Chapter 179 179: Quickly
Astrid's POV
Black boots stopped inches away from me and my breath caught.
Even standing there silently, his presence swallowed the entire corridor. It was so overwhelming that I only noticed afterward that there were no guards nor escorts around him. Yet the path belonged to him.
I swallowed nervously and forced myself to keep walking even if he didn't pass.
Only when I was several steps away, and he resumed walking again, did my lungs finally release the breath they had been holding.
I had never experienced anything like this, especially as I was from the line of an Alpha. Who was that?
I glanced back, unable to help myself. His wide broad shoulders were the first thing to notice. Dark luscious long hair and scars disappearing beneath the collar of black clothing.
His face and his eyes would look—
No. I lowered my head again as my heart pounded harder. Could that be the Lycan King's representative? Someone that powerful could never be just a representative. I hurried forward, thinking of my own problems once again.
"Are you getting married, my lady?" His deep voice stopped me instantly. "A gorgeous dress like that would be a waste otherwise."
My mouth opened to speak, but as he reminded me of my shame, my shoulders only dropped lower.
"My marriage was annulled, sir. But thank you for your kind words."
Those were the only things i could say without my voice breaking. I stood there, waiting to see if there was more he had to say.
"My apologies."
The tears stinging under my eyes streamed down, and I quickly held my face. How could a simple apology be able to make me feel this vulnerable?
I nodded with my face within my fingers. "Th-Thank you, sir." I hurriedly left the hall to save myself some more shame.
How could this be my fate? Getting an apology from a stranger who neither knew me or knew what I faced nor was responsible for any of it.
Minutes later, I walked out of the hall, stopped sobbing and made terms with every decision made about my life. I had to seize everything back and quickly.
The warriors from my pack that had escorted me were stunned to see me out of the castle. "Astrid! Stop this instant!" one called when I walked past them.
How dare he? My head snapped back and I glared at him. I was from the line of Alphas and a Moonborn yet he couldn't add an honorific to my name?
He flinched at my piercing gaze and stepped back. I rolled my eyes and continued walking till I reached the nearby forest and was completely surrounded by it.
The birds chirping, the lakes running, the frogs croaking, it was all lower than the anger beating in my heart. And anger that I knew where it should be directed at.
Yet I directed them at myself. My wolf'heart was beating harder against my ribs. "Arggh!" A frustrated shout left my throat and turned into a roar mid-shout.
My body collapsed to the ground and I tore off my veil that had been hanging behind my head. I tore the wedding dress out of my body, a symbol of shame, and left the inner linen which I took off.
Stooping down, I shifted to Eve, my wolf. She was silent, taking in the calming sounds around us. Or so I thought.
The turmoil raging inside of her came to the surface and Eve let out a terrifying howl that reverberated within the forest and past it.
The birds in the trees ran out for safety.
My wolf charged at the trees and bushes in rage. Smaller animals scampered when they sighted her attacking and tearing down everything that came her way.
I stayed like a baby inside of her, letting her vent out violently since I couldn't but it didn't last very long since Eve had been trying to control herself.
The Night Sky Pack didn't know what they unleashed that night. They dared to humiliate a Moonborn wolf when they should've been grateful one existed in their pack to make it the greatest one in the kingdom.
Even the foolish Crown Prince that had rejected me would sorely regret it.
Moonborn wolves were innate Luna's that could raise their mates to the very pinnacle of their strength just by being in their lives.
A complete Luna, gifted by the Moon Goddess for a future Alpha-King.
But that wouldn't be the case anymore.
I would no longer care to be anyone's Luna.
However, I never cared to be an Alpha either.
So there was only one thing to do.
To become a force to reckon with and destroy everything.
I will retake the Night Sky Pack for Maya and make her seat on the throne she deserved. She would be the Alpha-Quuen that I would rise to the top.
"What are we going to do?" I heard Eve's small voice ask me. "Moonborn wolves are not tied to one mate bond. But there's none worthy around here. You need connections."
First of all, I needed to take Maya away from that pack or her stepmother, the Alpha's Wife might kill her to make sure no one challenges her in the future.
I had a few good coins in my possession. We could disappear and join another kingdom till I have a plan.
"The Werewolf Kingdom in the West." I decided. I would go over there and start a business.
One that would amass me great wealth and influence, and being the right pawn for my plan to my doorsteps.
I knew better than to fall in love at this point. So anyone I would meet would either be a pawn of a strategic partner where he both give each other what we wanted.
Eve and I stayed in the forest till evening.
She ran back to the Night Sky Pack to start our plan of taking Maya out of there. Maya's mother was my aunt and the true Alpha of our pack but upon her sudden death, her mate had taken over.
It didn't take up to two years before he married Maya's stepmother and brought Sabrina into our pack. Kennen had joined our pack along with the Alpha's wife as a young orphan from a pack raided by rogues.