The Lycan Princess and the Temptation of Sin novel Chapter 84

ROYCE.

Twenty minutes later, I’m waiting on the bridge where I had asked Quade to meet me. I’ve pulled my hood up. Although I chose a location that is far from the pack, I still need to be careful.

The occasional car driving past or the sound of sirens in the distance fills the air, but there’s a clear lack of life around.

I glance at the sky, it’s going to rain again, the clouds mask the moon.

It's a full moon tonight… I love it when it's a full moon, shame it's hidden behind the clouds.

The ground is already wet from the sudden downpour that had occured on my way here. Typical British weather.

The sound of footsteps makes me look up and I know from his smell it’s the Beta.

It is him. His hair is almost fully grey, his brown eyes full of concern as he approaches, his hands tucked into the pockets of his chesterfield coat.

“Good evening Alpha Royce, is everything alright? I won’t deny I have been worried when you wanted to meet here.” Quade says.

“Good evening Beta.” I respond, getting the formalities out of the way. “Everything is alright. I just wanted to talk to you away from the pack to make sure we aren’t overheard. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to me. I won’t keep you long and we’ll cut to the chase.” I reply, smiling faintly.

He nods, “I’d appreciate that.” He says.

I stand straight from where I was leaning over the bridge, to now face the older man.

“It’s regarding something Father told you to do years ago, something that your conscience refused to let you, and I assure you, I’m grateful that you did not obey.” I say quietly.

His heart skips a beat and there’s a twitch in his jaw, but aside from that, he remains pretty much impassive.

“I don’t think I’m following Royce.” He says seriously.

I raise an eyebrow. “Then allow me to lay it out for you. I’m talking about my sister, Quade, the very sister that mom somehow thinks passed away and the very same sister that you left at an orphanage. Does that ring a bell perhaps?” I reply, my voice sharp.

His heart thuds and we both know he can no longer deny or pretend to play dumb. He knows exactly what I’m talking about.

His eyes snap to mine but I’m dead serious. I’m not here to play. This topic is not easy for me either, knowing that while we were raised with money and luxury aside from the severe training anyway, she was thrown in an orphanage somewhere.

“How do you know that?” He asks, looking around. This time there’s fear in his eyes.

“That’s not important, and you did the right thing. I know you fear Father, but I assure you, I will make sure that no harm comes to you. I need to know where she is, a name, or the name of the orphanage. I need to know everything you can tell me.”

“Royce… Please, I know you want to find her or locate her, but she’s no longer there. She’s… joined another pack, apparently despite it being a human orphanage where I left her. It has ties to some alpha who has taken her, but I have been unable to learn anything further.” He says, sounding desperate.

“Please let it go. I’m certain she’s happy wherever she is. If your father learns of her, he may want to silence her. You don’t know him, Royce.” There’s an urgency in his voice.

“I know exactly who my father is, Quade, but who knows… I wonder what kind of life she had. I still want the name of the orphanage and the name you gave her when you left her.” I say, my eyes trained on him. This time I let some of my aura out, knowing he can’t deny a direct Alpha command.

I may not be his Alpha but I’m still powerful, and my command will work… instantly, he lowers his head in submission but the words that leave him hit me hard.

“Winona Walters… that’s the name I gave her. As for the orphanage…”

I’m no longer able to listen, my heart thudding as that name rings in my mind. Everything else drowned out.

‘Hi, Winona… Damn girl you look fine… Luna Winona, nice to meet you… Nice to meet you too, Alpha Royce…’

The memories from when Skyla was hospitalised replay in my mind, getting louder and louder.

She had looked familiar… she was of Solaris blood… the sense of familiarity when I had touched her hand… the familiarity I had sensed when I had seen her…

I place a fist to my mouth as I try to process it. Winona… Marcel Rossi’s second chance mate…

Oh, bloody hell…

I’ve already met my sister and failed to recognise her…

“Winona… I know where she is.” I say, looking up at Quade, who stops talking.

His eyes widen in shock before he pales. “Y-you do?”

“She’s mated to-” I stop when I suddenly sense a powerful surge of darkness, mixed with a faint familiar presence, one that almost drowned into the other one…

It fades, and I realise it’s somehow masked, but it’s here.

I turn sharply, scanning the area around us.

Both auras that now feel as if they are one, are familiar. The darkness reminds me of the same energy that the serpent that I had killed held and I instantly motion Quade to be on alert.

“What is it?” He asks sharply, removing his hands from his pocket, readying himself.

Before I can reply, I hear the sound of a gun being cocked.

“Duck!” I shout, raising a shield as the first round goes off, and a bullet does, in fact, slam into my barrier.

What on earth…

“What are you doing?!” I shout, unable to process what exactly is going on.

Suddenly, his presence disappears, but I remain on edge. Whatever is going on isn’t right.

I spin around, sensing him behind me. My heart thumps as I stare at nothing, and then, before my very eyes, I see him begin to materialise…

Just like… the serpent.

“You’re not the only one who’s special.” He hisses, sounding more snake-like than ever. His pupils aren’t the same either, now holding the serpentine-like slit of a reptile…

“What is going on!?” Quade asks sharply, despite his calmness I know he’s confused.

“What are you doing?” I ask the man before me, not letting any of my emotions show.

He simply smiles, a smile full of pure hatred and contempt. This close, I can feel the darkness and it is the very same as the one that surrounded the serpent I killed. It now envelops him and my eyes flash as I ready myself.