Chapter 27. The Truce

Ariana's POV

"Alpha Anthony is here, your highness," the voice of the maid came through from the other side of the door.

My entire being went stiff. The moment I dreaded the most is here. How I wish this time never came.

I felt Daniel stiffen beside me as well before a frown settled between his brows.

The maid must have probably left after she informed about the Alpha's presence as no voice could be heard after that.

I expected Daniel to get up and freshen up so that he could go meet the Alpha but instead he pulled me closer in his embrace snuggling his face in the crook of my neck.

He's acting a little...strange maybe? Though his actions are making me feel giddy.

"Aren't you going to meet the Alpha? He must be here for the acceptance of the truce- Daniel! What are you..." My last words came out as a squeak when I felt Daniel's teeth nip, suck and lick the soft-spot on the crook of my neck before placing a soft kiss over there.

My eyes were wide by the time Daniel moved back now staring at me. He had that same heartwrenching grin on his lips as he twirled a lock of my hair around his finger--a thing I noticed about Daniel he often enjoys to do with my hair.

"Yes, Princess, what were you saying?" He dared act innocent as if he didn't just assault my poor neck!

And what's with the endearments? Although, I wouldn't say I didn't like it... Whenever he calls me princess, It kind of makes me feel pampered and...loved.

I know I'm misinterpreting most of the things but I can't help but think maybe Daniel does feel something for me as well...and if it's true then it's not good at all since I'm about to leave him and I don't want him harbouring feelings for me only to be left alone in the end....

"What are you thinking about?" Daniel asked cutting of my reverie.

"Nothing! You should let me go, I need to freshen up. I think even you have few things to look through--like meeting a certain Alpha--so could you take your hands off me?" I said with a stern face while he had the same devil-may-care expression on his face as he continued doing crazy things such as trailing his index finger down my face, rubbing my bottom lip gently with his thumb and all the while smiling as if he were observing a rare treasure.

I won't say that his actions didn't make my breath hitch and my heart beat wilder in my chest but I had to refrain myself from feeling this way because soon enough, all these moments between Daniel and me will just remain as a bitter-sweet memory--one that would always remain imprinted in my heart.

"Are you okay now?" Daniel's voice was laced with concern which made me wonder.

Huh? Was something wrong with me?

Although my mind is always not in the right state when Daniel's close to me...

Daniel rolled his eyes when I gave him a confused look. "You were having a fever, remember?"

"Ah! The fever!" I exclaimed as if the lights suddenly appeared in my head, "I'm fine. I'm fine. You don't have to worry about that. Don't have to worry at all... "

I heard him chuckle which made me look at his handsome face with a questioning look in my eyes, "Why are you laughing?"

Daniel chuckled a little more before finally looking at me as his hand tucked a messy strand of my hair behind my ear, "It's just that my wife is too cute when she's flustered and when she's repeating the same sentence, twice."

My little heart fluttered in my chest when he said 'my wife' and called me 'cute' but when his other words registered in my head, I felt my cheeks heating up.

Ugh...Ariana what's wrong with you? why can't you speak properly?

I snapped out of my self-scolding when Daniel held my face with his hand and stared right into my eyes, "You don't have to go back to him if you don't want to, Ari. Stay with me instead?"

I didn't have to ask who he was talking about but...

No matter how amazing his offer sounded. No matter how badly I wanted to stay with him. No matter how much I loved him. In the end, his life is what I care about the most and to let him stay in peace, I have to give up my happiness. Give him up.

"Daniel, I-"

Daniel placed his finger on my lips preventing me from speaking,

"Shhhh now, Princess. You don't have to answer the question now. Think about it carefully, okay? Until then, I'll go meet that nuisance- I mean the Alpha," he smiled retracting his finger from my lips as he leant down to place a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"I hope you choose to stay here. With me," he mumbled which I heard without a problem due to my wolfy ears.

Before I could ask him anything, he got off the bed and headed straight to the bathroom probably to freshen up.

By the time Daniel got dressed in the closet and exited the room, I was still laying on the bed wondering what in the world to do.

I want to stay with Daniel more than anything but I can't for his own sake.

What do I do?

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Daniel's POV

I made my way straight to the court room where all the ministers (who are the Alpha's of other packs in the kingdom) and the wrecked Alpha Anthony would be present along with Ariel.

I had sent Carla out with Cami to visit Veneton, the vampire Kingdom, which was Evan's kingdom, so that she would be away from all this. I know I shouldn't hide this from Carla but I don't want her worrying about all this. Besides, it's best if Carla's away from the prying eyes of the outsiders who are waiting for the right moment to attack her.

The sound of my footsteps tapping against the marbled floor was the first thing that was heard followed by the greeting of the courtiers as I entered the court room.

