Chapter 5 The offer
Chapter 5: Scarlett
My wet eyes moved to the device he had placed in my hand and back to his face. "What is this?"
Luciano got up and released a deep sigh. "A recording device."
My heart skipped multiple beats and my eyes returned to the device again.
"I was worried about the switch in attitude he had after the ceremony back at your place. I tried to talk to him, but he refused to let me in..." He paused, turning to look at the sadness and denial that struggled over me.
"Earlier today, there was a meeting that can prove to you exactly what Asher wants to do to you and your family... It is a big risk I am taking to give you this because I am directly going against my King and Alpha. But..."
He lowered himself before me and his hands reached for my knees as our eyes locked. "You mean a lot to me and if I have to put my life at risk to give you the truth. Then I will."
My heart stopped beating and the world turned silent. Only Luciano's words rang out in my head. I knew he couldn't lie to me and for him to put his life on the line... There had to be some truth in this recording.
Slowly, my finger pressed the start button and I listened to the meeting. The tears I was already struggling to keep at bay started flowing stronger as I listened to the hate in Asher's voice as he instructed his people to take away the peace of my people.
Luciano was right. He was driven by greed and anger so deep it turned him into a monster.
Why else would he want to be with me only to have a child that could make his claim to the throne from my brother legitimately?
My heart broke into a million pieces as the recording continued playing. My thoughts swam back and forth from the part where he had confessed his love to me and the part where I had foolishly admitted to loving him too.
Even my damned wolf had recognized him as my mate.
But as the recording came to an end, my broken heart was patched up with anger. I wasn't some Lycan princess he could toy with.
I wasn't going to give him what he wanted. I refused to be the pawn in his game. We would play each other in this game.
"I can stop him," I mumbled as I handed the device back to Luciano.
Luciano's face morphed into a frown and he cocked his head to the side. "Scarlett, he is a Lycan. How can you stop him?"
"I am also a Lycan, Luciano. Don't forget that." My hands fisted and I got off his chair. "I would not sit back and watch him destroy what my father and my brother have suffered to come up with."
He also straightened up and the worry in his eyes was enough for my resolve to strengthen itself. Asher didn't deserve to rule people like Luciano.
If I was going to stop him, I had to make my rules around his. Instantly, I pulled out my phone from my pocket and dialed my brother's number.
"What are you doing?" Luciano cried out, taking the phone from me and stopping the call before he could pick up.
"what does it look like I am doing?" I hissed. "I am calling my brother and ending this madness at once. He thinks he can send rogues to attack my people and I will just stand back and do nothing?"
"No, he doesn't because he doesn't know that you heard him." Luciano looked flustered as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Look, the second you call your brother, Asher will fight back. And right now, no offense but your army isn't looking so good with the attack of Willow a few months back. They won't win the fight and what would happen to your people then?"
My fingers clasped together as I began to pace.
Luciano was right. If I called Axel and gave him the proof I had, he would attack straight and we couldn't win that attack. Asher was stronger than we were.
The realization made my heart sink and the tears returned to my eyes. "What can we do then?" I cried desperately helpless. "I can't— I can't just not do anything."
Luciano ran his fingers through his hair once again and placed his hand on his waist while he watched me.
"I have another idea."
With tears still in my eyes, I raised them to his and paused my pitiful thoughts.
"Asher can send rogues to attack but his true claim to the throne will stand when you give him an heir. If we can prevent that, then we can beat him."
My broken heart stopped as the thoughts rolled over in my head. It could work but how?
I was going to ask Luciano this when the sound of my phone ringing suddenly broke the tension in the room, bringing me out of my head as well.
"Hello," I answered as Luciano handed the phone back to me.
It was my brother. Axel, the first son of Talon Black.
"Scarlett, that was fast..." he teased. "Do you already miss us?"
The excitement in his voice brought even more tears to my eyes as I now understood even deeper what Luciano had just done. He stopped me from causing pain to my brother who thought he had done the right thing by marrying me off to a good guy.
A guy that was far from good. A power-hungry Lycan. A true monster.
"Yeah... yes, I missed you all and I was wondering how you are all doing?" I lied while struggling to keep away my sniffles.
"Scarlett, are you okay?"
Shit. He must have picked up the sadness from my voice.
Quickly, I broke into a forced laughter.
"Of course. I am very fine. I just miss you guys that's all. I will try and come over as soon as I get some free time, okay?"
"Hmm, okay and make sure to bring that mate of yours," Axel chuckled and I felt a part of me die.
How were they going to feel when the truth finally got to them?
I had to stop him before things got even worse.
"Sure. Bye Axel." I ended the call and sent a quick text to Uncle Greg to tighten security around the border villages, just to be extra safe.
Our army may have been shrunk down to a small size after the war Willow had brought to our doorstep but we were not going to stand by and let Asher win this. No way.
My eyes returned to Luciano and I remembered his offer.
"How do I stop myself from getting pregnant?"
"I will get you some pills to take regularly but it will take some time before it gets here... Just try not to meet with him and if you do meet, try to take lots of fruits with acids content. That should wash away his sperm in your body."
Once again my hands fisted and I nodded. "I will do just that... Thank you, Luciano. For everything and don't worry, I will protect you. My family will protect you."
He nodded, dropping his eyes to the floor. He probably thought my words were just that but I was an offspring of Talon Black. We don't make promises without keeping them. I was going to make sure he was safe at the end of this madness.
"I shall return now," I started heading to the door, determined to make Asher fail in his wicked plans.
"Scarlett," Luciano called and I paused.
"Huh?"
"Please stay safe. Don't act like you know anything yet. You need the element of surprise if you want to beat him."
I pursed my lips and nodded. "I will."
With that, I walked out of his quarters and headed back to mine.
As I got in, I locked the door and wrapped my hands around my chest. The whole truth crashed down over me and for a second I wanted to fall over the bed and cry my eyes out, but I fisted my hands and braced myself.
This was what Asher wanted. He lied to me and my family so he could enjoy the look of pain that his betrayal would bring. But he was wrong.
I was not going to give him that satisfaction even if it killed me, I would smile and show him how strong we were. My attitude was going to confuse him, play him the same way he was playing me until it drove him crazy enough to speak the truth.
Lightening never struck the same place twice. I was going to fight back with everything I had.
"My queen?"
I snapped my head to the door as I recognized Stella's voice. My brows furrowed but I unlocked the door and stared at her.
"I am sorry but you are not to lock your door except the king is with you," she said the second the door opened and my brows arched even further.