Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 432

Chapter 90: Thank You for Telling Me the Truth

*Theo*

Somehow, I had allowed myself to get sucked into this waking nightmare. Then again, it was for agood cause. If Maggie wasn't so sick, I wouldn't have allowed this.

So, I found myself in the carny tent, sitting on a stool in a circle with Ciana, Warren, Nelson, andother carnies, running lines.

This was an absolute disaster!

I'd been working secretly to ensure that Ciana's pack was safe after Raymond was killed and toinvestigate the rebellion group “Shadow”. That meant eradicating all of Luther's influence. SinceVaner was one of the closest packs to Alvar, I wanted to make sure Luther hadn't been here,influencing Maggie or her pack.

It wasn't like I could just reach out to Maggie and ask her directly. We'd grown up in the palacetogether, but we'd never been close. For the past five years, she'd been here in Vaner, married.Before that, I'd spent most of my time away from the palace, running errands and missions for myfather.

I hadn't spent a lot of time at the palace until after she had gotten married.

Even when I was younger, my dad kept me separated from my siblings. He had all that specialtraining for me, and he always prioritized that to me spending time with basically anyone other thanthe ones I was supposed to kill.

I'd come here to protect Ciana’ s pack, and instead, I somehow managed to get roped into playingthe Big Bad Wolf in a play called “The Luna's Choice.’

Two days ago, Demarco had come to us and told us how Maggie was sick and dying. He wanted todo something nice for her, lift her spirits, and that was to put on her favorite play.

The Luna's Choice” was an exclusive performance that usually only royalty got to enjoy.

Not a lot of traveling carnivals had the know-how to put it on.

But with Warren there, Demarco thought we could pull it all together. I found that unlikely, seeingas I wasn't a real Carny, Ciana wasn't a real actress, and Warren wasn't a real director—him walkingaround and barking at us to say our lines a certain way didn't make him an expert.

I blamed Jake.

Me disguising as a carny had all been his “brilliant” idea. He arranged to have me work underNelson, who didn't even know my real identity and just thought I was someone important andneeded an undercover way to travel around.

NOW, I was stuck as a carny in this damned play!

When I got home, Jake was going to get an earful from me. Clearly, I could never trust him to makethese arrangements for me again. My focus needed to be on stopping Luther and protecting thenorthwest packlands, not the performing arts.

Truthfully, if I had to pick any play to perform, it would be this one. I'd seen it half a dozen timesalready and I did have a fondness for it.

“The Luna's Choice” was a legendary play where an Alpha’ s daughter was kidnapped by a roguewolf because she could help return his soul to him. The rogue shifter didn't harm her. Eventually,she warmed his heart.

When a powerful Alpha led an army to rescue the girl, she chose to defend the rogue. She helpedthe rogue shifter replace his lost soul, which restored his lost memory. He was actually an Alpha Kingand the girl was his mate. He declared her as his queen and they lived happily ever after.

My. eyes flicked to Ciana. Somehow, this story touched a soft part of my heart. My stomach shifteduncomfortably and I twisted my script in my hands.

Nelson's voice cut through my thoughts.

“But you, my dear lady, your face is as beautiful as the finest flowers and your eyes twinkle like thebrightest stars.” He held a hand out to Ciana to dramatize his compliments.

I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, Tallis, you’ re up,” Warren said, waving a hand in front of my face and tapping the script in hishand.

Sighing, I looked at my script. I had one line, or one word, rather.

“Roar,” I deadpanned.

"Cut, cut, cut!” Warren cried, throwing his arms up. He looked at me sharply.

If Warren knew who I really was, he wouldn't look at me or talk to me like this. The things I did forfamily... and for someone else I had grown fond of. I glanced at Ciana again.

“Tallis, your roar has to be a mix of pain and anger. It can't be flat and lifeless,” Warren instructed“Roar,” I tried again.

Warren shook his head. Louder.”

“Roar!”

"Make it longer, too!”

"FRO AAAAR!"

Warren tapped his cheek with his finger. “Can you make it sound more heartbroken?”

Groaning, I tossed the script on the ground and stood up.

“Can I just get a different part?”

“No. Tallis, this is the easiest part with the fewest lines to remember. You can do it,” Warrenencouraged with a smile.

Again, if he knew who I was, he wouldn't be talking to me like I was a child.

“The most important requirement for this part is your handsome face. But you still need to putsome effort in,” he said, chuckling.

