Shattered Hope

**************

CHAPTER 5

Right after Labina left, Aurelia took a deep breath. She had no clue what to do currently.

These men were determined and believed she was their sister. However, there was no recollection on her part about who she really was.

But if all Kieran said was true, it simply meant all her suffering was just…

Aurelia winced when she folded her legs and her mind raced back to that night as well as the pleasure and pain that coursed through her body. Seeming only like yesterday, it had already been two nights since that incident happened.

"Curse you for what you…" her words hung on her lips when Labina walked in with a deep bow.

"Princess Ali…" she cut her words, recalling Leo's stern warning after they exited the room previously.

The last triplet could sense his brother not wanting to overload Aurelia's memory which was why he asked for her name. As such, Leo made her not forget to call her by her given name.

But how could she forget, when he perfectly asked in his usual charming tone?

"Princess Aurelia." Aurelia's lips pulled back in a warm smile. "Please I have brought you breakfast but it is time to have your royal bath. I'll send for your maids."

She stopped talking, noticing the change in Aurelia's expression. Just looking at how hard it was taking her to adjust, Labina knew it would take a while for her to grow accustomed to things. Thus she changed her mind.

"I–I."

"Do not worry your pretty head. I'll be the only one assisting you then."

*********

By the time Kieran was done with what he was doing, he met up with his brothers where they ate and took his seat on the chair at the top of the relatively long table.

"Oh Kieran, welcome," Leo greeted. "Ivan and I were discussing what we would give to our sister as a gift."

"Yes. We should prepare her a breathtaking gift. However, rather than just that, Leo, Ivan, I need you two to look into something for me."

Their ears perked up and all their attention remained focused on Kieran. Being the firstborn, he was respected by his brothers although they were of the same age.

Whenever he voiced words like this, they knew it was overly important.

"The bruises on our sister," his jaw tightened as he recalled the sight he saw her in when Labina first informed them, "who dared to harm our sister and go scot-free?"

Leo's lips curled upward slightly, his smirk spilling into his eyes, adding more air of mystery around him.

"I thought you wanted to leave that matter for…"

"A time like this and not before our sister. I was equally pained."

Gazing at his brother's clenched fist, Ivan nodded before using two fingers to adjust his glasses. "Same. I want them to pay dearly for what they did to her.'

"Good. Investigate this matter quietly. I do not want more trauma for Aurelia."

"Huh, why investigate when we could just ask her?" Leo chimed.

"Because she doesn't need more pain," Ivan protested.

"She doesn't but who said asking would be painful?" Leo tsked, his mischievous smile growing by the second.

"What have you done?"

"Simple. I asked Labina to find out as much as she could through conversation with our sister. I trust Labina's ability to lead any conversation her way and get what she wants."

"Mm, way ahead of us," Kieran chimed.

"As usual. Only when it comes to Alia though," Ivan quipped.

"You can't blame me," Leo said with a shrug. "I doted on her as a kid. She was my favourite and my playmate."

"We know. Alright, I need to finalise the guest list for the celebrations. Carry on secretly brothers. Report here later."

Standing up from his seat, Kieran called out to a maid, instructing her on what to do with his meal before exiting the room.

"Look at him running off straight to work with his meal even on a day your sister woke up," Leo teased and flipped his hair. "It is why I was also her favourite."

"More like why she felt choked and always ran to disturb me. Sigh, siblings." A side smile formed on Ivan's lips as he too stood up, closing his book. "Have my meal brought to my chambers."

"And now they've all left me. Tsk." He narrowed his gaze at the maids waiting in attendance for them when suddenly a coy smile lit up his face and he stylishly dropped his cutlery.

'Who wants to feed me?' he questioned inwardly and just then two maids rushed up, picking his cutlery and handing it over to him. 'Bingo. I haven't lost my charm. I'll be using it on my sister.' Leo voiced inwardly.

***********

~Walter's Home~

Eretria walked about the living room, her gaze distant yet present. She was deep in thought, wondering about how to make the Lycan King choose her once more.

Ever since Ryland found out she was rejected, he had grown cold and distant towards her. Of course, Eretria was no fool. Even though he had not yet voiced it out, she could tell he was regretting not popping Aurelia’s cherry himself and giving her to some unknown man.

