The Alpha’s forbidden heirs

The First Betrayal

Lyanna's heart was beating so loud that she knew Kieran was able to hear it.

The room was so small it seemed.

Kieran remained in front of her, his hand under her chin, his dark eyes staring into hers. What he said stuck in his head.

I never leave, I never leave.

Lyanna swallowed hard.

All of her rational thoughts in her mind shouted, “This is a bad idea.”

Kieran should NOT be in her bedroom.

When he went in, she should've kicked him out.

She should have called for the guards.

She ought to have done a lot of things.

But she stayed right where she was.

Watching him.

Letting him stay.

Slowly, Lyanna lowered her gaze. “Kieran, it's not right.”

Kieran took his hand from her chin, carefully. “I know.”

Lyanna raised her eyes to him. But why have you come here?”

Kieran let out a frustrated sigh. “So I couldn't help myself.”

The honesty of his voice made her chest tighten.

She had told herself for months that no one else was having any trouble.

The only one haunted by that night.

The sole one who was feigning a normal life.

This time she knew that she had been mistaken.

Lyanna clutched her arms across her chest. “This is going to be more difficult.”

Kieran gave a humorless laugh. “Believe me, Lyanna, it already is.

There was a hush between them.

Neither moved.

Neither looked away.

The mood of the room had festered since breakfast.

Kieran stepped slowly closer. “Tell me to leave.”

Lyanna’s breath caught.

Kieran was fixed on her gaze. If you truly want to go out that door, I'll go out that door right now.

The answer should have been easy.

It wasn’t.

If she really wanted him off, she'd have asked for it yet.

Rather, she was left gazing at him in silence.

Kieran appeared to know exactly what that silence was about.

Slowly, he stretched his hand out toward her.

Lyanna should have backed off.

She didn’t.

His fingers wrapped around hers and her heart gave way.

Months of denial.

Months of restraint.

Months of pretending.

Now, nothing seemed possible.

Kieran stepped closer. “He's been on my mind all day long.”

Lyanna closed her eyes for a moment.

These were the words she did not want to hear.

Since a portion of her wanted to confess that she had done the same.

Lyanna shook her head. “Please stop.”

Kieran’s voice softened. “Why?”

Lyanna opened her eyes. “It's not possible because of you.”

They didn't say anything for a few seconds.

Then Kieran raised a hand and delicately pushed a loose strand of hair from her face.

It was an intimate gesture, too simple.

Far too personal.

Kieran studied her intently. “You can imagine that you don't feel it.”

Lyanna’s pulse quickened.

Kieran continued quietly. But I know you do,” said the woman.

But before Lyanna could say anything, Kieran bent down and kissed her.

As his lips touched her, all her arguments were immediately forgotten.

She was glued to the spot for a split second.

Then she gave him a kiss, and then she kissed him again.

The decision was "foolish.

Selfish.

Dangerous.

She was well aware of all that.

But all those thoughts were not enough to deter her.

Finally, weeks of tension broke out.

After months of longing, it came forth.

Both of them did not want to give it a rest.

Several hours later, there was no noise to be heard around the estate.

The rest of the family was all asleep.

Reality returned inside Lyanna's room.

The emotional frenzy subsided.

Soon, guilt was to replace it.

Lyanna was sitting on the edge of her bed, looking at the floor.

Her heart was weighed down.

Everything had changed.

It didn't take long to realize that was the case.

She had betrayed her mate.

She had passed a point which she would never be able to return to.

Lyanna put her hands to her face. “What is going on?”

There was a quiet for a moment in the room.

Kieran was seated next to her. “We made a choice.”

Lyanna instantly turned to him. “A terrible choice.”

Kieran shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

Lyanna was in disbelief.

Lyanna stood up and walked away from the bed. “It is not to be repeated.”

She was watched closely by Kieran.

Kieran bent his head a little closer. “Why?”