Bloody hell! Why had I agreed to this? I wasn't a carny! I was the Dark Prince. People performed forme, not the other way around. Sighing, I looked over at Ciana. She looked so studious and seriousabout her part.

This was for Maggie, as her dying wish. It certainly helped that Ciana had used a convincing tactic tobribe me to play along... a sweet, intimate kiss.

I stood on the side stage where we were going to be performing “The Luna's Choice.” We'd onlybeen given a week to put the whole production together. I was a little nervous because I wantedeverything to be perfect for Maggie.

If this was her dying wish, then I wanted it to be exactly what she needed to lift her spirits.Demarco had told us that this was his big surprise for her. She had no idea we were putting on herfavorite play. He said once we had everything set up, he'.d bring her to the stage and get hercomfortable.

“Are you nervous?” Warren asked, coming up beside me.

“No. Well, a little. Only because I want it to be perfect for your sister,” I said, beaming at him.Thank you, Ciana, for doing this. It will mean the world to her and to me, too.” He put a hand on myshoulder and squeezed.

“I'm happy to help. Your sister is so nice. She deserves a great night at the theater with her favoriteplay.’

Truth

"We couldn't have done this without you.” He looked at me with half-lidded eyes.

Nervously, I shrugged his hand from my shoulder. “I'm sure you would have found someone just ascompetent for my role.”

“No, not just that. I mean, you're the only one that seems to be able to get Tallis to cooperate andparticipate.” He chuckled.

“Right, well, again, it is my pleasure. I just... I wish there was more we could do for your sister,” I said,looking down. “She doesn't deserve to be sick like this.’

“Ciana, I. I have a question for you.”

“What is it?" I asked, creasing my brow.

He looked worried and that made me worry. He hesitated for a moment.

“I ve wanted to ask for a while... Well, here it goes. If I wasn't the teenager you met in the woodswhen you were younger, would you still like me and want to be my friend?” he asked. He kept hiseyes down like he was bracing himself for some kind of rejection.

It wasva strange question. Why was he asking that now? We'd already talked about the past.

"Of course, I would. Regardless of how we met when we were young, it is the man you are todaywho I think is wonderful and sincere. I'm honored to be your friend. Why do you ask?” I raised aneyebrow at him.

“Well...” he trailed off and looked around like he was worried we would be overheard. “Rememberwhen I told you that a very special girl gave me this bracelet?” He held his hand up and showed methe bracelet on his wrist.

"Yeah. I thought he’ d meant me, but at the time, he hadn't seemed to recognize me. Not until Ireminded him.

“I didn't lie about that. But it wasn't you that gave it to me, it was Maggie,” he explained.

“But I.. why did you.

“I didn't tell you the truth at first because I... I was falling for you. I didn't want to disappoint you ormake you feel selfconscious for opening up to me,” he said quickly. “Besides, I thought you wouldn'twant to stay close if you knew it wasn't me.’

Warren sighed and shook his head. He chuckled like he was laughing at his own foolishness. I wastoo shocked to form a full thought.

“The more I got to know you, the more I respected you and wanted to do right by you. Now thatyou're helping my sister, I feel like I shouldn't be hiding it from you,” he continued. “I respect youtoo much to keep this lie going between us.”

I... well, thank you, for telling me the truth,” I muttered, still unsure what to think.

“Ciana.” Warren took my hands in his. “Are you okay? Are you mad at me? I know I should have toldyou sooner..."

Shaking my head, I snapped out of my distant thoughts.

No, I'm not mad at you, Warren. I think you're very honorable for telling me the truth.”

“Can we still be friends,” he asked, giving me a hopeful look.

"Of course!” I squeezed his hands and let them drop.

I was glad that Warren told me the truth, finally. Surprisingly, I didn't feel upset at all. I thought Iwould, because I was back to where I started—I would have to keep searching for that person I metwhen I was 12.

However, I didn't feel upset. All I felt was relief. I didn't even feel strong enough to continue lookingfor that person in my memory. I had friends and important people around me, wasn't that enough?Why would I bog myself down with my past?

We all should move on with our lives, shouldn't we?

“Thank you, Ciana, you really are an amazing person.’

I suddenly realized something. I had thought Warren was the one because of his eyes. He wasn't theonly one with eyes like that, though.

If it hadn't been Warren... then who? Who could I have mistaken him for?

My eyes wandered over to Theo.