The Alpha's Temptation

Chapter 180 Her Mate, Her Friend

Lerna was mesmerized by the whole thing. She had butterflies in her stomach because of the way Rigel looked at her and at the same time she was feeling excited at all the grand festive mood around her. Her heart beat so fast whenever Rigel looked at her. He had helped her mount the horse when they were outside Hydra and when he had done it, she wouldn't have been surprised if she fainted. She still couldn't believe that it was all real. Before they had started, he drew her into the nearby trees. "I know that it is all new to you," he said. "Things are going to be very different from now onwards. But if you have placed so much trust in me that you have come with me till here, I promise that I will never break your trust."

When Ileus had broken the illusion, Lerna saw all of them for the first time. And they were such handsome hunks, but Rigel-- he was terrifyingly handsome. He had been so gentle and protective about her that she would choose him over any alpha of Hydra even if he were a mere soldier in the army. She didn't know who she was surrounded by during her escape, but she knew that these people were soldiers of high rank and they were thick friends.

She stared at Rigel, trying to commit his features to her memory for the fear that he might hate her. She was the sister of the most hated man of Araniea. Who knew that Rigel may get tired of her or people may poison him against her? She was lost in his gaze so much that when he said, "Don't be nervous," her lips parted.

"You are beautiful," was all she managed to say.

Color rose in his cheeks when his mate said those words. She liked him. That was more than enough for him. "Thank you, but not as beautiful as you." She was so naïve. He picked up her hand and reveled in the electrifying contact. "I think I haven't introduced myself. I am Prince Rigel of Orion Kingdom."

Lerna's eyes widened as surprise surged through her. "Prince Rigel?" She had heard about him in Hydra. How he had helped King Eltanin escape the kingdom, was a story that she had heard numerous times. She used to marvel how these men had defeated her demon werewolf brother and got out of Hydra. _{lips curled up. "Yes," he said as he gazed at her tenderly with his winter blue eyes. "And that--" he pointed at Eltanin, "--is King Eltanin of the Draka Kingdom."}

Lerna's mouth fell to the floor as she whipped her head to look at Eltanin. "Calaman's horns!" she rasped. So, this was the legendary duo? Her gaze flicked back to Rigel and then to Eltanin and back. She flushed heavily. She was in the company of such great men? And these wolves were her brother's archenemies. What had the Moon Goddess planned for her? Her mate was the worst enemy of her brother and he had snatched her out from his stronghold. Now Felis was going to be madder than ever. The weight of the situation fell on her like a huge boulder. Her knees felt wobbly and her head reeled.

"Lerna!" Rigel caught her before she could fall down.

She tipped her head up and said, "You came to Hydra to rescue me, knowing that you were in enemy's territory? You would have been killed?"

Curling a finger under her chin, he lifted her head and said, "It was worth it."

Lerna's lips quivered when she felt his hot breath over her face.

Eltanin coughed on the side breaking their trance. Lerna immediately distanced herself from Rigel, feeling a thousand shades shy. Her face became as red as a tomato. Rigel wanted to kiss her... badly... madly. "And that is Ileus Volkov," he pointed at the wolf with golden eyes. "And that is Rolfe Aramaer," he said, pointing at the man who was the real match for Felis's dark magic.

Lerna turned to look at the three and bowed to them. "I know that I don't have enough power or gold to repay you for your kindness, but please let me know what I can do to return the favor."

Ileus and Rolfe laughed. "I am going to keep a raincheck on this," Ileus said with a grin. "But we were dying for an adventure and what better adventure than getting two mates together?"

Whatever little awkwardness she felt, quickly dissipated as they all mounted the horses and rode through the woods. She noticed that some of the men had shifted into their wolves while some remained on their horses. They were all quite an excited chatterbox. _​

Lerna was so used to the gray stony palace and persistent blizzards of Hydra that she loved the greenery of Eslam Forest. Even though soft flurries of snow fell around her, the trees were full of chirps of birds and faint scents of various flowers.

She learned that they would travel straight through the Eslam Forest, without stopping. According to Rigel, they would reach the capital of Pegasii before nightfall. It was already evening. She wondered if Felis had already started searching for her, but she was relieved that she didn't have to spend another night in the kingdom of Hydra. The fact that she was going to be thrown to a dozen alphas for breeding, still haunted her, and she really wanted to get away from that place as far as possible.

Her mind was bouncing all over the place as she rode on her horse. Her memories jumped from one place to another. There was one thing that she wasn't thinking--she wasn't allowing herself to think that her mate was really a prince. Would he make her his queen? Would his people accept despite her being Felis's sister? Her stomach twisted and churned at the thought. But before all that, would Rigel continue to be with her after the realization would weigh him down.

"Where are we going?" she asked Rigel, as she glanced at him from under her eyelashes.

"We are going to Pegasii," he said.

"But shouldn't we go to Orion?" she asked innocently.

He chuckled as he brought his horse closer to hers. "Pegasii is closer and we would need a lot of rest before heading to Orion."

She bit her lip and Rigel's chest rumbled. "Do you know the king of Pegasii?"

Rigel wanted to pick her up and make her sit in front of him. "I do know him."

"What if Felis comes after me?" She rubbed the back of her neck. "What if your people think that I am a demon werewolf and--"

"Let him. He would die trying to come after you," he said bluntly.

She froze. "Rigel--"

"Princess Lerna." He couldn't help but hold her hand. "Even if you were a demon werewolf, who was trying to rip the throats of anyone who came near you, I would destroy anyone who would want to harm you."

Lerna stared at him with so many emotions in her eyes that her eyes became misty. She appreciated the fact that he wasn't forcing himself on her. She hadn't known him for a day also, yet here was her mate, who was beginning to be a friend.

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