40

SIN

"Hey Alpha."

I swirled, locking eyes with Jeff, a boy of about eighteen years old or maybe he was older. He was one of the newly recruited werewolves and he was a rebel too.

Ever since he arrived at the pack, all he ever does was go against the rule.

Well, he hadn't done it openly in front of me. He had only done it to other werewolves who gave him orders except for my Beta, Laurent and the sentinels who were the training werewolves.

Jeff lips tilted in a lopsided grin, and his green eyes twinkled as he stepped towards me.

"Hey Em."

"Annoying twat."

I glanced back at Emma as she snorted. She glared at him as he moved to grip her hand.

"Touch me and die." She threatened, shaking her fist at him.

"Hey, I mean no harm." He chuckled. "I'm just appreciating your beauty."

"Was that meant to be a pickup line?" She gagged, twisting her lips.

"Take it whichever way you want." He smirked, caressing his smooth cheeks.

"Get lost, Jeff." She gritted her teeth as he proceeded to grip her hand again.

"Make me..."

"You heard her." I interrupted whilst staring at the boy who looked like he wouldn't back down without a fight.

"Okay Alpha, she's all yours." He said with a tight-lipped smile. He gazed at Emma, blowing her a raspberry.

"I'll see you soon, M'lady." He did a mock bow and left.

"Thank goodness you are here. I don't think I can keep up with that annoying jerk. I was sure he would continue to bother me if you weren't here."

"He wouldn't dare after telling him off. Except he's looking for a means to challenge me." I smirked.

There was something great about being the Alpha. No one dares challenge my word. Whatever I said in the pack was final. I believed that was the perks of being a leader.

But then, Also, I had given them the opportunities to come up with a choice each in all the meetings we have had.

I never believed in ruling with an iron hand. I wanted everyone to feel free with me and not be afraid of getting murdered if they overstepped.

I had heard about Alphas of other packs that executed their member whenever he or she disobeyed.

"That is one of the reasons I fancy you. You are so powerful and your words hold authority."

I snapped out of my thoughts as Emma stroked my biceps. I furrowed my brows whilst staring at her.

She moistened her cherry coloured lips and batted her lashes which were overly coated with blue mascara. Her turquoise coloured eyes were almost like Artemisia's. But I found hers rather dull and Artemisia's compelling.

I never liked doing comparison because it was one of the things I had suffered from when younger.

Even till now.

Laurent had fought with me because of the Throne of Merene and the Alpha position. I had heard a lot of people wanting to give him their support and they had said they preferred Laurent's to me because I was too aloof to be a ruler.

I brood a lot and wasn't as playful as my brother. All those were the statements they had made behind me. I wasn't bothered and I never asked anyone to bring those that had made them because I was soft and not as hostile as they thought.

"You are so sexy and I can't forget about the night we had together. Can you remember how magical it was?"

I scowled whilst gazing at the suggestive wink on her face. What had gotten into her?

Since today she had been by my side and making crazy comments about how perfect we were for each other.

Someone that had left me after the night we had. She had made it clear that she wasn't interested in me and was too young to be burdened with the responsibility of marriage.

Thinking about it now, I was glad she had fled because I didn't know how I was going to survive living with someone like her.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't tell me you have forgotten about the naughty things we did?" Emma gripped my hand and put it on her waist.

I jerked it off abruptly and shoved her slightly. My eyes darted around to see if anyone was watching the exchange. I let how a relieved sigh before glaring at her.

"There is nothing magical about what we had. Lest I remind you, you left me and I am f**king married to your sister!" I gripped her shoulder, shaking her.

Perhaps, that would make her come back to her senses.

Emma tutted, rolling her eyes. "I will make you feel better than her. Don't you think she is too bland for a man of your status?"

"I wonder how sex would be with her on the bed." She grimaced, tapping her chin.

"I can be your queen and make you feel like the king you truly are."

I flushed, slapping her hand away as she moved to touch my pants. "Don't."

"Whether she is bland or not, we are legally bound. You need to respect that as well. I doubt she would be pleased if she sees what you are doing right now."

"Who freaking cares about her feelings? No one." Emma tsked. "That is the reason she is married to you in the first place."

No one cared about Artemisia?

What was not to care?

She was everything a parent and husband would wish for. She was simple and at the same time elegant.

She wasn't a rebel and had never done anything I asked her not to except the first night she arrived here. I believed it was my fault for trying to cage her.

"Besides," Emma spoke up annoyingly. "I should be your wife now and not her. You still have the chance of being with me."

"Emma, stop this!" I grunted.

"Stop wha…"

"Sinclair!"

I groaned as Adrina strutted towards us. Two horribleness in a day. Who was going to save me from them?

Adrina rammed into me before I could say anything. She embraced me tightly and lifted herself to her feet to kiss me.

I hastily caught what she was about to do and turned my cheek to her.

"Adrina," I mumbled, removing her hand that was wrapped around my neck.

"You promised to call, but you didn't." She pouted, folding her arms in front of her.

"I can't remember promising you that," I muttered.

It was true. I didn't say anything like that. What I wanted was for her to be far away from me. But she kept coming close making the mate bond difficult to break.

I glanced at her neck, and let out a breath as I saw the fading mark.

"I thought you moved on," I mumbled, eyeing her.

She nudged me, nodding towards Emma who was watching us.

"Let's go to a quiet place. I don't want my day to be tainted with another unpleasant Mercer." She gagged, faking a tremble.

I believed she meant the first was Artemisia. Rhoda told me what had happened on the tour of the palace. She said that she had told Adrina off after she wanted to speak with Artemisia in private.

I was glad Rhoda had done so. I was sure Artemisia would be one of those sculptures if she hadn't because anyone Adrina loathed, she transformed them into a stone.

She was a powerful witch, and It was one of the powers she had- turning offending humans or other supernatural creatures into a sculpture when angered.

The reason the sculptures were in the gallery was, my mother had agreed for her to keep them there.

My mother liked Adrina and preferred her to all the women I have been with. Reason being that she was the daughter of her friend who was a Queen of another kingdom.

I hadn't objected to her keeping the statue in the palace because she could be so persuasive. I knew it was wrong, but there was nothing I could do to change it or stop it.

Adrina, when her mind was set, could incite havoc if she wanted to. And I wasn't ready to be the one deterring her as I could get hurt in the process.

As a witch, I had seen some of the magic she did to werewolves during combat, it was frightening. She had even practised on me too and I wouldn't want to be used as a specimen again.