Chapter 7

ARABELLA

My body froze. I can feel my breathing slow down as Alpha Ronan's words slowly sink in.

“Of course I know you, Arabella," he said, clearing my confusion. "You were from the neighboring territory. A Luna of Blood Fang Pack. Wife of Adrian Voss,”

He rested his hands on his lower back and walked slowly around me. “I met him once. That man always talks about you. He says he was lucky to have a dependable Luna. I have wanted to meet the woman he was talking about but I never thought our meeting would be like this,” he stopped in front of me, a mocking smile curling on his lips. “You look helpless. What happened? Did he abandon you? Did he find someone more dependable than you?”

I felt my chest tighten upon hearing his question. He didn’t find someone more dependable. He just allows himself to be manipulated by his psychotic mate and that hurts even more. How he accused me of hurting his mate as if we didn’t grow up together. As if I didn’t do everything that would please him.

But whatever happened between me and Adrian was never meant to be shared by a stranger especially to this man who seems to be fond of finding my weakness.

I still held my head high, refusing to let his words intimidate me. “And how can I make sure that you are true to your words? How can I make sure that you will make me your Queen if I do what you want?” I asked, going back to the deal he proposed.

Alpha Ronan smiled and held out his hand which was holding his family crest. “This crest contains all the darkest secrets of my pack. Our weaknesses. The betrayal that we made. The crime that we committed. That stone has everything that you can use against us. If I fail to fulfill my promise then give this to the Palace Priestess and let the whole Kingdom know every dark secret that my pack hides,”

‘Don’t you dare accept his offer, Arabella! Accepting his deal means betraying, Lucien! Our mate!’ Aurora protested.

I fought the urge to scoff. That man won’t hesitate to say straight into our face that he will kill us and now you still want to protect him like a fool Aurora.

I never thought my wolf would be like this. She sounded like my conscience.

‘You will lose me if you make a deal with that man,’ she threatened.

You won’t do that to me Aurora.

‘Try me,’

My gaze lingered on the green stone that shone brightly under the light.

Bond won’t save us, Aurora. No man will save us. We have to save ourselves.

Despite my wolf’s defiance I took the necklace from Alpha Ronan. I felt my body shiver when the silver chain touched my collarbone.

Alpha Ronan stared at it with a smile tugging on his lips. “It suits you,”

It shouldn’t bother me that much. I just made a deal to save myself but why does it feel like I made a huge mistake? The decision I made weighs heavily on my chest like I committed a grave sin.

“You had been quiet,” Lucien broke the silence that filled the car. “Are you nervous?”

I looked at him. I shouldn’t feel guilty. He bluntly declared that he would kill me so why would I feel bad about betraying him? I am just doing everything I can to survive.

“Why would I be nervous? If the King discovers that we are lying I will die and if you succeed in your plan I will die too. There’s nothing for me to be scared about. I am bound to die anyway,” I sarcastically responded.

A smile curled on his lips, amusement written all over his face. “If you weren’t a rogue I would probably accept you as my mate. You will make a great Queen,”

“If I am not a rogue I would never accept you as my mate. You’re not my type, Alpha Lucien,”

“You’re talking as if you didn’t offer to be my sex mate. In case you forgot I made you moan just by using my finger—“

I covered my ear but I can still hear his laughter. I take back everything that I said about him. He wasn’t attractive at all. He was full of himself.

Instead of draining my energy talking to that asshole I chose to close my eyes and let my mind shut down and drift to sleep. For a while, I want to forget everything. I want to treat everything that I went through as a distant memory. I just want to escape for a while.

I have no idea how long I had been sleeping but I woke up inside the car all alone with the windows freaking open!

My gaze wandered through the surroundings. It was already dark but there was a well-lit mansion in the distance. It was far bigger than Alpha Ronan’s mansion and much more modern.

I don’t know who owns that mansion but it reeks of Lucien’s scent. He was probably inside.

Having no place to go I found myself following Lucien’s scent.

I stumbled a few times as my heels dug into the pebbled pathway. Out of irritation I took my shoes off and walked barefoot, enduring the sharp edges of the stone that cut my feet.

I feel like I did a full workout by just walking on that pathway.

Why did they even park the car near the gate when they could have parked a meter away from the mansion’s front door?! And why didn’t that asshole even bother waking me up?!

“See what kind of mate he is, Aurora? You really want me to entrust our lives to a man like him? He didn’t even bother waking us up and you expect him to spare our lives?”

Silence.

“Aurora,”

She didn’t respond.

“Aurora,”

No response again.

“Aurora,” I pleaded. I can feel my eyes burn as my tears started to form but Aurelia wasn’t responding.

I can’t feel her.