Word Count: 1595

~Brielle

Ren and I didn't speak anymore until we reached our destination.

We reached the top of the hill, as it leveled off onto a beautiful landscaped area surrounded by a fence. Where we have ended up definitely looks like an event area, with a view at the far end, a significant manor in the middle and a formal lawn stretching out in front. We surely made the climb up the mountain for this.

Ren's driver takes us down a smooth driveway before we park in front of the manor. Peeking out the window, I investigate the decorations. Blooming white flowers and silk like banners hanging from many surfaces.

"Is this a wedding?" I question, turning back around to Ren. "You didn't take me to wedding, did you?"

Ren chuckles.

Weddings aren't all that common. Only the wealthy partake in them to show off their bond with their mate in a lavish ceremony. I've never been to one. My parents never married either, and I never assumed I would have one, or even attend one.

"Calm down darling, it's not like it's our wedding," Ren teases, to which I roll my eyes. He jumps out of the car and circles it to open the door for me.

Instead of going into the manor, Ren leads me around the building, where a wedding party is going on. People all dressed beautifully wander around, talking and laughing between each other while they sip wine from their tall stemmed glasses. The theme is lavender and white, which makes sense considering the dress Ren supplied me with.

"Who is this for?" I ask, as we merge into the group.

As we walk past, slightly tipsy women nudge at Ren, make comments about his appearance while most stare from a distance. I'm not surprised, considering Ren is an Alpha and also rather attractive. However, he doesn't seem to take much notice.

"Why don't you come and meet her," Ren prompts, leading me to who looks like the bride standing with her back to us.

When she turns around, I'm shocked at her appearance. She is stunningly beautiful - so much so I almost feel foolish being this close to her. She is adorned in a fitted lace dress, but I'm more fascinated by her features. Her eyes are the same emerald green as Ren's left eye, her hair long, wavy and a light brown.

"You made it," she says excitedly, engulfing Ren in a hug. "I missed you so much."

"Congratulations, you look lovely. I apologise for showing up late, we had a few delays," Ren explains, standing back to admire her dress.

I look between them, trying to figure out what is going on between these two. Whoever this girl is, I can't see her husband anywhere. She looks blushingly happy though; even more so now that Ren has appeared. They look related. There is no way she has those eyes and isn't related to him.

"I'm just happy you made it," she assures him before he gaze casts to me. "Is this your date?"

"This is Brielle. Brielle, this is my sister, Annie," Ren introduced.

She holds out a hand adorned with a giant crystal ring. I shake it gently, smiling tightly. I'm not sure why Ren has brought me here to his sister's wedding. Especially now that she is assuming it's a date between us. Is it?

"Lovely to meet you," Annie says brightly, her smile so warm and accepting. It quells my nerves only slightly. "I'm glad my brother brought a date. I've never him take interest in anyone."

Ren rolls his eyes, nudging her. "Alright Annie."

Annie raises an eyebrow at her brother before she loops her arm through mine. It takes me aback but I don't pull away. Looking at Ren for help, he doesn't look bothered at all by this.

"Mind us, I'm going to take your date to get a drink," Annie tells Ren. he raises an eyebrow. "Don't worry, I'll return her."

Annie turns us around and walks us away from Ren. He doesn't follow, so I go along with it, not wanting to offend someone so close to Ren, who is my boss after all. She leads me toward a food and beverage table, which if I weren't so nervous, I would have taken half the food off that table.

"I'm sorry for coming uninvited. I didn't know this was where Ren was taking me," I tell her quickly, hoping she doesn't think I'm rude for just showing up here unannounced. I can't break it to her that Ren isn't my date.

"Oh don't worry about that, I'm glad you came," Annie tells me me with a rather devious smile. "I have so much to tell you."

I can't smile too. "I have so much to ask. I didn't know Ren had a sister."

"Our parents haven't been the best to us, and I decided I didn't want to be affiliated with an Alpha/Luna lifestyle," she admits as we come to the table. She grabs me a drink, handing it to me. By the bitter smell, it's clearly wine.

"What happened to your parents?" I question. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Despite being the Alpha and Luna of the Loyalty Pack, they were not loyal at all. They abandoned us after...After they discovered something about Ren that they didn't like. They didn't even try help," she tells me. For a fleeting moment, sadness consumes her eyes, but she blinks it away and covers up with a smile.

"Like what?"

"All I'm going to say is that Ren is the kindest man you'll ever meet. He treasures those who he loves no matter what," she explains, taking a sip of her drink. I do so too, trying not to cringe at the taste. "However, that doesn't mean other forces don't exist that make his life a lot harder."

"Can you tell me anything?" I ask.

Ren may have told me he is going to be honest with me tonight, but if I could get some more out of this due to his sister, that would be great.

"All I can say is that you should...watch yourself. I can see he trusts you. He wouldn't bring you here otherwise. If you have any concerns, just ask him yourself," she tells me. I can tell she wanted to tell me more, however, with one glance over her shoulder, she notices Ren approaching us. He didn't give us much time.

Coming to stand beside us, Ren plucks the glass of wine from my fingers. "As much as I'm happy you two are bonding, I don't think Bri should be drinking anymore of this."

"The fun killer, as always," Annie says with an eye roll and a slight smile. "Nice to meet you, Brielle."

She depares with one last wink in my direction.

"What did you two talk about?" Ren asks, obviously curious about our secret discussion. I shrug my shoulders, picking up another wine glass off the table. Not that I liked the taste in particular, but because I'm liking the way it is making me feel.

"You," I tease, taking another sip. Ren shakes his head at me in amusement.

The rest of the wedding party went by quickly. As dusk started to fall, Ren lead me back to the car, suggesting we were to be staying in accommodation that was also at the top of the hill. Luckily, when we arrived, it became apparent we would be sleeping in different rooms. It's a small mercy.

"I know it's late, but I thought we could talk before we go off to bed," Ren tells me once we arrive, waiting in a common area by the fire for our rooms to be prepared. I'm eager to speak to him as well about everything. Especially after what Annie said. As his sister, she should know him better than anyone.

I nod, leaning back into the couch we both share. "Right. I would like that."

"I'm sorry everything has been so strange around here recently. A lot has changed once you arrived and I'm not so sure why," Ren tells me, raking a hand back through his hair.

I watch his every movement. The way the firelight flickers across his features, casting sinister shadows across his face. I'm waiting for him to transform into Chase, or something like that. That is, if he is even Chase. I'm hoping tonight he is going to tell me the truth.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I haven't dealt with this problem so much until now. He hasn't been so prevalent until you arrived. He's out every night now, and I think he's trying to figure you out." Ren tells me, his admission making nearly no sense to me.

"What are you talking about?" I question. "Is this about Chase?"

"Chase is me, and I am him. He's going to come out again tonight, I can feel it," Ren tells me. He seems to be becoming frantic, as if it were about to happen right now. I push myself to the end of the couch.

No matter how many question I have for him about his, I know I might not have long talking to Ren. There is one thing on my mind I want to do.

"If Chase is coming, let me talk to him."

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I've also just posted the second novel in the Immortal series (in no way in correlation to book one which is Fate

It's Time!

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Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