Baby after One Night with the Prince
Chapter 44 - Leave My Son

Tanya's

POV.

Later that day, I get a call from the palace. One of the messengers says the King would like to meet with me. Although I'm a little unnerved by the proposal, I still say I'll be there soon, and hang up and get dressed.

Marco drops me off, and I walk nervously into the palace, and into one of the rooms where the King is waiting for me. "Your highness," I curtsey before the King. He sits comfortably in one of the chairs, a glass of whiskey in hand. "Welcome Tanya, please have a seat."

I sit down on the chair opposite him, placing my hands on my laps to stop their nervous twitching whilst under the placid gaze of the King. "The reason I've asked you to come, is because I have an offer that I'd like you to consider." I can't get a read on his expression, nor think of anything that would warrant the King to be upset with me. "An offer Sir?"

He nods. "Yes, as you've witnessed, Marco's curse appears to have been lifted, or at least been subdued. With this being the case, I would like to pass on the throne to him due to his superior power."

I nod my head in understanding, although I wonder what this happens to do with me. Till I realize, if Marco becomes King, I'll be Queen...

The King's judgmental voice infiltrates my thoughts. "I'm willing to give you a large sum of money, more than you or the little pack you come from could ever imagine. You could do whatever you like with it. Build your own perfume store for all I care. So long... as you divorce Marco and leave his life for good."

My heart indivertibly sinks upon hearing the King's request. How could I not see this coming? Not only am I the daughter of a surrogate, but I am a lowly omega, disowned by my Alpha father, and no wolf form or wolfish powers. I am a snowy white lamb, that stick out like a sore thumb, trying to fit in with predatory carnivores. I have no place among them, and the King knows this.

I can see him studying my expression whilst I battle with my thoughts. But even if I am an outcast, Marco is the love of my life. Losing him would shatter my world and my heart. And now that I know the way he feels for me, I would not shamelessly dare to sever the tie between us for money. Love has no price. And even though I fear the King's reaction, I must refuse.

"I'm sorry your Highness. But I can't agree to that," he tries to maintain his cold hard expression, but I notice the flicker of irritation in his eyes as I continue. "You could offer me all the money in the world, and yet I'd still refuse. I love Marco. And my loyalty lies with him. I will remain at his side as long as he needs me."

I ready myself to face King Joseph's wrath, but before he can respond, in walks my lover with a determined look in his eyes. Knowing I have seen his naked glory just this morning, I can't help but sweep my gaze down his muscular form, undressing him with my eyes in deep desire. I have to internally reprimand myself for doing so, realizing that I am still in a serious conversation with the King.

But Marco seems to know this. Without the King seeing, Marco flashes me a generous smile, as if he has heard my previous words, before swiveling his back to me to face his father. "Marco... this isn't a conversation that includes you-"

"You're speaking to my wife about our future together. This conversation definitely involves me," Marco doesn't miss a beat as he retorts to his father's blatant disregard. "Tanya we're leaving," I slowly rise from my seat, slightly hesitant as Marco adds. "And don't ever interfere in my marriage again."

Marco's tone betrays no hint of warmth, it's bitter, and laced with poisonous zeal. He doesn't even need to raise his voice to get his point across. But as a true testament to his pride, the King doesn't bother to acknowledge either of us. And so, I quietly follow behind Marco, with my own pride towards the strength of our love, growing by the day.

***

Lily's POV.

I've lost everything to that gold digging peasant! It didn't matter that Tanya had been born with a genetic talent for perfumery, I had worked just as hard to both execute and maintain my perfume making abilities so no one would suspect my foul play. I'd be excruciatingly precise and careful with every action I made since I realized Tanya and I had been switched at birth. And I was not going to lose it all now because of her.

She is somehow my evil twin, sent out to topple my wealth and nobility with nothing but her innocence and naivety. I am intelligent, follow my noble obligations, and is the perfect embodiment of a true Alpha Queen. I deserve this life, and I will fight to keep it.

I pace the length of my lavish room in an utter rage, trying to rack my brain for a way to earn back my reputation. More importantly, earn back my rightful place beside Marco. He didn't know it yet. But he needed me...

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He needed me...

Through my exasperated thought process, I suddenly recall a specific detail that I thought little of at the time. During the competition, Tanya swirled droplets of her blood into her perfume, it must've been how she was able to create perfumes with a special function. Moreover, it must've been why Marco's curse was suppressed when he smelt her perfume.

The gears in my head begin to turn. Long ago, I actually found information relating to Marco's curse. I knew that the key to curing the Lycan curse lay in his fated mate's blood. On the contrary, blood that wasn't from his fated mate would only aggravate the symptoms. Course, by then I'd already known I wasn't Marco's fated mate, so I kept the information to myself as to not to reveal the truth.

But now... the information gives me an advantage that I haven't thought about before. And my new plan sets in motion as I rush out the door.

I know he's still within the palace somewhere due to Tanya's meeting with the King. Before I go replace him, I hastily grab a glass of water, before rushing off. He stands quietly in one of the rooms, looking at something on his phone. I approach him, baring a broad smile.

"Hello Marco."

He doesn't react to my presence. The sides of my lips dig deeper into my skin trying to maintain their formation.

"Marco, please, may I have a moment of your time?"

"Is it important? I've already said I don't want to speak with you unless it's truly necessary."

"But it is. I want to apologize for framing and copying Tanya. It was an atrocious thing for me to do. And I'm sorry."

"Shouldn't you be apologizing to Tanya?" his tone is still flat and unbothered, but I don't let it affect me, or disrupt me from what I'm about to do.

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"Yes, but I-" I pretend to trip over my legs, toppling the glass and spilling its liquid contents all over Marco's clothes. He tries to recoil, but it's too late, his clothes are now completely drenched and soggy. His glare could've murdered someone on the spot, but not me, I have a job to do to save my reputation.

I squeal as if horrified by my actions. "Oh goodness. I'm so sorry Marco. How clumsy of me. Please, let me help you wipe your clothes."

I barely move an inch when Marco immediately backs away from me. Part of myself despises the fact that he doesn't want my hands on his body, but the other half acknowledges that this is for a greater cause. Soon I'll have him all to myself. "No. It's fine. I can clean up by myself." Despite his words, my eyes light up with a sense of victory as Marco shrugs off his wet jacket, before departing the room. In haste I kneel down and fish through the pockets, quickly replaceing the vial of perfume Tanya made for him.

I elongate my fangs, and prick my finger, before letting my blood drip into the liquid. I give the glass bottle a decent swirl to combine the solution, before returning it to Marco's coat pocket. Satisfied, I leave the jacket where it is and triumphantly return to my room.

***

Tanya's POV.

Two days have passed since that conversation with King. Today, when I leave home and plan to go shopping at the supermarket, I'm suddenly surrounded by a group of people. But they're no strangers, I recognize the faces of my old pack, all looking at me with fear and despair in their eyes. Then, to my utter surprise, I lay eyes on my family members. My father, my stepmother Maya, and Alina. Even Bradon and Malik are there.

But before I can question what the members of my old pack are doing here, I watch as my father steps out from the crowd.

I always saw him as strong and majestic. However, I can't fathom to believe his next action as he suddenly kneels down in front of me.