I walked over to the throne next to Ariel's--that was on a raised platform than others in the courtroom--and sat down on it while gesturing the ministers to settle down themselves.

Among the ministers, James was seated at one of the chairs. Although, James was Ariel's mate, he wasn't exactly a royal and furthermore the actual person to posess the powers given by the moon goddess is Ariel so when matters like today's arise, James had no say in it but if the queen considered taking her mate's advice then no one could deny.

My eyes fleeted over to Anthony seated at one of the seats. He was already looking at me with a smirk on his face. I narrowed my eyes at him feeling my insides boiling.

Why is it that every time I look at this man I feel a strange surge of annoyance?

"Let's begin the court," Ariel's comanding voice boomed in the entirety of the courtroom snapping me out of my glaring contest with Anthony as I looked ahead at the courtiers.

The civil bureau stepped ahead to read out the contract of the Alpha's acceptance of the truce, "Today, in front of the courtiers and the majestic Queen Ariel and Prince Daniel, I, Alpha Anthony Gonzalez hereby accept The Royal Truce of Peace and Treaty among Vampires and Werewolves," the civil bureau recited the exact words written on the parchment. Rolling it to close the sheet of handwritten acceptance by the Alpha, he continued,

"Thereby, as per the conditions, after accepting the truce, Alpha Anthony's Mate Ariana Cristford who had been married to his highness, Prince Daniel Rodriguez, as a form of punishment is to be sent back to the Alpha today itself."

A frown settled upon my face as the civil bureau concluded his mini-speech.

I would have been very much happy if he didn't speak about the stupid condition.

"The condition can't be fulfilled," I announced right away causing the courtiers to seem a bit stunned while the wrecked Alpha continued smirking like a maniac.

How badly I want to wipe that smirk off his damn face!

"Danny! What are you doing? I know you want to keep Ariana here but don't be so obvious about it, okay! You don't want Ariana to conjure danger, do you? If everyone comes to know that the prince has a soft spot for a woman whose already someone else's mate, won't they try to attack her so that they can indirectly attack you?" Ariel whispered all of this into my ears although no one could practically hear her even with their werewolf hearing since she was blocking her voice from the others.

Royals are meant to be royals for a reason. We have many abilities others aren't even aware of. One of them is we can block our voice from others if we want to even if the other person is a supernatural with spectacular hearing.

After considering Ariel's words, I realised about the danger that I would put Ari into because of my words and I don't want anything to happen to my princess. So, With a straight face I corrected my words,

"Ariana is currently not well and it wouldn't be right to make her travel when she's still sick, would it?" I posed the question with the hope of receiving a positive comeback and I also got good response,

"The prince is right! We should be considering about the lady's health as well," one of the courtiers was saying to another which I caught without a problem.

"You're right! It's good to know that the prince actually cares for his peasants health!" The other butted in.

It was obvious that they knew I could hear them and were just trying to sugar-coat me to get in my good books. Although I despise such fake people, right now their opinions were helping me to keep Ari here and I was ready to keep my annoyance at bay for the time being. As long as it's concerned with Ari, everything is fine with me.

But just when the reports were coming out all positive, Anthony, my nemesis spoke,

"You don't have to worry about my mate's comfort, your highness. I'll make sure to take her back to the pack without any problem. Besides, it's just an hour distance from here. So, it wouldn't do much trouble. Thank you for your concern though."

The wrecked Alpha just had to ruin everything!

He's telling 'my mate' as if he owns Ari. How dare he think that way! He doesn't own her god damnit!

No problem though. This wasn't my initial plan to begin with.

"Still, I can't let her go back with you as of now," I said to receive confused expressions from the courtiers and a chilly face from the Alpha himself.

Gotcha!

"I know we had agreed on this earlier but there is still a few paperwork to be sorted out about the Alpha's acceptance of the truce and legally, Ariana's still my wife. Without completing the paperwork or without her consent, I can't send her back to the Wolvesbane packhouse. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. If there's any objection, feel free to raise your voice," I asked, my voice laced with a warning indicating If-You-Dare-Object-You-Would-See-Your-Death.

I don't care what the others would think. Like who cares? I want Ari here no matter what.

My eyes fleeted over to the Alpha only to find him calm and composed as if I didn't just burst his plans. Why the pretend? He must be fuming from inside.

I found a smirk making it's way on my lips at the victory but the smirk dropped when he said the words I didn't want him to bring up.

"Why don't you ask my mate what she wants, your highness? I'm sure you would agree to her wish," The wrecked man dared to smirk after trying to trap my Ari, "I mean, you are a great prince to your subjects, your highness. And I'm sure you wouldn't object my mate's wish if she wants to return back to her mate. That is me."