Not just that, it also meant their plans of her becoming the Luna to the Lycan King were ruined.

“Tsk, that bastard. He’d be begging and sugarcoating me had the Lycan King not refused to marry me.” Eretria heaved out a deep breath as her shoulders slouched.

Just then she heard a knock on the door. Snapping her head in the direction, the door pushed open and Lena walked in.

“Eretria.”

“Mum.” She swallowed and immediately bridged the gap between them. “What did the Alpha say?” her curious eyes blinked.

Lena’s eyes were evasive, trying to look elsewhere. She did not want to be the one to break the bad news to her daughter given that her hopes were already high.

“Mum, stop making me wait,” she urged, grabbing her mother’s right hand and placing it close to her chest. “Please.”

Having been Lena’s only child for years before Aurelia was found, Eritrea knew exactly how to act to draw in her mother’s favour.

Looking at those puppy eyes, Lena sighed in defeat and answered, “Your father has sought the Alpha’s help but given that our pack is particularly small and cannot match the might of the Lycan King’s kingdom, it would be terrible if we get on his bad side.”

Eretria lifted her brows in disbelief at her mother. “No. Wait, because he doesn’t want to risk annoying King Sloan, he is willing to throw this chance away and not help us?”

Lena darted her gaze around and immediately went to pull down the drapes before turning to her daughter and hushing her up.

“I won’t be quiet, mother. Or does he not know what he stands to gain if one of ours becomes a Luna to the King? Who better than his trusted advisor to bring that deal to his table?”

Lena’s wary eyes narrowed at her daughter. When she came close once more, she led them to the couch to sit. “He knows,” she began.

“Then?”

“Shhh… Angering the Lycan King isn’t what most people want to strive for. Gains aside, losing your pack because of one’s gain oftentimes isn’t worth it. You must look at the bigger picture.”

“Mum!” Eretria rose to her feet, her teary eyes fixated on her mother who, this time, was determined not to stare at her and fall for that face again.

“I am sorry, Eretria but this is final. Let it go.”

“I won’t!” she hollered, her veins popping at either side of her neck as she challenged her mother. What Eretria hadn’t expected though was the irritated look on her mother’s face when she turned to face her daughter.

“You won’t?”

“I-I…” Eretria stuttered for the first time. The icy gaze sent her way told her things were becoming serious.

“If I recall correctly, we gave you the offer prior but you refused.”

“That was before I knew it was the Lycan King.” Lena scoffed. Her daughter was being unreasonable. “Mum. I mean it. I thought he was an old man.”

“And you pushed Aurelia without stopping to think.”

“But…” her eyes moved about, searching for a quick way to escape this guilt-tripping situation. “But we did not know who he truly was. I mean that compared to marrying Ryland…”

“Ryland?” Lena raised her brows, waiting for her daughter to do her the honours of finishing her statement.

Seeing how she had flopped, Eretria knew there was no escaping this. Not when her mother got curious.

“Isn’t he dating Aurelia?”

“Was, mother,” Eretria corrected. “He said he loved me. He was going to break up with that wolfless spine… I mean Aurelia.”

Lena shook her head, It wasn’t any news to her that Eretria did not like their adopted daughter. Shaking her head, she waved it off with a sigh.

“So now you see why I rejected him.”

“And now? Aren’t you in love with Ryland?” It was one thing to use a lie to cover up your mess but when they do not correlate, one found themselves in a difficult position.

“I-huh… I have a duty to my pack. Marrying the Lycan King would yield so much for our family and the pack. Besides, Ryland and I are barely conversing. This is why I need your help mother.”

Lena looked occupied mentally for a minute but as soon as she blinked the sixth time, she shook her head.

“I’m sorry, Eretria but this time we cannot give you what you want. You had a chance and a choice. You tossed it away. Now, do what you said. Stick to Ryland now that Aurelia is dead and make the pack stronger.”

Her face was sullen. Still, she gave it one last try. “But father’s promise…” Lena lifted her palm, stopping her daughter from arguing.

“But…you were fine before you heard about your father’s promise. Forget all about the marriage. The Lycan King has made his choice. You should respect it for the sake of everyone. We’ve deceived him once. I do not hope for a repetition nor do I want to grovel before a youngster.”