Chapter 10

When Rayne and I first met, I was convinced that I could handle anything as long as I achieved my dreams of freedom and becoming an alpha’s lover. It didn’t matter what others thought of me.

I was determined to stand tall and prove to them that I was more than worthy of the position I’d been given. However, what we think we’ll do when we’re faced with tough situations and what we actually do can be very different.

I was about to learn that the hard way. The weeks flew by, and summer moved into its warmest days.

Yet for me, things remained much the same. Rayne often went out during the day, leaving me to do as I pleased.

I couldn’t say that I liked that, but I didn’t question him much. I knew that he wouldn’t give me another answer but to tell me that he’d be done with what he needed to soon enough.

Despite the rough times, I did my best to be content. I often chose to go out early in the day when he left so that I could continue exploring the countryside and visiting the different towns and villages.

I liked the Northern Lands very much. They were beautiful and exotic to me, and I loved seeing all of the different sights.

However, during this time, I began to notice something becoming a bit off. In the last few weeks, it seemed like there was a steady increase in whispers everywhere I went.

I could feel the creatures looking at me, but when I would turn, they would look away. But I didn’t miss the whispers they shared with one another, especially some of the younger females.

“Is that Lord Rayne’s beta?”

“Isn’t she a succubus?”

“You mean she seduced him?”

I confess that I was startled at first when I heard this. As much as I wanted to turn and tell them that such wasn’t true, I knew it was better if I held my tongue.

It might bring more trouble doing so without Rayne by my side. Especially with how they appeared to distrust me because of my bloodline.

But I still thought that it would blow over soon enough. After all, the ones saying this were mostly young females like myself, so perhaps they were a bit jealous that Rayne had chosen me and had decided to be vindictive in a sneaky way.

They would come to accept things in time and move on. At least, I thought they would.

What I didn’t count on was how rampant such whispers would become. Now they were almost unbearable to me.

It was as though they were surrounding me wherever I went. They were always the same.

~She’s a Succubus.~

~She’s going to seduce any male who dares get close to her.~

~It’s a terrible mistake that she is allowed to be Lord Rayne’s Beta.~

That last one really hurt. It took a lot for me to hold in that pain.

But I no longer felt like I could hold my head high after hearing it for the first time. Eventually, I took to wearing a cape and hood again when I’d leave the glen to go out on my own.

I knew that I should sit down and talk to Rayne about all of this. He would’ve figured out how to take care of it, and maybe even requested help from his family to do so.

But I was too ashamed to do it. Rayne had chosen me and put so much faith in me.

He was always telling me how perfect I was for him. How could I possibly tell him that those under him and his family thought I was a lustful monster who had seduced him simply to put myself in a position of power?

I was trying not to dwell on that as I landed on the dirt path and pulled my silver cape over my shoulders. Even though the day was warm, I made sure to pull up my hood so that my face and hair were hidden.

This was so much like how I’d grown up, but I had to do it. I couldn’t bear for them to whisper about me if they recognized me.

While I had considered simply staying in the glen, the quiet had gotten to me, and I had to get away for a while. I didn’t know when Rayne would be back.

He’d been returning early in the evenings, so this was the best I could do. Jumal wasn’t as busy as I had seen before, though some of it was because of the heat of the day.

Large tarps had been set up over some of the areas, providing shade for the stalls that were set up there. It felt a bit better as I walked under them, though I did wish I could remove this hood and cape.

~Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to come out today~, I thought. ~I should find a place where I won’t be seen and take this off before I overheat.~

I decided to enter a quaint shop with tinted windows. Upon entering, a gentle scent of lavender greeted me, and it became apparent that it was a crystal and jewelry store.

A graceful nymph was behind the counter. She was slightly shorter than I, with deep dark eyes and lengthy light-blonde hair cascading over her shoulders and trailing down her back.

Her green dress shimmered in the subdued lighting as she rose to greet me with a courteous and melodious voice. “Good morning. Welcome to my shop.”

