04|The Convenient Contract
1243 Words
“You may turn around, mother, but not the nomad.”
Lucien said as he walked into the room.
I shouldn’t care what her name is, thought Lucien while rubbing the back of his neck.
Philipha did as she was told, but Alina remained where she was.
“Oh goddess! It's really you!” Luna Philipha moved quickly, cupping his face in her hands.
“It's me, mother. Please sit,” he replied. Then he held her hands, guiding her toward a seat, and smiled softly at her.
He’d sensed the darkness that surrounded her and stiffened when he saw her from afar, remembering what had made him disappear for decades.
Three decades, eleven months, and six days of waiting were suddenly worth it.
He counted and waited until his mother brought in Alina.
The Darkfurs were desperately in need of their King, and he would be damned if he didn’t show up. Other clans were already suspicious that he wasn’t up to the task and had no business being a king. Some even dared to suggest Fabian take his place.
The marriages were set up to force him out, but his mother wouldn’t tell him that.
She looked for girls who bore an uncanny resemblance to Aurora. But it took three decades to find someone who looked close enough.
Lucien looked to the other side where the girl stood waiting patiently.
He was sure the nomad had thought about what she could have done in a second, like turning fast enough to see what he looked like, before he uttered the order.
But now, she stood with her back facing him, her long hair cascading down her waist and almost reaching her hips.
He was so sure she wished she had a mirror in her pocket just like the others.
He knew a lot of questions rushed through the girl’s head all at once. What kind of trouble would make an Alpha hide? But he wasn’t hiding, he thought, rubbing his chest.
“My Lucien, this day is by far the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.” Luna Philipa’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Meet your new bride, Alina. Maybe Fabian already told you about her.”
“No, mother. I have no interest whatsoever in meeting with her.” Lucien announced.
The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees lower.
“She will stay here as my Luna, to make sure the court doesn’t interfere in the affairs of my life, but I can’t be a husband to her.”
Luna Phillipa’s lips quivered. Her eyes bulged as she took a step back, staring at her son incredulously.
“In return for her statue-like presence,” Lucien continued without a hint of remorse in his voice. “She will be compensated handsomely should she choose to leave in five years.”
“What about pups?” Phillipa’s voice held a slight tremble. Almost like she was about to suffer a heart attack from her son’s careless words.
“I do not care, mother. She is still young; it’s either she waits and we are divorced in five years, or sees to her own needs without any display of stupidity or beds Fabian if she desires to.” He threw his words without a care for who would be hurt.
His mother or the new girl. The goddess knew he didn't give a damn who. He was the Alpha. His decision was set in stone.
“Lucien!” Phillipa’s body shook as she shot up from the chair, reaching for her son. “The moon goddess forbids her from doing so! Her children will be cursed. You of all people should know this!” his mother said, almost raising her voice.
“But it is not unbearable, is it mother?”
A wave of silence swept through the room, leaving swirling emotions in the air.
“Answer me! You of all people would know!” Lucien’s voice boomed as he yelled.
Phillipa’s face turned ashen white. Her fist tightened so hard as her lips slammed shut.
Lucien forced a deep breath in, trying to control himself.
He crossed his fingers together and looked at his mother as if pitying her but his mind was made up.
“Please, son… I promised her Clan that no harm will come to her.” she pleaded softly.
His heart was as unyielding as a stone. His facial expression was taut.
Lucien’s words remained bitingly cold. “You should have consulted me before getting me a bride I would have disapproved of!”
“I don’t want her!”
“The court needs a presence and you went ahead and wedded her to me in my absence. Now, Fabian thinks it’s the right thing to do, to put on the facade that we are united. I do not mind, but I have no desire for coupling duties, mother and I will not repeat myself.”
He wondered,if his mother knew she was still in the room and could hear them.
But none of them seemed to care, as they bantered words that could potentially hurt their relationship for a long time. The new girl knew nothing of their struggles but he decided in his mind that it was better to sit this one out. And who was she anyway? Certainly not Aurora’s replacement.
Suddenly he heard a little chuckle which made him pause and turned towards Alina.
“What is it that you find amusing, nomad?” Lucien’s voice took a distasteful edge as he turned toward Alina’s proudly straightened back.
“Nothing amuses me, King Alpha,” replied Alina.
“Good.” He gave a low snarl. “You should know your place.”
“If you need a man, it wouldn’t be me. But perhaps you already have him at your disposal considering how nomadic clans move within territories. No one would bother you as long as you know your place.”
He glanced down at Alina’s long legs as she shifted in her spot and his eyes darkened.
“Lucien, don’t be in a hurry to make this decision.” Luna Phillipha rushed toward him again desperately.
“I have longed to see you. I pleaded and offered prayers to the goddess and she smiled upon me after a long while. Please reconsider I beg of you, son.”
Phillipha tried bowing but Lucien wouldn’t allow it.
“I am not in a hurry to disapprove of her but I don’t want her sitting and waiting while I will be nowhere to be seen.” he dismissed.
“I like my peace mother, I intend to keep it that way.”
“My heart will forever be with Aurora. And no matter how hard it is for you to accept that, I don’t intend to give it out to anyone,” he said sternly.
“She should know her place. I have no interest in being with her or being in the same place as her. You should do as you wish. Do you understand, Nomad?”
Lucien turned to Alina, his eyes bored fiery holes through her skin from behind as his head c****d to the side.
Silence stretched for seconds and just when he thought the nomad was definitely deaf, he was taken aback by the next words that came out of her mouth.
“Yes King Alpha, the arrangement is perfect.”
- Writer
