Chapter 6

Chapter 6

PIPER

I tried to sleep, but each time I closed my eyes, I saw them, tangled in each other's arms, I heard their breaths, the smacking of their lips, that lady's moan. I hated it, hated how it made me feel.

One question kept running through my mind.

‘Why?’

I am his betrothed, we are to be married in, like, a few weeks or something, so why is he hooking up with some warrior lady? Is this how he behaves? Or is she the only one?

There was a knock on the door, but I didn't bother to respond. I didn't want anyone flapping into my room, not even the maids who had been tasked to bring me lunch or dinner.

“Princess, it's me. Kaela.”

Kaela? I remembered telling her to leave because I was angry she kept such a cruel truth from me, but over the hours that passed, I thought about everything she did. She was only trying to protect me, but why does it matter, sooner or later, I ought to know that Sage has someone else, someone he loves. My chest burned at the thought.

I am his mate, but his love belongs to someone else? How then do I seduce him? Would he look at me the same way he looks at her?

That lady is prettier than I am, perhaps it's her stunning and built body, or is it her skills? She's everything expected from a Luna, while I am just a nobody in a princess's body.

“Princess.” Kaela's voice grew louder, cutting through my haze of thoughts.

Kaela knows who she is, she can tell me what is truly going on, who that lady truly is.

I got out of my bed and strode to the door, unlocking it. Kaela stood there, her fist in the air. She was about to knock again, I guess.

“Princess…”

“Come in and shut the door,” I said, and walked to the reading table by the window. The night sky was filled with numerous stars, the sight is soothing to the eyes, and might just prepare me for what I am about to learn.

Kaela joined me after locking my door. “I am so sorry, Prince…Faye.” She began, “I should have told you the truth, but I was scared you would not take it lightly. I am also in no position to speak about the Alpha's escapade, but I have been feeling guilty ever since you told me to leave.” Kaela let out a long sigh, her lips pressing into a thin line, as she lowered her gaze.

I let silence settle between us, before finally voicing out, “I want to know everything, and not one detail should be spared.”

Kaela nodded, a little brightness appearing on her face, “Sloane, that's the name of the lady you saw with the Alpha today. She was a warrior, a major in Alpha Sage's army, and she was respected and highly regarded. Three years after the incident, Sloane gave up her role as major to be Alpha Sage's urm…” Kaela paused as if her next choice of words were hard to pronounce.

“Lover?” I asked, filling in the gap.

“Yes.” She heaved a sigh and continued, “Sloane is the daughter of the late Alpha’s Beta, her bond with Alpha Sage goes way back to their childhood. After the tragic incident…”

“What tragic incident? Tell me everything, Kaela, don't opt out of anything.”

Kaela looked away, “It is not in my place to tell you, Faye.” She slowly stared back at me. “ You deserve the truth, but some truths are better left unsaid.”

“No.” I shook my head in disagreement. “I don't care how dangerous or horrifying this truth can be, I just want to know everything. Tell me, Kaela, don't hold anything back, please.” I sounded more desperate than I intended, but how could I not?

Waking up in a body that didn't belong to me, my child gone, learning that I have another wicked step mother and that I am betrothed to the most ruthless Alpha of the realm, mated to not just him, but his Beta, and crossing path with my ex fiance who doesn't realize I am Piper but technically has something to do with this Faye of a princess. Realizing my mate has a lover that he's still in touch with.

I am pretty sure I can take some more devastating news. “Tell. Me. Everything.”

“The fall of the Jordan pack, do you remember that?” Kaela asked, and I nodded.

“They attacked the Silverwolf pack, I heard they lost.”

“Yes, they did, but they caused the pack a greater loss.”

“Alpha Sage's parents, I heard about that too.” I chirped in.

“They weren't the only ones the pack lost that day. Raya, Alpha Sage's mate and wife, is the first daughter of the late Beta. And Erini, Alpha Sage's one-year-old daughter, was slaughtered in their bedroom that day.”Kaela revealed and I gasped, palming my mouth.

“No.”

“Only the pack members knew about Raya’s and Erini’s existence, she was supposed to be introduced to the entire realm on their wedding day, but Fate had other plans. Alpha Sage was so devastated that he locked himself in his room for a month. Everyone was worried, thinking he would not survive starvation, but he did somehow, someway. He took on leadership, forced by the council to move on from the family he loved immensely. Sloane, Raya’s sister, was the only one who truly understood Alpha Sage's pain, so they became each other's comfort. And three years later, she left the army to become a submissive partner to Alpha Sage. However, the council refused a union between them because Alpha Sage had to make more politically based decisions on finding a Luna.”

“Me.” The word escaped my mouth before I could stop it.

“But it's been seven whole years, don't you think she deserves that position more than I do?”

“I see everything as the will of the Goddess, Princess. This is probably for the best. “ She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes; it was just a twitch. “Also, Sloane is only calm and submissive with the Alpha, no one else. She's not everyone’s favorite, if you get what I mean.” she said, which made me snicker.

The truth wasn't as terrible as I imagined it, but something about Sage and Sloane made my heart weigh heavy. The thought of them being together for so long made my skin crawl.

She has been his comfort since the moment he lost his wife and daughter, and what have I been? A mere mate. This is why he doesn't hold me in regard, I don't stand a chance at having my mate.

Is this why the Goddess made Kaius my mate as well?