“Hi,” I softly returned her greeting as I slowly pulled down my hood. The nymph looked concerned as she saw me, stepping around the counter.

“Are you all right? You look like you’re awfully warm. Why don’t you remove that cape and sit down? I can bring you something to drink to help you cool off,” she offered.

“Thank you, but I’ll be okay,” I softly insisted. “Nonsense!” The nymph took my arm, guiding me to a chair near the back of the room before she helped remove my cape.

“Sit here and rest. I will be right back with some cool water for you.” Her voice was a soft murmur, as soothing as a breeze whispering through the leaves.

I looked down, slowly sitting in the chair as she went to the room in the back. I was feeling both relieved and embarrassed.

She was very kind, and I had pushed myself a bit too much in this heat. The nymph returned a moment later with a glass of ice water.

“Here now. This should help,” she said as she handed it to me.

“Thank you,” I responded, taking a few small sips.

“I’m sorry if I’m imposing.”

“Not at all. I could never ignore anyone who needs help,” she informed me.

She went behind the counter and picked up her stool, bringing it over to sit in front of me. “Besides, it is nice to have company to speak to. I run my shop by myself, and I confess that the silence can become a bit vexing at times.”

“I understand. I’ve been feeling a bit like that myself lately, which is why I’ve been venturing out to the towns, even though it can be a bit rough at times,” I admitted.

“You’ve had bad experiences?” the nymph guessed. “You could say that.”

The nymph perked up a little. “Oh, goodness! I feel so rude! My name is Sherry,” she introduced herself.

“I’m Luna. It’s nice to meet you, Sherry,” I responded. Sherry tilted her head as if she was studying me.

“Luna? As in Lady Luna, Lord Rayne’s beta?” Oh no. She’d recognized my name.

I mentally prepared myself for the onslaught of either questions or judgments. But she did no such thing.

Instead, an excited smile crossed her face, and she clasped her hands together. “Oh, wow! I had hoped that I would get the chance to meet you soon! I heard that Lord Rayne had a beta now and that she was quite beautiful. How right they were!” she gushed.

This was so different from what I’d been experiencing that I wasn’t sure how to react. “Yes, um…” I hesitated, not knowing what to say.

“I haven’t been with Rayne for long, and I haven’t gotten the chance to meet most of his family yet. I guess you could say I’m still adjusting to my place here.”

“You haven’t met most of his family? Why?” Sherry inquired.

“Rayne hasn’t had much time to introduce me yet. But I have met Lord Jekia, and he was very kind to me,” I answered.

“Ah yes.” Sherry smiled and nodded. “Lord Jekia is a very kind and noble ruler. We all revere him and Lady Lana so much and appreciate all they do for us. Lord Rayne and Lord Rin do too, as well as Lady Selenia and Lady Aurora. They are all so wonderful.”

“I would imagine so. I originally came from the Western Lands, and Lord Merrick was always very good to those in our lands too,” I told her.

“I am certain he is. All of the rulers are from everything I’ve ever heard said.” Sherry paused and studied me. “I do not mean to pry, my lady, but I must ask; why were you wearing a cape and hood in this weather, and what did you mean by being troubled before? Have some been bothering you when you come alone to the towns?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer her. If I told the truth, then what would she say? Did she even know what I was?

Sherry sensed my unease, and she held my hands in hers. “I will listen and try to help with whatever is going on.

I can see in your eyes that you are very troubled by something. Perhaps I can help you,” she offered.

What would be the harm in giving in and talking to her? The most that could go wrong was for her to judge me as the others did.

Aside from that, I did feel like I needed someone outside of my situation to talk to. It might even help me feel confident enough to approach Rayne with these issues.

“I am not sure why, but it seems like many in these lands are not fond of me at all,” I confessed.