I shot him a death glare. Only if looks could kill, he would be six foot under the ground by now.

I stood up from the throne, my eyes training on the man with annoyance and anger.

"Fine. I'll confirm from Ariana myself. Then it will be as she wishes."

With that being declared, I walked out of the courtroom heading straight to my room where Ari most certainly would be present.

I had said to everyone that I would ask Ari about her opinion but honestly, I won't or should I say I'm afraid to do so. I'm afraid that she would accept to go back with the Alpha and leave me. I'm afraid that I'll lose her. I'm afraid to let her go. Afraid to lose something that is now very precious to me and maybe I know why....

I'll just say the courtiers that Ari said she doesn't feel good and is in a weak state so she won't be able to make it back to the packhouse today. Although I won't be asking Ari whether she wants to leave or not, it's totally fine to just go and see her, right? I miss her and it's just hardly been an hour. What would I do if she ever leaves me? No, that can't happen. I won't let that happen....

Engulfed by my thoughts, I didn't realise that I had reached my room already and stepped inside. I spotted Ari through the opened door of the balcony, standing in the balcony with her back facing me. The fury in me caused by Anthony automatically subsided the moment I saw her. I sighed helplessly. This girl has such an effect on my emotions.

A small smile formed on my lips as I approached her coming to stand beside where she stood on the balcony.

"I know the garden's pretty and all but with the amount of staring you do at the flora makes me jealous, you know?" I joked with a twinge of sarcasm.

Ari didn't reply or say anything instead just stared ahead not uttering a word. Her silence made me worry.

"Ari?" I called out to gain her attention.

She continued gazing ahead for a while before finally speaking in a very low voice,

"You know you're a wonderful man, Daniel," she muttered, "But I don't deserve you."

Her words confused me a bit so I stared at her side view. Something was really not right. Ari looked as if she wasn't solely present here and was in her own bubble.

I stepped closer to her frame and turned her to the side so that she is facing me, "Ari, what's wrong..." my sentence trailed off and a frown settled between my brows as I took into her face. Her eyes looked puffy and the rim of her eyes had turned red along with her small nose. She looked as if she had been crying.

Ofcourse she had been crying, you idiot!

I felt anger and worry bubbling inside me. Anger directed towards the person who made my princess cry and worry because she looked really troubled. Her state made my insides churn.

Who the hell dared make my Ari cry?!

"Ari, why were you crying?" I asked holding her face gently with care, concerned about her.

She looked up at me with those turquoise eyes of hers as tears welled up in them.

Oh gosh, did I say something wrong? Daniel, you idiot!

The next moment, I felt her arms wrap around my torso as she hugged me tightly. I was surprised by her sudden action and before I could make a move or wrap my arms around her to hug her back, I heard slow sniffing noises coming from her.

She's crying?

'YES! YOU DIMWIT! CAN'T YOU HEAR?! ARE YOU DEAF?!' Carlos mocked me through his mind-link.

I shut him off instantly and bought my attention back on Ari. Wrapping my arms securely around her small frame, I gently rubbed her back with my hand with the intention to comfort her but instead the slow sniffs turned louder and eventually she started sobbing loudly in my arms, all the while hugging me tightly.

My heart hurt to see her like this. She was the one crying and I was hurting more than her. I don't know why she's upset but I swear if I knew who or what made my her cry, I would destroy the thing or end the person's pathetic life.

Although right now, all I can do is hold her in my arms and try my best to comfort her.

"Dont cry. I promise you that whatever the reason is for which you are crying, I'll sort it out. So don't cry, please. It hurts me to see you like this." I moved my hand up and down her back while saying comforting words.

I've never felt so worthless before. What kind of a husband am I if I can't even comfort my wife?! Besides, I even let someone make Ari cry under my nose.

After a few minutes of crying and clutching onto me, Ari thankfully stops and backs away to face me.

I instantly missed her warmth and the feel of her small body hugging me but I somehow felt contended that she was okay now.

"Why were you crying-" I began only to be cut off by her.

The next words she spoke made my heart drop as I felt the worst heartbreak of my life approaching,

"I want to go back with the Alpha, Daniel."

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Okaayyyyy.....so how was the chapter?

I know I shouldn't have left it here but the chapter is already long enough and I couldn't drag it anymore:(

You guys probably searching for a way to slap me through the Internet \_(><)_/

Wasn't the update supposed to be on last Sunday? I know I'm late and I wouldn't lie, I just didn't get the time to write.

I think maybe I'll be having a week's holiday from college due to an upcoming festival next week and if I get a holiday, I'll try my best to update more frequently at that time ^_^