Chapter 4: The Lake II 

Ever's POV 

I couldn't explain the amount of relief I felt hearing that from him directly.

I broke free from his hug and stood face to face with him, making sure he understood how unhappy I was with him.

“You have a lot of explaining to do” I folded my arms, awaiting his explanation.

“Sit first?” He offered. 

“No. Explain yourself first” I told him.

“It's a long story. Are you sure standing is really the best option” His voice cooed.

“Fine,” I shrugged, trying so hard to hide how happy I was to see him after all these weeks. But I'd never be fully happy without knowing what was going on between him and Rhaeya.

“Who? What? Why's she here? Why didn't you say anything when Beta Roy called her your Luna? What happened during your leave?” All the questions I had kept in since noon dropped one after the other, not giving him time to register one before I dropped the next.

He lowered his gaze, the way he usually did,. anytime he couldn't find his words.

“Do you really want her as your Luna? Is that how much shame having me as your mate has caused you” I asked him, bitterly. I was now fighting back tears. 

Three years back, when we had agreed to keep it a secret, I always believed he really meant it whenever he said he would make everyone know we were mates when the time was right. Now looking back, my naive self who had believed him felt very stupid. I looked at him, awaiting his answer, unable to hide how hurt I was anymore.

“I'm sorry I did this to you.” he began, his tone very apologetic. My expression softened when I heard that and I forced my tears back. “I know you’re angry. And you have every right to be but this was the best way out…for us” 

“For us or for you, Hagan. How is this…helping us?” I asked him, unable to hide my frustration. “Everyone now believes she's your mate. Did you ever plan to tell them I was your true mate or was I just the secret mistress you used to pass time” I let out, pain panged in my throat. “"You stood there and watched everyone call her Luna. Is that how easy it is for you to replace me? Are you that ashamed of me?”

“I could never be ashamed of you, Ever.” His gaze pinned mine down. “You're the only person that truly matters to me and you know I would never want to lose you” He lets out.

I could barely hold my tears anymore and just let them roll out freely. Why was he doing this then? If he really didn't want to lose me?

“Rhaeya and I made a deal.” His gaze dropped as he began. “She needed a temporary suitor to keep her parents and other suitors off her back, I needed a fake Luna to stop the Elders from trying to pair me up with other power hungry shewolves who would do anything to be Luna” He explained.

“So…it's not real?” I asked, surprised.

“What? I can't believe you're asking this. I couldn't let another woman take your place as my mate even if I wanted to. My wolf alone wouldn't even allow it” He let out and we both laughed.

He wiped off the tears from my eyes.

“I don't like seeing you cry. Especially when I'm the reason for those tears” He said. “It hurts”

“You should've at least talked to me about it first, don't you think?” I told him.

“I should have. And I'm sorry I didn't. It was urgent on Rhaeya's part” He said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Well, that is something I'm not allowed to say. For now” He let out, nervously.

I gave him a suspicious look.

“Now enough of that, I've missed your voice. Going to sleep this past month without hearing you talk about how you plan to strip those matrons when you become Luna has been so excruciating” He leaned in, close enough for me to take in his beautiful eyes, a blue more intoxicating than the night sky. And that scent. I could barely think well with it serenading my senses.

“Well I still hold myself to that promise” I managed to let out as I found myself leaning in to steal a kiss.

I closed my eyes, readying myself for the warmth that should have followed after. Instead I began hearing fabric pulling apart beside me.

Embarrassed, I opened my eyes to see him stripping down. My cheeks turned a bright red as I looked away.

“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to hide how red and swollen my cheeks were.

“I'm going for a swim” He said, taking off his shoes, leaving only his underwear on him as he cannonballed into the lake, wetting my whole body with the splash he made.

“Just wait a minute, I'm going to get you” I said furiously, taking off my worn-out dress and jumping in right after him.

I brushed back my hair, trying to see better as the water had covered my eyes when I first dove in. I looked around for him and he wasn't there.

And suddenly, I felt him pull me underneath from the top. He eventually let go and we both dove to the surface as we let out deep breaths.

“What did you think I was doing” He asked, his tone full of mischief. I felt my cheeks get hotter as he inched closer.

“Nothing?” I answered, backing up to the edge of the lake as his frame followed me closely.

“Didn't seem like that to me?” he smiled. “I just went a month away and it seems you've been getting very interesting thoughts in this little head of yours”

“I don't know what you're talking about” I replied. I felt my back hit the edge of the pool as he swept in and lifted me in his arms.

“Of course you do, Ever. You know what you do to me” His voice cooed into my ear, making all the hairs on my skin stand as he leaned into the nape of my neck, subtly caressing it. I couldn't help but fall back and bite my lips, ready to take in the warmth that followed.