CHAPTER 5

“That’s the Lycan King?” Dahlia’s face was pressed against my window pane as she looked out towards the procession being held for the Lycan King. He'd been in our pack for two days now, and it was easy to say that I had been avoiding him.

I kept waiting for him to make a big scene and accuse my parents for their deceit or reject me and order for Dahlia to be made his, but he didn't.

My head hung between my legs as my fears threatened to kill me. “Are you alright?” Dahlia asked as she rubbed slow circles around my back.

“Why are you being so nice? It's unnerving”, I knew better than to believe she was suddenly willing to change her attitude towards me for genuine reasons.

She ignored my question and continued, “Mother told me that you and the Lycan King were locked in Father’s study for hours.”

“It wasn’t hours, Dahlia…and we weren’t ‘locked in’ or anything of the sorts…Goddess!” She drew back, her guilty eyes watching me warily.

“I know I’m probably the last person you want to see right now, and I’m sorry that you’re being shoved into my duty—” here we go with the pity talk “—But I’m truly sorry. I couldn’t stand with my family and marry this man and now, you’re being made to.”

“Honestly, Dahlia, he’s not that bad. And I think the rumors are just what they are; rumors.”

“You’re only saying that because your husband is a hottie.” She said, going back to stare out of the window. “---I don’t know why my mother was so against him. She normally disregards the tales people circulate.”

My lips were pinched in a thin line as I watched her, her gaze riveting outside the window. Apparently, she had now taken a liking to the Lycan King. I sighed exasperatedly and she turned to me.

“Would you like to get married to him instead?” I asked, her eyes bulging out of their sockets as she waved her arms in front of her. “There’s now way, Phelia. That man is like ten times bigger than me.”

Her eyes raked down my figure and she realized that I was even smaller than her. I guess the realization caused her to shut up. She smiled tightly and stood up, “I think mother would be searching for me. She doesn’t want me wandering around now that the Lycan King’s people are free to roam the house”, she said as she walked out of my room, leaving me to deal with my riotous thoughts alone.

I thought back on Rafael’s confrontation days ago. It didn’t make any sense that he wanted to cover-up father’s trickery, despite being aware of the whole truth about my family. I couldn't understand why he would choose my devotion over his revenge.

I shivered and stood from my bed, pulling on a sweater over my cotton gown. The festivity was still ongoing, letting me know that father was still preoccupied. I put on my slippers and headed downstairs, making sure no one saw me as I slipped into his library. Father sometimes used this space as his office, although no one really knew that.

It was for this reason that Lucretia had banned Dahlia and I from entering Father's study, even though I was the only one in the family who actively read. I started sneaking into Father's study so frequently that I even got used to navigating my way in the darkness. As I walked into the study, I headed freely in the dark towards the light switch and turned it on after which I turned to head towards my favorite section.

“Fuck-–”, I said , as I was startled to see Rafael in my father's study. A pale man stood beside him and I realized that I’d seen the new man before, although now I could see the striking resemblance he bore with Rafael. Are they brothers?

“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to invoke as much force in my voice, as I didn't want to seem intimidated by their presence since they were the real culprits here.

“I was interested in your botanical...” Rafael gripped the other man's arm, stopping him from continuing his narrative. The man understood Rafael's reaction and quickly dropped a binder on the large center desk.

“If you’ll excuse me”, he said, tilting his head as he rushed out of the study. While I wanted to run out with him in order to get away from Rafael, I forced myself to remain still.

“I’m glad that it’s you. It’d have been awkward to explain why Xander and I are away from the festivity being held in my honour”, he said.

“Who is Xander?” I asked.

“My brother”. He pickedup the binder that his brother, Xander had placed on the desk and handed it to me. Confused, I looked down at the folder, spying the numbers written on it. My brows furrowed even more when I realized the content of the binder.

“Why are you looking through my father’s ledgers?” I asked, my tone alert and wary.

“Because your father is being naughty. I got news that he’s aiding a pack; one that has an unruly Alpha who’s always ready to butt heads with me.” He scoffed as he said this.

“You’re referring to Alpha Camden?” I’d heard about Father’s friend and how brave he was in front of the cruel Lycan King.

“You know him? The information must be true then, if Kieran’s children know of this man.”

I frowned at his insinuation— “You don’t know your parent’s friends?” He laughed at my question, plucking the binder from my arms and slamming it shut.

“My parents were betrayed by those closest to them, so that’ll be a no. If I knew their friends, they'd all be dead by now”, he threatened as he pushed the binder back into its spot on the shelf.

“I couldn’t find what I was looking for anyway and I’m due to head back to my territory tomorrow. But it’s no issue”, he said, a mischievous grin plastered on his lips.

The way he smiled had my hackles rising, and I knew what he was going to suggest even before he said it. “You’re going to help me get proof of your father’s treachery, Ophelia. You’re mine now, remember?”

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry as I stared at him in disbelief.