Claire's POV

"The Dance".

Lost in the music as we got wrapped by the slow dance like a hen's covering around her chicks.

I felt Xavier's warmth, and he felt mine as his eyes locked on mine. It was as if the music was speaking secrets, unveiling wounds and giving healings to those wounds. Drawing them closer and distance was not in existence at that moment.

As we danced with our faces very few inches apart, I thought I saw a sense of desire in Xavier's eyes.

I held him tighter and leaned in so close that we could both hear the pounding sounds that resonated from each other's heart.

Magically, our lips almost touched, but Xavier pulled away, his facial expression unreadable as usual.

I felt a little shade of sadness, but also relief. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, Xavier still felt something beautiful for me.

I already knew that something not good might hit after this moment but all I wanted to do was enjoy the moment while it lasted.

Thank you for honoring me with the privilege of dancing with you, I said as I released my hands from Xavier's grip.

He didn't respond with any word, but the look on his face says that he didn't want this dance to end. I faded out of sight and headed to a nearby chamber to adjust my dress.

“Hello! I'm Kimanti, the alpha’s Beta,” a voice echoed from behind me at a corner in the chambers.

“Kimanti, if I had not seen for myself the bearer of this name I would have sworn on my mother's grave that Kimanti is a female, perhaps a Luna.” We both laughed and giggled at the joke I put up.

“That's good talk, dear,” Kimanti uttered.

“What's your name?” he asked.

“Claire,” I replied, “I'm Xavier's mate,” I added. Thalia walked in and gave a resentful look at me.

She hissed as she took her leave.

“What pack does she roll with?” Kimanti inquired.

“ Seems like you both started the day on the wrong foot,” he said as he noticed Thalia's gestures towards me in the chambers.

“Never mind, some pack members happened to wake up on the wrong side of the bed,” I chuckled, as I replied to Kimanti.

“Don't you think we've stayed here for too long?” Let's get back to the hall Claire, Kimanti suggested.

“After you please,” I said as I followed out afterward.

Getting to the hall, I noticed all eyes on me. Alpha's and Beta's were whispering above their hearing. Before I knew it, different packs pounced on me.

Thalia had gone about to spread false news that I was in the chambers flirting with a Beta.

Xavier was fortunate enough to take me away from the hall.

“What do you think you are doing?” he questioned me as he dragged me out of sight.

I couldn't utter a word.

I was trying to recover from the shock of what had just transpired between me and the people.

“Do whatever you want to do, but not when I'm still here," Xavier yelled at me.

I could sense jealousy in his voice, and it was written all over his face, but I didn't care.

“Maybe Thalia needs to hear this and not me,” I answered back in anger and frustration.

“I'm not the one ignoring you, you are the one ignoring me, Xavier.” What else should I do so I can be seen by you? If you never wanted this marriage, why agree to it to humiliate me? The world doesn't revolve around you, Xavier. If it does, then I tell you, the world is in absolute darkness because you are not giving out the light you claimed you have.” I added.

“How do your pack live so well knowing that an Alpha like you is a walking corpse?” I queried .

“You are alive but dead on the inside. I should have been at least told I was getting married to a dead Alpha. But I didn't get the memo. Why? Because Xavier Moonnight is not who the pack thinks he is.”

Xavier stood there for a moment. It felt like he was glued to the ground. He didn't move for some minutes, he was surprised and at the same time shocked at the words I just said to him.

It wasn't just the nerve I had to spit out those words to him, it was the fact that there was so much truth in everything I said.

Early the next morning, something happened. Tension erupts at the breakfast table. Thalia sat right next to Xavier claiming Luna's chair, which belongs to me.

My eyes could not believe what I was seeing.

“That space belongs to me,” I said, with a firm voice.

Thalia sarcastically responded.

“Oh, really?”

“ I didn't know daddy's little princess came with a seat from her father's house.” She added.

Somehow, the disagreement got worse and Xavier had to intervene.

To my surprise, he took Thalia's side.

“Let it be, Claire,” he said, chirping in between the argument.

I felt betrayed, confused and thoughts wandering in her mind.

‘Why did Xavier take sides with Thalia? Doesn't he care about my feelings?’ I felt used.

I was just like a pawn in the hands of Xavier.

As I rose from my seat, I made a decision in my mind. I vowed within me to uncover the truth behind Xavier's contempt towards me, no matter what it would cost me.’

I uttered to herself.

‘The game had just begun,’ and I was ready to play.

It is either I play or I get played. But I was not ready to be played.

“I can't be the pawn here, even Clowns are rated as regards to their abilities at making everyone happy.”

I said, as I walked out of the breakfast room, leaving my food untouched.

Xavier wanted to call me back to eat my food, but he didn't want me to think that he cared for me.

He rose and left the breakfast room as well. With his food on the table halfway, he ordered my handmaids to clean up the table as he had lost his appetite.

“There is trouble.” Selina said to Anna as they both cleared the table.