Lucia's POV

I knew something wasn't adding up. Nobody steps inside the northern region just like that and gets out so easily.

My darling wasn't exactly skilled in martial arts, so there was no way he could have escaped. He has zero idea that he originally came from there, so he can't speak their language.

So how, in the Goddess' name, did he leave so easily and get brought back? Whoever took him never had any intention of killing him.

The only way I can truly find out everything I need to know about who took him-and I have a feeling that either he won't talk or he doesn't even know-but it's alright. I intend to find out what the intention is about.

My meeting with the captain was quite profitable and at the same time scary. He intended we use my mate to set a trap for whoever was behind everything.

But I wasn't too sure, because what if he gets hurt by being bait? But I knew this was the only way to find out everything-feed him information and see who he runs back to.

Usually, treason would be paid with one's head. But in this case, I was quite proud that my dearest had the spine to plot against me. I'm pretty sure he is to inform whoever of my daily routine-the same trick used by others. Only this time, I won't kill the traitor, but the mastermind of the ploy.

I knew he would bring excitement to my life. I never thought it would be this quick-always acting suspicious. He can't even be a proper spy. Luckily, he was my mate and not some random person. That certainly wouldn't have ended well.

Evening came, and he walked back into the chambers. I glanced down at his boots, a bit wet-meaning he had met someone close to the waterfall.

I had instructed the guards on that side to act like they didn't see him and let him feel like he was doing everything in utter secrecy.

He looked very uncomfortable, clearing his throat before asking, "How was your day?"

I think he wanted to act normal, but he doesn't know that, as an informant, you can't change your patterns and attitudes. It gives you suspicion that would have you killed.

But not my darling. Bouncing on his toes and avoiding my eyes, he was too cute to be true.

I watched from a distance as he took off his boots and shirt. The moment he noticed me looking, he froze and tried to cover his chest, acting like he had never had a woman look at him without clothes before.

But this morning, he was on me like he had studied the art of lovemaking. And now he covers his body.

"Could you please not look at me? I need to change."

"Then change. I won't look." I almost choked on a laugh and pretended to cover my eyes, but I could still see him. And now his trousers were off, leaving his inner clothes. It hit me-I am yet to get him new clothes. I totally forgot.

I walked over, grabbed him from behind, and then kissed him. This act threw him into shock as he turned, looking at me with those same doe eyes.

Someone had sensed his innocence and tried to use it against him, because he wasn't capable of doing or coming up with evil all by himself.

"Why do you look at me like that?"

"Nothing, my dear. Would you like to continue from where we left off this morning?"

He looked shy and shocked all at once, suddenly avoiding eye contact and slightly blushing. I don't think my darling mate had ever held a woman.

"No, I don't. It's late. We should just go to bed."

He ran off like a scared little cockroach. I won't force him. He will come to me of his own free will.

I watched him sleep so soundly and peacefully, while my mind held wonders of what had happened and who he was in contact with.

I need to know, so I can protect him. Who exactly did you speak with, my dearest?

Jacob's POV

I jolted awake, only to see it was still dark. My dreams had been all about me holding her in my hands, with a dagger to her heart.

And I couldn't bear that-not in my dreams and certainly not in reality. It seemed I had gotten myself in a tight spot, because on one hand lies my mate, and on the other, the man in the dark.

So who do I betray-my mate or some mysterious lord of darkness? I turned around, and there she was, sleeping so peacefully.

Why did she have to commit so much evil that everyone now wanted her dead?

Yesterday, I met an informant from the dark lord, giving me a little potion to pour into her bath every day. He said it would slowly weaken her muscles, which in turn would slow her down in battle, making her an easier target to kill.

But I don't think I could do it. I can't bear to hurt her or even betray her like that. But she will pay for what she did to my family. How, I don't know yet-but certainly not with her life.

I was scared of the consequences of not doing what the dark lord wants, and at the same time, what will happen if she finds out I'm a traitor. She doesn't do very well with those types of people, so I've heard.

"What you are asked to do-was it so bad that it now keeps you awake at night?"

Shock took over my bones. It froze everything.

"Don't worry, my love. I know someone wants to use you to get to me."

Her eyes were closed while she said all these things.

I wanted to deny everything, but I knew I should probably just come clean.

And so I did. By the time I was done telling her everything, all she gave was a silent "hmm," like people trying to kill her wasn't any news to her existence. She requested the potion and asked if I had used it. I told her not until the next day.

She took it, smelled it, and placed it behind her drawer like she would handle it some other time.

Instead, she tapped the side of the bed, urging me to come back. "It's late, my dear. Do not let politics ruin your sleep."

I lay back down, only this time facing her. The words came out before my brain could even process them. "Why are you so good to me? I just planned with an enemy to kill you. That makes me, according to the law, a traitor, and that is punished by beheading.

Will you kill me?"

"People have been aiming for my life from the moment I came into this world, so you wanting to kill me is no surprise. You hate me, so I do understand. And you are no traitor-and even if you were, I would never hurt you, much less kill you."

"I don't hate you. I just don't like you, to be honest."

She laughed a bit too loud, and her eyes sparkled so beautifully even in the dark.

"Thank you for not hating me."

She leaned over, placing a quick kiss on my cheek, then laid back down, closing her eyes for sleep-leaving me with a racing heart and a confused mind.

I woke up, but she was nowhere to be found. Neither was the potion. It looked like she was trying to figure out who the dark lord might be.

I took a deep breath while looking at the ceiling. This wasn't how I planned everything. It never included a racing heart.

Lucia's POV

I was right. Someone from the north did take him, and from what he described, I think I might know who it might be.

Who is so cowardly to hide his face in the dark?

