ELOWEN'S POV

“She seems to be of great value in more ways than one.” Cyrus said, his tone sounded casual, almost like a smug.

Unfortunately, my curiosity got the best of me as I thought to myself. “Who is he talking about?”

“What other value does she hold then?” A voice responded. It was his beta, Bella.

Cyrus let out a sinister chuckle. “Leverage.” He said, “Her bloodline makes her the prize, the one true heir to the Heliotrope’s throne. She is the key to securing alliances and destroying all the possible future threats that might appear. She is our key to power, Bella. With her being here, we'll have everything we can possibly wish for.”

The sound of my name rang repeatedly in my head, as the fresh breath of air slapped across my face.

He continued, “She will draw them out. When they figure out and realize who she truly is, they'll come running back for her..and we will destroy them, sparing none of them. By then, it'll be too late for them to have her back.”

I gripped the bars of the stairs to steady myself, struggling to process his words.

Heliotrope was the last standing kingdom empire of the lycans. It was their queen and Luna who adopted and took me in when I was born. She took me into her home, and I grew alongside her son, who everyone widely regarded as the heir of the kingdom.

“So what does Cyrus mean by I being the ‘true heir’ of the kingdom? And that they were using me?” I pondered, several thoughts flooding my mind.

This can not be true. This is definitely some sort of misunderstanding and misconception from his end of the boat.

How could he claim I am the true heir to the throne whereby I was adopted by my kind mother who took me in and introduced me to her husband and child. That was her story of how I came into their lives. Her words, not mine.

Her husband who was the Alpha at that time was also kind enough to acknowledge and take me in as his daughter. My life in their home wasn't all bed of roses, because I had to be up against their child, Darrow.

He's my step brother who I had to earn his validation and approval every time.

He was obviously their favorite because that was their child, and I was just a pitiful and pathetic little baby they found and took mercy on, and after the death of our parents, Darrow wasted no time nor did he spare me from being sold to a horrible mate and partner.

He sold me off to Cyrus without having second thoughts, nor does he come around to check up on me.

It was as if he had been waiting for this time all his existence, and when he finally got the opportunity to get rid of me for good, he wasted no time in grabbing that opportunity, trading and shipping me off to Cyrus.

And Cyrus on the other hand, took that as an advantage and I turned into a sex object and a baby machine to him.

If I was the ‘true heir’ like he insinuated, I wouldn't be here. Would I?

I would be living a much better life than his, and definitely wouldn't be scared to raise a child with a monster.

Bella's disapproving tone cut short my confused thoughts. “Even if you are right about your source, there is no way she'll agree to this.”

Cyrus responded, “There is no need for that. She doesn't have to.”

“The moment she gives birth to a child, giving me an heir, she'll do what is necessary for my pack. And if she turns out to be reluctant or completely redundant to comply, I'll have to break her until she complies.”

I let out a soft gasp of disbelief. This couldn't be Cyrus, the father of my child.

Fortunately, he and his beta were too concentrated in their conversation to notice me nor my little muffle sounds.

“But Cyrus, you sound so cold for a person who is tied to her fate. If the moon goddess paired you….” Bella warned and my breath seized for a moment.

Cyrus scoffed, cutting her off. “What do you mean, huh? Tied to her fate? Don't bring that mate bond nonsense up again. You know if I was truly her mate, I would have felt some sort of connection or bond by now. But, it is still nothing! I haven't felt any little bit of connection or tie between us so far, Bella!”

“But what if you are wrong?” Bella suggested, “We never know what might be the case, Cyrus.”

“I am not wrong.” He replied, his voice cold. “What kind of Alpha and ruler would I be if the moon goddess actually paired me with something like that? She is nothing to me, just a slut who's job is to pleasure me. C'mon, we both know she is not worthy of being paired with someone like me!”

“But she's worthy enough to be your heir?” Bella muttered, her tone growing softer, almost pleading. “That's being a hypocrite, Cyrus. The least you could do is to be a bit nicer to her, until she bears an heir for you.”

“C'mon, Cyrus! That girl has been through a whole lot ever since she stopped into this Manor. You kept her locked in a room and treated her like nothing but trash and a slave…”

Cyrus interrupted, his words struck me like a knife. “And what is she if not a slave? What other reason would I have to buy a werewolf posing as a lycan princess from her brother if not to bear me an heir?”

“The sole reason she's here is for that! Nothing else Bella! She is nothing to me and will never be my mate!”

I stumbled back, my back hitting the wall.

The sound echoed in the silence, and in that dreadful silence, both their voices stopped.