~ROWAN
"I'm surprised that you didn't see her off," Aria drawled as she made her way into my office. "I thought for sure that you'd be kissing her goodbye like some love sick fool."
I sent my sister a withering glare that would have sent most grown men screaming for the hills. Unfortunately for me, my glares lost their impact on her when she was six.
To everyone else, I was the terrifying king, but to her, I'd always be the boy who allowed her paint his nails and put lipstick on when she was sad.
"Don't act so glum, Rowan. I was just teasing." She took the seat opposite me, crossing her legs on my table
"What do you want, Aria?"
"I'm just checking on you. It isn't every day that one finds their mate. A lycan mate is so rare, you must be so lucky, or so cursed considering that out of the billions of people on this planet, your mate is the daughter of a couple that you killed."
I slammed the file in front of me shut.
I was hoping she wouldn't be able to piece things together, but I was wrong. My sister was one of the smartest people I knew.
"Let her go, Rowan," she said, her voice going soft. "This isn't something you want to get into. Does she even know who you are?"
"No, she doesn't."
Aria scoffed. "Of course not. I don't imagine she would've sat through dinner with you if she knew. Are you going to lie to her for the duration of your relationship? Will you comfort her when she cries about her parents knowing that you're the reason that you're dead? Is that why didn't go to see her-"
"What would you prefer that I did?" I snapped.
"You could've sent them away! You were never going to meet with them at first. I told you to send them away but you just wanted to play games. Look at where your game has gotten you? She is going to be in this palace for two weeks. What if she hears or learns something?"
I ran my hands through my hair with a sigh. "You sound awfully concerned for her which is funny considering how you've treated her."
"I have nothing against the girl, but you know that if you go through with this, she will be the one hurt." She sat up straight. "You're my brother and I will always be on your side, but I need you to see that this is a terrible idea. You're always making stupid choices when it comes to that pack. Don't do this."
She was right.
The smart choice was to step back, refuse to help them and let Nyssa go, but how could I?
Most lycans never found their mates. Unlike wolves, we believed in chosen mates. A fated mate was so rare… it was almost a myth.
She was perfectly hand crafted for me. How could I even dare let her go?
I wasn't lying when I told Nyssa that I wasn't a good man.
A good man would have let her go, would have told her the truth and given her the chance to have a good life. Unfortunately, I was a selfish bastard.
I couldn't fall in love with her, but I could keep her around.
"I already made my decision," I told Aria simply. "I would appreciate it if you don't act like such a bitch when she's here."
Aria sighed in resignation. "I hope you know what you're doing."
I hope so too.
She stormed out of my office, leaving me in complete silence
I waited until her footsteps had receded completely before I stood to my feet, heading to the window.
My office was strategically placed to give me a great view of the front of the palace. I stood here this morning, watching as they loaded their things into the car.
At first, I watched Henry, trying to smother the intense feelings of distaste and rage that swirled inside my gut. Many years had passed and I still couldn't shake those awful feelings that bubbled up whenever he was near.
I kept thinking of ways to fuck him over when she brushed by him.
All it took was a flash of her mousy brown hair for the rage to ebb completely.
I watched her after that.
I spent the whole of last night digging up everything I could about her.
I told myself that it was purely a strategic thing, but I knew that wasn't the complete truth.
I read up on her life after her parents had died. She'd taken her father's position as Beta and according to the files, she was doing an amazing job with the pack.
There wasn't much about her personal life and although a part of me was relieved because it meant I could distance myself; another part of me was intrigued.
She was dangerous for me.
She was hand crafted to be my kryptonite.
Everything about her, from her hair to her deliciously sweet scent, to the way she spoke was a stab in the center of my chest.
If I allowed myself to get too close, she'd ruin me.
I couldn't afford the distraction of a mate… especially not her.
I quickly mind linked Aria. "I'm to send help to the pack in three days as well as pick Nyssa up."
Aria was silent for a moment. "Let me guess, you want me to go with the guards and bring her back?"
"Yes."
She sighed dramatically. "You know, Rowan, I shouldn't even be involved in this-"
"Not in three days."
"What?" confusion laced her voice. "You just said-"
"I know what I said. Send the guards in three days, but don't pick her up."
"When should I go?"
"I don't know yet. I'll let you know when the time is right."
She scoffed. "She's going to be waiting. Are you sure? Where is this coming?"
"Just do as I say, Aria. I know what I'm doing."
She sounded exhausted as she spoke. "For all our sakes, I hope you're right about that."