CHAPTER 5-THE TRUTH COMES OUT
995 Words
Amara's POV
Rowan put up his hands, in an attempt to soothe him.
"Alpha Darius--"
"No," Darius snapped. Begin to explain now, you see.
His voice was low and restrained, yet I detected the anger and I found it more difficult to breathe.
My father cleared his throat. "There is... a situation."
Darius stepped closer. "A situation?"
I gulp and stared at my father. He looked at me warningly, keep quiet.
Rowan spoke a little more loudly, attempting to maintain himself.
"Aria... disappeared."
Darius froze.
No, no, he said to himself a long time. His mouth closed, and his hands clenched into fists.
"What?" he said, but his tone was dangerous indeed.
She vanished, Rowan said to himself. "The night before the ceremony."
The eyes of Darius were a little open. Not a great deal, but enough to express shock.
My stomach twisted. I turned my back, and could not face him.
Rowan came in front of me, standing in the way of Darius. "Darius. The girl you marked today is Amara and not Aria.
Darius rubbed his hair back, and walked once, twice.
"Are you insane?" he shouted. Why, do you know what you have done? What you tricked me into? This was a ceremony that was aired to all the packs! Elders were here! The council was here!"
“I know,” Rowan said, and made an effort to keep his voice steady. “ I am aware.”
“No, you are not aware, Darius replied. "You humiliated me. You lied to me.“
He was not screaming like one who is losing his temper. His temper was reined and keen as a knife on the flesh. The type of anger that caused people to step back.
But my father didn't move.
Rowan spoke more slowly this time. "I had no choice."
There was no humor in his voice as Darius laughed. "No choice? So you thought you had no choice, you tricked me!“
“Either that,” Rowan said, or spread the news all over the region that my daughter had suddenly disappeared on the eve of her ceremony. That would destroy us. It would embarrass you. It would embarrass me. The alliance would disintegrate even before it began.”
Darius ceased pacing and glared at him.
“Instead, you offered your other daughter?”
Rowan nodded once.
Darius approached me the first time since the truth had been known. His eyes were cold, inexpressible.
"You knew this?" he asked.
I forced my voice out. "I didn't want to do it."
"Then why did you?" he demanded.
My throat tightened. I looked at the floor. "Because he made me a promise."
Darius swiveled around to Rowan. "Unbelievable."
Rowan sighed. "Listen to me, Darius. It is too late to take the whole thing back. Too many people witnessed it. Excessive numbers of packs would wonder what was going on.
Darius stepped forward. "I want her out. Now. I do not mind where she goes, but she is not going to remain in my house or in my pack.”
I flinched. I never anticipated it to be painful but it was.
Rowan raised a hand. "She cannot leave."
“She is not my Luna, she is not,” Darius growled.
“And when she goes out that door, one of the council members will find her going without you. One of the elders will realize that something has gone wrong. One of the guests will inquire why the new Luna is sent out of her own mate’s house merely hours after the mating ceremony.”
Darius's jaw clenched.
“And just one rumor will bring this whole alliance to pieces,” Rowan went on. “And should it break, Our packs will share the doom.”
Darius said nothing.
Rowan took a breath. "You know I'm right. The truth will not only be embarrassing had it leaked out now. It will be a scandal. It will destroy us both."
There was a silence of the room.
Darius at last withdrew, scratching his forehead. "What do you want me to do?"
“There is but one solution, “ Rowan said. “Amara has to keep on playing the role of Aria. At least until we find Aria.“
His words were a blow in my stomach. He spoke like I was a tool. As though it did not matter how I felt. Like my life didn't matter.
Darius glanced back at me, and a moment later I imagined he would decline.
But he glanced at the door, to the hall where people were still talking, and to the windows, where guards were on duty.
His shoulders fell a little.
He hated this. I would read it in the manner he clenched his jaw.
But he knew Rowan was right too.
"Fine," Darius said finally. But when she is staying there will be rules.
Rowan nodded. "Agreed."
Darius swiveled around to face me.
"Look at me."
I raised my head slowly.
“Rule one: you shall not talk unless you have to. No unnecessary questions. No useless conversations."
I swallowed and nodded.
“Rule two, you shall not interact with me in this house. Always. Stay out of my office, my training grounds, and any room I do not permit you to enter.”
My fingers clenched to my dress.
"Okay."
“Rule three, you will act like Aria in front of people. You will smile, you will wave, you will stand by me. You will not disgrace me or cause any to question the mate bond.”
My chest tightened. "I understand."
“Fourth rule,” he said , and walked nearer. "At no point will you touch me."
I could feel my face growing hot with humiliation, but I had to nod.
"Alright."
“And rule five,” he said, with still lower voice. “You will keep on recalling that you are just a replacement in every second. Are we clear?"
- Writer
