CHAPTER 26 – STOOPING TO CONQUER

SCARLET’S POV

But what was I even thinking that I could approach my father and tell him that I was going to decide who I get married to? I must be a kid for saying that and a very foolish one at that.

My family has gone through so much to do this for me and I must be an ingrate for not valuing their efforts.

“No, Lara, say nothing. I have accepted everything just as they are. I was only a fool all along” I said.

I held up the letter and read its content slowly. Rich is a very clever man, even more clever than he appears and he knows just how best to stop my foolishness.

He had volunteered to go with me into my marriage to alpha Jake. He would be my trainer over there. He is going to use one stone to kill two birds.

He would be my companion and also use the opportunity to continue with the training that he had been stopped from doing here in the mansion. He is thinking right and I would rely on him to help me maintain my sanity in my new home.

“What did the letter say, Scarlet, what is Rich’s message?” Lara appealed.

“I am going on with the marriage next tomorrow, Lara. I will soon be married to alpha Jake of Black Moon Pack and become his miserable luna. What can I do, they are all the same anyway?” I smirked.

Yes, they are no different. When you run to one, you only end up discovering that he is even worse than the one you were running from.

At least alpha Jake is bold enough to take me as his luna even when he does not know me. He is ready to accept me just as I am.

“And Rich?” she asked further.

“He said he can only come along with me as my personal trainer” I informed her of the content of the letter from Rich.

“I will come with you too, Scarlet. Wherever you go, there shall I go and I shall share in whatever might befall you. I will be by your side and never leave you” she said.

“Remember that Dawn has relieved you of your duty to me. You are free now and should not be made to share in my sufferings anymore. You are free to get a better life now. With Dawn, you would have a greater prospect because her life would never be as miserable as mine” I responded.

“Please stop sounding this way, Scarlet, I will be with you no matter what. And please it will get better with you too someday. Don’t give up hope” she pleaded.

“Aren’t you tired of such a phrase, Lara? I have been hearing that forever and nothing has ever changed. It only gets worse with me” I said.

“You don’t have to say…” she tried to respond but I stopped her.

“Stop it. There is no need for that. Go with Dawn and get something for yourself” I insisted.

“I said it just some moment ago that I would die than leave you in this state…” she started to speak but I stopped her again.

“You don’t need to have any pity for me, Lara, I don’t need it. I will be fine”

“This is not pity, Scarlet, it has never been. It is my fate. To be with you is what I am destined for” she persisted.

“Okay, it is fate. If so, then change it. Change your fate, Lara. That is a luxury that I cannot afford but you have it with you” I persuaded.

“No, Scarlet. It is not just fate but destiny. It cannot be changed. This is what I am cut out for and just like you, I cannot just wish it away. It is my life, Scarlet, and I must fight through it” she replied.

I turned to her. “Even when you don’t have to?” I asked.

“Even when it looks as if I don’t have to” she replied.

I stood up and went to her. She wanted to stand too but I prevented her from doing so. Rather, I sat down on the floor with her.

“No, no… you shouldn’t be doing this, I won’t let you to” she objected to my sitting down on the floor with her.

“You are sitting here, why shouldn’t I do the same?” I asked.

“But you must get up now, I wouldn’t want to be seen like this with you” she cried.

“And I insist on sitting here with you. We are friends aren’t we” I insisted.

“You will be my luna in a few days. Please don’t sit here. I am not your friend but your humble servant and please for whatever that I mean to you, don’t put me through this. Get up and sit on the chair” she begged.

“I would have listened to you and got up. But that would only mean creating more boundaries between us and that is not what I want. I want us to be just as we have always been and I want even more” I said.

“More” she murmured.

“Yes, Lara. I want even all the boundaries that exist between us to be eliminated” I replied.

“No one is creating the boundaries my luna, not even I can create those boundaries. The boundaries are already there and can’t be created neither can there be destroyed” she replied.

“And can I speak as your luna?” I asked.

“You don’t need my permission to speak, my luna” she replied.

“I would request that you don’t ever argue with my decision on whatever level I want to place myself with you,” I said.

“If you say so, my luna, your wish is my command” she replied.

“So, since my marriage is in two days, what do you advise I prepare for? My dress for that day right?” I decided that a change of topic was just right for the situation.

“Yes, my luna” she replied.

“And how do I get the seamstress to make me a dress by tomorrow, and how do I afford other things that I need for myself and even yours too?” I asked.

I never thought about making any preparation for the marriage before now. However, I doubt if I would have been able to come up with anything if I had bothered to think about it earlier.

“Your dress arrived this morning, my luna” she replied.

“My dress, what dress?” I stuttered.

I instantly became confused. Or is it possible that she does not understand what I was talking about, then what dress is she referring to?

“The dress for your marriage. The seamstress brought it in this morning but I could not show it to you since I didn’t know where you were” she replied.

“And where is the dress?” I asked.

“In your wardrobe. I left it in your wardrobe. I was going to show it to you as soon as I found you” she replied.

“Oh I see” I murmured.

“Aren’t you going to take a look at it, I think it is quite lovely and I was hoping that you will love it” she said.

“And what difference would it make. I will rather see it on that day and if there is something I should see now, it should be the man that I am getting married to” I replied.

“Oh, I see” she murmured.

“And now that the issue with the cloth has been taken care of, how do I take care of every other thing? And what exactly is to be taken care of?” I asked.

“My mother is taking care of everything” she revealed.

“Oh, is that so?” I asked.

“Ma Patricia instructed her to” she replied.

I was glad to hear that mama Ruth was taking care of things and I would have to wait for the D-day to see all that was in stock for me.

“Then I think I should sleep and hopefully get up before my marriage. Please do get a message across to Rich informing him that I would be glad to have him as my personal trainer in Black Moon Pack” I said.

“I will do as you have instructed, my luna” she replied.

I got up from the floor and went to lie on my mat. Lara got up and left my room. I closed my eyes and reminiscence on all the events of the past few days, and slowly I fell asleep.