CHAPTER 4: THE DISTANT ALPHA

After the meeting ended, Shirley was taken to a comfy room where her parents visited her. She sat on the only available bed while her parents stood before her, staring down at her in disapproval as always. Shirley bored a hole in her hands that was folded on her lap. After a long silence, her father said, "It's a relief that you're finally out of my house." Shirley bit hard on her lips in sad anger as she struggled to keep her emotions at bay. "You don't want to be here. That much is obvious, but let me warn you," her mother said, lifting her face to meet hers. You will not bring more shame upon us by running away from this. Do you understand?" Shirley refused to answer, choosing rather to remain silent. "But we know you're stubborn, so we're keeping tabs on you until your wedding with the Alpha." They didn't say anything else and exited the room. Shirley tried to suppress the tears that threatened to tear her apart. She told herself that she had cried more than enough over her misfortune. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the bedsheets in a death grip, shutting her eyes to try to stop the searing pain in her heart. A small gasp escaped her lips when she felt hot; peppery tears flowed down her cheeks. Her heart hurt like a million stabs, and she couldn't contain the loud sob that escaped her lips. She somehow hurt more than she had ever hurt in her miserable life, and she wasn't sure what to make of her emotions. She gripped the silk material of her shirt as she tried desperately to claw out her feeble heart. She hated herself for hurting so much and crying even after so many years of being treated like garbage. Shirley cried herself to sleep, but Drakon couldn't sleep as he could feel the exact pain she felt. He couldn't help but believe he was the cause of her devastation. So much pain. He had never felt such intense emotion in his entire life. Not even when both his parents died before his very eyes. For the first time in his twenty-seven years, he cried. Not his tears but those of his destined mate. Initially, he believed he was the only one rejecting her, but it hurt to know she rejected him even more. He had only halfheartedly rejected her, but it seemed like she rejected him with all her being. He had hurt her, and it made him feel like a fool. Not a feeling he was accustomed to. ***** The marriage came faster than expected and happened in a blur. Shirley had numbed herself to every feeling and went through all the rites as if her soul were miles and miles away. After the wedding, she was taken to Drakon's mansion, where she was sent to another wing of the large estate. She was relieved to be away from him and the rest of the world. She let her depression swallow her whole like an anchor cast into the sea. She no longer cried, trying instead to feel nothing at all. Drakon stayed in the East Wing while she stayed in the West Wing, which comforted and saddened her simultaneously. It had been a week since they wed, but she hadn't seen him. She was about to go to the dining area provided for her in her wing when one of the maids informed her that the Alpha had requested her presence in his dining room. Shirley tried to control her breathing as she approached his wing. With every step she took, a massive anxiety overcame her. Drakon was seated at the far end of the large dining room when she arrived. He was leaning back in a relaxed position, but the power he emitted was suffocating. "Have a seat," he said while holding her gaze. Shirley did as she was told and sat at the end of the table, as far from him as possible. Drakon lifted a brow, and an expression she couldn't understand overtook him. He wiped the look off his face before she could think more. "I know you weren’t informed, but it is customary for the Alpha and his Luna to have their meals together," he said, and Shirley couldn’t help but find his powerful voice attractive. She shut out the thought as quickly as it entered her mind. "Okay," came her curt response, and she was confused to see his surprised expression. He started eating, and Shirley assumed it was her cue to do the same, so she ate. She occasionally felt Drakon's eyes on her, and she found it uncomfortable but said nothing about it. When they were done with their meals, they returned to their rooms without as much as a single word. Shirley was comfortable with the silence, but the Alpha seemed a little uneasy each time she came in and ate her food silently. He stared at her constantly, and Shirley no longer felt a considerable discomfort from the gesture. Weirdly enough, she couldn’t help but look forward to their daily meetings, as it was the only human interaction she got all day, even though it wasn’t much of an interaction. To her dismay and worry, she realized that she was beginning to think a lot about the Alpha. Alarmed by this discovery, she thought something must be extremely wrong with her. Each day grew more boring, and Shirley began to feel itchy to leave the palace. She didn't know how to ask Drakon if she could venture away. He didn't trust her and always kept guards everywhere. It confused Shirley as he had rejected her at first glance. It would have been a dream come true if she could run off and never return. She couldn't care less about what became of her parents. She didn't have the willpower to plot any more escapes.