Chapter 7

The weeks flew by, and before I knew it, I had settled comfortably into my new home and relationship. Being with Rayne was like living in a wonderful dream.

Our life together was peaceful and sweet, not to mention tremendously physically satisfying. I never thought that a male could make me feel so complete.

I enjoyed every second of being with him, whether it was spending time together or indulging in each other’s bodies. I had gained much during this time too, including freedoms that I had never known before.

Even though Rayne was a bit reluctant at first, he had come to trust me enough to allow me to visit the villages and towns on my own in recent days. He was well aware that the glen could get rather lonely when he had to leave for a while and trusted me not to get into trouble.

All he asked was that I return to the glen well before nightfall so that I didn’t end up in a situation where I may be hurt. I had no reservations about agreeing, feeling quite pleased that he placed his trust in me so swiftly.

To me, it was yet another sign that we were destined to be together. Yet, despite everything, I couldn’t ignore the subtle touch of melancholy that pulled at my heartstrings.

I knew that this extension of freedom wasn’t simply because he trusted me. It was because of how much he’d been having to leave me alone during the day.

That had increased tremendously in the last two weeks, and I confess that it was beginning to bother me. Yes, I had his nights and his passion, but I felt like I was slowly beginning to lose his days.

I couldn’t understand why. These thoughts consumed me as I touched down on the dirt path amidst the blooming field and folded my wings.

The village of Jumal lay just twenty feet ahead, and I had intended to visit it today for a dual purpose: to clear my mind and to explore. Known as one of the largest villages in the region, I hoped that immersing myself in its expanse would provide a respite from my persistent worries.

I tucked in my wings, preferring to keep them hidden, and straightened my dress while smoothing my hair back into place. I confess that I’d become more aware of my appearance in the time that I’d been with Rayne, and I aimed to look as nice as I could.

I confess that I loved the dresses that Spinel had made for me too. The white and gold dress I wore was my favorite; its soft fabric was reminiscent of ivory.

The skirt cascaded to my ankles, and gold trim accentuated the straps and the subtle dip in the front, which showed off just enough of my cleavage for me to feel sexy. The village of Jumal was a lively hub, dotted with numerous buildings and a network of meandering roads.

It was not overly crowded, yet it teemed with a variety of creatures, alongside a considerable number of stalls and shops. Nevertheless, wherever I went, the locals did not conceal their curiosity or their stares.

As soon as I stepped into the village, I could feel their gazes upon me. Despite my efforts to grow accustomed to it, I found myself lowering my head slightly, letting my white hair fall forward to cover my face.

~I suppose old habits die hard~, I thought. ~Perhaps I’ll feel a bit more used to this in time.~

As I strolled further along the main road, the sound of music playing near the grand fountain at the village center beckoned to me. The music sounded familiar, as if I should have recognized it anywhere.

I longed to discover who was playing it to satisfy the curiosity stirring within me. It would also serve as a welcome distraction from the persistent stares and whispers directed at me.

As I arrived at the fountain, a small crowd had already formed, engaged in listening and dancing. It seemed to be a mix of various creatures; a combination of animal types and diverse Fae.

I paused at a distance to avoid drawing attention to myself, observing that it was the Faeries who were providing the music. ~That~ was why I recognized that upbeat tune of flutes, violins, and tambourines.

Even though I had been cast away from my mother’s sect, I’d heard Fae music plenty of times growing up because they were always playing it around that area. That familiar mixture of awe and pain went through my heart.

Even though I’d always tried convincing myself that I didn’t care about being one of them, I couldn’t deny the continued hurt of their rejection. While I did feel like I belonged with Rayne, the family part was still eluding me.

We’d been together for over a month, and I still had not been able to meet his parents or siblings. It was almost as if Rayne was avoiding them.

I didn’t understand why. He chose me and appeared quite proud to call me his, so why would he not wish for his family to meet me?

Well, there was one possibility, but I did my best to push it away. Yet I couldn’t stop myself from being taken in by that music as I stood there, despite these feelings of insecurity threatening to rise within me.

The upbeat music washed them aside, and my body swayed slightly to the beautiful sounds of the violins and flutes as a happy smile crossed my face. “My, aren’t you a lovely one?”

The sudden female voice made me jump, and I turned to my right to see a woman standing near me with an amused smile on her face. She was strikingly beautiful, her pale skin resembling ivory and her glossy black hair swept up into a bun, secured by exquisite hair sticks adorned with dangling floral ornaments.

Adorned in multiple layers of silk robes, the outermost was a delicate pink, intricately embroidered with patterns of flowers and birds, cinched at the waist with a broad gold silk belt. Her sleeves were so elongated they draped over her hands.

“Oh, I’m very sorry. I didn’t even hear you walk up. Am I in your way?” I asked politely. I admit that it was more force of habit for me to speak so formally to her.