“Why would they not be? You do not seem to have anything wrong with you. I have only spoken to you for a few minutes, and I can already tell how sweet you are,” Sherry stated.

“I believed that I was,” I agreed, unable to face her as I continued, “yet it feels that I am being judged for what is not my fault. You may not have heard this yet, but I was born between a Faerie and an incubus. While Rayne does not see me as any different for it, and neither do Lord Jekia or Lord Merrick, others feel that I am, and they feel uneasy around me.”

Sherry looked very surprised, though not for the reasons I was expecting. “They fear you because of how you were born? But it was never hidden here, and there was not any issue with it as far as I knew.”

“Perhaps they do not wish to speak much of it, but I have heard them whisper when I am around. They believe that I seduced Rayne and that I may seduce other males if they are not careful because I am a succubus as far as they are concerned,” I elaborated.

Sherry became upset. “But that is not right! Why would anyone believe such a thing or say it?!

“All should know that Lord Rayne would not have chosen you if such a thing were possible, and Lord Jekia and Lord Merrick never would’ve allowed your union either! Who is saying these wretched things?!”

“Many,” I confessed, looking down to hide the tears stinging my eyes. “I hear them whisper everywhere, and I cannot stand it any longer, so I choose to hide myself when I come out now. It is better than knowing that they dislike me so much. I feel so guilty too. I cannot tell Rayne about this. He would be so disappointed when he has been so proud to call me his.”

It was so incredibly hard to hold back those tears now that I’d been able to confess this pain. The guilt was eating at me. I knew I should’ve been telling Rayne about all of this, but I just couldn’t.

I feared how much it would hurt him, and I never wanted to do that. Sherry was very understanding, giving me a comforting hug.

“I’m so sorry that they’ve said such wretched things about you. They are dragging you down with their own insecurities, and that isn’t fair at all.”

“I don’t know what to do. How can I fix such a thing when they truly believe it?” I whispered.

“I cannot say I understand why they would,” Sherry admitted. She sat back and handed me a white handkerchief to wipe my face.

“This is quite unlike many in these lands from what I have always known, especially when it goes against what Lord Jekia and his sons have declared. There has to be more to this.” She was pondering that when we heard the door to the shop open.

Both of us sat up, and Sherry stood to greet who was coming in. “Welcome!” she chimed, though her expression quickly changed from welcoming to surprised.

The moment he entered, I sensed it too. He was a remarkably attractive being, with broad shoulders and a sturdy appearance, red hair, and striking golden eyes.

His large ears matched the hue of his hair, complemented by a tail of the same color. ~A Fox~, I realized.

Yet looking at him, another startling realization hit me. His features looked very familiar.

“Oh! Welcome, Lord Rin! I apologize, but I had almost forgotten you were coming by today!” Sherry went on as she gave him a quick, polite bow.

Lord Rin. He was Rayne’s twin brother! What were the odds?! Rin responded to her in a casual manner.

“That isn’t a problem, Sherry. I know you get busy and things can slip your mind. You are the finest jeweler in our lands.”

“I thank you for the sweet compliment.” Sherry beamed. I remained still, unsure of what to say or do.

I hadn’t had the opportunity to meet any of Rayne’s family aside from briefly speaking to his father, and I didn’t know what they might think of me.

Rin’s gaze shifted to me, and he looked a bit startled, though he quickly hid it. “I see you have company too, though I can’t say I recognize her,” he commented.

“No, not at all,” I managed, standing up and bowing my head to be polite. “It is nice to meet you, Lord Rin. I am Luna, Lord Rayne’s beta.” I admit to some fear as I spoke, unsure of whether Rin had overheard those whispers about me and formed his own opinion.

That and I hadn’t expected to meet him without Rayne by my side. Rin stepped in front of me.

“You are the one my brother claimed from the Western Lands?” he said, sounding quite shocked.

“I am,” I confirmed.

“Lady Luna had dropped by to see my shop and we were talking a bit. I confess that I was surprised to hear that she had not gotten to meet you yet, my lord,” Sherry added.

