Listening from the Keyhole

I swallowed my pills and returned to work as I intended to do. There were still a lot of things to do and I was waiting for Frederick’s Beta to come and discuss the rest of the project with me. I must see it through to not make the same mistake.

“Aren’t you tired from all that work?” Nialliv asked, eating a basket of grapes. I always wondered how she could eat a lot and not gain weight, and here I was, trying to keep my body in a perfect shape to not humiliate Frederick and stay beautiful. “Isn’t your birthday tomorrow? You should take a day off and enjoy it.”

“My birthday isn’t important,” I smiled. “The pack comes first. Frederick always prioritises the well-being of the pack first. I don’t want to fall behind.”

“You love him a lot, don’t you?” she chuckled. “You’re too devoted.”

“Frederick gave me a life when no one did. It’s only normal for me to repay him.”

“You know, I found my mate, Ebony. He already marked me.”

I smiled. I was happy for her. If she found her mate, she wouldn’t stay around anymore. She would be away from Frederick.

“I am happy for you. I wish you all the happiness in the world.”

Nialliv finished her grapes and went to fetch more. I leaned back on my chair and touched Frederick’s mark on my shoulder.

As long as I don’t feel pain, I am sure they are just talking.

Frederick’s Beta, Henry Mason, arrived from his patrol trip. He had to do it every few days in the past but now, since the territory of the Crescentmoon pack expanded, he had to rely on more people. I assigned a few werewolves I found promising with Beta bloodline to help him.

No one knows I am the real Alpha between us, I am the one running everything.

I kept working till it was over midnight. I decided to listen to Nialliv and go to bed early. I was sure I would find Frederick in bed. One of the servants told me he came back from outside. But I didn’t find him. So I looked for him.

When I found him, he was with Nialliv.

 “Fred,” she moaned. I stayed in front of the door, waiting for them to notice me, to smell me but they were too deep in what they were doing. I peeked from the keyhole. Seeing them enjoying each other like that, with his face showing an expression he never did with me, it humiliated me.

“Fred, you promised me… You promised We’d be together. Get rid of her. It’s not like you can’t do what she is doing. She is just playing the Alpha in your stead. You are the true Alpha. One word from you and she’ll be done for.”

I am sure she is talking about me.

I waited for his answer as if I was on fire. I had the urge to barge in and expose them, but it would never work the way I want. Frederick got everyone in his pocket. I had no one. Even my servant reported to him everything I did. I was trapped.

He looked enthralled in her gaze, lost over her. It was the first time I had ever seen love the way they shared it both. If their relationship included love, then what was between us? What did we exactly share?

I am jealous. I am the one who helped him the most, Nialliv did nothing. Why can’t I have even a small reward? He doesn’t even kiss me.

My heartbeat doubled when he answered. I bit my lower lip. “I love you, Nia. You are the only one for me and you know that better than anyone. What we share, no one can reciprocate it. I will get rid of her once she’s not useful to me at all.”

“Just give me one reason to believe you, huh?” she complained. “I’ve waited for a long time. When will you tell everyone that I am your true mate? I can be a better Luna. I can fight next to you, protect the pack better than she can ever do.”

I can fight as well. Not as good as them but I can do it. I’ve spent a lot of time practising moves. Also, fighting isn’t the only thing that exists in a pack, there are other areas that need to be dealt with. I do everything else.

“I know, Nia. You’re better than her. You mustn’t compare yourself to a lowborn like her. She runs the pack and goes beyond my expectations. She has a talent for strategizing. I don’t want to lose an asset like her, even if she can’t fight. Also, she is an excellent healer. She can bring back my warriors from the blink of death.”

“It doesn’t mean that she needs to be Luna. It’s my rightful place, not hers.”

No wonder she is living with us. I don’t know why I don’t feel pain but I guess I am just a pawn.

I swallowed and slowly returned to my office. It was on the other end of the manor, far away from our rooms. I couldn’t believe what I just heard. I had the power to heal, when did it happen? How come he knew about it and I never did?

I tiptoed to my office like a thief. It was humiliating. I understood the meaning of marking someone as your mate. He’d never be able to reject me without the risk of losing a part of his power.

It was said that the moon despised wolves who played and took their powers for granted.

But, how could he mark two people at the same time?

I slumped against the sofa, in my office, staring at the ceiling. If only I was blind… I placed a hand over my belly.

I guess he can’t know about my child.

I should leave before my usefulness faded.

I closed my eyes and before knowing it, I slept. I woke up because someone was shaking me roughly. I opened my eyes and found Frederick looking at me. It was morning.

“We have to talk,” he said.