The Alpha's Betrayed Queen

Ep 4

Aria's pov

I felt footsteps approaching and I was sure Kael had come to finish me off himself.

There was a slight pause before strong arms wrapped around me and lifted me off the floor.

I groaned in pain and I remember cracking my eyes open to stare at deep crimson eyes.

"Who are you?" I whispered but the man offered no response in return.

*****

I groaned as pain spread through me.

'I wasn't dead' I realized after a few seconds.

My eyelids were heavy as I tried to peer them open.

"Just lie still." A deep baritone voice called out to me and despite his command my eyes popped open.

Deep crimson eyes stared at me from the corner of the room and I sucked in a breath.

I couldn't make out the man's features except his glowing crimson eyes as he was hidden in the shadows.

It wasn't a dream, this man had saved me.

I tried to sit up but every muscle in my body protested.

"The more you attempt to move the worse you'll feel." The man said as he stepped out of the shadows.

A gasp left my lips.

No, it couldn't be.

Lucien, The heartless Lycan king. A name whispered among packs which invoked fear.

He had long since left the city and situated himself deep within the forest.

The feared Lycan king strolled to my bedside, ignoring the shock clearly written on my face as I stared at the streaks of silver strands in contrast to his raven black hair.

How had he been the one to save me and why?

He brought up a cup to my cracked lips and I greedily gulped down the water without question.

"You've been unconscious for three days. I assume that's your body's way of healing seeing as you lost a lot of blood" He informed me.

"Did you undress me?" I blurted out when I realized I was wearing a fresh set of clothes.

"The clothes you had on were torn and bloodied and I was not going to stain my sheets merely for your sense of decency." He replied.

"Who are you?" I whispered as my eyes met his.

"I assume you already know who I am and in any matter, is it important?" He asked with disinterest.

"Why did you save me?" I tried again.

"I should have left you to bleed out and die in that forest?" He c****d his head to the side.

His words reminded me of the first conversation I had with Kael when I brought him to my pack under similar circumstances.

Kael, the thought of him alone caused pain to surge through me as I remembered the events that took place during my crowning ceremony.

I had been a fool to trust him but I was an even bigger fool to fall in love with him and because of that I had lost everything.

"You should have left me there. My life has no meaning anymore, it's not worth living." I said and his crimson eyes stared at me intently as though he was trying to figure me out.

"Every life has purpose, you just have to find yours." He replied and I smiled bitterly.

How would I tell this man I had found my purpose but I had thrown it all away because I had fancied myself in love?

"What do you want from me?" I squinted at me.

"I doubt you have anything to offer me little wolf." He retorted.

"I learned the hard way that nothing is free in this world. I won't be so naive to think that you acted out of kindness." I gritted out, trying to keep the events of the past days at the back of my mind.

"You are right. I didn't act out of kindness." The man's face is blank and I have no inkling what he is thinking.

"I simply saved you because it was within my power to do so. I don't care what you do with your life going forward. You could decide to live or you could kill yourself. I don't care as long as it's not in my mansion." His words were blunt and cold and I reeled back from the impact.

"Are you always this uncouth?" I asked.

"There is no point in disguising the truth. I believe everything should be said as it is." He explained.

"Why were you beaten and left for dead in the forest? Where is your pack?" Crimson eyes looked at me with interest.

"It doesn't matter. I've lost everything and I can't go back." I clenched my eyes to hide my pain.

"You can always regain whatever it is you think you've lost." He looked at me carefully.

"I can't bring my father back to life now can I? Nor can I take my pack back." I laughed humorously.

"I don't know about bringing your father back to life but I can assure you, you can take your pack back." He shrugged.

His eyes offered me no comfort yet I felt like unburdening myself to this total stranger and that was exactly what I did against my better judgement.

He remained expressionless as I recounted everything that happened.

"He sent them to kill me and now he rules my pack thinking I am dead." I finished and silence filled the room.

"You are a fool." He announced and I reeled back as though he had slapped me.

"You are sorely mistaken and more of a fool than I thought if you think I would offer you my sympathy." He said and I guess my shock was written clearly on my face.

"I know I made a mistake, there's no need to remind me how foolish and thoughtlessly I acted. I was sure the embarrassment and pain from Kael's betrayal would kill me before I bled out." I looked away from the man.

"You are a fool, not for making a mistake but for not taking action after what happened. Instead of wallow in self pity at the loss of your supposed love, think on how to get your pack back and more importantly get revenge on this rogue." His voice was firm and rang through the room.

"Life has given you a second chance, an opportunity to right your wrongs and instead of seizing it, you are ready to give up even before you start." His time sounded almost annoyed.

When I didn't reply he walked out of the room, leaving me with my thoughts.

This man, whoever he was, was right.

I couldn't stay here and wallow in self pity.

I had a pack to claim and I had a rogue to exact revenge on.

****

"I want to take back what is mine." I announced, looking straight into Lucien's eyes.

"Like I told you a few days back, I don't care what you do." He dismissed my words and I gritted my teeth.

"You are going to help me." I commanded, uncaring that this was the Lycan King who was feared across the kingdom.

"Why would I do that?" He c****d his head to the side.

"Because you have nothing to lose and you intertwined our lives when you chose to save me." I explained.

He remained silent for a moment.

"Fine, I'll help you. I'll train you and lend you the strength you need to take your revenge." He declared and I let out a breath of relief.

"But, you must bury any weak emotions or notions of love which you might have. Life is about survival and only the strong can last in the long run." His voice was as sharp as steel.

"Trust me, I bear no such notions." My eyes expressed the pain, anger and hurt I had beared for opening myself up to those emotions.

I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

Lucien seemed satisfied as he nodded in approval and from that day we began to train.

Deep rooted hatred for Kael slowly took over my heart. The reminder of what I'd lost and my need for revenge pushed me harder each day.

Kael thought he had won, he thought I was dead and he had taken over my pack.

What he didn't know was that I was coming back, not as the woman that once loved him but as the woman who would utterly destroy him and take back everything she had lost.