Lyanna looked at him, her mouth open in amazement. “Really, you have to ask?”

Kieran rose to his feet. “Yes.”

Lyanna indicated the door. “For I'm engaged to your brother.”

Kieran’s expression hardened. “A political alliance is not a true relationship.”

Lyanna stood with her arms folded. “That doesn’t matter.”

Kieran took a step toward her. “It does matter.”

Lyanna shook her head.

She didn’t want to hear this.

She certainly did not want to agree with him.

Sadly, some of her already did.

Kieran stopped a few feet away. “Look at your life Lyanna.”

She remained silent.

Kieran continued. “Ronan treats you with respect.”

Lyanna nodded reluctantly. “He does.”

Kieran's voice grew stronger. “But does he love you?”

This question came at her harder than she thought.

Lyanna looked away. “Well, that's not what it's about.”

Kieran immediately disagreed. “It's just that point.”

It was quiet once more.

They did not have to tell the truth in words.

Ronan never said he loved her.

He never said he was.

Their bond was because it helped both families.

Nothing more.

Kieran studied her face while she was alive. “When did he last ask you if you were happy?”

Lyanna couldn’t answer.

Kieran shook his head. “Sure, I thought that, too.”

Lyanna sighed heavily. “Please stop.”

Kieran softened slightly. “Don't take offense at me.”

Lyanna laughed bitterly. “You’re not helping.”

Kieran didn't say anything for a while.

From there, it was closer.

Kieran spoke softly. “You deserve more than just to survive.”

Lyanna's chest tightened once again.

It was a dangerous statement made with those words.

Not because they were bad.

Because she wanted to believe them.

This was what she was most afraid of.

The discussion went on for some time after.

They didn't raise their voices at all.

They both did not argue as they should have.

Instead, they talked.

About the past.

About expectations.

Of their families' lives they had selected.

When they once more fell silent, the first signs of dawn were just beginning to be visible through the windows.

Kieran was the first to see it.

Kieran looked over at the curtains. “I should go.”

Reality immediately returned.

Lyanna nodded.

This time they didn't argue with each other.

They were both genuine.

Both realized what they were putting themselves in.

Kieran approached the door.

He stopped for a second.

Kieran sneered at her. “Get some sleep.”

Lyanna almost laughed.

Sleep was out of the question.

A small nod was all Lyanna could muster. “Goodnight.”

Kieran opened the door quietly. “Goodnight, Lyanna.”

Then he left.

Behind him the door closed.

Lyanna stood in the middle of the room.

Alone.

The quiet was different this time.

Heavier.

More complicated.

Slowly she got back into bed and looked up at the ceiling.

Sleep never came.

Rather, she spent the remainder of the night caught between guilt and desire.

One of her parts was disgusted at what had happened.

Another part replayed all moments.

Every word.

Every look.

Every touch.

The battle raged in her for hours.

After a long night, Lyanna was tired when the morning finally arrived.

She hurriedly dressed and went out of her room.

The estate was just starting to come into the world.

Clerks went around the corridors.

Guards changed shifts.

Everything appeared normal.

Lyanna wished that she felt the same.

She heard voices as she came near the main staircase.

Instinctively, she slowed her steps.

There were two men at the entrance hall.

Ronan.

And Kieran.

Lyanna’s heart immediately skipped a beat.

Both men did not seem to be in a rage.

Neither seemed suspicious.

Indeed, they were talking casually.

As brothers.

Lyanna was a bit uneasy to see this.

She halted a few yards back and heard.

Ronan tidied his jacket up. I believed you were going to leave this morning.

Kieran shrugged casually. “I was.”

Ronan frowned slightly. “What changed?”

For one soul-crushing moment Lyanna didn't know how to breathe.

Kieran glanced in her direction.

They looked at each other for a split second.

Only briefly.

But it made her heart jump to her feet.

Then Kieran glanced over at his brother.

Kieran put his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “Change of plans.”