Chapter 8

Panic filled her heart, at that moment, she lost all control on her emotion as her heart started racing and her thoughts were in a jumbled mess in her mind. She nervously bit her lip, trying to come up with a solution to her recent predicament. It was easy to fool others that she was the princess but it would take more efforts to pass off as her before her parents. How would they not know the behavioral pattern of their daughter? Davina never imagined that she would have to meet with the king and queen so soon, it had slipped off her mind and now it’s back to bite her in the butt.

Axel noticed her change in mood but chose not y address it in the presence out his pack members. Yes, he considered them family and is well convinced that all of them that were present would not betray him even if their lives were at stake. He placed a hand over hers which was under the table, to silently reassure her. “Davina, this is Lucas. He is my beta and beside him is his mate Cassandra.”

Davina was snatched out of her own little world by Axel. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, please lift your heads.” She smiled at the pair of couple who both bowed in respect towards her, which meant she was accepted by them.

“That is William, my Theta who is also the head of the pack doctors and his mate Kelsey.” Axel introduced a different couple who also replicated the same actions as the first couple, pleasing Axel greatly. It is good that his closest pack members easily accepted his mate as it would make it easier for them to work together in the future. He had other plans for anyone that proved too stubborn.

“Can you not bow your heads anymore? I’m just like you guys and we are all one family here.” Davina wasn’t used to being treated with do much respect and doesn’t know what to make of it.

“It’s something that is required of us, you are the princess first before you became our Luna.” Cassandra explained the reason.

Kelsey continued. “Our respect to the crown is genuine and our respect to you comes from our heart.”

Davina could no longer find the words to prevent their actions and could just let it be. Apart from the two pairs of couples, the other members present either fell under the categories of pack doctors or warriors whom Axel deemed worthy of the first meeting with his mate but the Delta, the head of the pack warriors was away on official business.

Davina had no idea that she had just won the hearts of many with her words and actions, she subtly rubbed her forehead as her upcoming predicament was recalled. Seeing that no one else was eating, she instinctively got up and started picking up the dishes for washing.

“Luna no!” Everyone shouted in unison, causing her to instantly drop the plate in her hand.

She was taken aback by their call, she glanced around to see the look of desperation on their faces. Axel’s face remained expressionless but the temperature in the room dropped by a lot, causing the other pack members to feel chilly as they imagined the hours of brutal training they would be subjected to, both male and female.

“Axel is there a problem?”

“Are you asked to do the dishes in the palace?” His voice was icy, devoid of any emotions.

Fear coursed through her body, Davina was scared that her lie might have come to light and her brain gears were turning, thinking of an appropriate answer. “It’s really nothing. I cook too, as it helps relieve some inner stress.” She decided to play it slow until it was confirmed that he knew the truth.

“A princess that cooks? That doesn’t add up.” Axel stared deeply at her, as if trying to read her soul.

“My parents doesn’t know about this, if they do, they’ll be outraged.” She tried to act like Elizabeth and added a little bit of sass to her voice. “What’s with a princess knowing how to cook? I planned only show my mate my culinary skills.” She pulled the mate card, hoping that it moved Axel.

And it worked. Axel’s gaze on her softened. He didn’t show it, but on the inside he was glad that his mate had made efforts to try and please him. “How many times have you hurt yourself?”

“A lot of times when I was much younger,” She unknowingly answered as she fell into the memory lane and was recalling the earlier days when she first took up the role of maid in her packhouse. It was hell to say the least. Compared to her, the princess was probably living her life with the best. She felt the cold glare from Axel and knew that she must have misspoken a word.

“You are not allowed to go anywhere near the kitchen! We have Omegas for that.” He stood up and started to walk away leaving Davina both confused and worried.

The other males in the room dare not wait any longer, their alpha was visibly upset and was going the take his anger out on them as he won’t risk hurting his mate. ‘Luna save us! The Alpha is upset because you were hurt as a child.” Their faces were solemn as they stood up one after the other, bowed towards Davina before following their Alpha. Before leaving, they sent a silent plea for help towards their new Luna but Davina is to confused to think of the hidden messages behind their solemn gazes.

Aside from Davina, there were two women left in the room. They all sent pleading looks in her direction, they knew their mates were definitely going to suffer the wrath of their Alpha and the only person that can save them was their Luna.

“What?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“Luna, the alpha is upset.” Cassandra stated with a pleading expression.

