The Ivory Throne

3. Enemies

***Aurora***

“You’re supposed to be dead!” the woman says in Spanish, her eyes looking me up and down. “How are you alive?”

I raise an eyebrow at the woman and turn to the younger woman beside me who looks equally as confused.

“Me?” I ask in Spanish, the woman relaxing only slightly when she hears my voice.

“What is your name?” she asks, seemingly more confused than before.

I contemplate not telling her anything about me, the aura of danger lingering around her making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Aurora,” I reply, the woman breathing out a sigh of relief.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she smiles sheepishly. “I thought you were someone else. My mistake. It must be the heat getting to me.”

Thoroughly creeped out, I calmly walk to the exit, the woman stepping aside as if she were afraid of my touch. Her thoughts are quite loud and I feel myself slipping into her mind with ease, a gasp leaving my lips when I see the truth that lies behind her smile.

“And what is your name?” I ask, the woman pausing as she steps onto the elevator.

“Lorena,” she says. “Lorena Navarro and this is my daughter, Belén. Nice to meet you,” she says, holding out her hand to me.

Despite all the alarms going off in my head to get away from this woman as soon as possible, I shake her hand and force a smile.

I don’t like this one bit, Reyna mutters as I pull away.

I don’t either, I whisper back.

“Well, enjoy your stay,” Lorena smiles. “Excuse me.”

Her bodyguard pushes a button for her, the feeling of her gaze on my back as I walk away. The unsettling feeling in my gut doesn’t disappear even after I make it to the lobby, but it fades the moment I smell Oliver’s scent nearby. I turn around to find him standing behind me, the smile on his face evaporating when he senses my nervousness.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, immediately on high alert.

It takes me a moment to gather my thoughts and respond. “The former Queen of Estrella del Monte is here,” I explain. “And she owns this hotel.”

.

.

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*** Celina***

“So what’s the book called?” my mate smirks at me.

“f**k off,” I mutter, a small laugh escaping his perfect lips.

“Interesting title, though it doesn’t leave much to the imagination, now does it?” he asks.

My blood boils at my brain's inability to pause the damn book and I let out a frustrated sigh when I finally manage to turn it off, avoiding the man’s amused gaze.

Mate... Sarahi gasps, her emotions a mix of excitement and grief.

All I feel, however, is anger. Anger at Moon Goddess for taking what once was mine and giving me something new, something I didn’t ask for, and am certainly not ready to receive. Ignoring my new mate, I gather my things in silence, the man still watching me, waiting for me to say something to him.

“Do you need some help with that?” he asks, crouching down to hand me my sunscreen.

He lowers his head in a bow when he gets closer and there’s a look of disbelief that he just did that on his face. I look down at my chest and I realize I’m not wearing my medallion.

His fingers graze my wrist as I take the bottle of sunscreen from him, the undeniable sparks of the mate bond rippling up my arm.

He really is my second chance mate. But why? I wonder. Why here of all places?

I’m not in the mood to entertain the idea of a new mate, much less speak to one, so despite Sarahi’s curiosity, I continue to ignore him, getting to my feet and dusting the sand off my knees as I start to walk away.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks, reaching for my arm to stop me. “Who are you?”

I maneuver out of his grasp and glare at him. “None of your f*****g business.”

“You’re my mate,” he snaps. “It is my f*****g business.”

“Would you like me to make it official then?” I snap back, crossing my arms over my chest.

His eyes flicker with both rage and interest before he too crosses his arms over his chest, seemingly pleased with a thought he just had.

“Be my guest,” he smiles, taking two steps closer. “Oh, wait. You don’t know who I am, do you?” he snickers. “Well, I guess that settles it,” he says, leaning forward and lowering his voice to a whisper. “You’re stuck with me.”

My lips curl into a smirk knowing I can very easily break into his thoughts and get what I need. I close my eyes, opening my mind and focusing on the river of thoughts flowing from his mind until I feel myself break through his barriers. Thoughts of plans and schedules start to fill my head but I concentrate on the information I need. My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach as the answer finally enters my head and I take a few steps back to put some distance between us, my mate following suit.

“Jadiel,” I reply calmly though I’m panicking internally. “Jadiel Navarro, King of Estrella del Monte.”

The smile on his face falters only for a moment, before returning to his lips. “You know, I feel a little left out,” he chuckles. “It seems you know who I am, but I know nothing about you, Mate.”

“Don’t call me that,” I mutter back. “And you don’t need to know me. I’m rejecting you.”

“So, why haven’t you yet?” he asks, looking at me curiously.

“Because you won’t accept it,” I reply, Jadiel nodding in agreement.

