Chapter 3 Aaron Shrova

DEVA LOREN/ LANA ALVAREZ.

I was once royalty, many years ago before Aaron's pack and mine got into a war and they won over us, taking all we had. His father was a tyrant, the entire generation of Shrovas were tyrants. They turned the survivors into slaves, servants, and those who resisted they murdered in cold blood.

My parents and brother died protecting me, my father and brother on the front walls, my mother by my side and the women's.

I will never forget the day the crown was taken away from my head at the age of eleven and shackles were given to me instead. I will never forget the day I had to walk with my legs and hands bound. How my people scowled and abandoned me because my parents had failed to mobilize our army in a way that was enough to save us all.

What I will never forget the most is meeting Aaron Shrova. I was in the fields working when I heard a piercing scream from the back of the corn stalks and I ran to see what it was.

A shiny blonde-haired boy with blue eyes that bore into mine as his mouth got shut immediately. He was trying to hide his pain, and a twelve-year-old me couldn't help but snicker.

He tripped and one hand landed on a cactus. It was painful as I gently removed the sharp pieces, but he survived it.

"I'm Aaron," he said to me. I didn't ask though.

"Lana," I replied out of courtesy.

His clothes were expensive, heck, he smelled rich. I thought he was a Noble's son and didn't bother questioning because I thought why would a Shrova want to play in the fields? Surely he wasn't planning on becoming a farmer.

He came to see me twice a week saying his father had business in the royal house. He lied to me and for years visited me in secret. We hid in the forest, in the woods, behind wheat and corn stalks. He'd bring me pastries, I'd sing him songs. How naive I was to believe that fairy tales were real. I told him about me, that my home was conquered by the Shrovas and that everything was stolen from me. He promised to get me out of slavery, he promised he would fight for and with me until I had enough strength to stand on my own two feet again.

I was eighteen and he was twenty when we found out we were mates. I was eighteen when I had my first kiss, I was eighteen when I fell in love, when the boy I loved stopped coming to see me for months only for me to find out he was a Shrova and that he was getting married.

He played with me, with my feelings, with my life, with my innocence. He used me. His wife tormented and tortured me for four years until she fed me poison that would eat me up from the inside.

I do not know why or how I ended up in this body, but I counted it as my second chance. As my chance to take everything that was taken away from me.

To ruin the people that ruined me.

"Princess Deva," Anna called to me, from her diary I figured she was Deva's favorite maid and they were the closest. Anna was the only one Deva allowed to get her dressed. She also shared some of her personal secrets with her. To the real Deva, Anna was a sister. I hoped she could be mine too.

I saw it, the way Anna cared for Deva, the way she stayed by my side, coming morning, afternoon, and night to see if I was okay.

When was the last time I experienced that kind of warmth from even my own people?

"Here is your dress, we should start getting you ready," she gestured to my dress laid on the bed, the pearl necklace and earrings, my shoes, and fan.

How could I forget?

Today I would face Aaron again. No matter how much I said I was ready, I knew I couldn't be a hundred percent prepared.

"Thank you, Anna," I gave her a warm smile as she helped me get dressed.

"Are you okay?" she asked as she tightened my corset.

"I am," I replied.

"I mean with this. Please, do not take it the wrong way, but it seems as though you have resigned to fate and you are deciding to punish yourself by agreeing to be his concubine."

I haven't resigned to fate, Anna. Not anymore.

"No, Anna. That is not it." What do I say? Think, Lana. "The thing is that I want to find a new life, get away from here. It's clear that death isn't meant for me, and maybe there will be something for me in the Moonray pack."

"Yes, I hope so too. I'm glad that you lived." She smiled wistfully. I could see her teary eyes through the mirror. "I felt that I had nothing left to do here the moment I heard you tried to... What I'm saying is you being alive is your second chance and I believe you should do what makes you happiest the most with it. Live for yourself, Princess Deva."

I turned around, hugging her. "I will, Anna. I promise you." And I meant it.

"How would you like your hair?" Anna asked me. "Brush it down."

"Simple?" she offered. "I could add a few clips and accessories."

"Simple is enough, Anna. My crown will do justice to the rest of it."

"As you wish. You've always loved your hair up. You said it presented a view of your beautiful neck."

I giggled. "Well, I choose to change my mind."

My dress was a soft pink and ivory corset gown with a layered skirt that fans out like flower petals. I had lace gloves on, and there was a satin ribbon tied at the waist. Around my neck was a pearl necklace with matching earrings on my ears.

"Here you go," she held out a tiara. "I think this would be lovely with this dress. A tiny tiara with rose-cut gems.

"A few pearl pins will add to your beauty if you do not mind." She sure was eager to doll me up.

"You can add them, Anna. You won't rest till you do." I chuckled.

"Oh, Princess Deva. You know me so well." It's not hard to tell. She clapped her hands excitedly as she adorned my hair with the pins.

When she was done, I took a pin from the dresser, shifted her scarf, and put one on. Her eyes widened. "Princess Deva."

"Do not say no, Anna. I want you to have this."

She gasped with her hand to her mouth. "Thank you, Princess Deva. This." She touched the pin on her head. "You keep gifting me things worth a fortune. I will cherish this as well. Thank you."

"It is fine."

Before it got more emotional, there was a knock on my door.

"Princess Deva, Alpha Aaron is here for you." My heart thumped at the mention of his name.

Was I truly ready at all to meet him again?