CHAPTER 6: A duty I refuse

VIPER

It worked.

Hades’ plan to get me into the Silverblood pack worked. I can’t believe I have to spy on Alpha Tyler, even at the expense of my own life, just because Hades wants me to.

But this time I can get my revenge on the killers of my parents.

I’ll get every damn information Hades wants, and make those killers pay for what they did fourteen years ago.

Even though I’m soaked in my own blood, I feel no pain. I remain there on a large bed, and the door creaks open.

“You’re awake.” An unfamiliar voice fills the room as he steps closer. He takes a look at my face like he can’t believe I’m pressed on a damn mattress. “I can’t believe my brother has found his mate.”

I scoff.

But this mate doesn’t want him.

“I’m Xander.” He smiles at me and I eye his sandy blood hair. “I think I should start to bond with my really pretty sister in-law, right?”

I choke on my saliva.

Cringe.

That’s too damn cringe.

I don’t have men in Nameless calling me pretty however they want. Once they call me pretty, it takes so much control to not cut off their tongues.

He’s still smiling at me. “What’s your name?”

Should I be nice? Or should I stick to being Viper? I can’t delete who I used to be just because I’m stuck in this pack, so I keep the frown on my face. “Where’s Alpha Tyler?”

He grins. “I know you’re eager to see him, but he’s been quite busy with pack duties.”

And so the man who's been eager to find his mate doesn’t even have time to check on her. I badly want to reject him.

‘Don’t you dare.’ Kiera warns me. ‘I won’t let you hurt our mate.’

I just shake my head. “Fine, but correct that thought.” I stare at Xander. “I’m not eager to see him.”

He looks stunned.

“Hell, I’m not even eager to get to know him.”

Xander’s mouth falls open.

I can hear Kiera laughing in my head. ‘You fool,” she mocks me. ‘You’re supposed to make a good impression with his brother so he can put in good words for you. How are they supposed to like you if you act like this?’

I stiffen.

‘You have to continuously pretend to be head over heels in love with our mate.’

But I can’t do that.

I really can’t pretend to be in love with someone.

“Well, that’s a first.” Xander says with a light chuckle. He looks so similar to Alpha Tyler, just younger, and instead of the deadly aura, he’s like a warm ball of sunshine. “Most women would easily throw themselves at my brother.” He grins, then winks at me. “I think I like you already.”

I can’t help the smile that finds its way to my face.

Take that, Kiera.

“You should get some rest.” He adds, and I just nod, watching as he walks out of the room. Staring at the ceiling, my mind travels to Jake and what he might be doing presently.

He’s probably chilling with his friends as they talk about all that happened in nameless.

And how I found my mate.

Low-key, I miss him.

He even begged me not to leave, and I can’t believe my heart ached when I saw how hurt he looked.

A small knock yanks me from my thoughts. “Hello, miss. I’m Diana, sent by Alpha Tyler to bring you lunch.”

Why can’t he come to see me himself?

“Come in.” I say slowly, then sit up on the bed. Eying my blood stained cloth, I groan. I have to shower first.

Diana walks in, and she calmly places the tray on a coffee table. She keeps bowing her head. “Is there anything else you would need, miss?”

“No, but call me Aurelia. You don’t have to refer to me as miss.”

She shakes her head. “You're soon to be Luna, it’s my duty to respect you.”

I frown. “Soon to be what?!”

“Alpha Tyler has always promised to have a speedy wedding immediately when he finds his mate, so they can start producing pups. He needs an heir after all, and you’re finally here.” She lifts her head and smiles at me. “God, miss. You’re so pretty…and your hair…”

I don’t care about the admiration in her eyes. I get that countless times, especially how my hair can be black as coal and still shine.

What I’m worried about is the speedy wedding thing.

Is Alpha Tyler that eager to wed me?

Doesn’t he remember I’m the assassin that stabbed him that night?

Even if I prepared a bunch of ridiculous excuses to feed him with, and make him believe I didn’t barge into his room to kill me, he’s yet to ask me about that night.

Is he that fearless?

“We can’t get married,” it slips out softly. “I can’t start giving him pups so soon.”

Giving him kids will give me a weakness. I can’t give myself a weakness.

She frowns. “But that’s your duty as Luna.”

And I laugh.

So that’s why he’s always wanted a mate.

To have a lady he can own, a child making machine, just something that can pop our heirs for him while he fucks her senseless.

But I'm not going to be that woman.

At least not yet.

I survived slaughter and fire. I won’t be reduced to just a womb

I dismiss Diana with a wave of my hands. “Thank you for the meal,” I smile, “but I don’t need anything else.”

She nods.

When she’s gone, I pull out my phone from my pocket, and send a message to Jake. He’s going to be surprised as hell to get a text from me.

“Jake, do you think I can be a mother?”

He replies immediately. “How are you settling in?”

“Answer me, Jake. Do you think I’m fit enough to become a mother?”

“Viper, it’s too soon to start birthing pups for him. He’s going to control you if you give him what he wants.”

“I know,” I type back, taking in deep breaths. “I won’t let that happen.”

I know I can’t avoid it forever, but at least for now, having kids is out of the picture.

Hurrying into the bathroom, I shower, then grab some clothes in the closet to change into.

Strangely, it fits perfectly.

I’d picked a white tank top and blue jeans to wear since it’s quite sunny. Wearing my usual black might remind Alpha Tyler of that night.

I have no idea where his study is, but I’m going to roam this pack house until I find him. If he’s planning a wedding already, he needs to fucking stop.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

I take a step back when someone stops before me, sharp grey eyes fixed on me like a predator. Nicklaus. He’s the one who saved me, and also my ticket into the Silverblood pack. Hades had told me Nicklaus hunts regularly, so it was definitely why he found me in the woods.

“To find my mate.” I say, staring into his eyes. A flicker of surprise settles in his orbs, but it disappears like it was never there.

“That’s not what I want to hear.”

“Thank you for saving me.”

“Also not what I want to hear.”

I frown. Nicklaus keeps staring at me, like he’s trying to figure out something I’m hiding. “How about you tell me what you were looking for in the pack border? You’re strong enough to fight off a rogue, why did you let it bite you?”

I stiffen.