Chapter 2
1270 Words
Aurelia POV
My heart was slamming too fast and hard. I knew I had to think fast before everything backfires.
“Yes, I saw her,” I stammered, pointing a trembling finger across the room. “I saw Luna Selena put something into your cup. I’m sure of it.”
Selena’s perfectly painted face went pale. Her blonde curls were piled atop her head like a queen's crown, but her lips parted in visible shock.
She was near tears, and I could see the horror in her eyes.
“She’s lying!” she barked, stepping forward. “I would never do such a thing! This little incubator is trying to be smart!”
Her voice cracked, and I knew for sure she's about to crumble.
I rolled my eyes and let out a scoff, unable to stop myself. “Deceit looks better when you don’t scream it, Luna,” I said with contempt.
Somehow, she had lost this round and I knew it. We stared at each other. I could not give her the satisfaction of seeing me drop my gaze first. Of course, she was the Luna, and it was an abomination for a mere commoner like myself to stand up to her. That was then, now I'm nothing but her nemesis!
As the standoff lengthened, the hatred she saw in my eyes riled her.
“Enough,” the Alpha King commanded, and his voice was the only thing that made me divert my gaze. “Both of you. We’ll get to the root of this.”
He signaled two guards.
“Take them both to the conference hall. I want everyone present. I will not tolerate lies in my court.”
Ten minutes later, we arrived at the conference hall, which I was already intimate with. I didn't hesitate. My blood was pulsing thickly in my veins and I strode to the trial stand.
I stood on one side, hands clenched at my sides. Selena was on the other, as her eyes scanned everyone present.
The King stood between us, holding the untouched goblet.
“Selena,” he said, but his tone was calm and wary. “Aurelia claims she saw you poison my drink. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Selena placed her hand on her chest, stepping into the center like an award-winning actress.
“I would never harm you,” she whispered. “You are my mate, my King. My everything. I don’t know why she’s doing this, but it’s a lie. I'm sure she's just like every other girl in the pack that has always been jealous of me.”
I bit back a bitter laugh. “Jealous? Of you?” I took a step forward. “Look at you, what is there to be jealous of? Your fake BBL butt? Or your face that's filled with all the Botox in the world? Oh please, get down from your high horse! You have been poisoning the king from day one, suppressing his ability to sense his mate! You did all that so you could control him.”
Her face twitched.
The Alpha King raised his hand before either of us could speak again.
“I will not condemn you without proof,” he said, turning toward me. “But if you’re lying…”
“I’m not,” I interrupted. “Test the drink. Get your royal healer. If it’s clean, I will gladly face your punishment. Even beheading.”
There was a collective gasp from the elders seated nearby. I felt every gaze on me like a brand, but I straightened and looked at the king.
The King’s eyes locked with mine. No man has ever looked at me the way he was looking at me. There was a pause and I could almost hear every heartbeat.
He turned to the guards. “Fetch the healer. Now.”
An hour passed. A painfully long hour.
Everyone stood, watching as the goblet was examined by Elder Merek, the most trusted healer in the entire Northern Region. Selena was muttering angrily as she shoved her head to see what was going on.
When the doors opened again, Merek walked in, his expression ashen.
“The results are troubling,” he said gravely. “There’s no typical poison in the drink. But it’s not clean either.”
The King stood. “Explain what you mean by that.”
Merek bowed. “The contents were filled with a binding enchantment designed to conceal one’s true mate and to suppress the bond from forming.”
Selena gasped. “That’s impossible, she must have paid him to lie.”
“It’s not,” Merek cut in, his voice firmer now. “And there’s more. While testing, a pulse of power responded to the bond within this room. Your Majesty, your true mate is here with us, and she's standing right there...”
Everyone turned to me.
“No,” Selena hissed. "This is all nonsense! This filthy omega can not be the Luna!”
Merek nodded slowly. “The bond responded to her.” He pointed at me. “She is your true mate, my king.”
The King’s eyes burned into mine. But heart actually skipped a beat from his intense gaze.
He turned slowly to face Selena, dark rage burned in his eyes.
“Why?” he demanded. His voice thundered now. “Why would you do this?”
Selena’s mask cracked. Her nostrils flared. She tried to touch him, but the look in his eyes told her better.
“I didn't mean for any bad thing to happen!” she cried, tears sliding down her cheeks. “I only wanted to keep you for myself. You don’t know what it’s like, to live in fear that someone else could steal you away from me!”
As she stumbled forward again to clutch his hand, I moved instinctively. Sliding my left foot out, it was subtle but swift.
Selena tripped and landed hard on the stone floor. When she looked up, she already had a bleeding nose. I couldn’t help the smirk curling on my lips, and in that moment, I knew immense satisfaction.
She groaned and pushed herself up, hair tumbling from its perfect updo, eyes wild with fury, tears of pain coming to her eyes.
“You witch!” she shrieked, lunging toward me.
“Stand down!” the King barked. The guards moved in, pinning her arms before she could get close.
“Take her away,” the Alpha commanded coldly. "And from today henceforth, Selena Vale, you cease to be my Luna. You're hereby relieved of all your duties in the pack and kingdom at large."
Selena's eyes widened. “You are out of your mind, I am your Luna!” she screamed.
“And today,” he continued, turning to look at me, “You will take your rightful place as my mate, and preparations for our coronation will commence shortly."
It was a shock.
Seeing me standing as the next Luna was a terrible shock for Selena.
It was only yesterday that Selena had killed me, confident in her victory, confident that she had used and killed that very naive, weak Omega.
And she was right, because that girl is dead. I might be a mass of overwrought nerves on the inside, but outside I will be all aristocratic disdain and powerful. I am Aurelia and I'd be damned if I would let them forget the pain they caused me.
Vengeance is of the goddess, I know, but I'm back to serve it on a platter. Hot and ruthless.
- Writer
