I looked at Grayson as he stood there, arms clasped behind his back. He turned and bowed his head to
me as I approached.
“Do you know why you are here?” I asked seriously, my footsteps echoing in the silence.
This was a grave matter, not only had I trusted this man, I had dined with him, a man who had cheated
with my woman behind my back…
“No Alpha.” He replied solemnly.
“I know of your affair with Soleil.” I was unable to keep the rage from my shaking voice. “Give me a
reason not to tear you to shreds right now.”
A frown flitted across his face, and he sighed heavily. It was not the reaction I was expecting. “Good. It is
a burden I was tired of carrying.” He said quietly.
I frowned.
“That’s all you have to say? After everything you have done?” I growled. “I was blackmailed, I had no
choice.” “Blackmailed?” I asked sharply. “I want the truth.” My alpha command rolled off me in waves and
he submitted, lowering his head in response. “Tell me the truth! The entire truth!” He took a deep breath.
“The Luna had always been infatuated with me, but she told me that if I did not yield to her demands
then she would make sure that I was ruined… I still refused, yet somehow she managed to get me in
bed. When I awoke the following day, I was ready to tell you everything, but she told me that no one
would believe me and she would accuse me of raping her. We all know the King’s Luna’s word in the
matter would hold more power over a simple gamma’s…”
I couldn’t begin to comprehend the torrent of emotions that hit me.
Was Soleil really this… conniving?
She always appeared prim, proper, and supportive. Always there for me…
“From there, she told me that I better agree or she would tell Zoe and ruin my life, and that of my young
pup’s. She used to give you a sleeping potion so you wouldn’t even notice her missing.”
And that was how I never felt her cheating, she had me unconscious… 1
My anger was growing and all I wanted to do was end the woman who was meant to be my true mate. I
could not, I had marked her, her death meant my death.
How had she had the audacity to use and blackmail one of my own men?
“And how long did it last?” I asked, feeling angry that this man was Charlene’s father.
She was my daughter; I had raised her and watched her grow. What irritated me was that Charlene had
always preferred Grayson and William over me growing up. Grayson was a quiet man, but he always
took the time to greet her. Was it the unknowing bond of father and daughter? “A few months, she
suddenly decided I was of no use anymore.” He said frowning.
When she became pregnant… This was all Soleil’s doing… “Forgive me my king, I am ready for any
punishment you deem worthy. I only ask you do not tell my mate.” He lowered his head and I frowned
deeply. “You will be let out at dawn, I will say I had a tip-off and I had to question you for the safety of the
kingdom,” I said, turning away. “Alpha…” I paused, waiting for him to continue. “May I ask how it was
revealed now?” He asked hesitantly.
I tensed, how do I answer that… when I make the announcement tomorrow that Yileyna is my
daughter… would he piece the puzzle together? “I myself had an affair, and in her rage, she told me that
she too had committed the same sin. “I replied simply, before I left the cells.
I had been here far too often in the last few days, and I did not wish to come here again for a while.
It was late. Although I didn’t want to return to my quarters, I needed to face Soleil. There was much I
needed to ask her.
How dare she..
I looked at Luna Soleil, who stood at the door to Charlene’s room. 1
She looked distraught, her face was make-up-free and her hair was a mess. Her eyes were red from
obvious crying. “What I do with my life has nothing to do with you, Luna, especially calling me a whore
when I think that would be more befitting for you, don’t you think?” 2 The words had left my lips before I
had been able to stop myself.
Shit.
Her eyes flashed as she strode over to me, her fists clenched as she glared at me.
“Don’t you dare! It was your mother who was a whore! Seducing my king and then giving birth to you… I
always knew there was something about you that I just never liked.” She grabbed hold of my jaw,
squeezing it painfully.
“I don’t know much about her, but I also know having an affair when you are mated is worse than me
whoring around when I’m unmated.” I said icily, pushing her hand off of me. 1
“If you had any shame, you would pack your bags and leave silently.” She said with contempt.
“Shame? What have I done that I should be ashamed of Luna?” I asked quietly. I had too much on my
head to waste time with her. “Don’t think I don’t know what went on with you and Theon! This position,
this title, all of this belongs to Charlene, and you think you can stroll into here and steal her clothes too?!”
She spat, yanking the tunic I had taken from the drawer. “I always knew that Andrea was a whoring
bitch!” “Don’t you dare insult my mother!” I hissed, feeling my anger rise.
She obviously didn’t know that my mother wasn’t my birth mother, but how dare she insult her?
“Well, like mother like daughter, don’t you agree?” Soleil scoffed scornfully.
“My parents were the most in love couple I have seen, and it’s something you could only ever hope to
have. She would never cheat on father, how dare you dirty her name.” I shot back, my eyes flashing, and
the windows rattled in the wind. Breath, Yileyna…
“In love? Yet she was able to spread her legs for her Alpha. What a good little slut-”
“Enough!” The king thundered, making both of our gazes snap towards the door. My heart was
thundering as I focused on my own emotions, until the rattling stopped. The king seemed to do a quick
sweep of my soaking clothes. “Give her the dress, Soleil.” He growled commandingly.
The queen pressed her lips together before tossing it at me, her eyes flashing.
“Yileyna, go shower and change before you catch a cold. Did I not tell you, you cannot leave these
quarters?” He asked coldly. “I went with Theon.” I replied, knowing the king couldn’t fault that. He trusted
Theon and had made him my bodyguard.
As predicted, he visibly relaxed.
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