60 Days with Lycan Prince: Love or Leave

Hera POV

"The trial for The Crown Princess Hydrangeas Leonny Andromeda as a suspect has officially begun."

The chime that opened the court for me was sounded.

"The suspect was found guilty of poisoning the victim due to personal grudges and jealousy. The evidence found was the suspect's necklace that was in the victim's hand. Therefore the suspect was declared at fault with supporting evidence."

I approached the noble judge.

"It's not like that, Your Honor. I never wanted to claim anyone's position. I am enough with what I have. I have no grudge against my sister, Marry. And I am not jealous of what is already hers."

"Please calm down or we will be forced to take away your right, princess, to defend yourself."

I looked at everyone in the room one by one. Everyone was staring at me with hatred and burning anger.

"I'm not guilty," I said confidently.

*This morning*

"Hera, please listen to my explanation!" Alexander, the crown prince of Traiton, tried to stop me.

I stopped running as he blocked my way to the Moonwood exit.

Alexander's appearance was so disheveled, he looked like someone who hadn't slept in days. His eyes were bloodshot, his jaw tight, his hands clenched into fists.

"I thought our problem had stopped after Marry's confession," I said firmly.

"And you just believe her? You knew that Marry liked me and pretended to be you, took your identity."

"Yes, I trust her because she's my sister. I knew she stole my identity to use to marry you, and I let her do that."

Xander tried to grab my hand but I stepped back, avoiding him.

"But why? Don't you love me, Hera?"

I clenched my fists until I felt my nails digging into my palms. "That's right, I don't love you, Alexander Lautner Sirius. I've given you the answer for your curiosity all this time. So don't bother me with this question anymore."

I immediately turned around and walked away from him.

My tears fell uncontrollably. I harshly wiped it as it just touched my cheek.

It felt so painful to say something that was against my heart. It was like being forced to swallow a pierced fish barb.

But this was all for the best of everyone. For Marry and for the Raven Kingdom.

I just need time to accept that Marry was capable of lying and betraying me. Because she made me the last to know about her plans to marry Alexander.

And I didn't know what Marry did when we switched academy until early this morning, when she came to me, crying violently and begging me for forgiveness.

She told me all the things she'd done while we were exchanging academies. Including that she had told our parents, six months ago, that she wanted to marry Alexander and that the arranged marriage between me and Alexander had been made.

"I don't love Marry."

I smiled wryly. It was impossible for them to meet for a year without any feelings.

"Don't hurt my sister's feelings or you will face me," I said with emphasis.

"It's her fault. Why did she have to lie? Why didn't she introduce herself to me as Marry instead of Hera?"

"Because you're going to report us to the principal."

"No Hera, I'm not going to report you."

Even if he did, it was too late. This was the consequence. I had to let him go.

"You have similar faces and physiques. No one will know that it's you or Marry who's marrying me."

"That's the problem," I said in a lower voice. "Because we have the same physique, I let Marry marry you. It was her dream."

"And you ignored your dream? Our dream?" Alexander walked towards me quickly and took my hand. "I know you love me too, Hera. After all the things we've been through together, after sleeping in the same bed, it's impossible not to feel anything for me.”

I brushed his hand off. I turned around, taking a deep breath. "We did nothing but kiss. We fell asleep because we were tired."

"You want that kiss because you love me."

Alexander was right, I loved him very much. I also thought I would marry him in the future.

We also met many times at the academy. And I thought those were an accident and fate. But as it turned out, it wasn't. It was Alexander's plan.

"You know me because you knew my sister first."

"That's right. And what made me fall in love was you, not your sister. I can tell you apart even if it's hard for others. You're different Hera, you're kind, sincere, strong, brave, smart. You're perfect."

With shaking hands, I dared to slap him. "Don't belittle my sister to my face."

I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to run as far away from Alexander as possible. If necessary, never to see him again.

The more I talked to him, the crazier I became. This heartache was making me lose my mind.

It was like someone had ripped out my heart and put it back into my body.

"I asked her to confess to you. I told her to because I hoped it would clear up our misunderstanding. But it didn't," he said in a hoarse voice.

