Sins Among Royals
Chapter 12

Pulling up to the stately manor was more than a little intimidating for Indie. The closer they got the more prominent it became and soon it dominated the landscape as she stared out through the window next to her. Indie couldn’t help but feel dwarfed by the structure, Noah and his family and Alpha’s had a penchant for the large and grand.

Climbing out of the vehicle she refused the hand that had been offered to her, not out of rudeness but cluelessness. She was far too taken by Ebony’s home to notice anything around her.

Her eyes were red and heavy from crying, she was dizzy and her body ached from being cooped up in a vehicle for so long so when she was finally able to stretch her limbs it required all of her focus to stay on her feet and not topple over.

Dragging her feet up to the front door she tried her hardest to suck down her anguish. She at least wanted to make a decent impression on Ebony. She wanted another friend in the strange world she was about to enter.

A brief excitement settled on her when she realised that Poppy would be joining her but it didn’t last long when Poppy was given more time to farewell her family. Life wasn’t fair!

Looking up towards the front door Indie spied a woman who resembled Noah in many ways. She stood with a severe look on her face as she spied her little brother and new sister in law walking towards them. Before long a man stepped from behind the woman Indie assumed was Ebony, he looked even more severe than Ebony and stood alongside her with his hands clasped at his front.

Noah held his hand out for Indie to take which she did so reluctantly. Helping her climb the stairs Indie stole a glance in his direction and saw that he was relaxed and seemed almost happy.

Many questions circled through her mind as she wondered just what he had to be happy about.

Landing on the top step Indie came face to face with her in lowland swallowed harshly. She was more than nervous.

An awkward silence danced between the four of them as Ebony and her husband looked at Indie from head to toe and back again. The judgement she saw in their eyes was enough to make her want to run and hide under the truck they’d pulled up in.

With a courteous bow from all four that seemed to break the tension in all but Indie.

With a rapid blink of her eyes smiles and warmth replaced the cold severe looks.

“Noah!” Ebony opened her arms for him to step into and he did so without hesitation. “You need to visit more often. Timothy and Ryan are forgetting what you look like.”

Noah gave his sister a quick hug before holding his hand out for his brother in law, “I would but father has much work for me to do, maybe if you moved a little closer.....” He hinted obviously.

“You know that is why I have chosen to live so far away brother.” His sister responded with a the warmth and grace she could muster. “Father asks too much and oversteps the boundaries,” It seemed Indie had it all wrong. Ebony seemed rather delightful. “Now stop being rude and introduce me to this beautiful woman who I assume is your mate?”

“Apologies sister,” he bowed before stepping back and taking hold of Indies hand. “I would like to introduce Indie Jones, my mate and future wife.” He smiled broadly at his sister which caused a sense of jealousy to swirl in Indie, why couldn’t he smile at her like that?

“Indie,” repeated a rather surprised looking Ebony. “Is that short for something?”

Shaking her head gently Indie mustered the warmest smile she could. “No,” was the only word that leapt from her lips. Seeing a somewhat astonished look flutter across Ebony’s features she elaborated further. “When I was born my mother was obsessed with Indiana Jones. She thought it would be meaningful to name her first child after him.” Sighed Indie with silent despair. It was rather embarrassing having to explain her name to anyone. “Turns out it’s just an embarrassment.” She didn’t need a mirror to know she was profusely.

“Oh,” smiled Ebony again. “So your name is Indiana but you prefer Indie?” She questioned curiously.

Indies embarrassment intensified immediately as she dropped her head and sighed, “no.....it’s Indie, just Indie.” At her silence she hoped to move on and it seemed her silent prayers would be answered.

“Either way it is a beautiful name for a beautiful young lady. My brother is very fortunate to have found someone such as yourself.” Ebony reached out and touched Indies shoulder and when she looked up and their eyes met she saw the genuine sentiment in her words. “Come, you must be tired from your travels.”

Indie didn’t bother protesting as she was pulled through the doors of the lavish home quickly. The group quickly walked passed what looked like a formal reception room and into a formal dining area that forced a realisation on Indie. She would forever be stuck in this kind of life.

A life of forced interactions and false niceties. A life where she had to pretend to like or at least be civil with everyone she met. A life completely unlike any she had experienced before.

In that one single moment a little bit of her died.

How could she remain herself and still do what needed to be done? How could she remain her outspoken self and not insult or anger Noah? Though she was good at hiding her stress it was difficult to keep under wraps.

“Here we are,” smiled Ebony as she motioned towards a small table filled with baked goods and pots of different teas.

“I feel completely under dressed,” blushed Indie as she glanced towards Noah with an annoyed look on her face.

“Not to worry dearest. Noah had the sense to phone ahead and request a less formal setting,” Ebony tried to comfort her guest but saw just how uncomfortable and awkward she was.

Indie looked down at her sweatpants and t-shirt, “I’d hate to see what formal is in this family.” With a snort of laughter she saw Noah cracking a smile and Ebony turn a little more serious. Shrinking in her seat Indie smiled up the butler who had entered the room behind them. Adding pastries and cakes to her plate Indie picked at everything offered but found herself rather short of an appetite.

She fell into a deep silence as Ebony, Noah and Ebony’s husband talked and laughed and caught up on the past.

A pang of jealousy and a bolt of hurt hit her very soul like a hot knife melting butter. She had lost all this with her family and now had to endure watching it awkwardly with Noah and his family.

Feeling the sorrow well up within her she felt a thick lump form in her throat so quickly it terrified her.

“Indie dearest is anything the matter,” Ebony enquired breaking her conversation with the boys.

Forcing her chair back Indie stood quickly as the tears began rolling down her cheeks, “I’m sorry I just need to step outside for a minute.” Turning from the table she walked back towards the front door and pulled it open forcefully. Stepping out onto the patio she dropped quickly to take a seat on the steps.

Sucking in a huge, deep breath a sob racked her body completely as she let her tears fall. Pulling her knees up she rested her forehead against them in an attempt to conceal her face. How could anyone expect her to be happy when they all had what she did not. Family.

She heard feet scraping softly against the rough hewn marble atop which she sat. He stood watching for a while before taking the seat next to her. A heavy sigh left his lips as he struggled with words to say.

Noah desperately wanted to comfort her but he didn’t know how. He saw the change in her posture as she sat quietly at the table. He rather admired how long she held out for before cracking. Despite her outburst in the car he didn’t mind.

“Are you alright?” He questioned gently, he wasn’t too sure what to say but he did know that he didn’t want to make things worse. The last thing he wanted was a mate that resented everything about him.

Indie sniffed and got a big whiff of Noah. To her surprise she felt the genuine sorrow in his words. Why was he so sorrowful? Indie wanted to tear his head off and shove it somewhere nasty, she wanted to let a massive tirade of words loose on him and suffer the consequences later but as she turned her head towards him and rested it against her knees.

He looked really sorry.

“I’ll be fine,” she admitted with a sigh. “I just needed some air.” It was then that she looked up and out over the landscape beyond Ebony’s home. Her breath caught slightly in her throat as the hill they wound up dropped off to a broad, flat valley. All around were tall pines, the hill they were on climbed so high that the tops of the tall trees were no obstruction to the stunning view.

The dark green of the forest was alive with the songs of various birds. Indie wasn’t one for forests and nature but she couldn’t deny the beauty before her. “It’s really beautiful here,” she sighed suddenly content.

“It sure is,” smiled Noah warmly. Indie though was much too taken with what lay before her that she missed the adoring look Noah cast on her.