“True,” he says with a laugh. “So what now, chula? {cutie}” he inquires, rubbing his beard. “The ball is in your court, as you Americans say.”

Now I trick you into accepting my rejection, I think to myself, scouring my brain for any ideas.

“Now, I leave and go meet up with my fiance,” I reply, Jadiel’s lighting up with amusement.

He looks down at my hand before I can hide it and smirks. “I don’t see a ring on your finger, but I suppose times are changing. Go,” he nods in no particular direction. “Go so you can tell him the wedding is off,” he chuckles, his cockiness only infuriating me even more.

“And why would I do that? You don’t compare to my fiance,” I shrug. “He’s the better choice.”

The smile on his face disappears, Jadiel storming up to me and wrapping an arm around my waist, trapping me against his chest. His touch alone sets my body on fire, a tingling sensation rippling down between my legs. I haven’t felt that tingle in over a year, and it angers me to know my body is already moving on without me. He leans into me, his scent making Sarahi go feral with desire despite her own confliction.

“You sure about that?” he murmurs in my ear.

This is just too much to swallow in one day, so I try to push away at his chest, but he refuses to let go. Instincts take over and I look around the beach for a plan.

“Auxilio! Auxilio! {Help! Help!}” I scream, several onlookers turning in our direction. “This pervert is trying to take off my top! Help me! Someone please! Help me!”

He stares at me in shock for a moment but lets go when he realizes what I’m doing.

“Stop that!” he hisses, forcing a smile as a few older women run off to get the hotel services.

“Then leave me alone!” I hiss back, sighing with relief when he finally backs off.

“She’s kidding,” Jadiel explains to onlookers while I take advantage to run across the beach as far as I can.

When I feel I’ve run far enough away, I turn around to see if he’s still following me, but find that he’s completely disappeared from my view. I check my surroundings and to my relief, Jadiel is nowhere to be found.

Settling down under an unreserved cabana, I give myself a few moments to process what just happened.

I can't believe I’m mated to the enemy. This can’t be f*****g happening! Why did it have to be the King of my family’s worst rival? I mutter to myself. Is this some sort of sick joke to you, Moon Goddess? I snap, Sarahi growling in disapproval.

We do not question the bonds we’re given, she snaps. There is always a reason for the way things happen.

And what reason can you give me for Javier and our pup’s deaths? I snap. Why give me a mate only to take him away?

Sarahi lays quietly on her belly, resting her head on her paws.

I hurt too, Sarahi retorts as I swallow back the sob threatening to break free. I loved my mate and all his flaws as much as you. And while you were fighting for your life, I felt his life slip away all on my own. I won’t pretend to understand why he had to go. I’m confused and afraid just like you and it hurts everyday knowing that he’s gone. But I have to think, maybe, Moon Goddess sent us a new mate to help us with our loss.

If this is your attempt at a pep talk, it’s not working!, I snap, Sarahi trying to find her patience.

All I’m saying is, some things, we’ll never understand, she whispers.

But why did I have to be Him? I ask. Him, of all people. Are there not enough wolves in the world? Why Jadiel?

The sounds of footsteps approaching pull me from my thoughts, and I look up to see Evan, Mia, Valentina, and Daniel walking up the beach towards me, Valentina yelling at Danny to not drop her things in the sand. Danny rolls his eyes but I see the mischief in his smile as his wife mutters under her breath.

“Mom, I have a question,” I ask as she settles into a chair beside me.

“What is it, mija?” She asks, waving Danny over so she can rub sunscreen on his back.

“Estrella del Monte. My father killed their King, right? Who was the heir?”

Valentina thinks for a moment. “I don’t know,” she says with a shrug. “I briefly remember Queen Lorena, King Julian’s widow, being pregnant, but Lorena was hidden away before we ever found out if she had the baby or not.”

“What was the family last name?” I pry, Valentina arching an eyebrow.

“Bolivar,” Valentina replies. “Julian and Lorena Bolivar.”

So perhaps Jadiel isn’t Julian’s offspring afterall, I think to myself. Perhaps I can tolerate him after all.

“Does the name Navarro ring a bell?” I insist, Valentina shaking her head.

“A pack maybe? I’m not quite sure. I was never familiar with the pack territories in either Kingdom. I hated the politics. Emi and Mateo were much better at it than I was,” Valentina chuckles.

“The Navarro’s are a family that became involved with Estrella del Monte when Julian joined forces with the cartel,” Daniel interrupts, Valentina looking at her husband as if he grew a second head. “I was the Royal Beta; it was part of my job to know our enemy. They were notorious for their connections with the cartels. Human, but dangerous people nonetheless.”

