Face slapping

Michael stood silently for a moment, studying her face as though he were trying to uncover something hidden beneath her expression.

Kira kept her head lowered, gently rubbing her stomach in slow circles.

“I thought your name was Serene,” Michael finally said calmly. “That’s what she called you.”

Before Kira could respond, another voice interrupted.

“Alpha Moon.”

Alpha Klein approached them with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I see you’ve already gotten acquainted with my wife,” he said smoothly.

Michael stepped slightly aside, his expression unreadable.

Kira immediately lowered her head further and slipped past them without making eye contact.

Michael watched her leave for a brief second before turning back to Klein.

“I should return now,” he said casually. “There are meetings waiting for me back at the Royal Pack.”

He forced a polite smile.

“We’ll continue our discussion another time.”

Without waiting for a response, Michael turned and walked away.

Klein remained standing there, staring after him.

Then slowly, his expression darkened.

He turned sharply toward the hallway Serene had disappeared into.

“Kira!”

His voice thundered through the corridor.

Kira rushed back out almost immediately, breathing nervously.Klein’s eyes burned dangerously.

“What did you say to Alpha Moon?” he demanded coldly.

Kira visibly trembled.

“I… I didn’t say anything,” she stammered quickly. “Charlotte was trying to speak to him earlier, but the moment she noticed me, she stopped.”

Klein’s jaw tightened violently.His fists clenched.

“Charlotte!” he roared.

His voice echoed throughout the hallway.

“Charlotte!”

At the balcony, Ria flinched at the name.

For a second, she wondered if there was another Charlotte somewhere in the fortress.

But when the name came again louder this time she reluctantly rushed back inside.

The moment Klein saw her, he grabbed her roughly and forced her to her knees.Pain shot through her body.

“You pathetic trash,” Klein snarled. “Do you know how badly I needed the Royal Pack alliance?”

Ria’s breathing quickened.

“What did you tell Alpha Moon that made him leave?”

“I didn’t say anything,” she answered immediately, shaking her head desperately. “He didn’t even ask me anything, I swear—”

Slap!

The hit sent her stumbling sideways.

“You pathetic liar!”

Klein grabbed her by the hair again.

“You know how desperately I need the Royal Pack. You know how badly I need Alpha Moon’s weakness.”

His voice dropped dangerously.

“And now you’ve ruined everything.”

Ria cried out as he dragged her through the corridor.Servants immediately lowered their eyes as they passed and Nobody intervened.

When they reached a dark, empty room at the far end of the courtyard, Klein shoved her inside violently.

“You’ll stay here for three days,” he spat. “No food,No water.”

The heavy iron door slammed shut behind her with a deafening echo and Then every where went quiet.

Ria collapsed onto the floor, clutching her bruised knee as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Her body trembled violently.

“Mum…” she whispered brokenly.

Then softer..“Mobo…”

She wiped blood from her knee using the torn edge of her dress.

“I don’t know what’s happening anymore,” she whispered shakily. “Was my old life real? Was London real? Mira? My mother?”

Her chest tightened painfully.

“Or was this always my life?”

She buried her face into her hands and cried quietly.

After a while, she slowly forced herself up.

“No,” she whispered firmly. “I need answers.”

Her eyes hardened slightly.

“I need to speak to Alpha Moon.”

She glanced around the room until she spotted a thick piece of wood lying near the corner.

Quickly grabbing it, she approached the locked door.

But the moment her fingers touched the iron handle,She froze as her eyes widened.The wood slipped from her hands and clattered loudly onto the floor.Ria staggered backward in horror before collapsing onto the bed.Her breathing became uneven.She kept staring at the door as if trying to remember something...

                                       ****

Meanwhile, back at the Royal Pack,Michael stormed through the palace halls without acknowledging anyone greeting him.The servants exchanged confused glances as he disappeared into his chambers and slammed the door shut behind him,Breathing heavily, he dropped to his knees beside his bed and pulled out a hidden wooden box from underneath it,his hands trembled slightly as he opened it then slow smile appeared on his face.

He sank onto the bed, staring inside the box with quiet amusement glowing in his eyes.

The door suddenly opened.

Sleek rushed inside immediately after him,The moment he noticed Michael smiling, relief crossed his face.

“Lia...”

He stopped himself instantly.

“Sorry… Alpha Moon.”

Michael’s eyes lifted slowly toward him.

The dangerous look in them made Sleek stiffen immediately.

“How many times sleek,how many times have I warned you not to use that name?” Michael asked coldly.

Sleek lowered his head quickly.

“If you keep making mistakes like that, I’ll have no choice but to throw you into the dungeon myself.”

Michael leaned back slowly against the bed.

“You cannot ruin everything because of carelessness.”

“Yes, Alpha Moon,” Sleek said quietly as he turned to leave but Michael spoke again.

“The Shadow Pack needs our alliance.”

Sleek paused,a faint smile appeared on his face.

“So your plan is finally moving forward.”

Michael’s lips curled slightly.

“I think I’ve found the perfect opportunity.”

He stared at the ceiling thoughtfully.

“There’s a hunt approaching soon.”

A calculating look entered his eyes.

“And I need a romantic partner.”

Sleek blinked in confusion as Michael continued calmly.

“Find me a woman willing to pretend to date me for a while, Offer her a large payment if necessary.”

Sleek nodded immediately.

Then Michael’s expression darkened slightly.

“One more thing.”Sleek stopped.

“Before morning, go to the Shadow Pack.”

His voice lowered, “I have a task for you there.”

A dangerous silence followed.

“And don’t leave traces.”

Sleek bowed immediately before disappearing from the room.

                                       *****

Back in the Shadow Pack, Ria woke suddenly in the middle of the night as her eyes widened instantly.The door to her room was open.

She sat upright immediately, panic rising in her chest.

Quickly, she rushed over and pushed the door shut again before sliding the lock firmly into place.

Her heartbeat raced violently.Just as she turned back toward the bed,

A Knock suddenly came at the door as Ria froze.

Another soft knock came from outside.

Her throat tightened.

“W-Who is it?” she whispered shakily.

Silence answered her at first and then a tiny voice followed,

“Ria… it’s Mira.”