Capítulo 30: Thirty
Remus.
Standing in our bedroom, I adjusted my suit jacket in front of the mirror, feeling its snug fit around my shoulders. My reflection stared back at me, but my attention wasn't fully on myself.
I glanced over at Rhea. She was struggling with the zipper on her dress, fidgeting with it as her defeat grew. My mind shifted from myself to her instantly. The sight of Rhea, even when she was annoyed, always brought me back to a place of calm.
I moved toward her, stepping up behind her, my fingers gently brushing against her back as I took hold of the zipper.
"Did you speak to your mother and sister about moving to Shadowclaw?" I asked softly, though I already knew the answer.
Rhea sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging a little. In the mirror, her expression was a mixture of sadness and defeat. She always looked so strong, but moments like this reminded me just how much weight she carried.
"I tried," she said, her voice heavy with disappointment. "But my mom won't budge. She feels like she owes the Silvermoon pack. They took us in when we were stranded, and she doesn't want to betray them."
I frowned. This situation with Silvermoon, with Damien—it was eating at me. But I knew pressing her would only make things worse. I needed to be her support, not another source of pressure.
Instead of pushing the issue, I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder. I could feel her relax slightly under my touch, and that made me feel a little better.
"Betraying your husband now, huh?" I teased, keeping my voice light. "You can't just let me worry like this."
Rhea's lips twitched into a soft smile, and she leaned back into me, her head resting against my chest. I loved these little moments with her, where the world outside didn't matter, where it was just us.
"You're such a pain," she said playfully, rolling her eyes.
I chuckled, the tension melting away as I kissed the side of her neck. For a moment, the heaviness of everything disappeared. It was just us, standing there, staring at our reflection in the mirror. We kissed, slowly and deeply, letting the moment linger before we finally broke apart and headed out the door.
**
We pulled up to the Blackridge Packhouse, the grand building illuminated under the night sky. The place was alive with music, laughter, and the kind of energy that told me this event was a big deal.
As soon as we stepped out of the car, I could feel the heft of everyone's attention on us. But it wasn't uncomfortable—it was more like a respectful acknowledgment of who we were.
I glanced at Rhea—she looked stunning in her tasteful black dress, her eyes scanning the area as we walked up the grand steps. I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Being here with her by my side made everything feel better, more complete. She was everything to me.
As we approached the entrance, Alpha Leon, the leader of the Blackridge Pack, greeted us with a wide grin, his strong presence impossible to ignore. He was an older man, but his energy was infectious, and there was something about his welcoming nature that immediately put me at ease.
"Remus!" Leon's deep voice boomed as he pulled me into a strong embrace. "It's good to see you, my friend. You're looking as serious as ever, though. Loosen up, you're at a party, not a council meeting!" He laughed heartily, slapping me on the back before turning to Rhea.
"And look at this beautiful Luna!" He said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "You've married a goddess, Remus. I still can't believe she said yes. Must have been your charm, huh?" He winked at me, teasing as he took Rhea's hand, placing a playful kiss on the back of it.
Rhea chuckled softly, her cheeks flushing slightly as she smiled warmly at Leon. "It's lovely to see you too, Alpha Leon," she said, her voice polite but filled with amusement. She was always so graceful in these situations, handling the teasing like a pro.
"Remus, you're a lucky man! If I were a younger wolf, I'd have some serious competition. But alas, I'm just an old wolf now." He clapped me on the shoulder again before leading us inside.
The Packhouse was even more impressive on the inside. The space was filled with warm lighting, the sound of clinking glasses, and cheerful chatter. People were dancing, laughing, and enjoying the night, and for a moment, the weight on my shoulders lightened.
This wasn't like some of the more formal events I'd been to. This had a relaxed, friendly feeling, and I could feel the respect that flowed toward me from the pack members as we walked in.
Nods of acknowledgment came from all sides, and I could hear the whispers. "Alpha Remus," "The Shadowclaw Alpha," "That's Luna Rhea." It made me feel... proud. Proud of who I was, proud of what we had built, and most importantly, proud to have Rhea by my side.