“So not wolves?” I ask, Danny shrugging.

“I’m not sure if they remained human,” he says. “It’s been a good twenty plus years since I’ve heard the name.”

The conversation leaves me with more questions than answers, but the problems don’t seem to end here. Aurora and Oliver arrive, Aurora’s pretty face paler than that of a ghost’s.

“We have a problem,” Aurora says, looking to me for comfort. “Estrella del Monte owns Hotel Reyes.”

“What?” I snap, rising to my feet in an instant.

“Aurora, are you sure?” Valentina asks, furrowing her brows as she tries to think. “Sofia would never hand over the hotel to Estrella del Monte. No, it’s out of the question.”

“I just ran into Julian’s widow, Lorena. Lorena Navarro. She thought I was my mother and when I looked into her memories to figure out who she was, I saw it. I saw her son signing the documents for ownership a few months ago.”

The blood drains from my face as all the pieces start falling into place. Lorena Navarro, Julian’s widow. She must be Jadiel's mother, and as the current King of Estrella del Monte, Jadiel must be Julian’s son. I’m mated to a man who’s taken what little remains of my mother and father.

This can’t be f*****g happening!

“Navarro?” Valentina asks, turning to me. “Is that why you asked about Navarro?”

Oh crap, I mutter under my breath knowing Mom would flip out on me if she knew Jadiel was my mate.

“I overheard some wolves talking about the King being here as I was walking. Dug through some thoughts and got a name. Jadiel Navarro,” I say with a forced smile.

“Navarro isn’t Lorena’s maiden name,” Valentina says with a shake of her head. “It’s Escalante. Perhaps she remarried.

“Well, she has a daughter,” Aurora points out. “Belen. She looks to be our age,” she adds, gesturing to Mia and I.

“I think we better visit my father’s sister, Montserrat,” Valentina sighs. “If anyone knows anything about Lorena and her family, it’s that chismosa. She knows everybody and all of their business,” she chuckles, her face suddenly becoming solemn. “I’ve missed her.”

“Where does she live?” I ask, eager to get to the bottom of this.

“Well, if she hasn’t moved in the last twenty years, Tampico,” she shrugs. “I can take us there tomorrow.”

“Why can’t we go now?” I insist.

“Because we just got here,” Valentina replies. “We’ll go tomorrow after we've all had a good rest. The hotel isn’t going anywhere.”

Everyone but Aurora seems to be in agreement, my sister the only other person here desperate for answers. As they all settle down for an afternoon of relaxation, Aurora and I excuse ourselves to take a walk along the water.

“We’ve been outvoted,” she mutters via mindlink.

“What did you see in Lorena’s memories?” I ask.

“It’s not her memories that worry me,” She replies. “It’s her desires.”

“What do you mean?”

“She wants all the remaining Altamirano and Reyes wolves to bow down to her son,” she says quietly. “Revenge for the humiliation she suffered as her husband obsessed over our mother. There are a few packs and clans still loyal to our family and she wants them conquered or gone.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know,” she answers. “I didn’t get that far. I got nervous that she might realize who I was.”

“Did you tell her anything about us?” I ask, my sister shaking her head.

“Just my first name,” she replies. “But it’s Oli’s name on the reservation. She has no way of knowing we’re Sofia’s daughters.”

“Oh, she knows,” I scoff. “We were blessed with our mother’s face.”

“Maybe she’ll think it’s a coincidence that we look like her?” Aurora offers with a half-hearted smile.

I scoff and shake my head. “If she’s managed to have control of Estrella del Monte for this long without actually being a royal, she must be smart. She knows and if she doesn’t, she’ll put two and two together soon enough.”

“So what do you suggest we do?” Aurora asks.

I rack my brain for an idea and realize the answer lies within my new mate. Looking around the beach to make sure no one is listening, I decide to tell my sister the truth about Jadiel. Keeping it a secret would help no one and at least this way, I could complain to someone in peace. Moreover, I now know Jadiel’s schedule for the next week and can watch him like a hawk.

“I have a way of getting to the bottom of this,” I sigh, Aurora giving me a skeptical look. “But first, I’m going to need you to keep a secret. I mean it, Aurora. You can’t tell Oliver or Evan,” I snap, Aurora nodding silently. “I have a second chance mate.”

Her eyes fill with sadness when she notices my lack of emotion. “Are you okay?” she asks, her voice softening as she pulls me into a hug.

“Not really,” I mutter. “But it doesn’t matter. I plan on rejecting him.”

“Celina-”

“I’m not ready for a new mate, Aurora,” I say, shaking my head as I pull away. “Especially not one like him.”

