." she said, placing a veil over my hair and even part of my face.

"I can barely see..." I remarked as she tightened a corset around my waist.

"It's for your own good, we want to take care of you. Do you remember that I saved you when you were just a baby? A human orphan. I hope you remember that when you decide... don't be ungrateful," she whispered.

I felt dizzy and lost, and when I came out I found Asher waiting for me as if he couldn't be farther away.

"What the hell is this?"

"To protect our Luna," Luna Brenda replied, looking at him with hatred.

"Protect her from whom? From you, your people?" he asked hatefully.

But the woman pushed me, and we ended up in what seemed to be a small banquet. There were a small group, a few warriors and the Alpha's trusted men.

Asher and Duncan were forced to stay away, and I had to listen to a pathetic speech from Alpha Lazarus about the success of the pack.

"We can't say exactly what we have, but we trust that Red Moon has found what it needs to be stronger than ever. A pack is only as strong as its people... and I am thrilled to say that we are preparing for the best years of our lives. My son Randall... has what it takes to lead us to success," Lazarus said fervently.

"Don't worry, my mate... all will be well, we just don't want to announce the news yet. And while we're here, I'll keep my promise, and we can look for information about your parents. What do you think?" Randall said, trying to make me feel better... and he succeeded, because he knew that the subject of my parents interested me and that only he could help me.

"We thank you all for being here, and it's our opportunity to give our beloved king a wonderful picture of what our wonderful pack is," Alpha Lazarus said. I saw few happy faces... it was a lie, I knew it, everyone knew it.

"Come, my little dove..." Randall took me to the dance without me wanting to, and began to spin me around as he hugged me and lifted me gently into the air.

He tried to touch me, luckily the dress covered me completely, he whispered in my ear, trying to make it seem like there was complicity between us.

Asher growled, but there was little he could do. Everyone started drinking, singing and dancing and the situation was getting out of control. When Randall made an announcement.

"Soon we'll have an impressive Luna to give us the power we need... in the meantime... enjoy the evening," he said and I heard applause. Suddenly he took me in his arms to kiss me.

I tried to let go, but at the same time, I couldn't deny him the kiss. Our bond was still there somehow.

Despite everything... I didn't feel like when I kissed Asher. I could feel that Randall was victorious and Asher was furious.

The men applauded, and I guess they saw me as some kind of conquest. Randall took me by the hand and led me through the corridors while I panicked, I didn't want to be alone with him again.

"Let's go to our room... my little dove. You're home again, your true home... with me."