ALPHA TRISTINE’S POV “But…” Mark spoke again, cutting through my thoughts.
The hesitation in his voice made my brows furrow.
He looked as though he was choosing his words carefully.
I arched a brow, wondering why he was so reluctant to speak about an assassination attempt.
Lux, on the other hand, stood frozen with his jaw hanging open.
His gaze darted from Mark to me before settling on Mark again.
“What is it?
Say it,” he urged, his patience wearing thin.
Mark lowered his gaze the moment he saw the look on my face and clasped his hands in front of him.
“I’m certain it wasn’t Lora, because she was with me throughout the night,” he said in a low, steady voice as a flush of embarrassment spread across his fair skin.
I nodded as understanding dawned on me.
Revealing his secret affair with Princess Cassy’s maid had clearly made him reluctant to speak.
Lux on the other hand scoffed and shook his head.
Judging by the look on his face, I could tell he was about to make one of his usual biting remarks, but he thought better of it when he saw the look on my face.
Instead, he cleared his throat as the amusement faded from his face.
“So that leaves us with just one suspect,” he said, his voice firm as his expression turned serious.
I tried to recall the woman I had seen that night, but the memory remained blurry and indistinct.
“We need to act as ….” ‘It’s not Avery,’ Knox rumbled within me, snatching my attention from Lux who had just started speaking.
He had finally decided to crawl out of hiding.
Apart from the previous day when he had confirmed Princess Kira was our mate, he hadn’t uttered a word since that night.
‘Where did you crawl out from, you traitor?’ I asked him, arching a brow as I turned my attention inward.
‘I didn’t do anything,’ Knox grumbled.
‘You wanted her and you had her.’ ‘Beside that’s not what’s important right now.
We didn’t sleep with Avery, and you know my instincts are never wrong.’ I scoffed, I knew he was trying to dodge the conversation.
‘I know how to handle you!’ I replied, glad he finally decided to show up.
“Krooooor!” Even if Knox hadn’t spoken, I already knew it wasn’t Avery.
From the faint memories of that night, I could tell Avery was taller than the woman I’d been with and slightly fuller in figure.
Besides, she had been with me for seven years, she had never failed my loyalty tests.
I just knew it definitely wasn’t her.
“…
torture her to get the truth from her.” I heard Lux say.
It was the word – torture, that snapped me back to the present, and I quickly shoved my thoughts away.
“We have to act as soon as…” “It’s not her,” the words left my lips, cutting Lux off his words.
His head whipped toward me, along with Mark’s.
The furrow in their brows expressed how surprised they were to hear me say that.
“Why do you say that, Alpha?” Mark asked, his voice filled with confusion.
“I fought with the woman that night.
It definitely wasn’t Avery,” I replied, my mind drifting back to the faint memory of her.
“She’s not the one.” Lux scoffed as soon as the words left my lips and my head whipped toward him, arching my brows in a silent “what’s funny?” “I’m sorry, Alpha,” he replied, the smile on his face fading.
As for Mark, he nodded, the confusion in his eyes lifting.
‘Is that not our Mate?’ Knox asked, excitement lacing his voice as he caused me to look toward the peach orchard.
The moment my gaze landed on her, my heart fluttered, and my feet itched to go to her.
It took every ounce of my willpower to tear my gaze away and return my attention to Mark.
“Keep searching,” I instructed.
“Both of you.
Keep an eye on everyone entering and leaving the Pack.
I’m certain the woman is still somewhere nearby.” The moment the words left my lips, they both lowered their heads and clasped their hands in front of them.
“Yes, Alpha,” I heard them reply in unison.
I turned toward Kira, my feet carrying me to her before my mind could catch up.
She stood beside Avery, gently plucking ripe peaches from the branches.
A soft breeze swept through the orchard, lifting the long strands of her black hair as they cascaded down her back.
It gave me a fleeting glimpse of her profile.
‘Isn’t our mate beautiful?’ Knox purred within me.
But I ignored him, and kept my gaze on her.
I didn’t want anything distracting me from her.
I didn’t want to miss even a single moment of watching her.
Avery said something that made her smile, just before I got to where they stood, and my heart stirred at how beautiful and peaceful her smile was.
“It seems you prefer my maids company to mine,” the words slipped from my lips before I could stop them.
They both turned to me at once, startled by my presence.
“Alpha!” Avery greeted me with a deep bow, but my gaze was fixed on Kira who lowered her gaze after holding mine for a few more seconds.
“You’re dismissed,” I said.
Avery bowed once more before quickly walking away.
As Kira turned to leave, I caught her hand, stopping her.
“I didn’t ask you to leave,” I said, my voice firm.
She yanked her hand away from my grip immediately, her eyes flashing, but it wasn’t as fierce as it was the previous day.
“What do you want from me?” She asked, jaw clenching.
I scoffed, a little amused by her question.
“We’re married, Kira.
You’re going to be my Luna soon,” I replied shrugging.
“I didn’t want to marry you, so stay away from me,” she said before trying to walk past me.
I stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
It took every ounce of my restraint not to reach for her hands.
“I can’t do that,” I muttered, pulling my gaze from her alluring eyes.
“I understand you didn’t want to marry me.
I understand you hated the fact that you married me, and I know you hate me too, but I hope you give me a chance to get to know you, because we’re married and we can’t go back now.” Even if there was a chance for us to go back, I wouldn’t have given it to her.
Her lips curled upwards, and she scoffed as a bitter smile flashed across her face.
“Good thing you know I hate you so much, so stay away from me.” She hissed, and tried to walk away again.
She had barely taken two steps when I caught her hand and spun her around.
The moment our skin touched, a rush of adrenaline surged through my veins.
“Why do you hate me so much?” I demanded, my jaw clenching in desperation.
She nibbled on her lower lip drawing my attention to those supple pink lips.
‘Why don’t you just kiss her?’ Knox urged, my heart pounding.
“Kiss those supple beautiful lips.” I knew it was a bad idea.
I wanted to make her fall in love with me, I didn’t want to give her a reason to avoid me or hate me further.
I tore my gaze away from her lips after much effort.
As I stared into her eyes, I saw how much she was struggling, but after a while, she fixed her gaze back on me.
“Because you’re Tristine,” she spat, and my brows furrowed.
What did she mean?
“Why don’t you ask your mistress to stay away from our room?” As soon as the words left her lips, she yanked her hand from my grip and walked away.
Thank you so much for reading up to this chapter.
Please keep reading, you’re about entering the interesting part of this book.
Sending you lots of love.
KingsLight26.