A Pretend Luna

Chapter Four – A Pretend Luna

Aria's POV

I slowly opened my eyes.

The room was strange. It didn't smell like home. It didn't smell like Kael. I was lying on a nice bed, warmer than I'd been in a long time, but on the inside. I was freezing.

My heart was heavy. My chest ached as if it had been slashed open and drained.

I slowly sat up. My body hurt, but nothing compared to my heart. I looked around. Wooden walls, curtains drawn back. Light outside. It was morning. The room was quiet, peaceful, but inside me. there was a tempest.

Then it all came back to me.

Kael.

Lyra.

The rejection.

The betrayal.

The way they kicked me out like nothing. Like I didn't exist.

My eyes stung with tears, but I did not cry. Not again. I had no tears to spare. I touched my neck out of habit, where Kael would leave a kiss. It was empty now. No mark. No connection. Just shame.

The door creaked open abruptly.

A man walked in. He was tall. His footfalls were steady. His face was hard and cold. His eyes were grey and piercing. They looked at me without emotion.

"I see you're awake," he said matter-of-factly.

I held onto the blanket. I didn't know him. I didn't know where I was. Was I safe? Or had I fallen into greater danger?

He stood over me, unruffled and detached.

"You're in Mooncrest Pack," he said. "I picked you up by the river last night. You passed out."

My lips parted a fraction. He rescued me?

"I'm Lucien. Alpha's son. My parents—Alpha Rowan and Luna Alira—are not here. They'll return in a couple of days."

His voice was deep but lifeless. Like he didn't care whether I replied or not.

"Thank you," I said softly, still unsure if I was safe. "For rescuing me."

He nodded minimally but said nothing further.

I looked down, holding back fear. I'd already witnessed how Alphas behaved. I loved him and he threw me away. Could I ever trust someone again?

"I'm fine now," I whispered, trying to put bravado into my tone. "I'll go now."

Lucien's eyebrow rose, as if he was shocked—or maybe amused. I couldn't read him.

"You want to go?"

I nodded.

"Where to?" he asked sharply.

I didn't answer.

He stepped forward, arms crossed. "You were close to death when I pulled you in. If I hadn't gotten you here, you'd be still out there in the cold."

"I know," I muttered, hanging my head. "And I'm grateful. I just… I don't want to be a burden."

He tilted his head to one side. "Then repay me."

I looked up. "Pay you?"

"Yes. I saved you. You repay me."

I blinked, confused. "But I don't have money. I don't have anything."

He let out a breath and looked away for an instant before looking back at me. "My little brother—Jareth—wants to take over as the next Alpha. He has a mate. That makes him look strong. The pack is starting to lean towards him."

He paused.

I'm the elder. I'm supposed to inherit. But our pack is bound by bonds. They value having a mate as strength. Loyalty. Love." He snorted quietly.

I still had no clue what this had to do with me.

"If I had a mate," he said, his eyes still on mine, "they would not question me."

My heart skipped a beat.

"Pretend to be my mate. Just for a few months. Long enough to shut Jareth up and get the gossip ceased."

I glared at him.

"What?" I breathed.

"You heard me," he said, his tone not changing. "Be my mate. Pretend. That's how you pay me back."

I couldn't believe what he was asking. A pretend Luna?

"I used to be a real Luna," I muttered to myself in lieu of saying it to him.

"I don't care what you once were," Lucien snarled. "I did you a favor. Now do one for me."

Something snapped inside me. From being Kael's Luna. to this?

"I won't," I whispered, my voice shaking.

"Fine. Leave, then," he said coldly, half-turning. "You can freeze outside. Or get eaten by rogues. Your choice."

I felt tears threaten to spill into my eyes again. Why was the world so unkind?

I had nothing. No where. No money. I couldn't even change over at the moment. I was broken. Shattered.

I wrapped the blanket tighter around me.

"You're not even offering me a choice," I panted. "You're offering me a choice between pretending and dying."

Lucien said nothing.

I looked away. My pride told me to go. To find a way out. But my broken heart… my bruised soul… begged me to stay. Just for a moment. Just to catch my breath.

"How long?" I croaked, quietly.

"A few months," he replied.

I didn't say yes.

But I didn't say no, either.

He went back around. "Someone will bring your clothes."

Then he left.

And I was alone again.

This time… not the real Luna.

But a fake.

And somehow… that had hurt all the more.