She reminded me so much of the mistresses that I’d grown up serving, and she had such a regal air to her. The woman let out a giggle as she held her sleeved hand to her ruby lips.

“There is no need to apologize. I should be doing so with how I startled you. Please forgive me, but I couldn’t resist speaking to you. I have never seen a female like you before.”

~She’s one to talk~, I thought. “You flatter me, but you are quite lovely too. Do you live here in Jumal?” I inquired.

“I do. I have called Jumal my home for a long time now, and I believed I knew all of the lovely young females who passed through here. Are you perhaps new to this area?” she responded.

“A bit. I have only come to these lands in the last few weeks, and I am still exploring,” I answered. I felt it was better not to reveal that I was Rayne’s beta just yet.

I already had enough attention on me and was unsure of how to handle much more. Even now, I could feel eyes on us as we spoke.

Oddly enough, it felt like a slight tension had entered the air despite the festive feeling from the music. “Ah, I see.” the woman glanced around us before continuing.

“Would you like to come to visit with me? My home is not very far from here, and I always do love entertaining guests.” I couldn’t see what the harm in that would be.

I should’ve been able to converse with these creatures freely, and she was coming off as very kind. If it was an act, then she was one of the best actresses I’d ever encountered.

Even her dark eyes seemed sweet and kind. “That’s very kind of you, and I would love to,” I accepted.

The woman spun around, her movement so graceful it seemed as though she was gliding. She led me away from the crowd and the music.

I was trying to place what she was but coming up empty. I had never seen one like her before, and there was no distinct feeling coming off of her like some creatures gave.

Perhaps I could find a polite way of asking her once we were in private. The residence this woman introduced me to was quite expansive, located on the far side of Jumal.

Its exterior was elaborately decorated, encircled by a towering iron fence that encompassed a lush lawn speckled with willow trees and ornamental ponds featuring fountains. The structure resembled a petite mansion, significantly grander than any private dwelling I had previously encountered.

The edifice boasted sand-hued stone walls, numerous sizable windows, and a third-floor balcony, all accentuated with intricate black wrought iron detailing at their bases. As we neared, the gate swung open, and the woman guided me through, facing me as it shut behind us.

“I do apologize. I have been rude to you. My name is Hailia,” she introduced herself.

“I’m Luna. It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Hailia,” I responded, staying polite.

“Luna, a name befitting you indeed. Your visage truly evokes the image of the full moon,” she said, approaching me with a scrutinizing gaze. “Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, though it’s a rare occurrence. You’re Lord Rayne’s new beta, correct?”

“I am. I will take it that most have heard about me by now,” I confirmed. Hailia smiled.

“Oh yes. It is always quite big news whenever a ruler or one of their heirs decides to finally choose their mate. As you would imagine, such does not happen often or easily with the positions they hold. But enough standing out here. Come inside and have some tea with me. It will be much more comfortable.”

The mansion’s interior matched its exterior beauty, featuring expansive sliding doors and a variety of rooms. The hardwood floors gleamed, reflecting images as clearly as mirrors.

Speaking of mirrors, Hailia’s collection was impressive, encompassing an array of shapes and sizes that almost blanketed the walls, leading one to wonder if she took pleasure in her own reflection whenever possible. We were seated at a petite glass table in the front parlor when a young girl entered, carrying a teapot and two cups on a silver tray.

With her bunny ears, button nose, and dark eyes, she resembled a rabbit. She seemed quite young, possibly in her mid-teens. Silently, she prepared our tea, placing the cups before us and bowing her head respectfully before exiting the room.

Hailia didn’t acknowledge her, sticking to the subject of me. “I must say, you are quite a sight, Luna. I certainly see how you attracted Lord Rayne’s attention so easily,” she was saying.

“I can’t determine if that’s really what drew Rayne to me. He has said that his attraction goes beyond my appearance,” I told her.

“Yes, that is a good thing to hear,” Hailia acknowledged. She took a sip of her tea. “Tell me, what kind are you? You have the air of a Faerie about you, yet I cannot discern your type. I thought myself adept at identifying all the Faeries of this realm.”

I decided to be honest with her. It wasn’t like word wouldn’t get around of my heritage soon enough, and I didn’t wish to keep feeling the shame of it. “I am a bit different from most others. My mother was a Willow Faerie, but my father was an incubus,” I explained.

“An incubus, you say? How dreadful!” exclaimed Hailia, her alarm evident as she laid a hand on the side of her face. “Yes, I would say the same, but I know nothing of him except for that fact, and I do not see myself as anything like him,” I added.

Hailia nodded her head in agreement. “No, of course not. It was not your choice to be born as you were, even if it may influence what will be your future. I’m certain you have already faced much scrutiny since you were quite young for their illicit affair.”