“Why should he be?” Genuine confusing appeared on her face. “I was the one that was just ordered not to do any cooking.”

“But Luna-” Kelsey whined.

“Kelsey, I didn’t do anything wrong. Why would he upset?” Both Cassandra and Kelsey now truly understood how clueless Davina was. “Where do you think Brian would be? I would like to relieve some stress by baking.” Brian had earlier left with his mother and a few other women, he had no chance to say goodbye as the mood in the air was a bit tensed.

Davina was trying to think of ways to either avoid meeting the king and queen or pass off perfectly as their daughter. It was nerve wreaking. She found thinking easier when she was baking at the same time and it was something she wanted to do right away with hopes that it yielded positive results..

“The Alpha just forbade your from doing any form of cooking, Luna.”

“Can you not tell him?” She tried to be convincing.

“I’m sorry Luna, but we can’t hide it from the Alpha. It would make him enraged.”

“Fine! I’ll go see him and maybe he can change his mind.” She let out a sigh. Davina didn’t want to do anything that would make Axel stop wanting her.

The two women present were gladdened, if the conversation between their Alpha and Luna went well, then the Alpha would no longer be angry and their mates will not have to suffer his wrath. Davina stood up and left the room the next minute but she forgot something, she didn’t know her way around and didn’t ask for help.

She easily found the exit of the house, she was a few steps away from the house when she felt a sharp sting on her arm. She was startled, hurt first thought was that she was stung by a wasp. It hurt, a lot, and the stinging sensation warned her that the stinger might still be in her arm so she had to be careful while removing it.

Feeling a wave a dizziness, she was confused, she looked around and aside from the path which led to the house, all she could see was lush green forest and plants that isolated the house. She reached around to remove the stinger but her hand touched something more cylindrical than a bee’s stinger.

Her body felt like it was moving in slow motion, dark spots dotted her view, she was on the verge of passing out but she had no intention of doing so out in the open where her attacker could kidnap her. She slowly reversed her steps, trying to make her way back to the house to get help from Kelsey and Cassandra.

Blinking her eyes, she tried to focus when she saw someone approaching. It was a man. He had a strange smile on his face and a weird look in his eyes. The hair on the back of her head stood up and she caught a glimpse of the object in his hand. The drugs in Davina’s bloodstream were traveling faster than she was, her mind was woozy, her muscles were like jelly and her body wouldn’t respond to her commands to run.

An instant later, he caught Davina by her waist before she fell, steadying her and half guiding her to the path where he came from. She tried to squirm from his touch but her body wouldn’t respond. She internally cried out for help and called out to her mate, hoping that he could hear her.

“Sleep now, princess. You have a lot of questions to answer to when you wake up.”

“Axel…” Davina slurred before she was swallowed by the darkness. The man chuckled before carrying her away.

Few minutes later, both Kelsey and Cassandra stepped out of the house while laughing at some joke. None of them noticed the diamond earring that was almost buried the sand.

*

Her consciousness returned in painful waves as she tried to avert her gaze from the bright light above her face. Where am I? Davina looked around the room that was painted in white and frowned in distaste. Memories filtered back, first in broken flashes, then in huge chunks until it was all there. Her first reaction was fear, fear followed by worry.

Davina was scared that she might die and she was worried that she might never see Axel again. She had to escape but how? Before she could think about it, a man stepped into the room, his gaze immediately fell on Davina. “You are awake. It’s about time.”

She frowned at the man that she found very unfamiliar which brought the question of why he had taken her in the first place. “Who are you? What do you want?” Her voice came out hoarse.

“You don’t need to know who I am but I want you to know that I know the truth.”

“What truth?” Her heartbeat quickened.

“That you are not the princess.” He said with a strange smirk on his face. Davina’s breath hitched. “Yes I know that. Funny how there is an uncanny resemblance between you two. You would be able to fool everyone else but not me, I would ask you this question once. Where is the princess?”

“I don’t know.” She whispered. She didn’t know what was between the real princess and the stranger before her but the madness in his eyes was very visible and it frightened her.

“I don’t know who you are but I’m just you don’t want to answer the hard way. Where is the princess!”

“I don’t know!” She began to pray once again.

“No one would be coming for you, not even that mate of yours will be able to find us. Now, we are going to do this the hard way.” He grabbed Davina by her neck and squeezed, making her choke and gasp for air but the effort was futile. “Where is the princess?” He whispered into her ear and his hand on her neck tightened.