Chapter 3 Help Of The Stranger

I was consumed by an overwhelming sense of trepidation and anxiety as Aldrake approached us with a gaze that seemed to pierce through my very soul. His strides were swift and purposeful, and I could feel my breath catching in my throat as I anticipated the worst.

"A-Aldrake... help me" Amber's plaintive cry echoed through the air as she clutched her foot in pain.

Aldrake's response was immediate, his concern for her well-being evident in the way he knelt beside her and asked.

"Are you alright? Does it hurt?". His eyes, filled with a deep-seated worry, locked onto hers as he tenderly examined her foot.

I felt a pang of resentment as he quickly helped her to her feet and handed her over to his friend, his attention and care lavished upon her.

When he turned to me, his expression darkened, and I felt a chill run down my spine as he slapped me across the cheek with a force that sent my head spinning.

The sound of gasps and whispers from the surrounding crowd only added to my humiliation as I stumbled backward, tears streaming down my face.

"What did you do to her, huh?!" Aldrake's voice was like thunder, his grip on my arms bruising as he pulled me towards him.

"A-Aldrake... you're hurting me. Please let me go" I begged, trying to pry his fingers loose from my arms, but he wouldn't budge.

The pressure of his grasp is suffocating, threatening to snap my arm in two. His fingers seem to be digging deep into my skin, leaving me to wonder if I'll ever be free from his grasp.

"It hurts... please let go!" I cried out, but he just gave me a piercing stare, his eyes flashing with anger.

"Does it hurt? That's nothing compared to what you did to Amber! What did you do this time to her, huh?" He asked again.

"I didn't mean to do that--" I started to explain, but Amber interrupted me.

"She pushed me, Aldrake, you saw that" She said.

"What made her push you? Tell me". Aldrake asked, his tone gentle and concerned, as if he was more willing to listen to Amber than me.

Amber looked at me, and I could see the triumph in her eyes, knowing she could manipulate Aldrake. I felt a sense of dread at what she might say. I know Amber, and I know the lies she'll tell in front of my husband.

"Aldrake--" I tried to call him, but Amber spoke up, tears in her voice.

"She pushed me because she's angry that I'm spending time with you, and that you're introducing me to your friends. She's angry because you prioritize me over her, even though she's your wife. She's jealous because she thinks I'm taking everything away from her. You know I wouldn't do that to her, don't you, Aldrake? She's my sister, why would I take away what's hers? I don't know what I've done wrong, and why she's angry with me like this. She even said she'd hurt me worse if I continued to approach you". After saying that, she burst into tears again.

I was left stunned by her lies. I quickly turned to Aldrake to explain. "No, no, no. Aldrake, please listen to me. I didn't do anything. It wasn't intentional. And... I didn't say anything like that to her. She's just making up stories to twist what happened. She was the one who approached me, and she's saying that--" But before I could finish my words, Aldrake's grip on my arm tightened, causing me to wince in pain. I started to cry again, but he seemed not to care.

"You're really this desperate, huh!!" He spat.

"I'm warning you, Livia, don't you ever hurt your sister again! If you're jealous of her, you should try to be like her. That way, you could have what she has!. You're nothing but a disgrace to my pack!!". His words cut deep into my psyche.

I tried to explain, to tell him that it was all a misunderstanding, but he wouldn't listen. Instead, he hurled accusations at me, his words dripping with venom.

After that warning, he released me with a shove, sending me crashing to the floor. As I looked up, I saw him carrying Amber in his arms, his face a picture of concern and devotion.

He didn't even glance at me, didn't acknowledge my presence in any way. I was left shattered, my heart heavy with the weight of his rejection.

The whispers and murmurs from the crowd only added to my pain, their judgments and assumptions about me and my relationship with Aldrake cutting deep into my soul.

"Isn't she the wife of that Alpha?". Someone whispered.

"Yes, that's her. I've heard their marriage is just an arranged one". Another person replied.

"No wonder her husband treats her like that".

"Do you know who the Alpha's carrying?".

"Yes, it's her stepsister. There are rumors that she's jealous of her, which is why she always hurts and bullies her"

"Amber seems like a kind and cheerful person, maybe she's jealous of her because she gets everyone's attention, unlike her".

The whispers and murmurs from the crowd only made me feel more defeated, and I buried my face in my hands, tears streaming down my face. To everyone else, it seemed like I was the one at fault, and Amber was the victim.

They saw me as the bad one, and Amber as the good one. Why was it that people could judge so quickly based on what they saw, without knowing the truth?.

"She doesn't deserve the title of Luna. Her sister is more deserving of that role". Someone said, and the words cut deep into my heart.

After the crowd dispersed, having judged me without mercy, the hallway was filled with the sound of my sobs as I sat on the floor, my head bowed onto my knees. I cried uncontrollably, until I felt a strong presence approaching.

I lifted my head to see who it was, and my eyes met a familiar face. The person stopped beside me, looking at me with an unreadable expression, and I gazed back at him. Even though my vision was blurry from tears, I knew I had seen his face before.

"You alright?" He asked, with his deep and cold tone.

I shook my head, and looked up at him. "I want to go home. Please help me get out of this place" I begged, not caring that I was asking for help from a stranger.

All I wanted was to leave and get away from the people at this event.

"Let's go" He said, and I nodded.

I tried to stand up, but my legs felt weak and trembling, and I almost fell, if he hadn't caught my hand.

"I don't think I can walk" I said, looking down. He didn't say anything, but suddenly I felt myself being lifted off the ground. I realized that he was carrying me, the same man I had seen at the bar counter earlier.

"Where are you taking me? This isn't the way out" I asked, noticing that we were heading towards the end of the hallway where the comfort room was.

"There's a way out this way" He replied. I fell silent, letting him lead the way.

We eventually made our way outside, and I saw that we were at the back of the house. There were two gates, one at the front and one at the back, and it seemed like the back gate led to a vast forest.

"You can put me down. Thank you" I said, still sniffling from crying earlier.

"When you exit the gate, you'll see a vast forest. Just walk straight, and you'll see a high wall covered in vines. Follow it, and you'll find a hole big enough to fit through. You'll see a small hut there, and you can ask the person where the road is, so you can go home" He explained.

I nodded, surprised that he could speak at such length. He didn't seem like the type to talk much, but I guess you can't judge a book by its cover.

"Thank you again" I said.

As I turned to leave, he asked. "What's your name?"

I turned back to him, smiling slightly. "Livia. That's my name. How about you?" I asked, curious. He had helped me, so it was only fair to ask his name, right?.

"Aldus" He replied, looking into my eyes. The name seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.

"Okay. Thank you again, Aldus" I said, before turning and walking out the gate.