Chapter 13

ARABELLA

He smirked. Five seconds of silence passed before he nodded. “Yeah. I would kill you, Arabella,”

Those words feel like a sharp dagger piercing through my chest but I smile through the pain, acting like his words didn’t create a hole.

I didn’t say a word, I simply looked at him but he cut the stare and cleared his throat. “Let’s head inside. They must be waiting,”

I didn’t respond. I just quietly followed him. The Royal Guards bowed at the sight of Lucien. None dared to block his path. He navigated the hallway like he owned everything his foot landed.

At the end of the hall, another massive wooden door, intricately carved with vines, swung open to reveal a grand hall likely used for balls. In its center stood a gigantic staircase with gleaming gold railings.

Adrian wasn’t exaggerating. This palace really seems unreal.

I kept on following Lucien while my eyes feasted on the intricate design of the hall.

“Did you grow up in the palace?” I asked, my voice mixed with the sound of our clacking heels.

“No,” he shortly responded, without even throwing a glance.

“The King allowed you not to live with him?”

I thought he wouldn’t respond but he did.

“My life would be in danger if I lived with him. He kept me hidden until I met Jaxon,”

“Jaxon? Your wolf?”

He nodded.

“When did you meet him?”

I know any minute I would piss him off with my questions but now that he has the patience to answer me then might as well take advantage of it.

“Three years ago. During Blood Moon,”

Oh. So it took him a long time too. I just met Aurora a few days ago and now I can’t feel her again.

“Was the Alpha King there when you met Jaxon?”

He shook his head. “No,”

“How about your mother?”

His steps halted. I instinctively paused too.

My brows shot up when he turned. Shiver ran down my spine when his cold and piercing gaze bore into me.

Lucien was three steps ahead so when he took one step down my hand immediately reached for the railing and held it tightly.

“W-What?” I innocently asked, my voice trembling a bit.

What did I do again? I just want to know him more.

“Don’t ask about my mother again,” he firmly warned.

His already sharp jaw became even more defined. The light from the massive chandelier above cast shadows across his face, making his features appear even darker.

“I just want to know if your mother witnessed your first shift, because mine didn’t,” I reasoned.

He took another step, looming over me. He didn’t bend down, so I had to tilt my head just to meet his gaze.”

In this moment the smart thing I should have done was to look away and run as fast as I can but there was some kind of magnet that pulled me close to him. I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t leave.

“Don’t ask about my mother again, do you understand?”

I should just nod and follow what he wanted, that’s the key to my survival but the way he reacts scratches something in my brain.

Why does he react this way? Did he lose his mother? Did something happen to her? And why does he look at me like I was responsible for it? I didn’t even do anything. I didn’t even meet his mother. I was even unaware of what she looked like.

“Why?” I foolishly asked.

I really love pushing myself on the cliff of death. With just one push I know I will roll down these stairs and meet Moon Goddess…but I couldn’t suppress my curiosity.

I want to know why he acts this way. I want to know why despite the rage that burns in his eyes, a pain was seeping through.

He was about to take another step, like he planned to push me off the step I was standing on but before his feet could land a baritone voice echoed from above.

“Lucien, is that you?”

I glanced over Lucien’s shoulder and my gaze went straight to the old man who looked like an older version of him.

The corner of his eyes wrinkled when he smiled. The streaks of white hair mixed with the black define his age more. Beside him stood Alpha Magnus, the man Lucien told me to avoid.

“And who is this lady that you brought?” he asked.

Despite his age, I couldn't deny the authority that he carries. He was smiling but I know beneath that smile is a ruthless ruler feared by every werewolf. And here I am looking straight into his eyes!

When realization sank in, I bowed my head and even planned to kneel but Lucien caught my waist and kept me in place.

He guided my steps. We were now walking side by side while he was holding my waist. He started acting like a gentleman again as if he didn’t plan to throw me off the stairs.

The moment we reached the second floor Lucien let go of my waist and faced his father. He attempted to bow but King Tobias pulled him into a hug.

“I missed you, son,” he said, breaking off the hug and pulling back just enough to see Lucien’s face. “What took you so long to visit this old man? Were you tired of my nagging to find a suitable wife?”

Lucien chuckled. “You don’t have to nag me anymore.” He turned to me, gently grabbing my waist and pulling me close. “I already found my wife.”

He stared at my face for a few seconds, his gaze soft and tender, as if he were looking at the woman he… love?

“This is Sienna Whitmore, Dad—daughter of Alpha Ronan from the Shadow Fang Pack.”

King Tobias looked at me. I can feel my lips trembling when I force myself to smile. I treated everything lightly but now that I am standing in front of the King, the weight of lies has started to suffocate me.

One wrong move and my throat will be cut open with his claws.

King Tobias glanced at my exposed neck before turning to his son. “You haven’t marked her,”

His smile slowly vanished as if not marking me was a grave mistake.

“Marked her tonight in front of the Royal Council, Lucien,”