“Like who?” She asks.

“Jadiel Navarro.”

My sister stares blankly at me for a moment as she tries to process this information, remaining calm and poised to make the best of the situation. I love my sister, but sometimes I really just want her to scream at me. I don’t know how she doesn’t lose her composure but I guess years of abuse teaches you to bottle up your feelings so no one ever knows what you’re thinking.

“I’ll support whatever choice you make about him,” she finally says, a gentle smile on her lips.

Sarahí whimpers to herself when she realizes my answer. I hate hurting her again, but I just can’t accept Julian’s son as my mate.

“I’m rejecting him,” I reply with determination. “But not before I get what I need from him, so I’m going to need your help.”

“What do you need?”

“Your husband,” I reply, Aurora raising an eyebrow at me. “Jadiel thinks I have a fiance. I need him to keep believing that for as long as possible.”

She narrows her eyes to slits, a hint of jealousy in her voice. “You want to use my husband as your cover?” she says aloud.

“I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important, I swear,” I clarify, Aurora crossing her arms over her chest. “Jadiel has a business lunch at the hotel restaurant in less than an hour. Let me borrow Oliver just for a little bit so I can listen in on Jadiel’s conversations, find out how he managed to buy this hotel, and get him to reject me. I promise it’ll just be a little hand holding, maybe a kiss-”

“Kiss?!” Aurora shrieks, stomping her foot in indignation as I try to hold back my laughter.

“I’m not going to enjoy it, believe me,” I mutter, Aurora only growing angrier

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she scoffs, completely offended that I’m not at all attracted to her mate. “Oliver is extremely attractive! He’s… he’s… well, he’s hot!”

“Who’s hot?” Oliver says, walking up behind his mate and looking at her.

His lips are pressed tightly together in their usual frown but his blue eyes twinkle with amusement as he towers over Aurora, making it quite obvious he heard Aurora’s outburst. My dear sister’s face is almost plum colored from the embarrassment as she looks down at her feet and starts to play with her hair timidly. She loves her grumpy alpha with all her heart, but her shyness around him has yet to waver. It’s adorable.

I decide to put the poor girl out of her misery.

“Never mind that. I need you to pretend to be my fiance for a few hours while I find out some information about Estrella del Monte,” I declare, Oliver looking between me and his mate in confusion.

Without giving away who my mate is, I explain my plan to Oliver, the Alpha looking to his mate for confirmation that this is okay. She nods quietly, but Oliver picks up on her true insecurities right away.

“You’re my girl,” Oliver murmurs in her ears, switching to mindlink to privately ensure his mate knows how much he wants only her.

A small lump forms in my throat as I watch my sister kiss the man she loves while he holds her by the waist, caressing her cheek lovingly with his thumb. Javier used to tuck my hair behind my ears as he kissed me, twirling the white strands around his fingers.

“Sorry,” Aurora mutters, pulling away from her mate and putting some distance between her and Oliver.

“Don’t be,” I shake my head and force a smile. “You should always cherish your mate. Kiss him as many times as you want. Love him without any regrets.”

Oliver pulls his mate to his side possessively, Aurora blushing as she leans her head against him.

“Going back to our task at hand, while Oliver and I distract the Estrella del Monte wolves down in the restaurant, you can use your gifts to sneak into the Presidential suite where Jadiel is staying to gather intel. Look for phone numbers, schedules, appointments, his list of personnel, anything that can give us a clue as to how Estrella del Monte has been operating over the past few years,” I explain. “Just give me 20 minutes to shower and change into something more suitable for a business meeting.”

“And how do we slip away without Valentina noticing?” Aurora asks, looking to the cabana where Valentina lays in the sun for some much needed rest.

“I think you and I got into a heated argument,” I chuckle. “And you need a little space from me.”

Aurora grins, storming towards the cabana to grab her things.

She could be a great actress, I think to myself, watching my sister mutter under her breath while the others ask her what’s wrong.

“I am trying so hard to help you but if you want to be a b***h, then I can’t help you!” she huffs over her shoulder, storming away towards the hotel.

Oliver takes the cue and runs after his mate, pretending to try to calm her down as they walk towards the hotel. Evan and Mia turn to me in confusion so I stomp my foot and pretend to angrily charge towards the ocean, disappearing among the crowd of people playing in the water. Swimming beneath the surface, I imagine my room in the hotel and when I open my eyes, I find myself in my hotel room on my knees, a pair of legs in a tailored suit standing in front of me.

My eyes narrow to slits as I look up and find my mate smiling back at me.

“Well, this is interesting,” he murmurs.