FIVE

VALERIE

"Valerie. Valerie." a small voice calls out.

I open my eyes and blink at the white ceiling. Then I feel something tug on my hand. 

I look down and smile when I see a dark haired, silver-eyed boy looking up at me worriedly.

"Valerian, my baby," I smile and reach out for him. He looks at my hand and hesitantly walks closer to me.

He is in his pajamas still and is holding his little teddy bear to his chest. The one I gave him for his last birthday.

Shortly after the wedding, I got pregnant with Valerian. I remember when I decided to name him. It's a conjoined version of our names, Valerie and Evan; Valerian, if it isn't already obvious. 

"Valerian."

The cold, deep baritone voice sends familiar chills down my spine and apparently our little Valerian as he jumps and turns to his father. His back straightens and his cute face looks downcast as if he got caught doing something he shouldn't.

"Go and get changed. It's time for breakfast." Evan orders and my heart constricts at the coldness. I had hoped he would have even the slightest care to not act so upright with our son. So to say I am a little disappointed is the biggest understatement.

"Yes, Alpha." Valerian replies in his small voice and looks at me. I give him my sweetest smile and nod for him to go. His eyes shine with tears that somewhat make me angry. He shouldn't have to hold back tears at his age, but because everyone keeps drilling the fact that he is the alpha heir, it saddens me that he has to act years ahead of him.

"You disobeyed me, mate." Evan says, his voice deathly calm but it doesn't faze me. After six years of living together, I became numb. 

"I was helping a pack member." 

"You could have died!" he snaps, his chest heaving in his anger.

I look at him sharply.

"But I didn't. Risking my life for the pack is part of my job as their luna." I say and his eyebrows shoot so high up to his hairline.

"We've been through this." he warns.

"You are right. We have. And you still don't understand." I counter, looking dead into his eyes.

I may love him with all of my heart and have been chasing after him for the last half of my entire life, but he cannot and will not stop me from following my duty to my heart.

"YOU made it my duty to serve them as luna. I will not stand by and watch people suffer." I say with conviction and determination oozing off through my aura.

His own aura leaks off of him, but he and I both know we are equal in terms of that.

"Serve them? Sedrick told me you threatened them." he scoffs and anger boils in my blood. He has been deceived by his own member.

"Yes. For hurting a child." I growl, my own voice lethal now that he just triggered me. Any violence or abuse toward children is that I hate the most, I don't care but I will punish whoever dares to.

His eyes widens slightly before he growls and turns around.

"You will sit this meeting out. No excuses." he growls and walks out of the room in a huff. I hear the door click which means he must have locked me in. My wolf growls in exasperation as she did for the past six years since I married him.

'Perfect. Now that we healed someone, let's go kill some a*sholes to balance it out.' Liana rambles, pacing at the forefront of my mind and getting all up on my corner. 

'You know I love him.' I tell her, sternly, causing her to roll her eyes.

'Oh believe me, I spent the last six years moping about it.' she huffs and I smile. She didn't complain much when we have never found our mate in the past six years. She was hopeful, but that hope is slowly beginning to fade.

All I want is to win Evan's heart my own way. I don't want to follow his every order just so I can gain his approval. That's far from what I want.

I want him to see me. Really see me. And that will only happen if he actually tries to get to know the real me. What kind of person I am.

'Yeah? And how is that going so far?' Liana huffs batting another eyeroll at me. Again poking at my open wound. 

I sigh and choose to just ignore her. 

I get up and take a shower. I then change into my casual summer dress to appear inviting to people. I move to my vanity and comb my ink-black hair that stops just below my waist. It's naturally wavy, framing my small face and making my sparkling silver eyes pop. That is one trait of me I like. My eyes shine brighter than diamonds even under a dim light. 

'So we are going?' Liana, my grumpy wolf, asks.

'Of course. I set up this meeting myself to hear their business proposals. And to turn them down.' I tell her, which makes her huff in approval.

I didn't realize it until now. But the building that Alpha wanted to purchase and is turning into a mall is the same building where Daryl and his mother lives. There are barely enough buildings for housing omegas and they are adamant in taking the few left. 

I turn towards the door and pull out my secret spare key. I didn't miss doing any precautions since the first time he locked me in after that one incident I healed a pack member and nearly died. 

I use it and got out of my room. Then I head for the meeting room where I am scenting seven other alphas are in now. I just hope they didn't start early, or it will be disastrous.

Reaching the door, I don't bother knocking and just open it, finding that my assumption is correct. Seven alphas gathered and in the middle sat my cold, dangerous-looking husband and mate.

All heads turn to me and Evan's eyes start to flicker black. 

"Sorry I am late." I say to the alphas present, turning to Evan. I give him my sweetest smile and he growls. 

'I told you to sit this one out!' He links me, but I block him out.

"Everyone, let's start." I say curtly and they all nod, taking their assigned seats I prepared for this meeting.

"Before we start with your proposals. Let me be clear. We will not be selling any old buildings for now." I start. The next moment they all erupt in loud complaints but I silence them with a wave of my hand.

"We will not be selling any buildings because we are planning on expanding our land. This way we can have a discussion about future plans and construction of new buildings to cater to your proposals. Last month, Alpha Felix from our neighboring pack had offered me a piece of his territory as a gift for providing aid in and after they were attacked. I am going to take him up on his offer for the reason I found that we are in need of more housing for omegas and hopefully another hospital in the south." I explain, watching them all nod their heads. They seem relieved and excited with the new idea, except for one.

Evan is shooting daggers at me and I feel a spike of jealousy through the bond. It is not as strong as a bond you share with your mate, but it is still strong enough to make you feel their emotions and works just the same as a true mate bond. 

I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Is there something you would like to add, Alpha Evan?" I ask, and feel the looks of amusement from the other alphas on how I address my mate. He demanded I call him as such but now he looks p*ssed.

He clenches his jaw and says through gritted teeth. "No."

But I could see the look in his eyes that tell me I will be facing great consequence for this.

I just hope it will be nothing like the last time.