CHAPTER 5

MIRA’S POV

The pack house felt different now as I walked through the halls with my head held high and my back straight, but my insides were screaming. I smiled at the servants who passed me and nodded at the guards who saluted me. I acted as the perfect Luna.

But inside, I was breaking apart.

Every step I took vibrated in my chest and every shadow I sensed closer to me, made me flinch. Everytime I passed a closed door, my mind flashed back to that dirty memory.

I shook my head and told myself to stop. Do not think about that.

I desperately need to get to my room and lock myself in. I needed to breathe. But before I turned around the corner, I saw her.

Claudia.

Declan’s mother stood outside my chambers like a wild beast waiting for its prey with a deep scowl on her face. Her grey hair was pinned up and her black dress was perfect. She looked like she had been waiting for hours, but as she sensed me approaching, she turned to look at me coldly and hissed, “Mira.”

“Mother.” I bowed my head slightly as a sign of respect.

She did not smile, infact, she never smiled at me.

“Where have you been?” She barked sharply with an accusing tone.

My heart raced in my chest, but I willed my face to remain calm. “I was with Zara. We went to a nature reserve because I needed some air after the function.”

“Air.” She repeated the word like it was forbidden. “You are the Luna of this pack. You do not disappear for air.”

“I am sorry, Mother.”

“Sorry?” She hissed and stepped closer. Then her eyes moved over my face, inorder to look for something, anything to penalize me. “You should be sorry for yourself. Do you what people will say? The Luna is spending the night outside the pack house like some common rogue?”

I said nothing.

“You need to think about producing heirs,” she whispered in a deadly tone. “You are not getting younger, Mira. Declan needs a son and the pack needs a heir. But you are busy running around with that girl of yours.”

“She is my friend.”

“Friends do not matter. Blood and Duty matters. You are Luna first, so everything else comes second.”

I so wanted to scream at her. I wanted to tell her that her son would never give me an heir because he is sticking his balls up his personal guard’s— I wanted to watch her face crumble when she heard the truth, but I did not. Instead, I swallowed the rage burning in my throat.

Then I bowed my head again and muttered, “you are right, Mother. I am sorry.”

She stared at me for a long moment, then she hissed and walked away without another word.

I stood on the spot as I watched her go. Then I went into my chambers and locked the door.

Then my phone rang and I saw it was Zara and I answered.

“Seventeen missed calls!” Zara shrieked through the speakers. “Where were you? I looked everywhere at the club!”

I pressed my phone tightly to my ear and whispered, “I can not talk now.”

“Cannot talk? Mira, what happened? You just disappeared. I thought something bad had happened to you!”

I walked to the door and checked the lock again. Then I looked under the crack to see if anyone was outside, but I only saw shadows, and heard movements of servants passing by.

“I will tell you everything,” I whispered. “But not now and not here. Let us meet later.”

“Meet at where and when?”

“I will call you. I promise.”

“Mira, you are scaring me. What is going on?”

Before I could reply, I heard a light knock on the door.

“I have to go,” I said.

“Mira—”

“I will call you back.”

I quickly ended the call and shoved the phone in my pocket. Then I smoothened my dress and opened the door.

A maid stood there silently, with her eyes low and when I came out, she bowed respectfully.

“The Alpha is looking for you,” she said. “He is in the courtroom.”

“Thank you,” I said. “Tell him I will be there soon.”

She bowed once more and left. Then I closed the door and leaned against it with my heart pounding and my hands were shaking terribly. I pressed my palms flat against my dressing table and inhaled deeply. Then I looked at myself in the mirror and saw that my hair was a mess and my dress was wrinkled. I looked like a woman who had spent the night in a hotel with a total stranger.

Because that was exactly what I had done.

I changed quickly into fresh clothes and cleaned my hair. Then I practiced my smile in the mirror until it looked real.

Then I went to meet my mate.

Declan was waiting for me in the courtroom like the maid had said. He stood by the window with his hands behind his back, giving off a powerful aura like a perfect Alpha.

Dorian stood near the door with a straight face, with his eyes following me when I walked in, which I pretended not to notice.

‘Do not look at him and do not think about what you saw. Act normal and be the perfect Luna.’

“Declan,” I said sweetly. “You wanted to see me?”

He turned and looked me up and down, but now, I am of the knowledge that he does not really see me. He never did.

“Yes,” he said. “My best friend is coming to visit and he will be here soon. So I need you to prepare.”

I blinked. “Which friend? How can I was not aware?”

Declan clenched his jaw and snapped, “I do not need to tell you everything that happens in this pack. Just go and prepare. He is on his way now.”

I forced my face to stay calm, but I was furious inside. Three years of this kind of insult. But I just smiled and said calmly, “I understand. I will go prepare.”

Then I turned and walked out.

I went back to my room and sat on the bed angrily. My mind was blank, but then I remembered the club, the stranger, his hands on my skin and his deep moans in the dark.

“I enjoyed last night.”

“Have a good life.”

I shook my head because I need to focus on the present. Declan’s friend was coming, so I had duties and a role to play. But his face would not leave my mind.

But I could not move. I just sat there for five minutes, then ten. Then I stood up and walked back to the courtroom.

I needed to see the convoy arrive, inorder to distract me and keep my mind busy. When I got back, Declan was already outside and I stood beside him.

The pack had already gathered and all the servants, guards and maids were already at the steps, watching the road.

Behind me, I heard two maids whispering.

“This Alpha has not been here in a long time,” one said.

“He and Declan grew up together,” the other replied. “They are quite close.”

“Have you seen him before?”

“Once. At a gathering and he was extremely handsome.”

“What is his name again?”

“Alpha Ronan. Of the Stormcrest Pack.”

“Ah, yes. The man is very handsome. Very handsome.”

I did not turn around, I just kept my eyes on the road. Soon, a convoy appeared in the distance, which was flanked by guards in official uniform and shiny black expensive vehicles.

My heart started to bear faster as the cars came closer and closer. Then they stopped in front of us and their doors opened.

Men in uniform stepped out with a straight face and a man with a shaved head, who looked so serious and professional.

Then another door opened and he stepped out.

Tall, broad shoulders with dark hair falling over his forehead.

Declan walked forward and embraced him. “Ronan! It has been too long.”

Ronan smiled. “Yeah, it has.”

Then Declan turned to me. “Ronan, this is my Luna. Mira.”

I looked up and my blood froze in my veins as I saw those amber eyes watching me intensely.

Oh my heavens! The stranger from the club. The man whose name I did not know. The man who had fucked me in a hotel room just hours ago.

He was looking at me.

And I saw the recognition dawning in his eyes.

He knew.

I knew.

That there was no going back from this.