"Welcome, Alpha Remus! Luna Rhea!" one of the pack members called out, raising a glass in our direction. The others followed suit, and soon, the room was filled with toasts and cheers in our honor. It was the kind of treatment that usually made me feel uncomfortable, but tonight, it felt... right. Maybe it was the easygoing atmosphere or the fact that Rhea was with me, but for once, I allowed myself to relax.
As the night went on, Rhea and I found ourselves mingling with other alphas and pack members. The laughter and music filled the air, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. The warmth of the room, the kindness of the people—it was hard not to feel at ease.
I watched as Rhea charmed the others, laughing at their jokes, her smile lighting up the room. She fit in effortlessly, and it reminded me of how adaptable and strong she was. She had a way of putting people at ease, something I admired in her.
But even in the midst of all the joy and lightheartedness, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was... off. It was subtle, like a shadow lurking just out of sight, but I could feel it. An invisible weight hanging over me, making my muscles tense without reason.
I scanned the room, my eyes darting from face to face, trying to pinpoint the source of my unease. Nothing seemed out of place. Everyone was laughing, drinking, enjoying themselves. But that didn't stop the nagging sensation in the back of my mind. I could feel my instincts bristling, alert to something I couldn't yet see.
I clenched my jaw, trying to shake the feeling. It wasn't the time to be paranoid. We were here to celebrate, to enjoy the night. Yet, as much as I tried to relax, my gut wouldn't let me.
Rhea noticed, of course. She always did. Her hand slipped into mine, her touch grounding me. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, her eyes searching mine.
I nodded, offering her a small smile to ease her worry. "Yeah," I said, though my voice didn't quite match the calm I was trying to project. "Just... something feels off."
She squeezed my hand gently, her eyes filled with understanding. "You don't have to worry tonight, Remus. We're safe here. Just... try to enjoy yourself."
I wanted to believe her. I really did. And for her sake, I tried to push the unease aside. I didn't want to ruin the night for her, not when she was enjoying herself so much.
Alpha Leon reappeared, interrupting my thoughts with another booming laugh. "Remus, you're brooding again!" he teased, clapping me on the back. "You've got that 'I'm thinking about important Alpha things' face on. Relax, man! It's a party! Come, have a drink with me."
I chuckled despite myself, letting him pull me toward the bar. Maybe a drink would help loosen the knot in my chest. As Leon poured us both a glass of whiskey, I stole another glance at Rhea. She was laughing with a group of pack members, her eyes sparkling under the lights. Seeing her like that—happy, carefree—it eased something inside me.
I took a sip of the whiskey, the burn of the alcohol chasing away some of the tension in my body. Leon was still chatting away, making jokes about the other alphas, but I was only half-listening.
For now, I let myself enjoy the night. The laughter, the music, the company of friends and allies.
But then, like a cloud creeping in to cover the sun, I saw him.
Damien walked in with Rosy at his side, his presence immediately changing the energy in the room. My body tense up, my jaw clenching as my eyes followed him. He hadn't seen me yet, but I couldn't stop the rush of anger that flooded my veins.
Rhea noticed instantly. She always did. She approached me and instantly slip her hand onto my arm, her touch gentle and soothing.
"Please, Remus," she whispered, her eyes pleading as she looked up at me. "Don't let him ruin tonight. Ignore him. For me?"
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. She was right. Tonight wasn't about Damien. It was about us, about being here together. I nodded, though it took everything in me not to go over and wipe that smug look off his face.
Things were fine for a while. We were seated, enjoying the event as much as we could, considering the stiffness. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen.
And, of course, it did.
Damien, being the arrogant prick he always was, made his way over to us, his eyes locking onto Rhea in a way that made my blood boil. I stood up immediately, instinctively stepping in front of her. I wasn't going to let him get any closer.
"Rhea," Damien said, his voice dripping with mockery. "It's been a while. Good to see you again. But I have to admit... I kind of miss seeing you in that little slave uniform back in Silvermoon."
Rhea visibly flinched at his words, her eyes narrowing, but before she could say anything, I stepped forward, putting myself between them.
My gaze locked onto Damien's with a calmness I didn't entirely feel, but I knew how to handle scum like him. I wasn't going to let him rattle us.
