Where were you tonight?

CHAPTER FIVE

ZARA

Every month, we hold an internal showcase where herbal remedies, new weapons and other advancements are presented and celebrated. I’ve been working on some herbal remedies, but I've decided to take a break this time.

I was sceptical when the healers informed me Selene would be presenting. Where did she find the time to create a herbal remedy? I didn’t want to turn her away because it would be spiteful of me, so I agreed.

Now, I sit beside my husband, watching her present her supposed creation.

“This is a set of herbal remedies and treatment plans that I created. I did adequate research on it. I hope you like it as much as I do.” She says, cutely, and I lean forward, intrigued.

Then, she begins, and my mouth parts in surprise. She’s presenting my work. I recognise every single aspect of it. Every line, ratio, and observation down to the smallest detail. It took me three months to refine. I spent countless nights on it. There were a lot of failed trials, adjustments, and notes rewritten over and over. I even have a scar on my leg from when I got injured trying to ensure it was ready.

Yet, she’s claiming my hard work.

What the hell?

Anger burns in me heavily. I am tired of her. I am tired of her persistent presence here. She’s a pest I cannot seem to get rid of. She has sunk her fingers into my husband, and now, she is claiming my hard work. Where is her shame? Where is dignity? How did she even steal it? Did she break into my lab?

“Through repeated testing, I found that Moon Grass is more potent during the waning moon. The results are significantly stronger when applied in that phase. Thank you.” She concludes with a small smile.

The crowd is silent, just as shocked as I am, because we all know she is not a healer.

Then, Alex gets up and starts clapping loudly. He has a huge grin on his face. My heart sinks, but I don’t want this to end like this. His applause shifts approval in the room, and everyone follows his lead. She beams, taking credit for my work. She’s not just manipulative. She’s also dangerous.

Unable to take it anymore, I stand up, my fingers tightened around my glass.

“Selene,” I begin, and she looks at me, victory in her eyes.

“We are amazed by your ‘invention’. I have some questions, though. As a healer myself, I am very intrigued. Regarding your conclusion that 'Moon Grass is most potent during the waning moon' – how did you verify that? I recall that the active compound concentration in Moon Grass should be at its lowest during the waning moon.” I express myself calmly.

She freezes, and her smile falls away immediately.

Everyone is silent.

Alex looks at me, sternly, warning me to drop it with his eyes, but I don’t.

She looks at him, and I watch in real time as crocodile tears well up in her face.

“Luna … I … I didn’t mean to offend you … I just wanted … I wanted to help. I didn’t realise it mattered so much. I am …” she trails off, wiping her tears away. “I am very sorry, Luna. I shouldn’t … I shouldn’t have made an effort. I could never compare or compete with you.”

I narrow my gaze at her and shake my head in dry humour. She’s very good. She has shifted the attention from the important question to herself. She’s perfect at playing a victim.

Alex, as always, falls for her game and snaps low, “That’s enough.”

I turn my head and meet his gaze. I nod, drop my glass, and walk away.

__

Hours later, I am in bed. Alex hasn’t returned. I try not to think about where he is. All is well as long as he returns home to me.

My mind keeps going over Selene, how dangerous her manipulation is. She’s desperate to win, and so self-centred. Can’t she see that this is more than us? This is bigger than us. We should be focused on the future of this Pack, not this nonsense. She cannot be reasoned with.

I hear the door open, and my heart skips a beat.

He’s back.

I lay on my side of the bed, facing the wall. My body is very still. I keep my breathing even.

He locks the door behind him, and the mattress dips slightly as he lies down.

He doesn’t speak to me. He’s probably still angry that I almost revealed his mistress’s fraud. I try to sleep, but I cannot.

So, I speak.

“Do you think this is my fault?” I whisper, my heart in my throat.

He doesn’t respond, but I know he heard me, so I continue.

“Do you think Selene's leaving was my fault?”

“Go to bed, Zara. It has been a long day.” He says sharply.

I shake my head, “We don’t have to go around in circles. If this relationship is a … if it’s a problem, then … then maybe I should leave, maybe we should break the b -.”

I don’t get to finish my sentence.

He growls and pins me down, covering his body with mine. My breath catches painfully. This close, he overwhelms every one of my senses. I feel his heat, muscle, cedar and smoke. His large body cages mine effortlessly, and despite my anger, desire sparks violently beneath my skin. I hate that my body still responds to him. I hate that a part of me likes it when he acts as if I belong to him.

He has one hand around my throat, the other holding my wrists and his leg between my thighs. Heat explodes in my belly.

He kisses me hard enough to bruise. Our teeth clash, and he slips his tongue inside my mouth. I don’t get to kiss him back. He pulls away immediately, eyes glowing.

“Leave? You don't have the right!" His voice is low and dangerous. "Without me, you can't do anything. Where do you think you'd go? You’re mine."

I look at him, shocked, but pleased by his possessiveness.

Then, I smell it on him. A vaguely family scent. Selene.

“Where were you tonight?” I whisper even though I already know the answer.

He glares at me and snaps. “In a meeting.”

I look away from him immediately. He’s lying to me.

He pulls away and turns his back to me.