38

Word Count: 1706

~Sienna

Lucia lays her hands on my shoulders, kissing the side of my head before she sits opposite me at the table.

"Sienna dear. I'm glad to see you back," she exclaims warmly.

I have nothing against Lucia. I understand why she encouraged me to leave. She wants me to have my own life, not in her son's shadow. I know she loves me, and she wants the best for me, which includes coming back here.

"Me too."

"I heard about what happened. Being here is the safest place for you right now." She pushes a teacup across the table at me, motioning me to pick which flavour of tea I want from one of the painted pots.

"Thank you, Lucia."

I look to the head to the table, where Violet sits. She wears all white like her wedding day, with her black hair smoothed back, her shoulders impeccably straight.

She really is the perfect Luna. I envy her, even if Onyx insists they are just friends.

"I'm sorry, Violet, if this is weird for you," I blurt out.

"It's not. I'm happy you're here," she assures me. "Onyx hasn't been himself since you left."

Violet is inherently diplomatic, but I believe her. Onyx told me himself that she has a lover. I just hope she doesn't worry I'll disrupt the peace in this Pack.

"She's right. I hardly recognise him," Lucia adds.

I pour myself some green tea, stirring some honey into it. I know first hand the kind of pain Onyx felt while I was gone, because I felt the exact same hurt.

"I spoke to him before he left and he seems immediately different." Lucia sounds genuinely pleased. "It's like he lost a piece of himself."

"I felt the same way," I murmur.

"We do, however, need to think about your position here," Lucia adds tentatively. "People will hear about your return, and they will talk."

"I'm not sure if I'm staying here long. I still want to live my life," I share.

The reality of Onyx and I's relationship hasn't changed. Unless something changes, I cannot marry him, I will never have exclusivity with him, at least in the public's eye.

I'll never get the life with him I truly want.

Lucia dips her head, her silver jewellery glittering in the sunlight. "Of course. In the meantime, I think we should continue the ruse that you're his mistress."

"I suppose." I sweep my gaze to Violet. "Are you sure you're okay with that, Violet?"

She shrugs, a gesture far more casual than I thought she was capable of. It's her reputation that can be effected by her husband taking a mistress so soon after a marriage.

Especially when they did everything they could to make their union seem genuine.

"I don't mind. It's not like we are in love," she responds, pulling apart the segments of a piece of fruit.

"Still, I hope it won't affect your reputation."

"It won't. I promise," she assures me with a gentle smile. "People know our marriage is political. His heart has always been with you."

This is the most I've talked to Violet since she first came here nearly a year ago. Since becoming Onyx's wife and now Luna, she's become so much more confident in herself, easing into the role well.

Yet, there is still public dissent regarding her position of power. Despite coming from a noble family, there is unrest around her circumstances of becoming Luna.

As I go to reply, Lucia look over my shoulder cuts me off.

"Onyx you've returned," she greets.

I turn in my seat, watching him step into the dining room, bracing his shoulder against the door frame.

My heart flutters seeing him again.

There's an abnormal tension about him, a grim, shadowy look on his face. He looks far away, his mind in another place completely.

"Don't tell me. I don't want to know," I murmur.

He drags his gaze to me, his lids heavy. I imagine he travelled all night to return here from Kayn's. I doubt he's gotten any sleep.

"That's probably for the best."

I loosen a breath. I already suspect Kayn's fate is bleak. If Onyx did spare him, then whatever is left of him won't be very pretty.

"Join us for dinner son." Lucia pulls out the chair next to her, patting it. "We are just discussing how Sienna is going to become your mistress again while she stays here."

"Mother, you can't force Sienna to do that again," Onyx mutters, although something sparks in his eyes as he falls into the chair.

I meet his gaze, smiling meekly. I'm still not used to see him again, after all these months.

"It's fine, Onyx. I don't mind."

"I don't want you to feel pressured," he says softly, his worry melting away at any of the burdens I've been carrying with me since I returned.

Being his mistress is the easiest job I've ever had. There's not much room for complaining...

"It's not forever. I know that."

