Chapter 2 The Betrayal

Ariana’s POV

I resisted the urge to hiss at the arrogance in his tone.

“I’ve heard of it before,” I snapped. “You are famous for mining ore.”

“I see you’re well informed,” he let out a crooked smile. His black hair was fixed backwards, contrasting with his skin that looked like he’d never fought a battle before. “Harmonia’s ore is famous in all the kingdoms, but your beauty is so outstanding that I could hire the greatest goldsmith and give him the best ore to make an ornament for your head.”

This man was so tacky! I held back a sigh. And for some reason, my father found him amusing.

“That’s a way to put it, Damon,” Father laughed, taking a sip of his wine. “Ariana, would you show this handsome merchant around the palace? You too could get to know each other.”

It was the second time Father was calling him ‘handsome’ and it didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t understand what was so mesmerizing about Damon. He was just like every other alpha I beat today, except that he wasn’t even one. Merchants didn’t fight.

“Why do I have to do that?” I asked through gritted teeth. "There are plenty of servants to help him with that."

Damon flashed me an icy look at my words, and for some reason I felt chills run down my spine. Although a smile played on his lips, there was something about the way he looked at me; like I was a prey he was going to devour. And I had nowhere to run.

My thoughts were cut off by Father's words.

“Ariana, you will show our guest around the palace.” It was more of an order than a suggestion. “Damon is the greatest ore merchant from Harmonia, and you will not be the reason the kingdom suffers from a lack of resources. If all goes well and you marry him, he will give us ore for next to nothing. Do your job as a princess for once,” he whispered.

“I am not marrying Damon for ore, Father,” I whispered the best I could over the loud music. It wasn’t that I cared what Damon would think if he heard anyways.

“Please, take care of our guest,” Mother said loudly, and my eyes widened. She was trapping me now, and I couldn’t refuse now that the whole table was looking at me with anticipation.

I closed my eyes and pinched my nostrils and grudgingly rose to my feet. Damon followed suit.

God, he was tall!

“We will be on our way now, Father,” I bit back a scowl and yet again, Damon pulled out my seat. I strolled out of the banquet hall through the back entrance because I didn’t want to cause a scene. He strolled behind me as we stepped out of the hall into the brightly lit night.

“My apologies, Princess. If I was being overbearing.” He spoke again when we were a considerable distance from the hall. “But I must admit that you are a sight to behold–”

“That is the main palace where kingdom matters are dealt with.” I pointed to a hall we had just walked past, purposefully ignoring him.

“I presume you have never courted a–”

“This is the arena where we had the Werewolf Power Contest. Father uses it for ceremonies too.”

“I almost beheaded Elysee of Madya kingdom here.”

“Peach dresses bring out your best–”

“Damon,” I spat out and looked at the man who wore an amused smile. “I will appreciate it if we spoke about the palace you wanted to explore.”

I was about to keep walking when a sharp scent hit my nose. I froze in my track, excitement making me giddy. To make sure, I took a deep whiff of breath and could faintly smell the intoxicating chocolate moss that was supposed to be here with me instead of this merchant that treated the excursion as a questionnaire.

My love was here! Jasper was close by!

Without sparing Damon a second glance, I sprinted away in the direction of the scent with a grin enveloping my face. I didn’t look back to see if Damon was following me, all I wanted to see, all my body needed to feel was Jasper. His scent grew stronger the faster I ran, till I was in the garden, a few inches away from our love tree.

And there he was! I could vaguely make out his silhouette in the dark garden till my eyesight adjusted itself to see him.

"Jasper!" I yelled out excitedly. But the next thing I saw nearly sent me reeling.

I froze. He was hunched against a body, heavy breaths escaping his lips as he took fast thrusts into a woman who was bent over, her fingers clutching the tree bark as she moaned wildly.

I blinked twice, my body trembling as I stared at my fated mate having sex with another woman!