Word Count: 2072

~Hunter

Kaan and haven't spoken much during our trip through the village and past it, save for a lecture about how I have to appear to be undoubtedly in love with him.

I'm not sure I'm that good of an actress. I don't think anyone could be...

My mate has explained to me that he loves his grandmother, that she is one of the most important people in his life. For that reason, he doesn't want to disappoint her, and her dream for him to marry for love.

I understand the sentiment. I just wish it wasn't me he is marrying.

We pass through the countryside, toward the border of the Pack. Anxiety bristles through me, knowing we are drawing near to my home back, where people desperately await my return.

People who would kill to get me back.

Kaan doesn't notice the shift in my composure, too busy marinating in his own worry about how this is going to go.

We finally arrive mid-morning to a small cottage centred in the middle of a vast paddock. The wheels of the transport undulate over the grass, nearly sinking at one point into a deep puddle.

Kaan hops out in front of me, holding the door open. I step out, the fresh air gliding over my skin, soothing my senses. It reminds me of the inevitable escape I'm going to make soon, of what I have to look forward to.

We approach the front of the house, which is framed by a blooming, albeit unkept garden. Half of the porch steps are broken off or sagging, forcing us to lurch up above all of them, nearly toppling backwards onto the grass.

Kaan raises his hand to knock on the door, but pauses.

"Remember-"

"Pretend to be in love. I got it," I snap, cutting him off. Rubbing my temples, I grimace against the growing ache between them. I'm tired of being told to feel something for a man I cannot stand.

"Not just that." He rubs the back of his neck, shifting uncomfortably. "Please be kind to her. I care about her deeply."

I swallow thickly. Does he really think I'm so cruel I would be mean to his grandmother?

"I will..." I breathe.

He holds my gaze, something shifting in his eyes. He opens his mouth to say something, but the door is suddenly pushed open, revealing a tall, fail looking woman.

"Grandmother, it's so wonderful to see you," Kaan greets, immediately pulling her into a hug. His large frame practically swallows her hold.

When he pulls away, she taps his biceps before peering around him, at the small carriage we brought, and the two guards lingering near it.

"Kaan, my dear. Your parents couldn't come with you?" she questions, staring up at him with hazy green eyes. They almost perfectly match her grandsons.

"They had business elsewhere," he tells her tightly, knowing his parents have elected not to visit this poor woman.

"You and I know both know that isn't true." She rolls her eyes, then turns her attention to me. "I see you have brought your wife to be."

The smile the touches her mouth is wide and genuine. It's the first time someone has regarded me positively since I got here.

Other than Tay, of course, but her behaviour is borderline obsessive.

Kaan clears his throat, stepping back. "Yes, this is Hunter."

With her attention fully on me, a moment of panic flitters through my chest, squeezing at my heart. She lives so close to the border, where word may have reached about my disappearance.

Does she recognise me? Has she heard my description and is ready to call the authorities to have me dragged back to my ex-fiance?

"Hunter. How are you, I am Kaan's poor grandmother, who is hardly visited by her family anymore," she exclaims. "You may call me Elaine, if you like."

She ushers us inside quickly. The place is warm and breezy, with every possible window open, the smell of fresh grass and clover filling the room.

Like Kaan's grandmother, the place is bright and cheerful, with vividly coloured furnishings, soft floral wallpaper that doesn't match and all sorts of eclectic decorations littered about. Despite that, it feels like a home here.

It's so unlike where Kaan and his siblings have grown up.

"It's lovely to meet you," I tell her, watching as she immediately bustles into the adjoining kitchen, gesturing for us to follow.

"My parents don't like me visiting her, as they believe she has far too progressive ideals on what a Pack is and how it should be run," Kaan explains.

The moment we stepped into this home, he has visibly relaxed. The tension has bled from his shoulders, and that furrow between his brow has loosened.

"You never ruled?" I question, watching as she fills a kettle with water, placing it on her stovetop to warm.

Elaine tips her head back and laughs, her grey hair partially falling from its clip.

"No...No, my daughter married that wretched man because she believed she loved him." She grabs three tea cups, scooping some floral looking mixture into them.

"My mother came from nothing...Kind of like you," Kaan notes, looking over me.

I bite the edge of my lip, turning away. Little does he know, come from filthy wealth like he does. Not just wealth either, but power.

"So, they allowed you to marry for love too, Kaan?" Elaine turns, handing the steaming cups to us each in turn.

Kaan gives me a sharp look as we walk back to the living room. I give a brief nod, confirming my awareness of his expectations for me.

"Yes. It's one of the few things they have allowed."

"Strange people those two are. I just wish they would allow me to see Azura sometimes," she muses, sinking into a chair opposite the couch Kaan and I uncomfortably sit on.

On instinct, I put a decent gap between us, but he slides closer until our arms are touching.

I try not to jolt at the feeling of sparks, at the sudden heat blooming in my stomach. All rational thought immediately dissolves when I'm in his presence.