“No. Rayne has been giving us excuses for not finding time, though I cannot say why,” Rin admitted. I was still as he held my chin, lifting my head to see my face.

“You’re as lovely as Father said. Not that I would’ve doubted him. He doesn’t give such compliments lightly.”

“I would imagine not. I have been told that it is not good practice for alphas to speak what they do not mean,” I concurred.

“Not at all,” Rin agreed. He looked concerned as he ran his finger over my cheek, and I realized that there was still wetness there from my tears. “You’ve been crying. Did something happen?”

I hesitated, unsure of whether I should tell him the truth.

Would that be betraying Rayne if I told his brother first? Thankfully, Sherry spoke up for me.

“I apologize if I am out of line, but I am quite concerned for Lady Luna after what she told me, and I was unaware of it. I believe your family may be too. There have been some rather vicious whispers going around about her, very cruel and unfounded ones.”

“What whispers?” Rin pressed. I looked down, unable to answer as the shame welled up within me.

“As I said, they are quite malicious,” Sherry answered. “While I have not heard them yet myself, I have seen how they are affecting Lady Luna. She came here in this heat wearing a cape and hood because they have made her feel so bad that she does not wish to show her face.”

Now Rin was becoming angry. “Tell me what they are saying!” he demanded.

“As I said, I have not gotten to hear them myself yet, but Lady Luna did confide to me that they are wary of her and speak of her being a succubus. They are claiming Lord Rayne chose her because she seduced him and that they should watch their males because she may seduce them too,” Sherry explained.

“Why would they think such a thing? They should know that none of us are susceptible to being seduced like that, nor would we be allowed to choose one that could be trying to do so,” Rin reminded her.

“I do not understand it either. I have done nothing that I’ve been aware of to warrant their concerns and rumors. I simply wish to be with Rayne, and I would never betray him in such a way,” I softly insisted.

“If I may, my lord,” Sherry interjected. “This had caused Lady Luna to feel much shame, and she has not been able to bring it up to Lord Rayne. While I bring this out to you to help her, I do not wish for her to feel any more trouble from it.”

“I understand, and I can handle things with Rayne,” Rin assured her. He offered me his hand. “I know this is sudden, but will you return to the palace with me? It would be better if we looked into what is going on as soon as possible.”

“But Rayne will be concerned if I am not home when he returns,” I contended. Though it came out meeker than I’d hoped.

“We can let him know that you are with us, and this is important for us to take care of. There should not be any such rumors spreading about you, and I agree with Sherry that this feels like there is malicious intent behind it. Please, let us take you in and help you,” Rin urged me.

There wasn’t a choice here, but at the same time, I couldn’t deny that I wished for this help. I didn’t want to keep feeling this way, and Rin was part of my new family.

Besides, this may be the best way for me to approach this with Rayne.

“Okay.” I turned to Sherry. “Thank you so much for listening to me and offering me advice.”

“Of course. I would do nothing other, and even if the conversation was hard, I have enjoyed speaking with you. I hope I may do it again very soon,” Sherry responded, giving me a friendly hug.

I turned to Rin as she let me go, taking his hand and not bothering to put my cape back on before we left the shop. Even though I felt like I should, I told myself not to.

I shouldn’t keep giving in to this. It would only make the situation worse if I continued to show such weakness.

I did stop him though once we were outside, the nervousness overwhelming me a bit. “You are certain it is okay for me to come to the palace without Rayne?” I had to know.

“It will be fine,” Rin assured me with a gentle smile. “Rayne knows that we would never hurt you, and you are part of our family now. It’s about time we all are able to meet you along with solving this issue.”

I was part of their family. While I had heard Jekia say those words, I believe that they still hadn’t sunk in yet.

But no matter. If they wished to welcome me, then I would accept it, and that was enough for me to take his hand and leave with him.