Chapter 13: Deva's Parents

DEVA LOREN/ LANA ALVAREZ

My fingers subconsciously remained on my lips after leaving Aaron and Sophie alone. I kissed him.

Why did I give in to it?

It almost seemed that part of me never stopped being attracted to Aaron.

The same man who left me to rot away like a dirty little secret. Would he have kissed me so passionately if he knew I was Lana? I doubted it.

I walked with my servants until I reached the third wing of the royal home, the servants' quarters. To think I used to live there before I died.

"Deva!" I turned under my umbrella as I looked ahead into the sunny environment to find Aaron calling me.

How do you always find me when it's convenient for you? I wanted to ask, but it would only confuse him. Shall I toy with his head a little?

I kept my expression in a scowl. If he thinks what he did earlier will make up for my dignity, he's sorely mistaken.

"Alpha Aaron," I lowered my head a little in respect. If I were a worker or commoner, I would've lowered my upper half fully just the way my maids did.

"Can you excuse us?" He told my maids. "Hand that to me." He pointed to the umbrella.

What's he playing at now?

They obeyed without question before leaving. Anna would've made sure I was comfortable before leaving. I missed her dearly even after knowing her for such a short period.

"Thank you," I said to the girls before they left.

"I see you're getting familiar with everywhere," he told me.

"I am," I kept walking forward as he held my umbrella. "What do you want from me, Aaron?" I asked him, not wanting to waste both our time.

"I figured you'd definitely still be upset," he added. "Once again, I did not mean to not make it to your chambers last night."

"Yes, definitely. You did not mean to go stay with the Luna when you were brought in as a new bride whose dignity must be preserved on the first night, and also definitely did not mean to just show up at her arrival without notice. How believable," I awkwardly laughed, unable to hide my sarcasm.

"Some of our men died going to war with another pack. I was in the Blueridge pack to fight along with my men, and for the wedding night, Sophie said she wanted to tell me something super important. I was prepared, all I had to do was hear what she had to say, and then I was to spend the night in your chambers. I don't exactly remember how I slept off."

"Did you drink anything?"

"She didn't drug me," he said, parrying my intuition before I had the chance to prove it to him. "I passed out from fatigue."

Sophie spiked his drink. If he truly meant to come back to me, Aaron has amazing stamina. A war and official work would never stop him from being active. I knew that when he'd help me with all my work as a young slave, he would spend the entire night studying as per his father's demands since he could not do it in the day.

"That adds up too," I briefly commented.

"You don't seem to like Sophie much, do you?"

I despise that woman,

And all I desire is her demise.

"Sophie is a great Luna. We got into some argument, but I know we'll bond great very soon."

"Really?" He sounded shocked.

"Really. I have made a few mistakes on my part and judged without reason, but if you say she's good, then I'll take your word for it." 

 Let him believe I’ve accepted her. It will only make the fall sweeter when he realizes he trusted the wrong woman.

"This was..."

"Easier than you thought?" I queried.

"Yes. That is how I feel. I'm happy you both are on the same page. I know we've been off to a rocky start, and it is my fault for not being there at your arrival to set a better ambiance for you both. Sophie is a great woman, and I know you are too. She's been a little lonely, she could use more people around her."

"I doubt Sophie could ever be lonely, Alpha Aaron. She has her trusty minions within the palace to keep her busy."

"There is more to what meets the eye, Deva," he replied. "Do you mind walking to parts of each palace wing together? This will make the people believe that we have a great relationship as husband and wife."

"I do not." Even here, servants would pause their movements and activities for a few moments, stealing glances at Aaron and me before taking their eyes away and talking to each other.

The more eager courtiers saw us together, the faster the news about us being together would spread, and to the public, I would be the woman who could threaten her place. I will make Sophie work only to reap nothing.

That is a part of my promise to her.

We moved closer and closer to my side of the quarters, and just when I thought we would get there...

"Do you mind exploring another side of the royal home? I have somewhere absolutely exciting to show you," my husband said.

What are you scared of facing?

Is my death not enough for you?

I looked at him, then looked ahead and found something missing. I wanted to ignore it, but it was a piece of our memories too large to leave unspoken. I never want him to forget me even if it hurts him, just the way he did to me.

"There used to be a cherry blossom tree here. Where's it?" I pointed to the empty space down the block of unpainted blocks.

"How did you know?" He turned pale. Just like I wanted. Let that guilt chew him whole

"I heard the servants talking about it," I lied. "I was just wondering why it was cut off."

"It was getting old, and the leaves were withering," he also hid the truth.

I was now more determined to find out what happened to him, to us.

Where did it all go wrong? Why did he abandon me like an easy way out?

"I see."

"Yes."

We moved out of the third wing of the royal home with my maids following behind, giving us enough distance to be separated from them.

We moved to the second wing with the gardens and statues of past rulers and occurrences that served as sightseeing.

Through the rose-covered entry that felt like a door to a magical realm, I found the last two people I needed to see.

"Deva!" Jade gleefully chirped as she came to embrace me, and Cain gave a short recognition of Aaron's and my presence.

He's usually not so humble after getting his way with things.

"My darling child." All her excitement made me sick.

"Mother." I faked a grin. "Father."

"Bless you two, your mother and I're going to pay a visit to you after we finish exploring this work of art," he gestured at the garden.

"We are delighted we could meet you both here," Aaron responded pleasantly.

There is nothing pleasant about meeting Deva's parents.