The Wrong Brother's Temptation novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169

R

Sienna

My face blanched instantly.

How did he know?

He waited for me to come up with a response, hands folded and everything.

“L..dont know what you are talking about”

Beside me. I was sure I heard Sandra snort cruelly and I suddenly realized where this was going.

Oh fuck!

She had told him I was smuggling the interview questions to Connor. That was the only reasonable explanation.

He lifted that small vial from the tray. “Good that we have the bloodroot draught for this exact scenario.”

Bloodroot draught?

I stared at the red colored liquid with a mixture of fear and apprehension.

“Do you have trouble answering that question, miss Sienna?”

Never had he ever called me that before. “The draught will help you jog your memory and bring the truth out in the open for everyone.”

I hesitated and my gaze inadvertently flicked to Connor again who stood stoically beside the chair but there was some stiffness in his shoulders now when they were relaxed earlier.

“I“I hesitated but he took a step forward in my direction.

My hands grew clammy as I realized this was a trap. Saying yes would make me and by extension, Connor guilty and saying no would turn me into a liar if this draught forced the truth out of me later.

Shit.

I threw a sideways glance at Sandra who looked particularly pleased with how things were going.

Aaron looked like he might be slightly sick.

“Answer the question, Sienna” Connor’s calm and confident voice cut through the haze of confusing thoughts clouding my mind.

Elder Johanson had already reached the edge of the platform and was walking towards me.

“Y–yes” I answered, curling my hands into fists.

Elder Johanson stopped right in his tracks and gave me a knowing smile.

“But he didn’t take them from me. I offered but he said no and…”

Elder Johanson raised his hand as if to silence me.

“Speak only when you are spoken to. This is a sacred place and you already proved you are not worthy of being a true luna.”

12:15 Sat, Aug 22

The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

I had opened my mouth to argue but closed it abruptly.

might as well have slapped me without raising a hand.

He then turned his attention to Alpha Asher with a dramatic flair. “As you can see, this justifies the need for the draught, alpha. The Luna is supposed to be the backbone of the pack and if she is the one coaxing the alpha to take the wrong steps, it should be dealt with accordingly. Dont you agree?”

Alpha Asher cast a single glance my way before nodding grimly.

“And I believe the other elders are now convinced why the trial is necessary.”

None of the elders made a sound but I saw Elder Maren shift in her seat uncomfortably.

No, I could not let this happen.

Connor and I had too many secrets, one involving the fake dating and if that got out it would not only turn me into a chronic liar, it would also badly affect Connor’s chances of ascending the throne.

“He didn’t take the help. Are you listening to me?” I shouted out loud and my voice echoed loudly through the hollow arena.

The old man had however turned around and was walking towards Connor again. He stopped right in front of Connor and said nothing but simply held the tray in front of him.

“This draught, as you might know, brings out the truth the speaker is trying to hide. You can’t lie with this in your system.”

“Never planned to” Connor kept looking the old man in the eye and gulped down the red, almost dark black liquid in an

instant.

The soft thud of him placing the bottle on the tray echoed through the chamber.

Elder Johanson’s smug smile wavered just a little but he looked at the band pointedly.

“Wear that too”

Connor took it without a word and I saw it was a rather large one that didn’t go around the wrist like I had initially assumed but more like a very tight collar.

And there were some weird symbols inscribed on it too that I couldnt see clearly from here.

“He drank the potion. What is the need for that band?” I shouted.

Elder Johanson turned around sharply.

“If you keep speaking and interrupting the trial I will have you thrown out and Connor will face the brunt of your misbehavior so I advise you to wisely shut your mouth.”

“But…”

“Sienna, relax” Connor spoke from beside the old geezer who I was starting to hate with every fiber of my being.

He was trying to humiliate and bait Connor who had done nothing wrong.

Connor raised the collar to tie it around his neck and I heard the sharp click of the metal lock sliding in place. I ran towards Connor who stood there bare chested and now with a collar like a mutt on a leash.

“Sit down” He ordered Connor who did as told and I almost slammed into the chair. From up close, I could even see that the metal band was loose fitting but had small thorns like pointed spikes jutting out from the inside.

12:15 Sat, Aug 22 T.

The Wrong Brother’s Temptation.

My eyes widened in horror as I realized those spikes would pierce his skin if he even moved a little.

Ins is barbaric…”

“Shut your mouth, girl. You are the reason he is in this spot. You keep bringing out the bad in him, keep enticing him to do bad deeds and as an alpha he should be immune to such traps.”

His words were harsh but they were the truth. He was taking it out un Connor because he chose to side with me every single time. And now, Connor was paying the price for this so called cheating he never did.

“He did not even let me give one word of any questions. I offered him twice but he denied it both times! How can you do this to him?”

My gaze flicked to Aaron and Sandra seated on the stone rows ahead of us.

“Aaron, tell them. Help me!”

Aaron looked visibly uncomfortable but then Elder Johanson raised a hand and slapped me, the sharp sound ringing through the hollow arena.

“ENOUGH!”

I fell to the ground, my cheek stinging due to the contact and my ears ringing as I quickly straightened to see Connor already getting up from the seat.

“You want to test me, not her!!!”

He spoke in a barely controlled voice, his hands coiled into tight fists. I saw the anger simmering in his eyes and quickly got up to step between the two.

“No, its okay. I am fine. Just sit down and get this over with.”

Connor was gritting his teeth, his eyes fixated on the old man who straightened his robe needlessly.

“You want to hit or inflict pain? I am right here, leave her alone”

I placed both my hands on Connor’s chest, forcing him to sit down. I noticed how one of those spikes had grazed his throat and a trickle of blood was already appearing.

He sat down grudgingly and I looked back at the old man, hands folded. “You are right, I did wrong and I apologize for that. But please don’t punish him for my deeds.”

The old man smiled at me devilishly. “This trial is not being held to punish either of you but to remind you of the responsibilities that come with the alpha title. Now step aside if you don’t want to be permanently thrown out of the race.”

I didn’t give a flying fuck about the luna title but I knew it was important for Connor. So I grudgingly stepped back.

Sat,

The Wrong Brother’s Temptation