Chapter 11

ARABELLA

The wall between us became thicker. It’s not like we were a bit close before but right now the distance between us has become evident because it wasn’t just created by him…but by me as well.

“This is Alpha Magnus Hawthorne,” he said, showing a picture of a serious-looking man. “He is the head of the Royal Council, the King’s Beta,”

I nodded.

Alpha Magnus looks the same age as Alpha Ronan. He had black hair with streaks of white running through it. His eyes were sharp and he didn’t seem to be fond of smiling based on how serious he looked in his picture.

“He is observant. Nothing gets past his eyes so as much as possible avoid interacting with him or better hide before he can even see you,” Lucien added.

I nodded again.

“This is his daughter, Valeria,” he said, showing a picture of a woman with light brown hair and gentle blue eyes. “We practically grew up together. She was chosen by the Elders to be my mate,”

“Then why didn’t you agree?” I couldn’t help but ask.

Lucien glanced at me before bringing his gaze back to his phone. “Becoming the next Queen will put her life in danger. She will be surrounded by werewolves who were after her head. Gaining power means stepping closer to your death,”

“You…love her?”

He wouldn’t worry that much if he didn’t. I haven’t met this woman yet but I already know we won’t like each other.

“I don’t want her to get hurt,” Lucien spoke, and for the first time since we met, I saw his gaze turn gentle.

“And it feels better for you if it were me?”

Lucien turned to me, and the light in his eyes faded. “You may be my mate but you’re a rogue. You don’t hold any value,”

I shouldn’t get affected. He almost killed me last night. I should stop entertaining this useless bond that ties us but no matter how hard I try to ignore it, the pain still lingers. I still felt a pang of jealousy toward that woman.

I rolled my eyes and looked away hiding the tears that were threatening to fall.

He doesn’t hold any value to me either. In fact, I am itching to sever our bond. Once Aurora shows herself I will sever our bond. I will end whatever useless feelings I felt towards him.

The whole flight to Romania feels heavy. I pretended to be asleep just so I wouldn’t end up talking to him again. I hate every word that came out of his mouth. If I could just cut his tongue then I would do it in a heartbeat.

“Sienna,” a familiar voice called then it was followed by a tap on my cheeks. “Sienna we’re here,”

He tapped my cheeks again. I scratched my face completely irritated by what he did.

I am not Sienna. Whoever that Sienna is I will fucking kill her when I see her.

“Rouge!”

My body jolted when he shouted in my ear. I glared at him but he just equaled it. “I told you to get used to being called Sienna, didn’t I?”

Right. I am Sienna. I am pretending to be Sienna.

I rose from my seat and straightened the wrinkles of my pale green dress. The skirt reaches my ankle to cover the wound on my right leg.

“What’s your name again?” Lucien asked like I was a dumb kid who struggles with remembering things.

“Sienna Whitmore. Daughter of Alpha Ronan Whitmore of Shadow Fang Pack. I am allergic to nuts. I love the color green. I grew up without a mother. I am sickly and frail,”

I started coughing, the kind of cough that scratches my throat to showcase my acting skills.

“Sickly and frail not dying, stupid!” he said, smugly.

I gave my all for that cough and he didn’t even appreciate it.

I cleared my throat and bent my back a little.

“What are you doing?” he asked in his snobbish tone.

“Acting sickly and frail?” I innocently asked.

He drew a sharp breath. I am getting on his nerves again but I suppressed my smile. I don’t want to be strangled again.

“Stand straight and just shut your mouth. That’s all you have to do,”

I nodded. “Okay,”

I saw his eyes roll before he turned his back and marched out of the plane. I quickly followed him, not wanting to drain his patience.

When I set my foot outside my eyes were welcomed by a tall palace wall covered with vines and a huge wooden gate that was guarded by ten palace guards.

They bowed their head at us or should I say to Lucien.

“Alpha Lucien,” they spoke his name with utmost respect.

I already knew he belonged to the higher ranking. He will always be far above me but seeing him now standing in front of the palace made our gap even more evident.

They open the gate for him while I quietly tailed behind.

My eyes widened in shock when I saw what was hidden behind the gate. I never thought I would see this in person. Several towers, guest halls, armories, and training grounds rose from the stone, their rooftops piercing the sky.

Only a few werewolves have the privilege to enter the palace, which is why when Adrian received an invitation from the King, he didn’t hesitate to leave his pack behind.

“Lucien!” an excited call cut through the wind, making my head turn.

There I saw a beautiful woman running towards us. Her light brown hair dances with the wind along with the skirt of her pale pink dress.

She looks beautiful in the picture but seeing her in person is totally different. She wears a smile that could melt anyone’s heart…even mine.

No wonder Lucien was eager to protect her.

“I miss you, Lucien!” she threw herself on Lucien and I watched as Lucien spun her around.

They were both laughing while looking into each other's eyes…while I quietly watched them on the side.

I can taste the bitterness on my mouth but a smile still crept on my lips as everything turned clear.

Moon Goddess might have tied my wolf to Lucien but his heart already belonged to another woman.

He is in love with someone else, and the pain cuts even deeper than when Adrian chose Stephanie over me

When they broke off the hug, Valeria finally noticed my presence.

Her smile stayed but confusion was written all over her face.

Her gaze lingered for a few seconds before he glanced at Lucien.

“Who is she, Lucien?” she asked.

Lucien turned to me and I unconsciously shifted my weight.

He stared for a few seconds before turning to Valeria. “She’s my mate, Valeria. Sienna Whitmore,”

“Sienna Whitmore?” she repeated, like she recalled something.

Does she know Sienna? Well, that’s no longer my problem right? They picked that identity for me.

Valeria’s eyes squinted and looked at me from head to toe.

I glanced at Lucien who seemed to look uneasy too.

“Is that really you, Sienna?” she asked, eyeing me intently.

“Y-You know Sienna?” Lucien chimed in, his calm composure slowly wearing off.

Valeria looked at him and nodded. “We were best friends when we were kids. Her father used to bring her to the palace remember? You were busy with your training so we didn’t get time to play together. I never thought she would be your mate,”

Valeria looked at me again. She took a step forward, inching the distance between us. My feet were glued to the ground and I could feel my heart beating violently against my chest.

I looked at Lucien in panic when Valeria bent down and started sniffing my neck.

“You smell…” she thrilled and looked into my eyes, “different, Sienna,”