Once, I Stole A Crown

Negotiations

"Alpha Corin, I wonder if I might ask your lovely daughter to sit with me at the feast?" Alpha Luca asked respectfully. I could feel that his request was more of a demand. I felt the link as soon as he touched me. He was my mate; my fated. I had mixed feelings about the situation now that it was happening. I had always known that my only chance of succeeding with my plans was to be mated outside the pack, but to go from the control of one Alpha to another was not part of my plan.

I would have to be very careful now if I was going to give my girls freedom. I had power, not that anyone knew, and I didn't want to have to use it on my mate. I wasn't even sure that I could. Father could feel his control over me losing its power. He must have understood that he couldn't deny this request. This was a situation that he couldn't hope to control, but he knew I would help him keep up appearances. "Of course. Scissera, be a good hostess and do not leave Alpha Luca's side during the feast."

I bowed my head towards my father. "Yes, Father."

"Thank you, Alpha Corin." The two leaders bowed their heads to each other, and Luca held his arm out for me to hold. "Would you escort me in?" he asked me.

"Yes, Alpha Luca, of course," I replied. It was difficult to stop myself from falling into a trance as our eyes met, but I had to control myself. I couldn't let this new bond overwhelm me.

"Please," he said. "Don't bother with formalities with me." He gently guided me along as we followed our parents down the lane towards the gardens. Luca held his free hand out, and a little girl ran to grab hold of it. She was Lily's size and likely her age, with pin-straight black hair and sapphire eyes. Luca could sense the questions I had. "Don't hold back," he said with a smile. "Ask me anything you like. I won't hide anything from you. We should learn all we can about each other, yes?"

I couldn't help but smile. He spoke with so much patience and sincerity, and I could feel that he didn't have an abusive bone in his body. Though, there was something dark hidden beneath the surface of his tone. It should have scared me, but instead sent a shiver through my body.

"Is this little one your sister?" I asked.

"No," he smiled down at her. "She's my charge. She was abandoned on our land by humans years ago. I took her in and have been raising her ever since," he explained. "Delilah, say hello to Scissera."

Delilah smiled brightly at me. "Hello!"

My mind reeled with the information. "Human?" I stared, wide-eyed at Luca.

"That's right. But only in blood." He gave her hand a small squeeze. "She's just as much my pup as my own would be. It is my greatest wish that my mate would think of her as a daughter as well."

I smiled. A plan began to form in my mind, and I held out my own hand in the same way he had done. It took mere seconds for Lily to attach herself to it.

"And who's this?" Luca asked, amused.

"This is Lily, my youngest sister. Say hello, Lily."

"Hello!" she said happily. Without any hesitation, she abandoned my grip and pulled Delilah from Luca's. They walked and giggled a few paces ahead of us.

"Do you have many friends?" Lily asked. Delilah shook her head sadly.

"Many of the pack kids are wary of her because she's human. I'm really all she has," Luca explained in a whisper.

"I see," I answered.

Lily looked back at Luca, bewildered, before throwing her arms around Delilah. "I'll be your friend," Lily promised. Delilah giggled softly as Lily latched herself onto Delilah's arm.

"My sister, Mia, and our two cousins are close in age, so I'm really all Lily has as well." I looked into Luca's eyes, willing him to understand the desperation in my words. It seemed to have worked, as he called out to Father at the head of the line.

"Alpha Corin, I wonder if I could speak with you for a moment?" Father turned and waited for Luca to catch up. "Delilah, come with me." She detached herself from Lily's grip and returned to Luca's side.

Lily reached for my hand, and we continued behind the Alphas, Elders, and the guards. I could hear Luca ahead of us.

"Alpha Corin, this is my charge, Delilah. I'm afraid she's rather out of her element here. Her comfort is very important to me. Would you be so gracious as to allow Miss Lily to be her companion while we're here?"

I could feel my father's anger, but I knew he wouldn't risk the image he'd built for himself. "Of course! I won't allow a guest to feel unwelcome."

"Thank you so much, Alpha Corin, your kindness is truly appreciated. Come along, Delilah."

"Lily, Lily!" Delilah bounced up to us dragging Luca behind her. "Your dad said you can stay with me all night!"

"I heard!" Lily responded excitedly before throwing her arms around Delilah a second time.

Luca held his arm out to me again, and I gave him a warm smile as I took it. I bowed my head to him in thanks. He patted my hand and returned my smile. I was suddenly feeling much more hopeful about the future of my girls.

During the feast and the party, there were many congratulatory speeches about Luca's ascension, and many interruptions anytime Luca tried to start a conversation with me. All part of Father's plan, no doubt. To my immense relief, Lily was invited to stay with Delilah overnight under the watch of Elder Mae.

It was nearing midnight when the Alphas retreated to Father's study with Elder Erik to conduct business. Elder Mae and I watched over the girls as they fought off sleep with sweets.

Everyone in attendance stayed until the men returned from their meeting to announce the outcome of their negotiations. The meeting ran longer than anyone expected. I could feel the curiosity in the crowd, and I took the opportunity to check on my sisters and cousins. Mother had gotten to them first, though, and I was surrounded in a swarm of questions.

"Is it true?"

"Are you leaving?"

"Who's going to help us now?"

They were in a panic. In the whispered chaos, Father returned to the party with Luca and Elder Erik in tow. I tapped on their arms, shushing them and pointing as Father led the other men to the center of the crowd. A quick glance from him told me he'd heard the girls asking questions and that I'd be paying for it later.

All it took was for Father to clear his throat and the entire crowd fell silent. "I have a few announcements before we end the celebrations. First, I'm happy to announce that Shadow Pack and Brightling Pack can expect to continue a long, prosperous relationship through Alpha Luca." There was applause for a moment before Father continued. "Second, congratulations are in order as my oldest daughter, Scissera, has found her mate tonight. Scissera, Alpha Luca, may you both live a long and happy life." Gasps could be heard all around me, followed by a reluctant applause.

My eyes went to Lily, who had already found a comfortable spot in Elder Mae's lap to curl up and fall asleep beside her new friend.

"And my third announcement; my youngest daughter, Lily, will be joining her sister when she leaves us in the morning and will return to us on her tenth birthday." My eyes widened and found Luca's warm smile. "Now, let us all get to sleep so we can see our guests and my daughters off properly in the morning!"

Unwilling to ignore an Alpha's orders, the party dispersed. Father approached me with Luca following closely behind. "I'm sure the two of you are anxious to learn about each other, but I must insist that you wait until tomorrow. This was such an unexpected surprise, I'm sure Scissera's mother would like to spend one last night with her."

"Of course! I wouldn't dream of depriving a mother and daughter one more night together," Luca conceded.

Luckily, I was able to control my thoughts and emotions to such a degree that he had no idea that I would be spending my night at the whipping post and that my mother would be completely numb to it.