Chapter 70 Chapter 70: Scapegoat

Chapter 70 Chapter 70: Scapegoat
ARIANNA'S POV

“Good afternoon everyone” I greeted, bowing my head slightly.

“The two people involved are here, how about we start the meeting now?” The council leader let out, ignoring my greetings.

I swallowed slightly, raising my head from the bow it was in.

“Isn't it proper decorum to answer to a greeting?” Lucien questioned as everyone nodded their heads to the leader’s question.

“Why nitpick over something so minute?” One council elder let out, throwing a look towards me as he coughed.

“Don't forget we are only here for a meeting, I am still the Alpha King” Lucien gritted out, his eyes flashing gold.

“Of course, of course, let's just continue with the-”

“No, you all would respond to her greeting” Lucien declared.

The council elders all looked at each other, looks of confusion on their faces.

“This exactly what was complained about, you show favoritism when it comes to her” one of the council elders mumbled out.

“That is because she-”

“We are together” I interrupted. I stepped forward, my hands clenched into fists by my side.

“Is it so wrong to show hiw much you care to someone you…love?” I asked, my eyes meeting with each and everyone of them.

I met Lucien's gaze then, his eyes shining with pride.

The look in his eyes boosted my confidence even more.

“And more so, it is very important for those who made such claim to provide their evidence” I let out.

The leader of the council elders cleared his throat, his eyes dancing in their sockets.

The people who had made the complaint hadn't dropped any evidence and they had taken it up, that seemed…strange.

“Why take up a case like this that has no concrete base?” I pressed, watching each member’s reaction.

“That is because…multiple people made the complaint, we had to check it out”

“That shouldn't be enough reason, our reputation is at stake now for a matter that wasn't concrete” I disclosed, watching them.

“It is truly concrete if you look at it, you are both together. Which means there claim is true” one of them mumbled, his voice sounding clearly in the space.

“Which is why I am here to claim what is rightfully mine” A voice let out behind Lucien and I.

I turned to see who the speaker was. It was Kieran.

I looked to Lucien, he wasn't meant to be here.

“What would you mean by that Alpha Kieran?” One of the council.members asked.

“Uncle, you have taken that which doesn't belong to you. I am here to ask that you return her back to me” he gritted out.

“I am not a thing you can ask to be returned to you” I snapped out, my eyes flashing with anger.

He turned to look me in the face at my statement, his smile getting wider.

“You made a mistake, Aria. You would come to realize it” he let out, coming closer to where I stood.

“It would be best if you kept your distance from her if you value your life” Lucien growled out, stepping in front of me.

A slimy smirk dominated Kieran's face then. “How can you threaten an Alpha of one of the packs?!” one of the council members let out.

Alpha of one of the packs? What were they talking about?

I looked at Kieran, realization dawning upon me. He had become the Alpha to the Moonlight pack.

But how? “I see you have figured it out, Aria. That is why I am here to claim you. You are my fated mate” he said, his eyes shining oddly.

“I am your nothing no matter what post you get to, go back to whatever hole you crawled out from” I spat at him.

His eyes darkened at that, his body inching closer to where I stood behind Lucien.

“Don't make me act on my warning” Lucien gritted out, his eyes flashing with barely constrained anger.

“You don't have any claim to her, I do!” Kieran roared out, coming to stand face to face with Lucien.

“I don't care if you are the Alpha to this pack or another. If you try to touch her I would make you suffer” Lucien growled out, looking down at Kieran.

Kieran bristled, his nose flaring with anger as he tried to lock eyes with me.

“Hand her over now that I am been nice” He said to Lucien, a crazed look in his eyes.

“She isn't yours, not anymore” Lucien replied, his back blocking my view entirely.

“If that is your final decision, I Alpha Kieran leader of the moonlight challenge you to a duel. The winner kills the loser” Kieran let out.

I let out a gasp, my hands clutching Lucien's shirt tight.

I closed my eyes, tears filing them. I knew he had to accept the challenge unless, he would be tagged as a weak King.

“I accept your challenge” Lucien rumbled out, his tone hard.

“I believe this meeting is done with” he gritted out, pushing past Kieran as he pulled me out with him.

“My idiot brother had step down for his more idiotic son to rule” Lucien gritted out as he closed the door to the driver's seat.

He had a personal car stashed here for emergency sake.

“If that was the case, who told you he was sent to rehab?” I asked.

“The Old man” he gritted out. Then…did that mean Kieran and his father had planned this together.

“It seemed Kieran and his father had planned for the old Alpha to catch him with Lyra” I mumbled out.

“And Lyra was the scapegoat in their elaborate plan” Lucien completed.

I swallowed, ignoring the mess that was Kieran becoming the Alpha to the Moonlight pack, the duel claiming my mind.

It wasn't that I didn't trust Lucien to win the duel. I didn't like the smile that had played on Kieran's just before he declared the duel.

As Lucien drove us to his apartment, I prayed to the moon goddess that I wouldn't lose Lucien to Kieran's scheme.