"Funny," I said, my voice low but steady, "I was just thinking how glad I am that Rhea's no longer anywhere near your miserable excuse of a pack. It's almost tragic, really—how pathetic you sound, clinging to memories of when you had any power over her. But now... well, she's with me, isn't she? And all you can do is stand there and reminisce. That's what really bothers you, isn't it?"
For a second, Damien's smirk faltered. I could see the flicker of something dangerous in his eyes, but he quickly masked it with another sneer. My words had hit where I intended, and it was clear that Damien didn't like being reminded of his loss.
Before he could respond, his wife tugged on his arm, clearly uncomfortable. "Damien, stop this," she whispered, trying to defuse the situation. "This isn't the time—"
But Damien wasn't having it. He yanked his arm out of her grip and silenced her with a cruel glance before turning back to us. And then, in a voice laced with venom, he spat the words I knew were meant to hurt. "You know, Rosy," he said without looking at her, "I think it's just hard for me to see Rhea like this... pretending she's something more than what she really is. I mean, no matter how much she dresses up, we both know what she was. What she'll always be—just a slave."
The room fell silent. The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, suffocating everything. Rhea's face went pale, her body stiffening beside me. The humiliation and pain in her eyes made my blood boil. My vision tunneled as pure fury took over.
I didn't even think. My body acted on instinct.
With one swift motion, my fist collided with Damien's jaw, the sickening sound of the impact echoing through the hall. The force sent him stumbling backward, crashing into a nearby table.
The entire room froze, all eyes locked on us. Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd as Damien straightened up, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He clutched his jaw, fury blazing in his eyes as he glared at me.
"You'll regret this," Damien hissed, spitting blood onto the floor. His voice was low, almost a growl, his entire body trembling with rage. "Mark my words, Remus. This isn't over."
I stood my ground, my hands still clenched into fists at my sides. Every muscle in my body screamed for me to lunge at him again, to make him pay for every insult he dared to throw at Rhea. But I wouldn't give him that satisfaction. Not tonight.
"No," I said, my voice steady, though the anger burned just beneath the surface. "You're the one who'll regret this."
Rhea moved closer, placing a hand on my arm, her touch gentle, grounding me in that moment. I could feel the slight tremble in her fingers, and it only made me angrier that Damien had gotten to her like this. But I wasn't going to let him ruin the night any more than he already had.
Damien glared at us for another moment, before he exited the place with his wife.
The room remained silent for a few heartbeats, everyone still processing what had just happened. Whispers began to spread, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on. But I didn't care. Let them talk. Let them know what kind of man Damien was. I had no regrets for defending Rhea.
I turned to her, my expression softening as I cupped her cheek, brushing my thumb across her skin. Her eyes were still filled with hurt, but she managed a small smile, leaning into my touch.
"Are you okay?" I asked quietly, my voice low enough that only she could hear.
She nodded, though I could see the sadness lingering in her eyes.
"We have to leave now," I said, pulling her to the exit, without even saying goodnight to the host Leon.
We left quickly after that. I was still fuming, my hands clenched into fists as we got into the car. The adrenaline from the punch still coursed through me, but now that the moment had passed, I was feeling the burden of it all.
Rhea sat beside me, calm as always, though I could tell she was worried. She reached for my hand, her touch soft and soothing.
"You didn't have to punch him," she said quietly, her voice filled with concern. "He's not worth it, Remus."
I shook my head, my jaw still tight with anger. "I hate him, Rhea. This is why I don't want him near you. Ever. He'll keep pushing until he does something we'll both regret."
"You're not going back there," I said firmly, my voice filled with resolve. "I don't trust him. We need to convince your mother and sister to move to Shadowclaw. It's the only way to keep them safe too."
She doesn't say anything, just looked out the window. Until we arrived back at the packhouse. I was still wound up, but being home helped. We headed to our chambers, ready to unwind from the chaotic night.
Just as we were settling in, there was a knock at the door. I frowned, wondering who could be bothering us at this hour. I got up to answer it, finding one of the pack workers standing there, looking a little anxious.
"Alpha," he said, his voice nervous. "The Luna has visitors. They're waiting downstairs."
I stared at him, confused. "Who?"
He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Her mother and sister."
Shock rippled through me, and I quickly turned to Rhea, who looked just as surprised as I felt. We exchanged a glance, neither of us knowing what to expect from this sudden visit.
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