Chapter 4 A Discreet Message

Nora quickly opened the content in the envelope, immediately Tara left the room, only to be left in shock as she read the content of the letter. “Good day, Daphne… Nora, your foster sister, and Your husband’s fated mate, is dead. It all went according to our plan, and now that she is dead, your husband will have no choice but to mark you. Come to the funeral with your husband so that we can discuss further” her heart skipped a beat with the content of the letter. Nora had thought that her death was an accident, caused by a drunken driver, only to find out that it had been orchestrated by none other than those she called family. And to think their father was involved in this broke her heart the more. Her mind continued to reel with a lot of questions. “How did they know that… that I was Derek’s Fated mate when I didn’t know myself? Did Derek know?” The more she thought about it, the more questions she had. Just then Derek, who had just been informed of Nora’s death, burst into the room, his expression downcast, he didn’t even notice how Nora had quickly hidden the envelope behind her. “What’s wrong?” Nora asked, trying to mask her inner turmoil. “Nora is dead, that’s what’s wrong… I know you might not remember who Nora is, or how much you hated her, but she is your foster sister, and was raised by your father,” he paused to see Daphne’s reaction, but she had a stoic face on. “I just received a phone call from your father. We have been invited to her funeral,” he added. Nora was not surprised with the news of her death. She was only surprised that she was the fated mate of the Alpha and nobody ever hinted her. her heart pounded in her chest, she didn’t know how to go to the Pack, to face the people behind her death, filled with rage, her eyes flamed with fury, which Derek mistook for Daphne’s hatred for Nora. “So, you still hate her, even when you don’t remember who she was?” But instead of responding to Derek, she hissed loudly, she couldn’t say anything that would reveal her true identity. Nora was not ready to face Lord Damon’s family, not after what she had just read in the letter. “I am not going to any funeral,” her tone unwavering, and her eyes flashing with stubbornness. Derek’s expression turned bewildered, He had expected Daphne to be upset but this reaction was out of place for someone who claims to have lost her memory, Derek couldn’t help but wonder if truly she had lost her memory. “Daphne, we have to go to this funeral, to show our last respect. It's the least we can do for her as my fated mate.” “Your fated mate? I thought you said she was just my foster sister, why didn’t you say she was your fated mate earlier?” Nora’s eyes narrowed. “Are we even arguing about this? It was you who told me that she was wolfless, and that she won’t be able to perform her duty as a Luna. What then is the use of a wolfless luna? who knows if she’d even be able to give me pups?” With emotions etched on his face he explained. “You left her because she was wolfless? Was it her fault that she couldn’t shift?” Nora’s voice dripped with venom, “and now that she is dead you want to show your respect to her corpse, how hypocritical of you,” she shook her head. Confused by Daphne’s sudden defense of Nora, Derek’s expression turned stern. “I am not asking you. I am ordering you to prepare for the funeral, we leave tomorrow morning by 10a.m.” His words hung in the hair like a challenge, and Nora knew better than to disobey the King’s order. ***** ***** ***** As they arrived at the funeral ceremony, Lord Damon gave them a warm welcome, and ordered that Marock and Mira take them to the reserved seats for royals. Nora, who was uncomfortable with having to be around her killers, maintained a calm demeanor, knowing fully well that she couldn’t afford to arouse suspicion. Lord Damon stepped to the podium to deliver his eulogy, “I know it is not news, that I found Nora at the brink of the river, abandoned and alone,” he began, his voice filled with emotions. “The moment I held her in my arms, I felt a connection with her, a connection that was made possible only by the moon goddess. It was then that I realized that she was a daughter sent to me by the moon goddess.” He paused, trying to compose himself. “Her death has left a void in me. But even in death she’ll always be remembered.” Just as Lord Damon was about to conclude the eulogy, a commotion erupted from the entrance shattering the silence in the hall. Everyone’s gaze at the occasion shifted to the direction in which the commotion had come from. King Derek, Marock, and Lord Damon walked hurriedly to the scene, only to find an unkempt woman wailing uncontrollably, and insisting on getting to the podium, that she has something to say about Nora’s death, but Lord Damon shut her up, and asked his security men to throw her out, on the streets. “I think you should let us hear her out,” Derek said politely to Lord Damon, as anticipation tingled up his spine. “What could a mad woman want to possibly say? I don't think this woman,” he paused, and pointed at the woman in disgust, “has anything to say,” Marock scoffed. But as a sign of respect to the King, Lord Damon told his guards to let go of her, and told Marock to lead her to the stage. Derek hurried back to his seat, and told Daphne (who had patiently been waiting to get hints about what had happened where he went) that the woman had something to say, and they didn't want her to. There was a tug in Nora's heart, an overwhelming sense of unease at the sight of the woman. She didn't know who she was, but she was sure that whatever the woman had to say was going to do nothing but endanger her life. But on a second thought, could it be possible that the woman had witnessed the accident on the fateful night? The atmosphere was filled with tension, thickened by the weight of anticipation and uncertainty. No one knew where the strange woman had come from, nor what she was about to say. To Nora, her presence hung like a specter threatening to unravel the threads of deception. “You're sure no one saw you when you hit her with the vehicle, right?” Lord Damon asked Marock in a low tone, laced with anxiety. “I'm very sure,” he whispered back. The woman wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and proceeded to speak. Her eyes scanned the unfamiliar faces, and dread settled at the pit of her stomach, with the tense look on Marock and Lord Damon’s faces. But she already knew what she was about to say could lead to her death, and she came anyway. She summoned courage, and told herself this was not the time to turn back. As she began to speak, her voice trembled, but her determination was evident. “Nora's death was not an accident, like everyone had thought, she was murdered.” Gasps and whispers erupted from the crowd, with shocked murmurs of “Murder?” and “by whom?” echoing through the crowd.