"Well, that resolves one issue," Lucia says cheerily, pleased something is going her way. "On the other hand, we must prepare for the up and coming event."

Onyx groans, slumping in his chair. Violet looks between him and Lucia, visibly confused.

"I'm not going," Onyx announces, resting his forearm over his eyes.

Lucia waves her hand in the air, signalling her annoyance at his protest. "You have to go."

"What is it?" Violet asks.

"The annual meeting of the Alphas, and Onyx must go. Alpha Alston will be present for the first time in years, and you must appease him," Lucia snaps at him.

The meeting of the Alphas has pulled Onyx's attention every year, and something terrible always occurs. Someone oversteps a line and Pack diplomats are left to pick up the pieces.

"Zion hasn't gone since I became Alpha. Why must I?"

"Zion is extremely unlikeable, and everyone knows it," Lucia says, waving her hand dismissively. "Everything good may be fine with Maren right now, but things could change. There are whispers of Zion supplying her army with weapons, which could be intended for you."

I swallow thickly, looking down at my tea, which grows colder than the feeling crawling over my skin.

I hate hearing about my father, about how much strife he puts Onyx and his family through.

"Maren is impossible to reason with," Onyx snaps, massaging his temples.

"Alston may have the smallest territory, and he may be the most...eccentric Alpha, but he's important. He's in everyone's pocket, which makes him dangerous," Lucia warns. "You know all this."

Onyx rolls his eyes at the reminder of the Alpha. "Alston is friendly with Zion, which means the man may be there."

"Good. Then you can encourage peace."

"Peace? After what he did to father?" Onyx looks horrified.

I knot my fingers together under the table, watching Lucia's exasperated expression while Onyx reigns in his anger. He just doesn't think when it comes to Zion.

"Onyx." Lucia starts tapping her pointed nails against the table. "Revenge is irrelevant to Alpha's. To be a good, strong Alpha worthy of leading people means to act in their best interest. A war will not help them."

Her words are soft but strong. A warning, and a reminder.

"I know," he mutters, folding his arms over his chest.

It is moments like these that I'm glad for Lucia's presence. Onyx respects her, and all her wisdom. She has been mentoring him since he was a child, and soon after he is married, she will, by tradition, move out and back off entirely.

Even though she fights against his interests, she always puts the Pack first.

For better, or for worse.

"You will take Sienna," she says, gesturing at me.

I rest my hand against my chest. "Me?"

"Shouldn't I be taking my wife?" Onyx looks alarmed.

"Alpha's always take their mistresses, the one's who they can confide in," Lucia muses casually. "Plus, Violet must remain here, away from prying eyes and danger. She's important."

Ouch.

"Sienna is important," Onyx snaps, his anger practically pulsing through the air.

Lucia rolls her eyes. "I know-"

"It's fine, I get it," I say, cutting between them before the pair launch into an endless argument. "I'll go, as long as I can stay away from Zion."

I know Lucia doesn't think I'm unimportant. She means politically, I'm not nearly as prominent as Violet. If I go, I shouldn't draw much attention.

"He won't go near you. Trust me," Onyx assures me, his voice immediately softening as he looks over at me.

"It's settled then." Lucia clasps her hands together as she stands. "Anyways, go see the healer Sienna and make sure that bruise is healed by next week. I have business to attend to."

Onyx leaves swiftly after she does to close up a business issue while I hung back to talk to Violet. After a bit of discussion, I managed to ascertain for sure that Violet truly has no problem with me, and that she is in love with someone else.

Now I stride up the stairs to find my bedroom is completely untouched.

A flood of memories, of nostalgia roll over me. It wasn't hard to leave here because I thought I had a whole new life in front of me. Now I've returned, dejected and afraid of what my future looks like.

My blood chills as I spot a folded piece of paper sitting on my bedside table.

I know exactly what that is.

Picking it up gently, I turn it over in my hand, unfolding it gently. The writing is the same as every other note that I've received.

You still haven't told Onyx the truth.

Now that you've returned, you better get to it.

See you at the meeting of the Alpha's.

Dread trickles through my veins, ice cold.

Fuck.

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~Midika 💜🐼