The Alpha's Temptation

Feeling dejected, Rigel closed his hands into tight fists. He turned and walked out of the room, closing the door gently behind him.

As soon as the door closed, Lerna collapsed on the bed. Only a second later, she was blinking heavily as a lump formed at the back of her throat. She was fighting not to cry. She placed her forearm on her eyes and then started to cry, not at all able to understand her emotions. She wanted to maintain distance from him, yet when he left, she cried. She asked him to leave politely, yet why was it that it felt like she committed a sin.

After a day of contemplation, she was sure that if she set boundaries, her heart would be less confused. However, when she thought back, she only felt more unsettled. She should be feeling less sad. Then why the hell everything hurt so much.

She couldn't sleep that night properly and continued to wonder where Rigel was. She hoped that he had not gone to seek comfort in other women. There were so many who wanted to throw themselves at his feet.

When he didn't come the next day, Lerna got hassled.

An hour later, Tania rushed inside her room with Flora following her. She was drawing a cart of food. "Where is Rigel?" she asked, scanning the room.

Lerna was sitting on a chair, trying her best to read a book, but failing her best. "How would I know?" she shrugged, as she leaned in her chair. "He hasn't revealed his location to me."

"I thought he was here."

"No," she replied in a flat voice.

"Really?" Tania placed her hands on her waist. "He said that he would be here, and I assumed that the two of you were together."

Lerna stared at Tania. He held the hem of her gown and fiddled with a thread that was poking out, trying to keep the surge of emotions away from her face. "We haven't talked to each other since yesterday night."

Tania jerked her head back. "Are you serious? Why would you do that? You should have talked to him about what you are feeling. Does he even know what you are going through?"

"I don't want to tell him anything!"

"Do you want me to tell him?"

"What? No!" Lerna squeaked. "I don't want you to say anything."

Tania made a sound of disgust as Flora shook her head.

"Promise me Tania, you won't tell him anything."

Tania pressed her lips and sat on the bed. Flora served them food. In a low voice she said to Lerna, "Prince Rigel is in the garden outside. I saw him."

Lerna bit her bottom lip as she suppressed an urge to run to the balcony and see him. She reminded herself that she would build more boundaries around her heart. She intended on spending time in furthering her studies. She said to Tania, "Can you arrange for a formal tutor for me, if it is not inconvenient to you?"

"Of course not!" Tania said. "You are Eltanin's sister. I will do anything you would like me to."

Lerna's eyes became wide as saucers. "Sister?" she asked, forgetting to breathe. "Wh—what do you mean?"

Tania's lips parted as she looked at Lerna. "You—" She trailed off and looked at Flora as if asking her to help her, but she once again shook her head.

"Tania?" Lerna said. "What are you trying to say?" Lerna thought that maybe Tania wanted to treat her as Eltanin's sister, but she would rather be her sister.

Tania let out a sigh. She didn't know that Felis hadn't told her about it. There was genuine ignorance on her face and she felt pity for Lerna. "Eltanin's mother, Taiyi, is also Felis's mother…" she said in a low, soft voice and then waited for Lerna to absorb the shock.

"What the hell!" Lerna said sharply and rose on her feet. "But Felis never told this to me. And I am— I am—"

"You and Felis share the same father…" Tania completed, feeling like a villain of the situation.

Lerna's mind went numb. Shock blasted inside her chest. She gulped audibly. "This is so twisted…"

Tania pursed her lips and nodded. "It is a long story that I think Eltanin can tell you, but don't ask his mother. It is not a nice tale."

Lerna stabbed her fingers in her hair as she walked to the window. "Does that mean that I am Eltanin's stepsister?"

"You are…"

"So you and I are actual sisters-in-law?"

"Yes…"

Lerna's gaze went to Rigel who was walking in the garden, looking disturbed. His eyes traveled to her as if on instinct.

And when that happened, a heat bomb exploded in her chest, sending waves throughout her body. Looking like all her dreams coming true, Rigel stood there, his hair disheveled, his lips slightly parted and his chest heaving. She forgot all about her conversation with Tania. He took a step closer, his features coming in closer view. "Calaman's horns!" she mumbled. He was so achingly handsome that she sucked in a long breath, sure that she was completely burned on the inside. And now her chest… was hurting.

He started to walk fast towards her and then disappeared.

"Lerna?" Tania's voice pulled her out of her reverie. "I am so sorry that you had to find it out this way," she said.

Lerna walked to her and sat next to her on the bed. "I want to know all the details."

"They are ugly."

"I am ready. Please tell me. This would mean a lot to me."

Tania sighed when Lerna took her hands in hers and squeezed them.

Suddenly the door opened and Lerna whipped her head in that direction only to find Rigel standing in the doorway. Her breath hitched when their gazes locked for the second time in a few minutes. When he saw Tania, he coughed a little and walked in the room.

"What is going on?" he asked, glancing at Flora.