Capítulo 22: Guilt (Ch.22)
Neveah stepped down from the carriage with Lucas's aid, heaving a sigh of relief as they finally arrived back at the Eclipse Palace.
Neveah could not wait to return to the comfort of her room, a dull ache had begun from her injured side and Neveah knew she would need to check on how it was healing and change the bandages.
"Many thanks for today Lucas, I will retire first. I will see you before your departure." Neveah said in a perfunctory tone, adding a slight bow for good measure before she headed off.
"Veah... wait!" Lucas called out to Neveah.
Neveah paused, the hesitant tone with which Lucas Varleston called out to her filled her with apprehension.
Lucas walked up to her, gently placing a hand on her shoulders and turning her so she faced him
"Why do you always leave in such a hurry...do you fear me?" Lucas Varleston asked in a tender tone as he lifted a hand to brush away the strands of hair that had slipped out of Neveah's neat bun.
"I...no, no I don't." Neveah murmured quietly, biting her lip to swallow down the urge to flee, to run away from this young alpha not because she feared him but because he was so pitiful that he did not realize... she was going to hurt him.
Neveah could already predict the next words he was about to say and it took everything in her to remain in place.
"I care for you Veah...my wolf does too. We are in agreement that we both feel something special for you, something no one else has made me feel." Lucas admitted slowly.
Neveah winced slightly as the expected words came out, out of the corner of her eyes she glanced around to see if anyone else had heard...to see if she could still make a different choice.
She had been left with no choice when she had accepted her father's orders but after two months of freedom in the healer tribe, Neveah could see things clearer.
To always have to work against her own conscience, could she truly live such a life? For how much longer? Why did she have to compromise her own convictions out of fear?
"You are an Alpha wolf Lucas and I am an Omega, it is only natural you feel protective towards me." Neveah reasoned, hoping Lucas Varleston would relent.
If he relented now, then things would be much easier for her but of course, how could an Alpha wolf relent so easily?
"No...no... it's much more than that...I have Omegas in my pack Veah, I've had Omegas in my bed too and many others...but no one has made me feel the way I do about you Princess, no one." Lucas insisted with a shake of his head.
'That's because they are not like me...they weren't trained in the arts of seduction, trained to steal the heart of any man right from the moment they could say their first words...' Neveah thought shamefully.
"I care for you Veah, do not doubt it. I admire all that you are and by the culture of the Eclipse Domain, I intend to make you mine." Lucas Varleston continued,
"Tell me you want the same thing I do...we have known each other for only but a short time, I speak not of love, not yet. But companionship...you are what I have always desired in a woman."
"Strong, noble, charismatic, graceful, smart, understanding... rebellious and by the creator, so sexy...be mine Veah, be my woman." Lucas Varleston pleaded earnestly,
Neveah's heart clenched guiltily as Lucas Varleston caressed her cheek tenderly.
She should have felt satisfied, this was a mission accomplished...to have fulfilled both her father's orders in such a short time, Neveah should have felt gratified yet she felt nothing but guilt and rage at her ownself.
If Lucas proposed marriage to her, to the beloved Eclipse Princess, her father would seek something in return... something to be assured of the loyalty of Eclipse Hunt.
Something that would be difficult to give but would be given because in Lucas Varleston's gaze, she could see how earnest he was.
He was a man who knew what he wanted and was willing to make sacrifices to acquire it and as the only son of his father, the revered alpha of Eclipse Hunt...his father would never deny him anything.
This was why he was the weak link, young...mateless and in need of love, this was the crack through which Neveah had invaded his heart... intentionally.
Neveah loathed her own actions, it was only because of people like her that her father always got his way whilst keeping his image of perfection.
It was because of people like her willing to do his dirty work that he could remain untainted, his honor and prestige intact, his true face forever hidden.
Had it been any other time, Neveah would not have felt as guilty but this man, Lucas Varleston...he was a good man, noble hearted and loved his people.
He would make a great alpha, he was the kind of man her father and brother could never be and this beautiful heart of his... Neveah refused to be the one to ruin it.
"You and I...we are different Lucas. I am wolf-less, I cannot expect or hope to find my mate but you can...you will."
"Out there is a woman more perfect than I... and she was made especially for you. That woman is not me Lucas..." Neveah reasoned,
Lucas Varleston sighed, tilting his gaze down for a moment.
"You fear I will find my mate and cast you aside? Do I seem to be such a fickle man?" Lucas Varleston asked in a tone of hurt.
"I speak only the truth Lucas, you know it as well as I do. Your love... your heart, your care, the place at your side, there is someone out there to whom it all belongs... "
"What kind of woman shall I be if I were to take that away from her?...From you?" Neveah asked.
Capítulo 23: I Am Not The One For You (Ch.23)
"What kind of woman shall I be if I were to take that away from her?...From you?" Neveah asked.
"I will turn twenty seven this summer, I have waited and searched nine years for my mate Veah. I will be Alpha soon and my people will need a worthy Luna...you are my choice." Lucas Varleston said.