“I have,” I acknowledged. “My sect didn’t want me, so I was sold to be raised and trained as a servant, and even then, I was made to hide my face in public quite often. I understood why, but it was never easy on me.”

“Of course not. After all, a beauty should not have to hide in the darkness simply because others fear what she may become. I am certain that there were always concerns over your heritage as you grew, especially when you became so stunning. You could probably bring any male you wished to his knees with a simple look,” Hailia commented.

“Oh no. I highly doubt that such a thing would happen. I know that many tend to look at me, but I wouldn’t use or seduce them,” I insisted.

“Perhaps not, but you do realize that sometimes we can extend ourselves more than we mean to.”

“What do you mean?”

Hailia set her cup on the table. “I would never believe that you would intend to use anyone. You appear to be quite sweet and even a bit naïve about the world. They probably did shelter you quite a bit. But beautiful women can hold much power over males, even ones like Lord Rayne and his father. I do know that Lady Lana is quite beautiful even for a human. It was only natural that both Lord Jekia and Lord Sage wished for her bed. I would think that Lord Rayne wished for the same pleasures, especially with how they claim he felt slighted when his brother claimed a beautiful beta over him,” she went on.

I straightened as I heard that. Was she referring to Lord Rin and Lady Aurora? I didn’t know a whole lot about them, and Rayne didn’t speak much of them. Well, he didn’t speak much of his family in general.

“Rayne felt slighted by Lord Rin and Lady Aurora? Do you mean that he was interested in her first?” I inquired, not able to hide my curiosity. “You don’t know? I would have thought that Lord Rayne would have told you about it since he chose you,” Hailia responded, tilting her head as if she were confused.

“Well…” I searched for an excuse. “We haven’t been together that long, and I haven’t had the opportunity yet to meet his family, so it hasn’t come up.”

“How very odd, but I suppose Lord Rayne does have his reasons for such things. He has appeared rather estranged from his family after what happened, and it is nice to see that you are now in his life. But you should be cautious too. Alphas like Lord Rayne are highly sought after, and I’d hate to see the other females shun you because they believe that you entranced him with what you are.”

A twinge of fear went through me as I heard that. She was right. There was a chance that others may believe that I had seduced Rayne into making me his beta. I didn’t want them to think that I did that, and I didn’t want to think I could’ve inadvertently done it.

I wanted to believe that Rayne chose me because he sensed that I was the one he was meant to be with. “Some may, but I’m certain that they will see in time that such was not the case. Rayne cares much for me and I care much for him, and I only wish to make him happy,” I responded, trying to sound more confident than I was now feeling.

“I am certain you do.” Hailia glanced at the nearby clock. “Oh, goodness. I do apologize, but I will need to see you out so that I may ready myself for this evening.”

“Y-yes. Of course.” I stood with her, and the two of us walked out of the mansion and to the gate, which opened for us.

But as we got there, Hailia turned to face me again. “It has been nice to have this bit of time with you, Luna. I’d love it if you would come to visit me again,” she requested.

I somehow managed to nod and return her smile. “Yes, I would love that.”

“Wonderful! Please come by to see me anytime you wish!” she chimed. I couldn’t say that I felt that good about coming back here as she headed into her mansion.

While Hailia had been nothing but nice to me, her words had gotten to me a little, leaving me in a confused state. It was probably better if I headed back to the glen and took some time to pull myself together.

But before I turned to leave, I noticed someone peeking out of the window of the parlor we’d been in. It was that same bunny girl. She looked worried and quickly pulled away from the window when she realized that I’d spotted her.

That was odd. Did she overhear us when we spoke about my father and become scared of me? I forced myself to turn away, quickly heading to the outskirts of the village before bringing my wings out and flying away.

I’d had enough, and I needed to return to the safety of the home I shared with Rayne. But my mind was spinning as I finally reached the woods and landed.

I didn’t understand what Hailia had been referring to with Rayne and his brother’s beta, but it worried me that perhaps I’d been a bit presumptuous with some things. Did Rayne really choose me because I was the one he wanted, or was I a replacement for someone else, someone who was now part of his family with his brother?

I quickly shook my head. No, I couldn’t let myself think that.

Rayne wouldn’t use me. He had no reason to.

He also didn’t need to introduce me to his family right away. If they’d really been interested in seeing me, then they could’ve come to the glen to do it.

There was nothing unusual about any of this. I should feel secure in my position of being Rayne’s beta.

What I hadn’t understood was that once a seed of doubt is sown, it can become difficult to remove. Perhaps it was my youth and naivete, much like Hailia insinuated.

Those things can certainly be used against you when you’re thrust into the position that I was. Though I had been determined from the start to be in control and make things work with Rayne, I never realized just how hard that was going to end up being.