Chapter 008: Luna Material

Mila’s POV…..

I was eating silently when he came back

“What now?“ I groaned

“You have an appointment tomorrow,” he said instead, ignoring my tone.

“Ten am. A stylist will be here.”

“For what?”

He reached for a crystal glass on the counter and poured himself a drink from the decanter sitting there. The amber liquid sparkled in the light.

“For you to look like a Luna.”

The word sat heavy between us.

What did that even mean?

“I look fine.” I snapped at him

He took a slow sip before answering. “You look like a girl who was just bought at an auction.”

My stomach twisted in anger

“That’s because I was.”

His eyes flicked to mine briefly, unreadable.

“You represent me now. The pack will see you within days. My brother will see you.” His jaw tightened slightly at that. “You will look perfect.”

“And if I don’t feel like it?”

He tilted his head.

“You will.”

He set the glass down and straightened up.

“Sleep early It’ll be a long day tomorrow”

“Where are you going?” I asked before I could stop myself.

He was already walking toward the staircase.

“Upstairs.”

The obvious answer.

Of course.

He paused halfway up the stairs, glancing back at me.

“Don’t wander around.”

I bristled. “I’m not a pet.”

His gaze darkened slightly. “No you're whatever I want you to be”

Then he disappeared upstairs.

I stood there for a moment, the kitchen was too quiet again.

I cleaned the plate and wiped the counter even though it was already spotless. Something about the silence pressed in on me.

Finally, I returned to my room.

The bed was enormous and the sheets were soft enough to sink into.

It felt wrong to sleep somewhere so luxurious when my father lay in a hospital bed.

I curled onto my side, staring at the ceiling.

Rina stirred faintly inside me.

He’s still your mate.

“I know,” I whispered into the darkness.

That didn’t make this easier.

The next morning, a knock came exactly at ten.

Caleb stood outside my door dressed causally.

“They’re here.”

“They?”

“The stylist and her team.”

Team.

Of course it wouldn’t be one person.

I followed him downstairs.

The living room had been transformed slightly they were garment racks, makeup cases, mirrors, trays of tools laid out neatly.

A tall woman with sleek black hair stepped forward immediately.

“Mila?” she asked with a bright smile.

I nodded.

“I’m Serena. We have a lot to do.”

Before I could respond, she was already guiding me toward a chair placed near the large window.

Knox stood near the fireplace, speaking quietly on his phone.

He didn’t look at me.

Not once.

Not when Serena began brushing through my hair.

Not when two other women started examining my skin, discussing color tones and palettes like I wasn’t sitting there listening to them.

“She has beautiful bone structure,” one of them murmured.

“Natural color is stunning,” Serena agreed, lifting a strand of my honey-blonde hair.

“We’ll enhance it, not change it.”

I tried not to shrink under the attention from them.

They washed my hair first, the warm water relaxing my scalp despite everything.

Serena dried it carefully, then began styling it.

Soft waves at first.

Then she adjusted them, pinning sections back slightly so they framed my face.

She added subtle highlights—not bleaching, just brightening the honey tones so they showed in the light.

When she finally stepped back, she turned my chair toward the mirror.

I let out a little gasp.

I barely recognized myself.

My hair fell in smooth, controlled waves down my back, the color was richer and warmer now.

I looked… polished and refined.

Like someone who belonged in this house.

Serena smiled. “There she is.”

I swallowed hard.

Knox ended his call and walked up to me, his eyes locked on my reflection in the mirror.

He didn’t look impressed or even pleased.

He looked… stunned just for a second.

Then his expression went back to normal

“Good,” he said calmly

That was it.

Just one word.

But something about the way his jaw flexed told me it wasn’t just good.

Serena beamed at me.

“We’ll prepare options for next time as well.”

Knox nodded. “Send the invoice to Caleb.”

Of course.

Everything was business.

When they finished packing up, the house felt emptier again.

Knox gestured toward the door.

“We’re going out.”

“For what?”

“Clothes.”

“I have clothes.”

“Not anymore.”

I stared at him and he just stared back.

He didn’t elaborate.

A car was already waiting outside and I followed him in.

The ride was quiet.

I caught him looking at me once in the reflection of the window.

When our eyes almost met, he looked away first.

We arrived at a high-end boutique downtown.

The sales associate straightened immediately when they saw Knox.

“Alpha Mercer,” one greeted smoothly.

He inclined his head slightly.

“She needs a full wardrobe.”

Their eyes flicked to me.

They looked at me curiously, trying to assess me.

“Of course.”

I was led toward racks of dresses.

Designer labels I’d only ever seen online.

They pulled gowns, cocktail dresses, tailored blazers, skirts.

“Try this first,” a woman suggested, handing me a deep emerald dress.

In the fitting room, I slid it on carefully.

It hugged my waist, flowing elegantly to my knees.

When I stepped out—

Knox was leaning against the opposite wall.

He was waiting for me.

His eyes moved slowly over me and they changed from green to black and back to green again.

“Well?” I asked quietly.

His throat moved as he swallowed.

“It fits.”

That wasn’t what I meant.

I rolled my eyes at him and tried another.

A soft champagne dress that shimmered when I moved.

Then a fitted black gown that made my curves impossible to ignore.

Each time I stepped out, his gaze followed me.

Each time, he said little or nothing at all.

At one point, when I turned slightly to check the back of a navy gown, I caught his expression unguarded.

His eyes were pitch black and his jaw tight.

Like he was fighting something.

I stepped closer before I could stop myself.

“Do I meet your standards now?” I asked softly.

His gaze dropped to my lips briefly before returning to my eyes.

“Don’t mistake this for approval.”

“Then what is it?”

He stepped closer not quite touching me.

But close enough that I felt the heat of him.

“It’s necessity.”

“For the contract?” I asked.

“For everything.”

He stepped back first.

“Take them all.”

The associate blinked. “All, sir?”

“Yes.”

My breath caught and I looked up at him.

“That’s too much.”

“It’s required.”

I hated how easily he dismissed the cost.

Like money meant nothing.

As we left the store,our shopping bags carried behind us, I felt different.

Not just because of the clothes.

But because of the way Knox looked at me.

Like he hated wanting to look.

Like admiring me irritated him.

“You don’t have to look at me like that,” I murmured.

He didn’t pretend not to understand.

“Like what?”

“Like I’m something you’re trying not to want.”

The car felt smaller instantly.

His eyes slid to mine.

“You assume too much.”

“Do I?”

He leaned back slightly.

“Don’t confuse physical observation with emotion.”

There it was again.

The rejection.

We pulled into the mansion gates.

As the car stopped, he turned to me fully.

“Tomorrow the council will be informed,” he said evenly. “After that, there’s no going back.”

My stomach tightened.

“No going back,” I repeated.

His gaze lingered on my face a second longer than necessary.

Then he opened the door and stepped out.

***