Hekate’s Bride

“One at a time!” The sentinels yell as they scan our IDs and let us through the doors that lead to the stadium.

As I approach the check point, my heart races in anticipation. The stadium is massive, its walls towering above me, casting a shadow over the entire courtyard. The air is thick with excitement and the endless chatter, as well as hoots and bet hashtags. Everyone’s wearing green–not me though. I hate green.

I step forward and hand over my ID card for scanning, the beep signaling my entry.

“Have you seen Darian today? I wanted to wish him before it starts but I can’t find him anywhere,” Maya says loudly beside me as we walk side by side, making our way inside.

Darian is participating in the Games. He didn’t tell me when I ask, leaving me hanging with a smirk and “you’ll see. Cheer for me, princess.”

Well. That was before the fight.

I shrug, keeping my expression impassive. “He was at the gym this morning. I’ve not seen him since then.”

“Astrid,” Maya says and my ears perk up at drop in her usually high-pitched tone and I turn to her, noting the serious contemplative look on her face. “Are you and Dar a thing?”

I think of this morning. I think of the last few days, of our charade, of his lips against my cheek every night before he leaves my room.

And I shake my head. “I already explained this to you. He’s only trying to help. There is nothing else attached to it.”

The truth of his proposal weighs heavy on me, however. I have not told Maya about it. Maybe I should. I just find it hard to let people in or tell them things about myself. Maya has been sweet and there for me these past few weeks. I really should learn how to tell her things. She’s my friend. Perhaps, the only friend I might have in a long, long time.

“Why do you ask?” I add when an uncomfortable silence stretches between us.

I can see she wants to tell me something. Her lips keep parting and she keeps sucking her lip in, biting on it.

“What is it?”

She looks at me and when she starts to speak, someone bumps hard into us from behind, running ahead of us into the stadium.

“Watch where you’re going!” Maya tells ahead of him and the male turns and sneers at us before scampering off, into the stadium.

I am struck by the sheer size of the stadium. Rows upon rows of seats extend out in front of me, stretching all the way to the other end of the arena. In the center, a vast field is set up and there are large screen, showing feeds from different parts of the stadium as well as score boards with ‘WA’ and ‘LS’ boldly written on them.

On the far side, I can see a raised platform with a throne-like chairs, flanked by other smaller chairs. I know that is where the ruling royal families will sit, presiding over the games; where my family will sit, beside Rune’s.

Ugh.

Along the track are more podiums, likely reserved for the coaches and staff.

One half of the stadium that takes the shape of a sphere has seats painted in a vibrant green colour, and the other half is in deep red, creating a striking visual effect… and contrast. A division. Lycans to green. Wolves to red. Here’s to being a united people, I think as I lift a glass of champagne mentally.

My eyes drift back to the empty thrones that demarcate this contrast. Before landing in this school, I would have all but skipped to my throne and taken my place on it beside my parents, but now…

“I guess I’ll see you later,” Maya says, giving me a light squeeze on my arm.

“Yeah,” I nod, giving her a sidelong glance. “You could… join me.”

Her eyes go wide like saucers as she looks from me to the platform. “Up there? Really?”

I shrug, feeling uneasy. I doubt mother and father will find an issue with me bringing a friend. “Yeah.”

She suck on her lower lip and looks in the opposite direction where a few participants are warming up around the field. “Sure, but… you go ahead first. I’ll join you soon.”

I nod and she skips down the short steps, heading to the team. Rubbing my arms, I walk between rows of chairs, eyes darting about, searching for familiar faces.

It isn’t until I walk past the red chairs that I start to see people I vaguely recall from werewolf high.

But not Thorne. Or my friends.

And definitely not Orion.

Had he been alive, I know he would have participated. Grief engulfs me and I blink back the tears that spring to my eyes. Orion…

Orion and I, like every other of my friends grew up together. Pack Blackwood is vast, stretching out to colonies that go beyond my knowledge, but Father makes a point of bringing the ‘kids’ together.

I met Thorne first, but he had this terrible habit of freezing whenever I tried to speak to him, and when he came to, he would just run off.

Tri, Aria and I just clicked.

I met Orion last, and of all my friends, he understood me most. Though we were young, he already had an air of maturity about him and his eyes had a knowledge that went past his age.

Much like me.

He would spend hours with me, listening to me speak of long forgotten dreams, and he would in turn tell me of a world that existed only in the human books he’d stolen from his father’s library.

Many times I’d run from home, overwhelmed by the weight of my duties; overwhelmed by expectations and rules–my mother liked to think me a rebel, and I liked to think I was just being caged. He’d always be around the corner, holding out a bottle of mixed roots and alcohol.

He would take me back to my room, completely knocked out and delirious. He would tuck me in and wait till I stopped spewing nonsense and leave after I’d fallen asleep.

It is to Orion I told my darkest secrets–secrets that would have me banished like Hekate was when he was a child–and it is to him that I gave my Maidenhead.

When I took of my dress in front of him that night, he had watched me. Not my naked body, or my perfect skin and curves.

His eyes had been on my face the entire time I had undressed, noting the tears in my eyes.

He hadn’t asked questions. I didn’t tell him why either; too tired to speak; too angry to care.

And he had been gentle.

Orion never told me he loved me, but I know he did.

I loved him too, but not the way he would have wanted. He never made a move. Perhaps he already knew I would say no.

But he stayed still, making himself available whenever he thought I needed help. With soothing words. With getting rid of my tension, anger and agitations with his touch.

Maybe I should have told him once, at least. That I cared for him too. That I would have done the same thing for him.

Now I can’t. He’s gone beyond my reach.

I wipe my eyes, looking ahead as I walk past the fast filling rows. I feel eyes on me and I know my people are watching me.

I do not look up to acknowledge it. I feel odd and out of place. Seeing people like me again should provide some sort of comfort, but it doesn’t.

I hasten my stride, itching to get away from them, but when I reach the podium, I see Rune sitting off to the edge, on a smaller throne.

My eyes drift to the throne beside his that should be mine.

But Ginevra is on it.

I slip my hands out of my pocket and lean back on my heel, peering down at them with so much anger in my heart, I think it is going to explode.

“You’re in my chair, Ginevra.”

She smiles sweetly at me, looking all pretty and dazzling in a green gown that is to die for. Yes. It is green and it is absolutely stunning. “Chill out, pup–”

I bare my teeth at her. “Call me pup again and I’ll finish what I started. Surely, you do not need more holes in your creamy, tasty skin,” I say, tongue darting out to lick my canines.

All the colour drains from her lovely face and her hand goes to her thigh, as if to protect it.

She stands from the chair swiftly and does not even give her stupid ass betrothed a kiss before stalking off, muttering cusses as she passes by, all of which I I turn a deaf ear to.

Mother would really disapproves if she finds me with my teeth in Ginevra’s throat. Though, I think Father would cheer me on.

A small sound catches my attention and I look at Rune.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

He’s laughing.