Sacrifice For The Alpha

Chapter Five: Riera?

LUCIAN’S POV

I never thought I’d set my eyes on you again, my beautiful Riera.

“Your highness this is madness.” The head council member said in a frenzy.

Truly my decision had shook the entire palace. But how could I let her die? When my eyes met hers in that courtroom I thought I had seen a ghost. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She was here, alive. But she was human.

“And what makes my decision mad?”

“Keeping this Daciana girl here!”

“Daciana… so that’s her name”. I said, completely ignoring the words of the council member.

“This human girl was meant to be a sacrifice your highness. But you let her go. You’re even treating her like a royal guest, this is unheard of-”.

“Hold it right there!” I said, stopping him right in his tracks. No one had the right to go against my orders and decisions.

“I’m s-sorry your highness,” He said, his voice trembling and his hands shaking.

“Now let me just remind you. I’m in charge. I made that tradition, I’m the one that gave the humans that condition to bring me a sacrifice every blood moon. Whatever I choose to do with that sacrifice should be nobody’s damn business.” I said menacingly. I hated defiance. It was what made me curse that stupid town in the first place. Who knew they harboured the love of my life.

“I understand that she bears a resemblance to Lady Riera. But at the end of the day that girl is a human, not your Luna”. He said in a whisper, afraid of what his words might trigger.

“I don’t care. She stays here and that’s final”. I say as I walk into my chambers.

I let out a deep sigh as I removed the sheet that was covering Riera’s painting.

I gazed upon her everlasting beauty. It felt like I could reach in and hold her once more. She was here. I couldn’t explain it but that human girl was my mate. I could feel the bond pulsing in my veins when I was close to her.

Could she really be my Riera?

Ugh!

I fell to my knees feeling weak all over. She promised me she’d be back. I remember it like it was yesterday. She was laying on her death bed, she could barely get a word out. All I could think of was saving her. I brought in different healers from different kingdoms but none of them could cure her. They couldn’t even pinpoint the cause of her illness.

I was devastated. After weeks of not being able to speak she finally spoke up. Her voice was weak and frail.

“My love…” She said softly, raising her hands to hold my face.

I couldn’t hold back my tears. I knelt next to her bed. I didn’t even know what I wanted to tell her. I just wanted her to live.

“Please don’t say anything. I’ll get the healer-”

“Don’t… don’t go. There’s no use. I won’t make it.”. Her words made my whole word come crashing down.

“Riera, my Luna. Please don’t say that. The fact that you’re speaking. It’s progress. I just need to call the healer-”

“Lucian.” She looked at me and gave me a soft smile. “Lucian, I'm not going to make it. You know that.”

“Please Riera, you can’t leave me. Y-you can’t leave me. What would I be, what would I do without you? There’s nothing for me without you”. I said in between sobs.

“Don’t say that. You are the great-” Her cough cut her short.

“Please Riera take it easy. Please let me call the healer.” I was about to stand up when she held me back. I could feel her using all her strength to hold me back.

“Don’t. Just listen to me. You are the great Alpha Lucian Bloodfang. Conqueror of lands, protector of the Bloodfang kingdom and the love of my life. That will never change, whether I am here or not.”.

“Please don’t leave me”

Riera smiled softly, her eyes closing gradually.

“I will always love you, Lucian. And we will meet again, trust me. I’ll come back to you. I promise. Just promise me that you'll continue living. That you won’t let my death affect how you rule this kingdom”

“Riera please”

“Promise me, Lucian” She said as she stared at me with her beautiful green eyes. I’d wage wars, slay the mightiest warriors just to continue staring into those eyes.

“I promise”. I said and kissed her passionately. I wanted nothing more than to remain with her forever. And then… I couldn’t hear her heart beat anymore. She was gone. My wife, my luna, my mate, gone.

I cried so hard the heavens must’ve heard me.

I never thought I’d see her again, I never thought I’d get to hold her again. But here she was, in this very palace that she had died.

“Guards!” I called for my guards immediately.

“Your highness. You called for us”

“Take me to Daciana’s chamber, now”. I ordered and they led me to her chambers.

I watched her from the door quietly. She was clothed in the silk dress that I had prepared for her. She looked like royalty, like she was meant to be here. I knew without a doubt that this was Riera’s promise coming to life.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight before me. She looked exactly like Riera, although she was more beautiful. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She turned to the door and immediately noticed my presence. I didn’t mean to startle her. I just couldn’t look away from her.

“Uh.. g-good evening your highness uhh. Th-thank you for the clothes and food. I don’t know why you spared me but I am very grateful”.

Her voice, that voice. That was… that was the same voice that sang me lullabies every night. That comforted me when I was at my lowest.

I found myself taking steps towards her. I just wanted to hold her, to feel her soft skin once again. I stopped once I was inches away from her. I stared at her beautiful green orbs like they were the only thing that mattered to me, because in reality they were the only thing that mattered. I could feel the mate bond pulsing between us.

She was my mate.

I ran my hands through her hair, softly caressing it. She looked at me confused but I couldn’t even muster up words.

I immediately withdrew my hands from her hair and left the room, leaving her bewildered.

I practically ran back to my chambers and shut the door behind me.

I didn’t know how, but she was back.

Riera… You kept your promise.

You found your way back to me.