Chapter 2 The Deal

Sitting on the leather sofa quietly, alone in the chamber, Aurora stared at two glasses of water placed on the desk in front of her. 

She took a glance at the closed door, listening for any sound of movements outside. Quiet. Without hesitation, she strode to the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves covering the whole wall in the living room. 

Shelf seven, the bottom layer, The Count of Monte Cristo. Aurora quickly located the book and flipped the pages until she found a small brown bottle of liquid placed in a square hollow among the pages.  

She took out the bottle, opened the lid, poured a drop into the glass of water facing the window, and 

watched the transparent liquid mix with the water. 

A knock on the door sounded. Aurora quickly placed the bottle in the book and returned it to its original place. 

“Luna, Ms. Thornton is here to see you on behalf of Luna Queen,” the maid Alice announced. 

Aurora sat down on the sofa and cleared her throat, “Come in.” 

Maggie Thorton walked in carrying a dark green wooden box, followed by the omega maid Alice. 

Maggie bowed her head, “Luna Aurora, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” 

Aurora stood up with a trembling heart. “Maggie, right? Alice told me about you earlier.” 

Maggie looked up, “Yes, Luna Aurora.” 

“Alice, can you fetch some sweets for me from the royal kitchen? I ate very little at the banquet,” Aurora declared. 

Alice hesitated for a while but bowed her head and exited the chamber. 

“Leave the door closed. It’s chilly,” Aurora demanded, watching Alice close the door behind her.  

The minute the door was clicked shut, Maggie pointed at it to tell Aurora Alice might eavesdrop outside. Aurora nodded her head knowingly. Of course, the paranoid Luna Queen would arrange for a spy to watch her every movement even if she was weak and wolfless. 

But that didn’t stop the women from running to each other in light, urgent steps. They met in the middle and embraced each other in a tight hug. 

“I missed you so much, Maggie,” Aurora whispered in a choked voice. 

“I missed you, too,” Maggie said with misty eyes.

Six years. It was the longest time they’d separated since they were on the run. There had always been just the two of them against the world since the night their pack was slaughtered. 

Both women knew it wasn’t the right time to mourn the time they lost, so they quickly recollected themselves and returned to act like two strangers seeing each other for the first time. 

“The Luna Queen wants you to attend a party she hosts Thursday night. She prepares a special dress for you, Luna Aurora,” Maggie said with a raised voice. 

“That is very kind of her. Please thank her for me,” Aurora did the same. 

“It’s an orange dress. The Queen thinks the color would be perfect for your skin tone.” Maggie walked to the fireplace and pointed her finger at the photo of the royal family.

“Tell the Queen I like the color very much.” Aurora took down the photo and pressed the brick. A secret compartment popped out. In it placed a bundle of paper. Aurora took out a piece of folded paper that showed the map of the palace. She examined it carefully, her fingers tracing the secret passageways marked on the map. 

Heavy footsteps and sounds of people speaking echoed in the hallway. Aurora quickly put the paper back in the compartment, pushed the compartment back and hung the photo back. 

The door opened. Prince Philip walked in with his hands in his pockets, looking fatigued. 

“I’ll report back to the Queen. Have a good night, Your Highness and Luna Aurora,” Maggie bowed her head and excused herself, leaving just Philip and Aurora in the room. 

Aurora stared at the glass of water, weighing whether it was the proper time to offer him the glass. Before she could say anything, Philip broke the ice. 

“I couldn’t be your husband,” Philip ran his fingers through his hair, pacing up and down. 

It was not what Aurora expected to hear. But a wave of relief washed over her. She was willing to do anything, including sleeping with him if necessary, to get what she came here for, but she dreaded sex with a stranger. 

Plopped on the couch, Philip rubbed his forehead in frustration. 

“I’m sorry I’ve acted cold to you since the wedding. I’m a horrible person. I turned a blind eye to the mean words spoken to you. You don’t deserve it. But my heart has already been taken. I’m sorry. I hope you could understand,” Philip said, his deep blue eyes looking at her sincerely with sadness. 

Aurora was taken aback by his honesty. She studied his face carefully, looking for signs of deception, but there were none. 

