Chapter 9 - A Present to the Lycan King

“Which is?” Asher asked, clearly displeased.

Brianna lowered her face with her lips downturned and in a very low voice said, “I can offer myself to your Alpha. I can. sacrifice myself. I promise that I will go with you, if you allow it. I am ready to bear the repercussions of my sister’s escape. I will take her place and sacrifice myself for the sake of the Crescent Moon pack, and for the sake of Alpha Hunter’s happiness.” She clasped her hands in front of her to plead with them. “I will do everything in my power to salvage the situation. With the back of her hand she wiped her tears that she was forced to roll out and then glanced at the bridal dress that River had abandoned.

Elijah and Asher looked at the bridal dress and then each other. There was tension in the air.

“Stay here,” said Elijah. “And don’t get out. We will be back soon.”

Brianna nodded vehemently. As soon as they were out, she let out a little whoop of joy. Excited that the two Lycans had taken the bait, she went to the bathroom and took a bath. Then she came out and wore the bridal dress. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror and imagined the Lycan King beside her.

Tipping her chin up, she said, “You **** Go as for as you can and never come back.”

Brianna didn’t even call her parents for the fear that they might ruin her plans. When they would discover what she did, they would be very sad, but who cared. She was going to get all the riches of the world. Finally, she sat on the bed and waited for her king to come to her.

Hrs Ghapter

As the afternoon gave way to evening, her excitement increased.

A soft knock on the door made her jump with a squeal. She ran to open it. She calmed herself and then opened the door and stared right into the face of River. “You?”

River was shocked to see Brianna in the bridal dress that was meant for her. When her gaze drifted to her sister’s face, she found that blood had drained from Brianna’s face. Soon her expressions turned as if she had eaten bitter lemon.

Brianna snapped her eyes to Asher and Elijah who were standing behind River. She flushed, embarrassed when they scanned her. Elijah raised his eyebrow. “Why are you wearing that dress? And move aside!” he snubbed.

Brianna immediately stepped aside to let them enter. River clutched her bag and walked inside with the two Lycans behind her.

“You should take a warm bath, Miss River,” said Elijah politely. “And you can wear something comfortable. The bridal dress isn’t necessary to wear. Alpha Hunter will be arriving in less than an hour and we shall leave.”

River nodded and stepped in when she heard Brianna closing the door behind her. Brianna rushed to River and grabbed her painfully by her upper arm. She sneered, “You miserable dimwit! See how much trouble you have put everyone in.” She turned her head to the Lycans, changing her expressions to sadness. “Who knows that she has ***someone while she escaped? I think Alpha Hunter would want a pure, virgin bride for himself. I will inform Alpha Maxim about her debauchery and also that I am ready to take her place.”

“What are you even saying, Brianna?” River said, aghast at her accusations.

Elijah tilted his head and scratched his chin as he gave an assessing gaze to Brianna. “How is it possible that Miss River ***someone while she was escaping? She escaped through the forest and we caught her very far away from here.”

“How would you know?” Brianna argued. “She is a ***she-wolf! Her intentions of running were to become a rogue so that she would indulge in non-stop ***!” Brianna now sounded desperate.

“Brianna!” River snapped. “Why are you spouting nonsense?”

Elijah was… stunned. He crossed his hands across his chest. “We followed Miss River through the trail and we didn’t sniff or see any rogue or wolf in those abandoned parts. As a she-wolf I am sure you are aware that the Lycan senses are pretty hyper-aware of everything. They are better than the werewolves.” He walked to them, grabbed her hand and shoved it down from River’s. “Now that your lame analysis is over, it is time that Miss River gets ready.” He held River’s hand and guided her to the bathroom. He lowered his voice and said, “Don’t think of escaping please. We won’t let you and besides it will delay our journey back to Veil.”

River blinked in a daze as Brianna’s ***fell to the floor.

After River locked herself in the bathroom, Elijah turned to Brianna and mocked, “You may take that bridal dress out.” River took a long bath and when she came out, she saw that a servant was standing there with a new bridal dress. “Wear it! These are Alpha’s orders.”

Surely, Brianna must have made noise about her escape and return. River glanced at Brianna who still had a pinched. expression on her face and was still in the old bridal dress. Then she took the ***bridal dress from the servant and changed into it. What was it with these bridal dresses and Alpha Maxim? Did he think that by offering a bride to the Lycan King, he was warding off some kind of omen? She felt like a sacrificial lamb.

The dress hung loosely on her. It pooled at her ankles and had butterfly sleeves. As soon as she wore it, a loud knock on the door sounded.

Brianna opened the door. It was Elijah. Alpha Maxim had summoned her to the main hall. River knew that he had called her to scold her severely. With a heavy heart she got up “Would you like to carry something from here?” he asked.

River nodded. She picked up her satchel and came to him.

“Please give it to me, Miss River.” He slung it over his shoulder and gave a tight nod.

She walked out of the door to him. She followed him downstairs and every werewolf who they came across sneered and glared at her River’s heart warred with ***and anger. She had one chance of escape and it was snatched by these wretched people.

Before she entered the main hall, she was feeling utterly miserable. As soon as she stepped in, she saw Alpha Hunter standing in the middle of the room, his hands across his chest, his brows furrowed and his stiff posture giving him an aura of authority. His hair was slightly disheveled and his black shirt was crinkled. Even though there were dark circles under his eyes which showed how tired he was, he looked stunning. If looks could ***, then River was sure that she was being stabbed by the daggers he was throwing with his emerald eyes.

Alpha Maxim was standing beside him, looking ferocious and barely able to contain his anger. “Had it not been Brianna’s timely intervention, you would have left no stone unturned to ***us,” he snarled.

“And poor Brianna was ready to offer herself instead of you!”

River winced as Alpha Maxim spilled his aura. Her throat seemed to be gripped in a vise-like grasp.

Alpha Maxim turned to Alpha Hunter and said, “I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused. The documents are ready and once they are signed, you can take her!” He waved his hand forward to lead him to a desk in the corner where there was a pile of documents.

Hunter signed all the documents one by one. He said, “I have wired the money to you already a few minutes back. You can check.”

There was a noted relief on Maxim’s face. “Thank you,” he said and shook hands with Hunter.

“Let us go,” Hunter said and walked out.

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