Raina's POV
Shock waves rolled over me before it morphed into anger. I dared to glare at Lyria, but she instantly rose and struck me on my cheek, one that made me fall to the ground in a weak manner. Tears burned at the back of my eyes but I blinked them back before pathetically rising up. To my utmost surprise, no one said a word, not even a cough was heard. I had been drenched with liquor and slapped, and the Alpha sat like a monument, staring into space like there was something interesting about the air. I slowly rose, now acquainted with the fact that I had this battle before it even started. Finally, his gaze rested on me. Something flickered in his eyes, something unreadable. But it was gone the next minute, replaced by the usual cold expression he wore like a regal garment. "Hey, a slave is supposed to lower her eyes to the ground when her owner speaks." It was the Luna of the blonde haired man. That bitch. I lowered my eyes, sweeping my tongue over my lower lip and tasting blood. "The wine tastes as ugly as you," Lyria spat out "Get me something better. Right now." I bowed slightly and stalked off with the tray, with intentions of not returning to the hellhole of a feast. Instead, I sat at a corner and watched the events that unfolded with rage seething through me. A group of dancers soon appeared on stage and I remembered Reya. Was she fine? What had happened to her? Was she suffering like I am? "What are you doing here?" Ria approached me and asked, arms akimbo. "Sulking." I murmured and turned away. "Yeah, you could do that. The Luna will have your head after the party if you don't do as she has instructed." I stared down at my ruined dress and sighed, knowing that she was as right as she could be. Lyria hated my very existence with everything in me, so much that she would not mind having my head on a stake for something as flimsy as not delivering the wine she requested. And I needed to stay alive, at least to exact revenge on this God forsake pack and it's Alpha for the abominable act that they had committed. I groggily moved to the wine station and fetched another type of wine for the Luna. This time, it was blue in color and swirled in the glass. I thought it to be beautiful and wondered what it would taste like down my throat. The intense discussion going on at the Alpha's table was paused as I arrived, and I served the wine to Lyria. She eyed me like I was the dumbest slave she has ever set eyes on, then dumped the content of the wine on the ground with the swiftness of a wolf. 'How rude, 'Aris exclaimed. 'Why do you think she hates you, Raina?' I clenched my jaw to keep myself from staring at the blue liquor that burned into the floor. "Hm, she added no poison." Lyria murmured before turning to me in a haughty manner "Pour out another glass and get out of here." I did just that, not willing to stay in their presence one more second. Night soon fell and after all the excitement from the feast had died down, we were finally allowed to return to our quarters. Glad to finally take a few hours of rest before daylight struck, I hurried to my room and shut it upon entering, only to turn and see someone perched on the flat bed like a grim reaper. I immediately clutched the knob of my door, ready to bolt away in case of any life threatening incident that could occur. "What is your mission in this pack, Raina?" No one but Luna Lyria had such commanding tone while she spoke, and I was genuinely surprised that she was in my room instead of rounding up the feast as her husband retires for the night. "I... I have none, Luna." I bowed. "Why then, did he choose you?" She has risen from the bed now, and was slowly walking towards me. I took a step backwards, knowing that it might be dangerous to be close to a woman who resented the very sight of me. She could easily stab me with the ornament that held her hair together, or she could do it the easier way. Shoot me with a silencer and slip out of the room like she was never here. My heart hammered against my chest as the possibility of dying struck me. "I really don't know," I shook my head as I said that. "Of course you do," She grimaced bitterly "Did you two make a pact of some sort?" "No." "Tell me why his gaze lingers when he looks at you." 'Because she is pretty?' Aris stirred, and I bit back on the smile that threatened to ruin the pathetic facade that I had worn. "I.. I really don't know, Luna" I softly said, hoping she will let me off the hook after this. "Did you agree to birth a heir for him?" My eyes flared open in shock "No!" Lyria hissed like a snake, slowly circling me "I know your kinds. You start infiltrating homes by seducing the master of the mansion so you can have him to yourself in the end." "I have no such thoughts, Luna" "Then stay away from Kael. I do not want to see you in the same room with me. Otherwise, be prepared to face my wrath!" I stared at the floor like I had been told earlier, not bothering to respond to her last words until I was violently slammed on the door. "Answer me!" There and then, I remembered that she wasn't an ordinary member of the pack, she was the Alpha's Luna and as expected, should possess certain levels of powers. Blood immediately spurted from between my lips as I clawed at the fingers that were firmly wrapped around my throat. Aris clawed in me as well, struggling to overpower me and strike her back to reality. Just then, the door swiveled open and Kael stepped in, in his usual commanding aura. Like he had stood by it all evening. He effortless yanked his Luna away from me, saving my life before it crawled into non existence. "What do you think you're doing, Lyria?" His voice was a mixture of anger and controlled calmness, and my heart sank even deeper. Lyria will definitely kill me if she gets the chance again. Worse, as she stomped out of the room, Kael's gray eyes met mine in a brief moment, and I'm taken aback by the intensity in his gaze. It's cold and calculating but... There was something else. Something I couldn't place a finger on. No one has ever looked at me like that.