He was a good-looking man. Blond and tall with a Calvin Klein model’s body, a perfect prince charming. He seemed genuine when he looked at Aurora. Aurora wondered what he saw in Scarlett. But it was not her business. 

“This is not what I want, either,” she spoke. Once, the real Aurora Coleman told her how she hated this arranged marriage. 

Philip looked relieved at her words. He relaxed a bit and continued to apologize, “I’m sorry Scarlett treated you rudely. She is just jealous. She is a nice girl once you get to know her.”

Aurora said nothing about Philip’s comments on Scarlett’s character. Apparently, the prince was not good at judging people. She asked, “She told you about our little altercation?” 

Philip winced. “Nicholas told me. He gave me a hard time, berating me for Scarlett’s behavior for hours.” 

This piece of news annoyed Aurora. She didn’t need Nicholas’ help. Why was he so nosy? Aurora had a sense that the cocky alpha prince would be big trouble for her in the future. 

Brushing the image of that arrogant man from her mind, Aurora wasted no time proposing, “Why don’t we make a deal?”

“A deal?” Philip was all ears. 

“We both don’t want the marriage. Why don’t we pretend to be husband and wife for a year? Then we say things don’t work out between us and get a divorce. You go marry Scarlett and I leave the palace to find my own happiness.” One year, that was all Aurora needed. 

“You are willing to divorce me?” Philip’s eyes brightened at the suggestion. 

“Yes. But my father would be livid if I went home right after the wedding. He will consider it a shame. So we have to last one year as a couple to appease him,” Aurora stated. 

Philip’s face split into a wide smile, the dimple looked very prominent when he smiled. “Deal.” He reached out his hand to Aurora. 

Aurora took his warm hand and shook it. 

“I have a feeling we can be good friends,” Philip grinned. Aurora pursed her lips at his words. The prince had no idea why Aurora came to the South. If he had known, he wouldn’t have acted so unguardedly. 

“From today on, I will sleep in the guest room in the suite,” Philip proposed. Aurora nodded, glad to have some privacy for herself. 

A man dressed as a warrior entered the chamber. “Prince Philip, Alpha Nicholas wants you in the dungeon. There is a special case he wants to discuss with you.” 

Philip groaned, “Who would ask a groom to go to the dungeon on his wedding day?”

The beefy warrior stood rooted on the spot, unmoved. “Alpha Nicholas is waiting for you. I‘ll stay here until you come with me,” he emphasized. 

Philip caved in, “All right, all right. I will be on my way after I drink some water.” 

He reached his hand for the glass of water facing the window. Aurora’s heart thumped against her chest. She hesitated for a moment before snatching the glass from his hand.

“Take that one. This one is mine,” she held the glass of water tightly close to her chest. 

While Philip was busy gulping down the water, Aurora voiced her plan for tomorrow. 

“I’d like to see the dark forest. I heard the forest is very different from the ones in the north in my hometown. I want to see it in person,” Aurora put on an excited expression. 

Philip pinched his eyebrows. “The rogues are roaming along the border. So don’t cross it. My mom arranges a warrior for you as protection. Take him with you.” 

“I will,” Aurora promised. That was exactly what she wanted. 

Aurora sat in the room alone, waiting for Alice to bring her the sweets. She was indeed starved after a long and exhausting day. 

Alice’s head peeked into the room right on time. The malnourished omega carried a tray of macarons, cakes, and cookies. 

Alice was ready to exit the room after placing the tray on the desk when Aurora called her name. 

“Why don’t you join me, Alice?” 

Alice looked startled at the invitation. She stuttered, “Lu…Luna, omegas are not allowed to eat royal food.” 

“Royal food,” Aurora snorted. “Have you eaten anything today?” 

Alice cast her eyes down to the ground. “I have,” she said. 

Aurora could tell it was a lie. She knew what hunger felt like, days of hunger. It was as if ants were eating at your stomach bit by bit when you were starving. 

Alice may be the Queen’s spy, but Aurora hated when people were mistreated. 

Taking three macarons from the tray, Aurora pushed the rest in Alice’s direction. “It’s too much. Why don’t you take the rest and throw them in the garbage?” 

The omega’s eyes brightened at her words.