My captain gave a knowing smile, like he knew exactly who this was. "I will take some of our men, and we will bring you his head."

"No. Not his head. I want him alive, Captain."

This reminded me of when I had stormed the northern region when I was fourteen. I went through a village, and ruin was all that was left behind.

A specific family of spies were burned alive, and now I wished I never did, because I fear what happens when he finds out that I looked his family in the eyes and burned them alive despite their pleas for mercy.

I had him chased and almost killed, which led to his still amnesia.

The family he thought he had wasn't even his real family. What will he do then?

Fear was all I could feel, steadying my restless heart, my wolf whimpering inside me. She doesn't want to lose her mate, and neither do I.

Please forgive me, my love, for I have sinned against you.

"Move out tomorrow, Captain. Burn down the pack and everything within, and bring to me that idiot who dares to defy me"​

Lord Earl Alpha of One of the Northern Territories

Lord Earl's POV

I stood by the window as I wondered what would happen when her dead body reached my arms first. In as much as I love her, I think her reign needs to end, and since she has refused my generous hands in marriage and the merging of our both territories, then she has left me no choice but to do this.

She rather chose a weakling by nature, one who is by far beneath her standard, than choose me, who is not just an Alpha of great capacity but also of royal descent by blood.

This fate she brought on herself, and now who she has chosen would now be the end of her life.

Great deep laughter escaped my lungs, filling the entire wing with my remarkable joy.

Today I feast and plan my entry into the western territories. Such beauty would have been remarkable by my side while bearing me little pups.

"Guards!"

"Yes, my lord."

"Call the elders and every important official. Today their great Alpha and Lord holds a banquet of celebration, and celebrate we must. Get the musicians and women beyond the eyes."

"As you please, my lord."

"Good evening, my people. I gather you all here to join me in celebrating a joyous occasion, for tonight we shall feast, dance, and merry till dawn."

"To our Lord and Alpha Earl! Long live the Alpha! Long live the Alpha!"

We marry till the middle of the night, women beyond the eyes could count, and food spread across a table far beyond consumption.

This is how an Alpha of my potential should live.

"Fire! Someone is on fire!"

That was the first thing that held the hall by the throat. And then my beta's head rolled in, and then followed that of my son.

Right before my eyes, I could see everything burn. The hall fell into immediate chaos, people running to take shelter. As I walked slowly toward the window, only to see my entire territory was on fire and my people burning in it.

I shifted immediately, springing into action, but before I could even walk out the hall, he stood before me.

"Captain Azra, gamma of the Crimson Pack, or like I had always referred to him, her personal and obedient lap dog."

"I stand before you today, Lord and Alpha Earl, in the name of the great Alpha Lucia. You have been charged for treason, and your punishment awaits you in the capital."

"On what ground do you charge me that horrible crime? I have never plotted against her nor even seen her," I said, poking his chest, as he looked too irritated by it.

"I will give you two options out of respect. One, you come willingly, or second, you come unwillingly. It is your choice. But either way, Lord Earl, you will stand before her."

"Listen well, Azra. You can't scare me with that threat. I am not just an Alpha, but one born of royal descent, so you will give me that respect accorded to me.

And I go nowhere. Do you hear me? Touch me and die, Azra."

"I have already given you that respect. That is why your head isn't in my hands by now. Like I said, my lord, we can either do this the easy way or the hard way. The choice is yours. But I won't leave here without you. However, the way I leave depends on your answer and willingness, my lord."

I knew fighting him, I was going to lose. He is known to be a mad wolf, one without proper control.

"Very well, Azra. I will stoop to your level. If your Alpha wanted to see me so badly, all she could have done was send word, not create all this drama just to get my attention.

Let go, Azra."

Lucia's POV

I sat inside the great hall. My throne felt colder than usual, or was it my soul that burned?

I anxiously waited for my captain's arrival. I had felt uneasy since the past few days after realizing the impending problems that would unfold in the coming days.

Jacob finds out that I killed his true family, then again killed and attacked his foster family.

How his identity wasn't truly his identity, that his name was not exactly Jacob but Rhazien. The confusion that is to unfold was what led to my anxiety and nothing else.

I only found out recently about everything and had someone look deep into the matter, only to find out he was the reminder of my heartless fourteen years ago.

I know he won't believe anything I have to say, and he will truly then hate me and seek me dead.

But I would rather die by his hands and not another.

Lord Earl's POV

"You do know all you needed to do was send  word to me, my love, and I would have come to you immediately. All that chaos wasn't needed."

"Lord Earl, thank you for accepting my invitation. I hope your journey wasn't too stressful."

"Not at all. Your lap dog over here made it fun and bearable.

So what do you need me for?"

"I will be quick. Did you kidnap my mate and have him plot to kill me?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Lucia. I didn't even realize you now have yourself a permanent plaything. But to answer your question, I did no such thing.

Look, Lucy, why don't we both set aside our pride and come together as the true intended mates we are meant to be?"

"You and I know killing me will cause so much trouble that might even lead to war. Actually, scratch that, it certainly will lead to war.

If I die, you won't just be killing an Alpha but a Lord of the Northern Region, and that is considered taboo before the world and the goddess.

And even if I did what you accuse me of, it is still not a reason to kill me, so just tell your lap dog to untie me and have me taken back in the finest carriages, and I would consider putting this insolent behavior of yours as a thing of the past."

"Oh, how generous of you, Lord Earl.

So you do admit to committing treason against me, then. And in my law, treason against me is worse than any war that has and would be fought."

"Just shu-"

My blade went through his head like it was meant to do so, quick and easy. His traitorous head rolled to the ground, shock still in his eyes.

He sure didn't see that coming.

If war would come, I would gladly welcome it.

"Captain, stand your ground with your men and prepare for battle."​