Chapter 3

Lyra’s POV

I stared at the man before me, utterly speechless. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out as his eyes roamed up and down my frame. I had to admit, Alpha Orion was the most attractive man I had ever seen—with his chiseled jaw, impressive physique, and striking features. But I was too frightened to appreciate his looks in that moment; everything felt way too intense. I was scared.

“What the fuck will I use a mate for?” he snapped. His harsh tone made it clear he was not happy with the idea of a mate bond. But why would something so beautiful as a mate bond make him feel so disgusted? I couldn’t make sense of it at all.

I gulped nervously, seeing his growing impatience, which frightened me even more. “He is definitely not going to like the idea of a mate between us,” the man said, as I opened my mouth to ask a question, only to shut it again, lacking the courage to speak. What was going on? Who was this person he mentioned who wouldn’t like the idea of a mate bond?

“Beta Keto, you are here,” the rude woman said, appearing out of nowhere. Her face was filled with fear and respect as she walked towards the man, who remained relaxed, his eyes  focused on me. Beta? This was his Beta. The rude woman who called herself the woman of the house, whose name I later discovered was Ruth, glanced around as if searching for something and asked, “Where is the Alpha now?”

“He couldn’t make it today; he had some important matters to deal with,” the man replied, rising to his feet and adjusting his suit. “The princess will be coming with me. The Alpha will meet her at home” With that, he stood up and walked out of the house, while Ruth turned to me and said, “What’s going on here? How can you be the Beta's mate? You have met him before, and you weren’t his mate. How did this happen?” 

I had no answer for what was happening. I opened my mouth to say, “I really don’t remember anything,” but it was a lie. How could I explain that I was a lonely soul trapped in the princess’s body? It is not going to make any sense because it doesn't even make sense to me at that moment.

“Oh, shut up,” Ruth snapped, cutting me off. “One more word from you and I will push you from a balcony this time.” She glanced around frantically to ensure no one was listening. “Don’t forget our plan. Seduce the Alpha if you need to. We need him on our side and you have to break that stupid bond with the Beta. Our plans can’t fail.” I was at a loss for words as she pushed me forward, urging me to move.

I glanced back to meet her cold, icy stare before taking a deep breath and walking out of the house. A sleek black car waited for me just outside. I entered the car, where the Beta was already seated in the back seat. I took a seat close to him, trying to steady my nerves.

He didn’t say a word, preferring silence, and I couldn’t think of any meaningful words either. My entire world had taken a sudden turn. What business did I have with the Alpha, and why did it seem necessary to seduce him to achieve my goals? As for the Beta, how was I supposed to break the mate bond? It seemed strange, but I already felt so drawn to him that breaking the bond might be difficult. 

“If you know what is  best, don’t tell the Alpha about this. I will find a solution to this nonsense soon,” he said dismissively. I merely stared at him, unable to find the courage to respond.

We soon arrived at a grand mansion, with the Beta remaining silent throughout the drive and making no effort to address the mate bond any further,  which was confusing. “This way, ma’am,” a maid said politely, her expression cold as she added, “Come with me.” By then, the Beta had already disappeared, but I didn’t think about it. I had more pressing matters at hand—namely, meeting Alpha Orion and understanding this situation with him.

“He is working out in the gym right now, but he wouldn’t mind talking to you,” the maid said as we arrived in front of a door.

Is working out the important matters he had to deal with that stopped him from coming. 

It was a private gym in the Alpha's mansion as the maid slowly pushed the door open. The space wasn't large, but it was well-equipped, with various pieces of exercise equipment arranged neatly. From the corner of the room, I spotted a figure drinking water from a glass. He seemed to notice me as he finished his drink, setting the cup down and fixing his stare on me. 

He walked toward me, his eyes locked on mine, and stopped right in front of me, his tall frame towering over mine. Standing at exactly 6'4", he was even more good looking than the Beta. His dark hair, damp with sweat from his workout, clung to his face, giving him a rugged, and very manly look. He wore a fitted sleeveless gym shirt that brought out  his impressive biceps and a pair of athletic joggers that highlighted his powerful physique. I gulped, unable to tear my eyes away from him, he was so hot. At that moment, something occurred to me.

Just like before, I felt an attraction I couldn't explain, and it seemed he felt it too, as his expression shifted for a moment before quickly returning to normal. My wolf stirred again, adding to my confusion as the Alpha and I locked eyes. Suddenly, Nara, my wolf  whispered, "Mate…"

"Mate?" I asked, shocked. How could this be possible? The Alpha and I were supposed to be mates?  but the Beta was already my mate. What was happening? How could I have two mates at the same time? What cruel game was the universe playing with me? Was my wolf perhaps mistaken?

“A mate?” The Alpha seemed taken aback, his deep voice sending shivers through me as he continued to stare. I felt small under his intense look, unable to look away as he asked, “How exactly are you my mate all of a sudden?” It felt like déjà vu, as the Beta had said something very similar.

I felt his hand under my chin, lifting my face slowly so we locked eyes. My heart raced as I struggled to find the right words. “What a shame you are my mate,” he said, his eyes boring into mine. “It seems I will have to punish you ten times harder than I intended for daring to be my mate.” His words shocked me, and my heart pounded furiously. His tone was so psychopathic that it sent shivers down my spine. What was he planning to do to me? Why would he punish me for something I can't control?

Suddenly, I heard a very familiar voice say, “They are ready, sir?” It shocked me to the core. No, it couldn’t be him—perhaps I was imagining things. Alpha Orion glanced at the person behind me before nodding and then looking back at me. His hands remained on my chin as he gently caressed my face with his thumb. The small gesture stirred something within me that I couldn’t quite describe at the moment.

“I guess I will have to play with you later,” he said, removing his hand from my face and walking away. I stood there, dumbfounded, struggling to process everything that had just happened. 

The familiar voice that had announced something to the Alpha spoke again, “What do you think you are doing, Raven?” no it can't be him. But the voice was too familiar. I turned to find Jacob standing there. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest as our eyes met. “Jacob?” I called out, stunned. This was my fiancé, the man who had left me just a day before our wedding. What on earth was he doing here?

“Shhh,” he said, placing a finger over his lips as he walked closer. “Here, my name is Kevin. Don’t use my real name.” He closed the distance between us while I stared at him, trying to make sense of the situation. What was he doing here? Why was he here now, especially after running away with my best friend a day before my wedding?

“We have a mission, Raven, and you need to stick to it,” he said, gently grabbing my hands. “You have to seduce the Alpha at all costs. Use your charms—you are pretty, so make the most of it.” He glanced around nervously, then leaned in to whisper, “Ruth told me about your mate's bond with the Beta. I don’t know how that’s possible since you are supposed to be mated to me,” he said. I didn’t feel any mate bond between us. We had been mates before, but he had broken the bond. Does that mean the original owner of this body was mated to him too just like me? What is going on here?

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Just make sure you break that mate bond so the Alpha doesn’t suspect anything.” He paused, looking around nervously, before leaning in to give me a kiss on the lips. What the hell? Did he just kiss me or should I say Princess Ravenna?  “Once this is all over and we have the money we need, we will pay Ruth off so she can leave you alone, go far away, and be together. Just do your part and seduce him more.” With that, he walked out of the gym room.

I stood there, dumbfounded, unable to process what was happening. The entire situation felt confusing. What connection does Princess Raven have with Jacob? What were they planning with Ruth and what is the need to pay her off so I can be free? Why do they need me to seduce the Alpha? So many questions but I had no answer to any of them. What the heck is going on?