Neveah shook her head, Lucas Varleston was standing his ground and she knew she would have to make him understand, regardless of how cruel she needed to be to achieve that.
"And in the event that you do find your mate? What happens then? Will you severe the bond for me?" Neveah asked straightforwardly.
"I will make the vow upon my honor if you require it, cast your fears aside Veah. I am a man of my word and I will stand by my choice." Lucas Varleston promised.
Neveah was astonished by the sincerity in his tone but it only spurred on her determination to spare him from her father's malicious intents.
"The bond of a mate is sacred Lucas, it is beautiful...it is irreplaceable and I say this only because I consider you noble and worthy of the greatest kind of love the universe has to offer."
"Your mate... she is worth waiting for and I want you to have that kind of happiness Lucas, a happiness I know I cannot give you, so if you care for me then trust me... I will never be the right woman for you..." Neveah said in a quiet tone.
Lucas Varleston stared down at Neveah for a short moment, there was a sad look in his eyes at her rejection and at the very same time, Neveah knew he understood.
"Your heart is more noble than I could ever hope to be, you have my respect Princess and I hope you find someone worthy of your love, someone who can truly be yours." Lucas Varleston murmured before he pulled Neveah into a hug.
Neveah returned the hug, a relieved smile on her lips as Lucas Varleston pulled away.
"My father and I shall return to Eclipse Claw after the Alpha's summit on Mount Vernon, we shall not return to the Eclipse Palace... I fear I must leave in a hurry, it shall be hard to look upon you without feeling heartbroken." Lucas Varleston admitted,
Neveah smiled sadly and nodded in understanding.
"May I come see you off, at the very least? I could ride to Mount Vernon after the summit is over, as friends?" Neveah asked hopefully,
She had not met a man of such sincerity in a long time, Eclipse Fang was filled with two faced and pretentious wolves that Neveah had immediately thought Lucas Varleston to be just another one of them the day she had first encountered him,
But now, Neveah regretted she had not spent more time getting to know him, he was a character worthy of knowing.
Neveah had never had a friend before, the kind of existence she lived did not allow for such luxuries.
Every wolf in Eclipse Fang detested her because they knew the truth of her birth that others did not and Neveah was not allowed to mingle with the human folk either.
"Well, I think I can survive through one more meeting." Lucas Varleston said with a smile,
Neveah laughed and nodded before she took a step back and bowed slightly in respect, Lucas Varleston returned the bow and Neveah headed off.
Neveah took the side path leading to her quarters in the extended side of the castle, it took her a short while as she trudged at a slow pace, lost in her thoughts.
Neveah however was drawn out of her thoughts when she felt a familiar presence and she glanced up to see Lado.
He stood with his arms crossed behind his back outside the hallway leading to her quarters and from the chilling expression on his face, Neveah knew she was in trouble.
Lado was Alpha King Lothaire's most trusted warrior, his presence could only mean one thing...
"The Alpha King sends for you, you are to come with me immediately, no questions asked." Lado declared in the usual condescending tone with which he addressed Neveah.
Neveah froze, a chill of terror running down her spine at the mention of her father but Neveah quickly calmed herself.
"Okay." Neveah replied,
Lado huffed indignantly and strode past her and Neveah followed behind him, hurrying to catch up with his fast strides.
Soon, they arrived the main palace and Lado ventured in, heading down the familiar hallways that led to the Alpha King's office.
Arriving outside the door, the knob turned and Alpha Queen Vilma stepped out.
Upon sighting Neveah, she sneered but unlike her usual self, she made no further comments and simply strolled away with her attending she wolves.
Neveah frowned slightly, feeling unsettled by Alpha Queen Vilma's strange reaction to her.
Lado shoved her forwards when Neveah did not make any moves to enter and the force sent Neveah stumbling into the office.
The door slammed shut behind her before Neveah could regain her balance and she stared around, realizing other than her father who sat at his table, there was no one else in the office.
"G... greetings, father." Neveah stuttered out, lowering her head to a bow.
"The Eclipse Alphas depart to Mount Vernon for the Alpha's Summit tomorrow and you have had enough time, what information do you have for me?" Alpha King Lothaire asked in his usual, deep, dark tone.
Neveah mentally reminded herself to remain calm as she took a few step forwards, stopping before her father's desk and then she began speaking.
"Alpha Varleston of Eclipse Claw has recently changed governing policies, granting amnesty to the human population and the allowance to acquire pack rank." Neveah began,
"In the course of this, his army, fame and influence has greatly increased in the Eclipse Domain, and his prospects in the coming pack rankings appear rather promising."
"This has become apparent to many Eclipse Packs who now seek alliance with the Eclipse Claw, thereby tilting the balance of power in the Eastern Eclipse Domain in Alpha Varleston's favor."
"It could appear to other Eclipse Alphas that he is a force they might require protection from..." Neveah reported.
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