The Alpha's Lie

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Amara hadn’t realized she had fallen asleep after Ronan had left, she awaken by the sound of clapping, she opened her eyes and they immediately fell on the older woman from earlier. The woman’s face held no expression, she looked at Amara like she was a specimen to be studied.

Amara sat up quickly and she realized just how tired she was, her entire body was aching and she could feel how swollen her eyes were from all the crying.

“Come child, you need a hot bath and then some food, then we can begin your lessons” the woman said.

Her voice was gentle but it held authority and Amara could also sense something reassuring in her voice.

“My name is Mae and I promise you, you are safe with me” the woman said as she held her hand out to Amara.

This singular act brought tears to Amara’s eyes, this was the first kind words she had heard since she arrived here.

She nodded her head and took Mae’s hand.

Amara was given the most luxurious bath she had ever received in her entire life, her hair was washed with scented shampoo and then massaged with scented oils, some with her skin, after that, her hair was styled in a very elegant hairstyle.

Mae informed her that Elara Vale always wore her in that hairstyle, it came down to her shoulders in big loose curls, framing her face perfectly.

After that, she was dressed in clothes that felt foreign even to her own skin, a cream colored gown that fell just below her knees, it was a simple dress but Amara could tell it was definitely worth more than what she made in a year.

Amara was fed some really nice meals and when Mae was satisfied that Amara had eaten enough, her lessons began.

“First thing you should know is the reason why you are here” Mae began “You are not here to replace the late Luna, you are here to become her, you must become Elara Vale, you must become the Luna and you become the Alpha Supreme’s mate”

“Alpha Supreme?” Amara asked.

“Ronan Vale is the Alpha Supreme, he is the leader of the all the Northern werewolves, and yes child, werewolves exist and you are living in this world now, the sooner you accept it, the easier your life will be, do you understand?” Mae said.

Amara swallowed hard and nodded her head.

The rest of Amara’s day was busy, very busy.

Mae corrected Amara’s posture, repositioning her shoulder with brisk taps. She taught her how Elara walked, slow, assured, never hurried. How she spoke, measured, calm, never apologetic, how looked at Ronan, not with fear, not with challenge but with love and quiet devotion.

By midday, her feet burned, her throat dry and her head spun with names, rituals, histories she had never known.

“You are not weak here” Mae said sharply as Amara flinched under correction “You are a Luna, you do not shrink”

Amara swallowed hard “But I am weak”

Mae paused “You are afraid, child” she corrected “That is not the same thing”

She adjusted Amara’s hair with careful hands “Fear can be conquered and you will because your family needs you and you also need to survive” she said.

Amara did not know if she was to feel comforted by Mae’s words or be terrified of them.

But Mae was right, she had to do well to survive and also ensure the survival of her family, she was a fast learner, she had been a top student and this was something she was going to do well as well.

With that thought in mind, she stood up and steeled her back.

“Let’s do it again, I will get it right this time” Amara said, determination danced in her eyes.

Mae smiled, perhaps the girl was not as weak as she thought.

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

Ronan did not attend the lessons.

He sat alone in his private chambers, staring at the floor length mirror where Elara’s reflection should have been.

Her laughter echoed in his memory, the way she used to scold him for brooding too much, the warmth of her presence at his side during council meetings, steadying, grounding.

Now there was only silence.

And a girl wearing her face.

A sigh escaped his lips, the cruelty came easily now and he hated himself for it but he hated Amara more for existing where Elara no longer could.

He had not wanted to touch her, he certainly had planned to threaten her family so brutally, but every time he looked at her, the grief roared back to life, raw and uncontrollable, demanding an outlet, hence the cruelty.

Raising his glass to his lips, he took a sip, the scotch was harsh, almost punishing as it burned a path from his tongue to his stomach but he welcomed it, anything to dull the pain he was feeling inside.

He had to hold on to his control no matter what, or maybe it was the façade of control, he wasn’t sure anymore but whatever it was, he had to hold on to it.

“This is survival” he told himself.

A sigh passed his lips again and took another sip of his drink.

Survival tasted too much like damnation… and he hated it.

*********

Far from the Vale mansion, in another impressive mansion with just as much history as the Vale mansion sat Evander Knox, he watched his mate stretch languidly across silk cushions.

Her almost white hair spilled down bare shoulders, her eyes half-lidded with amusement as she traced slow patterns along the arm of Evander’s chair, she wore a black silk gown that clung to her body like a second skin, the dress had long slits on both sides running all the way to her thighs, exposing her milky skin beneath. Her entire presence was charged with quiet seduction.

“You are restless” Nyx murmured as she stared at Evander.

Evander smiled, reaching out to pull her closer, she straddled his lap without resistance, her fingers curling into his collar.

“Ronan is hiding something” Evander said calmly, his fingers were on Nyx’s lower back now, tracing slow lazy patterns.

Nyx leaned closer, lips brushing his ear, ever so gently “And that bothers you?” she whispered as she placed a gentle kiss just beneath his ear.

“Everything about Ronan bothers me, even his mere existence sickens me” Evander said, his eyes darkening as the words left his lips.

“You wish to take everything from him?” Nyx whispered again as she began to move on his lap.

His hold on her waist was tighter now.

“I want everything he has” his voice was a lot deeper now and his eyes were starting to get darker with the build of pleasure and lust settling in his core.

“Then we will take it all, besides, a throne looks better with you sitting on it” Nyx slurred, her head thrown back now, her hair had fallen all over her shoulders and her breath was coming out in short choppy breaths now.

“And you beside me” Evander grunted, his hands on waist like a vice now and his hips were moving in sync with Nyx’s movements now.

A laugh escaped Nyx’s parted lips “Then let him keep his throne, and whatever fragile secret he is hiding, after all, the higher it rises…”

“The harder it falls” Evander finished.

Their breaths filled the exquisite room, their lips hovered close, breath mingling and just when their movements seized and moans of pleasure filled the room, their lips crashed into one another’s.

**********

Night fell heavily over the Vale Mansion.

Amara stood stiffly at the edge of Ronan’s king-sized bed, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure it could be heard down the hall.

She had been bathed, dressed in silk that still felt foreign against her skin, her hair brushed until it gleamed in the light.

She felt like a sacrifice prepared for an altar.

Ronan entered without a word.

He paused when his eyes fell on her, for a spilt second, he believed she was Elara, the clothes, the hair, it was all the same but then he smelt it…she reeked of fear and immediately, disgust overtook his initial belief.

He turned away from her and removed his jacket slowly, methodically, as though she wasn’t there at all. When his gaze finally lifted to her, it was unreadable.

Cold, tired and haunted, that was what Amara saw in his eyes.

“Lie down” he said.

Amara obeyed immediately, sliding beneath the covers and turning rigid on her side, her back to him. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for something…anything.

The mattress dipped behind her.

Ronan lay beside her, a solid presence radiating heat and restrained power. He did not touch her, did not speak to her, he just lay there quietly.

An hour passed in silence and sleep did not come to either of them.

Amara lay frozen, every breath shallow, every nerve on fire, she could feel him behind her, could feel the heat radiating off his body.

Ronan stared into the darkness.

Elara had always slept curled into his chest.

The girl did not, she lay on the other side of the bed, shivering and covered with the foul stench of fear.

The space between was charged with grief, fear, and resentment.

That night, neither of them was able to get any sleep, they lay in silence as the night dragged by.