10. The truth in her smile

Lana's POV

"She's my wife," he cooly said. "Lana Donovan."

He wasn't holding me. Wasn't staking any claim on me. Not even a smile or a glance.

It was just as if he was stating some random but obvious fact.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced a smile onto my face as the cameras kept clicking on repeat.

His wife. Not his Luna.

Wow.

Walking inside, I was genuinely left in awe. The interiors were top-notch, and the ballroom was filled with wolves in designer clothes that glimmered like frost.

There were lots of faces that I didn't recognize, but every person who had eyes on me seemed to be sizing me up. Some people even exchanged whispers but stopped whenever I looked in their direction.

Max kept mute about it. Said nothing.

Leading me through dinner while sitting beside me, he had polite conversations with the people I suspected were the board members and pack leaders.

And me? I just smiled when I felt like it was expected of me at that moment. I kept nodding at their words even when I had almost zero knowledge about what was being discussed. I did my best to play the silent trophy wife.

Not once did he touch me. The other alphas I caught sight of almost always had their hand on their mates.

_Exactly, Lana. Your situation is different. It's nothing but some contract_

I knew that. But then he could at least look at me.

I sighed in resignation as I grabbed my glass of wine.

★

We were halfway through dinner when he leaned in close to whisper something.

"I'll be right back. Wait here."

I nodded, not bothering to ask where he was headed. It's not like he was going to tell me anyway.

I watched him vanish down the hall, and through the door.

I waited for 5 minutes. And then 10. 15. He still wasn't back.

Everyone around me seemed to be having the time of their lives. Eating, talking, catching up. But I couldn't even focus so I got up to go find him.

The hallways outside the ballroom were a lot quieter than the noisy room I'd just escaped.

I felt lost for a minute. There were just too many rooms. Where would I even start? I was about to move when I heard something and paused.

The voices I heard were familiar..... somewhat. More like hushed whispers though.

But I took a step closer anyway and I confirmed my suspicion. The guest's voice belonged to him. The other was a lot more feminine and I doubt I'd seen her before.

She cackled and boy did she sound like one of those fairytale girls from royalties.

I inched closer until the door came into view. It was slightly open and I could see Max standing inside.

He had one hand in his pocket as he leaned against a desk, he looked so bored.

The girl smiled wider, I feared that her face would split if she forced it a bit more.

She had that typical model figure. Sleek, long legs and honey-blonde with soft waves over her shoulder. Her eyes were like polished amber.

Without needing to even ask, I got the idea. She was his ex. She had to be.

My thoughts were confirmed the moment she brought her hand up to his chest and he said nothing about it.

★

Max's POV

★

You see, powerful men like me never got caught off guard. We were always ten steps ahead of everyone.

So when certain things occur, we don't get to look foolish because we'd expected it all along.

But still..... I felt my blood run cold the moment I laid eyes on her.

Alina. And she was standing in front of me, acting all nice and sweet......as if she hadn't ruined everything with her own hands. As if she hadn't sat across from me once upon a time in a courtroom while spilling nothing but lies.

Like she didn't make me lose before walking out of my life.

She moved closer, her perfume hitting my nose. It was the same brand of perfume that I'd purchased for her one time from Paris. Looking at her face intently, all I saw was the innocent face that had me deceived for years.

She stepped closer, but I didn't move. Remained still. Because I wanted to see what exactly she'd try to pull off.

"Did you miss me?" she asked in a purr and my jaw clenched.

Who did she think she was? That I was some fool that'd just buy it and give her whatever she came back for?

I didn't say anything though. I let the silence do the talking.

My eyes darted towards the door and I caught sight of Lana watching the whole thing silently.

Standing up straight, I moved away from her. "Meet my wife, Alina."

Her face dropped below 0°C.

"Lana," Lana spoke as if unsure. "Uh...nice to meet you?"

Alina laughed as though Lana was some overused piece of furniture.

"Damn, it really didn't take you long, did it?" she laughed falsely.

She was doing it again. Twisting the knife and making it look like I was the bad guy.

I tapped on my watch twice and the security came running in.

"Alpha."

"Show her out, right now."

They nodded and moved with speed, flanking her from either side.

Her smile remained solid. She leaned in close enough to whisper.

"You're going to call me when you remember what "real" feels like. I'll be waiting for your call, Maxxy," she laughed psychotically as they pulled her away.

The event was beginning to feel suffocating so I grabbed Lana's hand and led her out while ignoring the incessant flashes.

★

She'd been silent. All through the ride, she refused to say a word. Her gaze barely even left the window.

She kept her hands neatly folded in her lap, stilled, as though she didn't trust herself to not fidget or speak.

I could tell she had questions. Hell, any sane person definitely would. Even I did.

Questions like how Alina managed to get past the tough security. Or how exactly did she know my location?

But Lana refused to ask anything. And it made me feel worse than I already did.

I looked over at her and I didn't know what was best. To stay silent or try explaining anyway.

Because she looked so resigned, like tonight had just been another solid confirmation that she wasn't more than a placeholder or a shadow in my life.

And I didn't exactly like that.

We got home soon, and she was scurrying away from me. As if she was tired of having me around her.

She slipped out of her heels when she reached the door and moved down the hallway.

I reached for the bar stand, pouring myself a drink.

"I did tell her you're my wife," I said just before she could she could open the door to her room.

She scoffed bitterly, her gaze still on the door. "Wife. Not mate."

She twisted the doorknob, got in and shut the door.

Throwing the glass against the nearest wall, I cursed, "Fuck it."

Weren't things twisted enough?