The Alpha's Lie

Chapter2

Chapter 2

Amara woke slowly, dragged from a restless sleep by the unfamiliar silence, normally by now, she should have been woken by the sounds of her father’s cough or the sound of Leo’s music, but there was only silence.

Her eyes fluttered open.

Stone.

That was the first thing she saw the moment she opened her eyes. Pale stone rising above her in a vaulted ceiling etched with unfamiliar symbols and carvings. Sunlight streamed through tall, narrow windows draped in dark fabric, casting long shadows across the floor.

She sucked in a sharp breath and pushed herself upright.

The room was luxurious, it didn’t take a genius to know that this was a room that reeked of power and pure wealth.

She looked around the room, she was lying on a bed, the bed was enormous.

Silk sheets pooled around her like water, smooth beneath her finger, expensive in a way she had never touched before. The scent hit her next, pine, smoke and something distinctly male.

Her stomach dropped.

The memories of the previous came rushing back all at once.

The hooded men.

The threats.

The monster in her living room.

And then, the man shrouded in shadows.

A sob tore from her chest before she could stop it, tears spilled down her face as she wrapped her arms around herself, shaking violently.

Dad…Leo…

Were they still alive? Had they been able to eat anything this morning? Were they crying for her?

The fear was suffocating and she could barely breathe.

She barely noticed the door opening.

The sound made her flinch violently, her head snapped in the direction of the door.

He stood there, his eyes watching her like a Hawk, he filled the doorway like he belonged to it, as if the fortress itself had been built around him. In the daylight, he was even more imposing.

Black hair slicked back, silver eyes that looked like they always watching, a jaw that could cut granite and a physique that any Greek God would be happy to have, he was dressed in Black from head to toe, black pants tucked into black boots, a black T-shirt and a black leather jacket.

Amara swallowed hard.

Behind him stood three women.

Two were young, their eyes carefully lowered. The third was older, her gray hair braided tightly, her sharp gaze was fixed on Amara with unsettling intensity.

Ronan’s silver eyes locked onto Amara’s face.

“You are awake” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

Amara could feel her body shaking from fear, her voice barely a whisper “Please…My family”

“They live” Ronan interrupted coldly “For now”

Relief and terror tangled painfully in her chest, at least her family was fine, that was enough to give her some sort of relief.

“These women” Ronan continued, gesturing slightly, “will instruct you”

“Instruct me…?” Amara asked, the confusion and fear written clearly on her face.

“They will teach you how to walk, how to speak, how to sit, and even how to look at me” Ronan said “They will teach you how to become Elara Vale, how to become the Luna of the Northern werewolves”

The name hung heavy in the air, Elara Vale, Amara thought even the name had power, how on earth could she begin such a woman.

“I am not her” Amara began, tears blurring her vision “I can’t be…”

Ronan lifted a hand and the whole room went silent.

“You do not seem to understand, you are either Elara Vale or you are dead” Ronan said, his voice was quiet but even a fool could sense the danger in his words “You will do as I command or die”

The older woman glanced slightly at Ronan, her eyes held something but she turned her eyes back to Amara.

“Leave us” Ronan said.

The women bowed and left the room, closing the door behind them.

Amara was left alone with him, her heart pounded in her chest, it was so loud that Amara was certain Ronan could hear it from where he stood.

Her pulse roared in her ears as Ronan moved closer, his presence swallowing the space between them, he stopped directly in front of her, looking down at her with an expression carved from grief and stone.

“You will sleep here from now on” he said.

Amara frowned, confused “Here…?”

“In my chambers” Ronan clarified “In my bed”

The words barely registered before Amara began to panic, she had never slept on the same bed with any man before, the only men she was close with were her father and brother and they obviously did not count in this situation.

“No” she said, shaking her head “Please, I can sleep anywhere else. I won’t tell anyone…”

A cry tore from her lips as Ronan grabbed her arm, hauling her up to her knees so that she was kneeling on the bed.

His grip on her arm was bruising.

“Enough” he snapped.

Amara’s breath hitched as he leaned downed, his face inches from hers.

Ronan could not believe the resemblance, she looked exactly like Elara but the weakness in her eyes and the fear, the fear was so thick, so thick that he could smell it on her and it disgusted him.

“You do not bargain with me” Ronan said “You exist right now only because I allow it”

Tears streamed down her face.

“One wrong word, one wrong look” he continued, voice low and merciless “and I will make your family’s deaths slow enough for you to imagine”

Her knees nearly buckled.

“You will sleep where I tell you” Ronan finished “You will obey or you will die but only after your family dies”

He released her abruptly.

Amara slumped back onto the bed, sobbing as he turned and walked away without another glance.

The door shut.

She curled into herself, clutching the silk sheets as though they might anchor her to reality.

How had her life become this?

***************

Ronan found Anthony in the eastern corridor shortly after.

“You shouldn’t have threatened her like that” Anthony said quietly.

Ronan faced the sprawling mansion that was his home, a home that had been home to many Alpha Supremes before, a home that held stories decades and decades old.

“Fear ensures Silence” Ronan said flatly.

A frown settled on Anthony’s face “She’s just a weak human” he pressed “And terrified”

“That is irrelevant”

Anthony stepped in front of him “This is wrong Ronan, and you know it”

Ronan narrowed his eyes “This is necessary” he simply replied.

Anthony exhaled, Ronan was stubborn, he had always been. “I have a bad feeling about bringing her here. About all this. It just doesn’t feel right”

Ronan raised a brow as he felt a presence approaching, a frown settled on his face when he realized who that disturbing presence belonged to.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Unhurried. Confident.

Both men turned.

Evander Knox approached them with an easy smile on his dangerously handsome face, his hands clasped behind his back, he was dressed impeccably, dark jacket, worn over black T-shirt and dark jeans trousers, his clothes fit his frame perfectly as though they had been tailored exactly for him and knowing Evander Knox, that was likely the case. His eyes were as they always were, sharp and calculating, never missing a thing.

“Alpha Supreme” Evander said smoothly, bowing just slightly “I had hoped to pay my respects”

Ronan’s expression remained impassive, “For what purpose exactly?” he asked.

“Well, seeing as the heir unfortunately passed away and the Luna has been unwell since then, I thought it best that I come and see how the first family is doing” Evander replied, a lazy smile on his face.

Ronan’s face gave away nothing “I thank you for your concern Evander”

“The Luna hasn’t been seen in days, the clans are starting to worry” Evander added.

“She is recovering” was all Ronan said.

Evander’s smile deepened, though it never reached his eyes “Of course she is”

His gaze lingered just a moment too long.

“I look forward to seeing her soon” Evander added softly, “It has been… far too long”

Ronan met his stare, unflinching “She will be seen when I deem it appropriate”

Evander inclined his head, the smile never left his face “Naturally”

Ronan said nothing more, the dismissal was clear, he was done talking to Evander Knox.

“I will take my leave now” Evander said as he bowed his head and walked off.

“He suspects” Anthony said.

Ronan’s jaw tightened, Anthony was right “Then we cannot afford a single”