The Alpha’s Substitute Mate

Isabella© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

When we finished arranging my new chamber it was noon already and Violet suggested that I go down for lunch since I skipped breakfast.

I was famished but I didn’t want to go down and sit at the family table. Not like I had an issue with sitting in the dining hall but the thought of seeing Arden there was frightening.

But I wasn’t going to hide in my chamber and avoid him forever.

Was I going to starve and die in pain because of him?

No way!!! I won’t cower and hide like a fugitive. I won’t let him know that he had any kind of effect on me.

I pulled up my hair in a bun and left the chamber with Violet, we got into the elevator and arrived at the ground floor.

Violet and I parted at the entrance of the elevator and I took the hallway that led to the dining hall.

I took a deep breath and regained my composure then walked elegantly into the dining hall. I made my way to the Alpha’s table and was more than relieved to find out that Arden was not there. I took my seat and smiled, and greeted everyone at the table.

Queen Selena looked at me strangely and said ” Are you okay my child, you missed breakfast and you have a swollen face and puffy eyes. What’s the problem, Bella?”

Just then Lance walked in and kissed his mum on the cheek and forehead and he also bent and kissed mine

“Greetings my Luna,” he said loudly and boldly

He took out a chair beside me and stopped immediately staring at me with anger. The next thing he pulled me up from the chair and took my hands inspecting the red marks on my hands and neck and he growled. I writhed at his sudden change of temperament and I didn’t notice when the Queen came close to me, her eyes traveling all around my body. The way both of them were inspecting my body made my heart bleed, I have never experienced this kind of warm gesture from my family. Nobody had ever stood up for me.

“Arden did this to you,” Lance said but he wasn’t asking. It was a statement and he looked really furious

” I knew something was wrong when you didn’t come down for breakfast but I was thinking maybe you overslept because of yesterday’s stress without knowing that you were in pain,” Queen Selena sighed and pulled me into her arms and caressed my back before releasing me. And with one last look at me, she muttered ” I’m going to speak to that mean devil,” and immediately she left the dining hall.

” I’m so sorry, Bella, you don’t deserve this pain,” he said in deep sobriety.

” You didn’t do this, so it’s not in your place to apologize,” I said

The fact that Lance was apologizing in place of Arden made me feel worse. I wanted to ask them if this was the reason a maiden present was included in the contract. They would have easily requested another thing.

But it seems no woman in the pack would agree to marry him because they knew about his filthy behavior.

Just then Chef Lucinda came in with some omegas and started serving bowls of hearty soup, along with platters of cheese, fresh bread, and butter.

I picked up my spoon but she bowed to me saying

“Luna, the Queen has instructed that you eat porridge soup since you’re not feeling,” She then served me porridge and chicken casserole

I started eating but I could feel Lance’s eyes all over my body. I pretended not to notice and continued eating but he didn’t touch his food, I guess maybe he lost his appetite and kept staring at me. It was so clear that he was angry with Arden.

After lunch was cleared away, I excused myself and wandered around the pack looking for what to do. I needed something to keep me busy or I might die of boredom.

I decided to draw since that was the only thing I was allowed to do in my Dad’s pack, I was never allowed to train. I looked around for a sketchbook, Krita, a Pencil, and an eraser with the help of Violet. I got all the items I needed.

I got into the Pack’s garden, the same place where our wedding rites took place. The garden was naturally beautiful, with all the artificial decorations from the wedding taken off. And there was this thing about flowers that always seemed to soothe me. This time around I took my time and wandered around the garden, everything was planted in neat and tidy rows. Each bed has different adorning plants, flowers, herbs, and vegetables. I admired the beautiful sight before me and how everything grew together harmoniously.

I plucked some orchids and tulips, inhaling their scent. I wandered until my legs were heavy and tired, then I decided to draw. I sat down on the carpet grass and blindfolded myself, and made an imaginary picture of my environment. This is something I have loved doing since I was a child, I can’t explain it but there is this kind of peace I feel within myself once I start drawing. It is as if I’m in my own world without any distractions, just me and my mythical reflections.

I sketched a man in a cowboy hat lying down in a garden surrounded by daisy flowers and a woman as beautiful as the goddess, was sitting beside him and breastfeeding a baby.

I took off my blindfold to look at my drawing and to my utmost surprise I had sketched Arden, myself, and a baby that looks exactly like him.

What was I thinking?

I stared at the paper in shock.

Could it be that I’m beginning to be obsessed with his thoughts?

But how could I have imagined a forever-after kind of relationship with someone that battered me last night?

No way!! This drawing was a mistake and would never be a reality. I folded the paper and I was about to throw it away when I noticed Violet approaching and I hid the papers. I didn’t want her to see it and start having a weird idea. I have to find the right place to discard it, somewhere hidden.