The Desert Wolf and His Princess

Chapter 9: The Plan

Eric

“Eric, you can't seriously be considering this," Alistair said, his voice tight with concern. "What if she’s lying? What if this is all a trap? For all we know, Ajax sent her here to deceive you, lure you out, and eliminate the only real threat to his claim."

I had just finished recounting everything that happened in the library the previous night to him and my aunt. We were in her office, a stately room lined with dark oak panels and towering bookshelves filled with at least three thousand books. One wall was fitted with slim drawers for maps and official documents. The air carried the comforting scent of old paper, ink, and a faint trace of pipe tobacco mixed with something sweet.

"And what about her?" I asked, frowning, my thoughts a tangled mess.

"Maybe he’ll kill her too. Or maybe she’s working with him. I don’t know," Alistair said, shaking his head. "But you can’t just trust a stranger—especially one tied to Ajax."

I couldn’t deny it—he had a point. Doubt gnawed at me. Still, there was something about the whole situation that made me hesitate. Something that made me wonder if it was worth the risk.

Aunt Sheila suddenly spoke. “Thank you, Alistair. I’d like a word with Eric alone, if you don’t mind.” Her voice was calm, almost unfazed. She didn’t seem surprised at all—if anything, she looked composed, maybe even expectant.

“Yes, Alpha,” Alistair said, bowing slightly before leaving the room.

The silence that followed stretched on. Finally, Aunt Sheila stood, her movements graceful and deliberate. She stepped away from her desk—almost like a queen rising from her throne—and walked over to the coffee table, sinking onto one of the plush cushions. She patted the space beside her.

“What’s going on in that head of yours, my dear? You know you can talk to me about anything.”

I hesitated before sitting next to her. “What do you make of the princess’s offer? I told her I wasn’t interested… but I can’t quite shake it.”

She tilted her head. “So what exactly is weighing on your mind? Let’s lay out the pros and cons.”

“Well… if she’s telling the truth, marrying her might be the most effective way to take back the Amethyst Pack. It’s efficient, but it’s not simple.”

“And maybe,” I added, exhaling slowly, “maybe it means we won’t have to shed any more blood. I wouldn’t have to hide anymore, and if I were closer to the Amethyst Pack, I could actually help the werewolves there. But if she’s lying… then everything’s on the line. Including this place—our home.”

I ended with a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. It shook on the way out.

“So your intentions are clear,” Aunt Sheila said thoughtfully, “but hers aren’t. That’s the real issue, isn’t it?”

I gave a tired shrug, resting my head in my hands. I was already exhausted, and the day wasn’t even over yet.

She let the silence sit for a beat before gently asking, “When you spoke to her in the library, how did she come across to you?”

“She seemed… embarrassed and ashamed when we talked about her family,” I admitted, the image of Zara’s downcast eyes flashing in my mind. “She looked fragile—scared, even. But I couldn’t tell if that was guilt… or if she was just hiding something.”

“I think I may have a solution, dear Eric,” Aunt Sheila said, a knowing gleam in her eye.

I looked up, caught off guard by how quickly she had a solution—and a little wary of what it might be.

“You need to spend more time with your potential bride,” she said evenly.

I frowned. “So far, every time we’re in the same room, we end up arguing. Is there another option?”

“Oh, Eric,” she sighed, giving me a look. “You need to actually get to know her. That’s the key. How else are you going to figure out what she’s really after? Study her. Just like you study everything else,” she added with a hint of dry humor.

I considered that. “I guess that could work… but won’t she think it’s strange if I’m just watching her like some science experiment?”

“You’ll have to be subtle,” she said, brushing off my concern. “Take her on a tour tomorrow. I doubt she leaves her room much anyway. Walk her through the estate, show her what we hold dear. Watch her reactions, listen to her heartbeat. That’ll tell you more than her words ever will.”

“But what if she’s good at faking it?” I asked, still unconvinced.

“She won’t fool you,” Aunt Sheila said confidently. “You’ll catch it. Just showing her around the manor will lower her guard. And trust me—you're a seasoned werewolf, Eric. No one's pulling tricks on you without you knowing.”

I sighed and stood up. “Thanks, Alpha.”

“You’re making decisions that’ll shape the future. Your parents would be proud,” she said, her tone warm.

I gave her a small bow, unsure how to respond to that kind of praise, and headed out.

The feeling didn’t last long.

Lana was waiting right outside the office, clearly having followed me from the library.

“Eric, there you are. I’ve been waiting.”

“Yeah, I noticed. What is it?”

“I just heard something completely insane—and I’m hoping you’ll tell me it’s not true.”

“Well, I can’t deny anything until I know what you’re talking about.”

“On my way here from the library, I ran into Talia,” Lana said, arms crossed. “She told me the real reason the Amethyst Pack princess is here—because you’re planning to forge an alliance through marriage.”

Oh, for the love of the Goddess. Of course the walls had ears. Especially werewolf ears that loved to gossip.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to stay calm. I didn’t have the energy for this. I cared about Lana—like a sister—but I wasn’t in the mood for this mess right now.

“That’s not true, is it? I told her it wasn’t,” she added quickly, then barreled on. “Also, why was she bothering you in the library earlier? What were you two talking about? What did she want?”

She just kept going, and I felt my patience thinning with every word.

“Lana, there’s no polite way to say this—but you really need to learn how to mind your own business.”

Aunt Sheila’s voice rang down the hall just then, her office doors swinging open. “Off you go, Eric. That errand’s not going to run itself.”

Thankfully, I realized Aunt Sheila was giving me an escape route without having to answer Lana’s never-ending questions. I gave her a quick nod and offered Lana an apologetic shrug when I saw the hurt in her eyes. Guilt tugged at me, but there wasn’t time for that now.

I headed back to my room, already planning the tour in my mind. Tomorrow, I’d start figuring the princess out—one room at a time.