Chapter 22: Not my mother

The news spread like wildfire in the village: Rieka, the wolfless girl once shunned and ridiculed, was to marry Alpha Ileus, the strongest king of the land. It reached her parents and brother Riftan late one evening, carried by a traveling merchant who had overheard the chatter of servants at the royal mansion. Rieka's mother, Alvara, had been busy preparing supper when the merchant mentioned the name. She stopped cold, the knife falling from her grasp and landing on the floor with a clatter. "Rieka?" she whispered, whirling to the man. "Are you quite certain that's the name you heard?" The merchant nodded. "Yes, madam. The wolfless girl marrying Alpha Ileus. Quite the talk of the kingdom. Her husband, Balric, looked up from his seat by the hearth, his eyes wide with incredulity. "Our Rieka? Marrying the Alpha King?" "Impossible," Riftan muttered, slouching in a corner. His clothes were, as usual, dirty from a day spent skulking around the village. "Rieka's too stubborn to be anyone's Luna, let alone the Alpha's. But Alvara's face lit up with hope. "This is her opportunity to prove to the world that she is worth something," she said. "We must be there." Balric nodded. "We must attend. This is the beginning of a change in fortunes for our family." "But she doesn't want us," Riftan said, a resentment tingeing his voice. "I told you she refused to come home with me." "She's still our blood," Alvara snapped. "And if she's marrying the Alpha King, it means she's forgiven us." The next day, the family was off, traveling in a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Alvara pictured herself at the grand wedding, finally basking in the prestige of her daughter's union with royalty. She rehearsed her apologies and practiced her smiles, determined to mend the fractured relationship with Rieka. The royal mansion was a dazzling beauty, with its towers adorned with golden banners and flowers of every hue. Guests from across the kingdom had arrived, their luxurious carriages forming a glittering line outside the gates. Inside, servants bustled about, ensuring that every detail of the event was perfect. Rieka stood in her chambers, a vision in a gown of silver that glittered as bright as the stars themselves. Maids flitted around her, adjusting the folds of her dress and placing the final touches on her hair. Beside her stood Grandma Lily, the frail but kind-hearted woman who had taken Rieka in when she had no one. Are you sure about this, child?" Grandma Lily asked softly as her wrinkled hands rested on Rieka's shoulders. "I'm sure," Rieka said in a steady tone. "Today marks a new beginning. And I won't let anyone from my past ruin it." Lily smiled faintly, her eyes glistening with pride. "You've come so far, my dear. I'm honored to be here. 'You're not just here," Rieka said with a smile. 'You're the Mother of the Day. None of this would have been possible without you." There was a knock on the door, and Phillip, the baker who had been a steadfast friend to Rieka, entered with a tray of pastries. 'You look like a queen already," he said, placing the tray on a table. "Thank you, Phillip," Rieka said warmly. "And thank you for all. I have had a seat of honor prepared for you." Phillip bowed his head; he was visibly touched. "You're too kind, Rieka." --- Outside the mansion gates, Alvara, Balric, and Riftan, smartly dressed, walked toward the guards, who looked at them with hopeful smiles. "We're Rieka's family," Alvara proudly declared. "We've come for the wedding. The guards exchanged glances before one of them stepped forward. 'I'm sorry, ma'am, but Lady Rieka has given strict orders. No one is to enter without her explicit approval." 'What?" Alvara's face fell. 'But we're her parents!" The guard's expression remained neutral. 'Her orders were clear." 'This is ridiculous!" Balric thundered. 'We've traveled all this way!" Riftan frowned, a suspicion, which had just been ignited in the cottage incident, now deepened. "She doesn't want us here," he muttered under his breath. Tears welled in Alvara's eyes as she clutched at the guard's arm. "Please," she begged. "We're her family. We need to see her." But the guard shook his head. "I'm sorry, ma'am. At the sight of them, a few bystanders started to whisper to one another, glancing from the bedraggled family to the high gates. Alvara colored hot with shame, her optimism dissolving into self-reproach. As they turned away in defeat, Alvara's voice finally cracked. "I should have treated her better," she wept, tears streaming openly down her face. "If I hadn't been so cruel… If I'd shown her love instead of scorn, maybe she wouldn't have shut us out." Balric placed a hand on her shoulder, his face as somber. Riftan said nothing. His jaw was clenched, and anger brewed in the silence of his eyes. --- Music and festivity filled the interior of the mansion. Guests were taken aback by the magnificence of the arrangements, while musicians played spellbinding melodies. The elders, who had once disowned Rieka's presence, now hovered around her, beaming smiles on their faces and passing complimentary remarks upon her. "Lady Rieka," one said with a deep bow, "You've brought great honor to the kingdom." Another chimes in, "Your graciousness and beauty have never been matched. We're the luckier ones for having you as our Luna." Rieka smiled, her eyes cold as ice, since she could clearly see the intent of flattery on their suddenly changed behavior due to their interests. "Thank you," she replied, an underlying tinge of mockery within her voice. "Coming from all of you, your support really means much to me." As the elders struggled to say something, Phillip and Grandma Lily exchanged knowing looks. Of course, they would know most of all how Rieka felt about the people who had wronged her. Later that night, when the company was assembled in the great hall for the ceremony, Rieka stood next to Alpha Ileus, her hand resting on his arm. She overlooked the crowd, her heart swelling with satisfaction. These people who once looked down at her now bowed before her, their eyes wide with awe and respect. "You look radiant," Ileus whispered, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. "Thank you," she returned, and smiled, turning to him, her lips genuine. "And you are every inch the king that you are."