"You know how they are with her..." Kaan says uncomfortably, oblivious to my flushing skin.

"Yes, well, how could I forget," Elaine mutters, the deep lines around her eyes creasing. "Anyways, enough complaining. Tell me, where do you come from, Hunter?"

I clear my throat, trying not to stutter through my faux story. "A Pack over. I don't come from a wealthy background."

Elaine nods, seeming pleased with that. She obviously never expected her daughter and her husband to allow Kaan to marry someone for love. Especially someone who doesn't come from wealth.

"And what brought you to this Pack?" She asks.

I sip my tea, trying not to choke on the sudden burst of sweetness. Looking into the cup, I can see the heap of sugar dissolving in the water that Elaine must have added when I was gazing at Kaan.

"Exploring, before I had to...settle down," I explain.

Elaine rubs her ageing hands together, her bright yellow nails drawing my attention. "So then, how did you two meet?"

I look to Kaan. We hadn't decided on a palatable story.

"I shot her, thinking she was an intruder on our lands. She came back to the palace, and I got to know her. From there, we fell in love," he tells his grandmother before sweeping his gaze to me.

My breath comes out all shaky. The warmth in his eyes is an obvious act for his grandmother's benefit, and that gentle smile really isn't for me to enjoy. Yet, my stomach still flutters with unkempt nerves.

Elaine reaches her hand out, grasping Kaan's. "It's so wonderful to see you happy like this, Kaan. You deserve it."

"I am happy. Ruling will be much less of a burden with Hunter by my side." He reaches over and pats my thigh. I've never been more grateful for the dress I decided to wear today, even if the fabric between our skin is flimsy at best.

Elaine clasps her hands together, her smile wide. "How wonderful. And I suspect great grandchildren by the end of this year, do you hear?"

My eyes widen and it takes all my self control not to let my mouth pop open.

"Ah...We can't control that," I blurt out, forcing myself to fill the uncomfortable silence that grows from Kaan's stunned state.

"Of course you can, to an extent." She laughs a little, like it's obvious we should be sleeping with each other right now. "I want great grandchildren before I die."

Kaan turns his head to me stiffly, smiling tightly. "We will work on it, won't we, Hunter?"

"Yes. We will," I respond, all the moisture drying up in my mouth.

Elaine smiles, clearly pleased with herself. She's so sweet I feel bad that she isn't going to get the grandchildren she wants. At least from us.

"Has Azura always been mute?" I ask suddenly, cutting through uncomfortably tension with a question I've been desperate to ask someone not so closely attached to that strange family.

"Hunter..." Kaan warns lowly.

"No, she used to speak, until she was around five," Elaine sighs, shrugging. She is much less bothered by my line of questioning. "Then all of a sudden, she couldn't talk."

"What caused it?"

"I was told she got sick, and whatever it was rendered her mute." She looks off through the window, the cream curtains billowing lazily in the breeze.

Frowning, I look toward Kaan, who has decided the ring on his index finger is far more interesting than me. If I remember correctly, Tay told me Azura was born with her condition. Hearing Elaine say she developed it from a sickness is surprising.

"It's sad, to think she has no way of communicating," I murmur.

Elaine nods. "It is, isn't it. She understands us so well, and yet when I encourage her to write down what she thinks, or perhaps paint me a picture, she won't."

"She is illiterate, she cannot read or write," Kaan cuts in sharply.

"I hope she doesn't have to spend the rest of her life in the castle. She deserves a normal life." I say it to both of them, because I want Kaan to feel the same way I do about this...

I know he loves his sister. He's made it clear he cares about her, I just don't know why he isn't taking any action on this? It's not fair that Azura has to spend her life up those stairs, being too afraid to venture out unless her parents are out.

"Once you are Luna, perhaps you can help her with that," Elaine reminds me.

I shudder at the thought. I've never considered actually being Luna, although by being the current Alpha's mate, it occurs by default.

Kaan made it very clear, however, that his grandmother is not to know that we are mates. I think by him admitting it, he's making it real for himself.

"I plan on doing something about it. Don't worry," I assure her.

"Isn't that wonderful, Kaan? To have found someone who cares about your sister as you do," Elaine prompts, her smile never-ending.

Kaan's smile is cold. "It's great."

"Kaan and Azura have always been close. I swear they can communicate just by looking at each other," she says before blowing a waft of steam off the surface of her tea.

"Don't we think we should leave for our walk, grandmother?" Kaan asks through gritted teeth.

I narrow my eyes on him, knowing he's keeping something close to his chest. If he expects me to stick around and be his doting wife, he's going to have to be more honest with me.

"Probably. Sorry, I go off on tangents," she fusses, getting up.

She heads to the door to slip her shoes on. Before Kaan can join her, I grab his arm, pulling his attention back to me.

"What are you hiding?" I whisper.

His eyes look over me. "About as much as you are."

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~Midika 💜🐼