"Accept the fact that I already have a boyfriend. I don't love you, Alexander. I love Shawn."

"You had a boyfriend after you realized you had feelings for me. After you suspected that there was something between me and Marry. Am I right?"

He's absolutely right. I dated Shawn, my military buddy and also my best friend, after I had that suspicion.

I knew I was bad for dragging Shawn into this, but it was the only way to make Alexander stop loving me more.

"Turn around, look into my eyes, Hera."

I took a deep breath before turning around.

"Don't give in because your sister, just this once. You don't need to keep being the good girl. Be selfish for once, for the sake of our feelings."

"We don't have the same feelings!" I snapped.

My breathing was ragged. Not holding back my anger but trying to keep my tears from falling.

"Well, okay, if you insist. I'll do whatever it takes to cancel this arranged marriage. That way I don't have to marry her."

I pulled his arm to prevent him from leaving. "You can't."

"Then, I'll torture her when we get married."

"Don't do that, please."

I finally squatted down on the wet grass. I bowed my head deeply. "The match has already been made. Canceling it will only cause a riot. Please marry her. You'll love her as time goes by."

Alexander growled like he was about to shift. He snapped my hand, but I restrained myself from moving.

"What are you doing to Hera! Let her go!"

It was Shawn's voice. I could also smell his odor getting stronger as he approached us.

Meanwhile Alexander smiled sideways at me, which only I could see. "I don't think he knows that you only love him as a best friend."

"You're wrong. I do love him."

Alexander chuckled mockingly. "You're very bad at lying, Hera. I know you're only pretending to love Shawn because you need his help, which is to get me away from you. Your love and affection for him is nothing more than a best friend."

I clenched my fists at my sides and looked at him sharply. I don't know how Alexander knew about that. But what he said was true, I was dating Shawn so Alexander would stop chasing me.

"I'm telling the truth, right?"

"Don't spread your false assumptions to Shawn!"

"Alright, but you must stop this arranged marriage."

I shook my head desperately. "I can't."

I think it was because he heard my answer this time that he got out of control. His sharp nails came out, his eyes darkened and he growled.

I ran towards Shawn before Alexander moved, intending to get to him first. But before I could reach him, a Lycan ran from behind me towards Shawn.

"No!" I shouted very loudly, hoping to prevent a fight between them.

But I failed, it had already happened.

Alexander attacks Shawn. Shawn was injured so badly, he was not an equal opponent for a Lycan Prince like Alexander. Shawn could have lost his life.

So I ran again, standing in the middle of them. I spread my arms and stared at Alexander. "Stop it or you'll never see me again."

He groaned, his reddened eyes not moving my body for a second. And moments later he was leaving.

All I could see was his back as he dashed quickly out of sight. Then he let out a howl, it echoed, sounds so painful.

"This is all my fault," I muttered.

"This is not the time to decide who's at fault, Hera. There's something more important going on."

I suddenly realized that Shawn was still here. He was still sitting on the ground with blood staining his clothes.

"Shawn," I called softly. "I'm sorry I couldn't prevent him from hurting you." I went straight to him.

Shawn gripped my hand tightly. He looked at me with watery eyes.

"That must hurt a lot. I'll heal your wound."

"I... Marry..."

"Please keep quiet. It will help me concentrate."

I immediately closed my eyes to start healing Shawn.

Slowly I began to feel something flowing from Shawn's body and transferring to mine. Then the pain came on intensely.

"Enough Hera, don't use all your energy."

I opened my eyes, relieved to see that the wounds on his body were gone.

"How did you find me here? What happened to Marry that made you look for me?"

"I bring bad news."

My faint smile instantly faded when I saw Shawn's fearful expression.

"Don't scare me Shawn."

Shawn, for the first time, hugged me tightly while holding my hand. "Something happened to Marry. Someone poisoned her and now she's in a coma. But please don't go to Raven. Right now everyone believes that it was you who poisoned Marry and made her that way."

I released my grip on Shawn's hand and pushed him off to break our hug.

Without a second thought, I shifted, letting my wolf dominate me. And I let her run to Raven to see Marry.