Chapter 41 041

Chapter 41 041
Chapter 41

Lucien's POV

Time was slipping away like sand through my fingers, and Ria still had not returned.

I stood by the window of my chambers, staring out at the garden's gate in the distance. I had been keeping taps on time and I could tell that we didn't have much time left.

I clenched my fist hard while I was consumed with anger. I should have stopped this whole charade as soon as I realized that it was all fake

It was clear to me that Ria would never survive it, but instead of helping her, I let my pride get the best of me.

“Fuck!” I gritted my teeth in anger.

If she did not come out soon, I would have to go in after her. Competition be damned. I did not care if it meant the trial would be void, I did not care what the other Alphas would say or think.

But if I went in there now, I would be admitting that I believed she could not do it. That I did not trust her strength. And worse, I would be proving everyone else right. That she was not capable of being Luna.

I ran my hand through my hair, frustration building inside me with each passing second.

There had to be another way. Some way to help her without invalidating everything she was trying to prove.

I stopped pacing suddenly as an idea struck me. It was risky, but it might work.

I grabbed my shirt from where I had tossed it earlier and pulled it on quickly, not bothering to button it properly.

"Guard!" I called out as I stepped into the hallway.

Two of my men appeared immediately, standing at attention.

"Summon Anna to my chambers now!"

They exchanged a quick glance but knew better than to question me. One of them nodded and hurried off while the other remained posted outside my door.

I went back inside and waited, my mind still consumed with thoughts.

And I had not missed her scent at the council meeting earlier. She had been there, somewhere close and now I understood why that was.

A knock came at the door sooner than I expected.

"Come inside!" I growled.

The door opened and Anna stepped inside. She looked nervous, her eyes darting around the room before settling on me. Her hands were clasped in front of her as she lowered her head.

"You called for me, Alpha Lucien?" Her voice was small and careful.

"I know you changed the trial."

Her eyes widened. "What? I do not know what you are talking about."

"Do not play games with me!" I took a step toward her and she instinctively stepped back.

“Alpha, I don't know where you heard something like this, but I am telling you that it's all a lie, I would never do such!”

She was almost at the brink of tears, there was this fake sincerity in her eyes that made me wonder how she could put up such an act.

"I caught your scent at the chamber where you were last night!" I blurted out, knowing I couldn't beat around the bush when I still had to go and save Ria.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the face towel I had discovered near the door earlier. The one with her distinct scent all over it.

Her face went pale as she stared at it.

"That... that could be anyone's..."

"Do not insult my intelligence." My voice was low, dangerous. "Your scent is all over it. You were there, it obvious you had taken the keys from Alpha Dante after your session with him last night and then when everyone was asleep, you went there and changed the trial"

Anna's lips trembled. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.

"Tell me the truth. Now!"

Her hands began to tremble and without hesitation, She went on her knees, hands clasped together in front of her. "Please, Alpha Lucien. Please, I... I did not mean for it to go this far."

"Don't you dare say that, you know exactly what the ancient Garden is and how dangerous it is, you were purposely sending Ria to her death."

Tears streamed down her face. "I just... I just….. I just wanted to see her suffer even just a little so she would understand the life that I have lived as a maid, serving her"

My hands balled into fists at my sides. "I don't know much about your relationship with her, but one thing is certain which I know is the fact that Ria never treated you badly, she took you in as her sister”

"Please..." She was sobbing now, her whole body shaking. "Please do not punish me. I am sorry…. I am so sorry."

"Sorry won't change anything. I understand that all of this was because Dante had promised you would end up with him, but was it worth betraying her?"

She didn't say a word as tears were still in her eyes.

I studied her for a long moment. She was terrified, that much was clear.

"You have one chance to make this right," I said, my voice cold. "Tell me everything. Who you told, why you did it, all of it. And maybe, just maybe, I will consider forgiving you."

She looked up at me, hope flickering in her tear-filled eyes. "You... Will you forgive me?"

"Only if you tell me the truth. Right now."

She hesitated, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled with herself. Finally, she shook her head. "I acted on my own. No one told me to do it. I just... I just wanted to help someone and I made a mistake."

Liar.

I could see it written all over her face. And even though I thought it was all because she wanted to get on the good side of Dante hoping he would end up with her, I knew it was all a lie, there was more to it.

"Guards!"

The door burst open immediately, Two of my men stepped inside, standing at attention.

"Take her to the cells."

"No!" Anna screamed, throwing herself forward. She grabbed at my legs, clinging desperately. "Please! Please, Alpha Lucien, I am begging you! Do not do this!"

"You had your chance to tell me the truth."

"I am telling the truth! I swear I am!" She was hysterical now, rolling on the ground as the guards moved to grab her. "Please! I will do anything! Anything! Just do not lock me up!"

The guards hauled her to her feet but she fought against them, twisting and crying out.

"Please! Have mercy! I did not mean to hurt anyone! I did not know!"

No matter how much she pleaded, I wasn't ready to listen to anything she had to say, but just then, someone stormed in.

Dante dashed in accompanied with two of his men, his eyes blood shot red as he was piercing his gaze at me then slowly he drifted to her.

“Anna. Are you alright?” He asked and all she could do was sob while wiping the strain of tears from her eyes.

“How dare you touch her without my permission?”

“your permission?” I scoffed, starting hysterically at him. “Last time I checked, I didn't answer you, not to mention, she is not your Luna, neither is she your ward or concubine!”

I growl, drawing closer to him like I needed him to see the anger in my eyes.

“She is my woman, that you are fully aware of, I don't know…..”

“She committed a crime and even if she is your woman, she would answer to her crime”

“Then let me punish her myself?”

“No! We will make the decision once Silas is here. Two votes against one. That will determine her fate, in the meantime, send her to the cell and lock her up!”

When I said those last words. My eyes were on my men who did not hesitate and grab her, hauling her out of there.