Chapter 4

Ever's POV

The words that should have brought me relief somehow didn't. But I didn't want to ruin the moment, so I let him hold me a little longer.

When I couldn't hold back any longer, I broke free from his arms and turned to face him directly with a questioning gaze.

“For someone who hasn't seen me in a whole month,” he buried his nose into my neck. “you don't look particularly happy.”

“Are you kidding me?” I pushed him off with brute force.

“Hey, why the attitude…” He reached out to touch me, and I slapped his hand away in a fit of rage, distancing myself from him.

“Is this about Rhaeya?” he asked. I stared at him in disbelief for a while and let out a weak chuckle.

“You're asking me. You're asking me if it's…” I shook my head in amusement. He was treating this like some casual prop and play and expected me to play along.

“It's honestly not what you think, Ever. It's more complicated than it seems.” He exhaled. His words felt genuine. It wouldn't be fair to judge outrightly without giving him a chance to explain, would it? I bit my lower lip in reluctance, then finally turned to him.

“You have a lot of explaining to do.” I folded my arms, my body easing up as I met his gaze.

“Sit first?” he offered.

“No. Explain first,” I shot.

“It will take more than a single breath to explain, Ever. Please have a seat.” I remained fixed to my position as he shook his head, not surprised.

After a moment of silence, I reluctantly sat. My head rested against the tree.

How badly I wanted to be happy that he was back, but more than that, I wanted to understand why he did this.

“You made her Luna, Hagan. Named her your mate, in the Council's presence and the presence of everyone in the pack…”

“I know this might not be the best plan I've come up with…”

“No, it's not. It's the most selfish one yet.” He lowered his gaze, the way he usually did anytime he couldn't find his words.

“If you were ashamed of having me as your mate, why choose to show it this way?” I asked, each word more bitter than the last as I fought back tears.

Three years back, when we had agreed to keep it a secret, I always believed him whenever he said one day, when the time was right, he'd announce it to everyone that we were mates.

Looking back now, my naive self who had believed him felt pretty…

I looked at him, awaiting his answer, unable to hide how hurt I was anymore.

“Sorry it had to be this way,” he began, his tone apologetic. “Sorry you had to find out this way,” he added, and I turned away.

“Rhaeya and I made a deal.” His gaze fell as he began. “She needed a temporary mate 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 shewolves,” he explained. My gaze softened after he'd explained. But somehow, it still didn't feel enough.

“Why not me then?” I asked. “If it would serve the same purpose, why choose her, Hagan?” My chest tightened as I asked. I knew what I was asking. I knew the answer. But I wanted to know if he also thought the same.

“You know why, Ever,” he let out.

My heart sank. “You know I'd give anything to see you be my Luna. But for now, I can't…”

“That's all I needed to hear.” My teary eyes met his. I rose up and made to leave when he yanked me back onto his lap.

“Please don't leave, Ever.” His grip tightened. “Please.” His voice trembled.

“Go to Rhaeya, Hagan. She's your mate, isn't she? What will people say when they see a mated Alpha with an Omega? They'll say I shamelessly seduced you.” I struggled in his grip, fighting back tears. “I have enough problems as it is. Being called someone's shameless whore isn't something I'd like to add, Hagan.”

“Ever!” He shunned me.

“What? I'm only stating the obvious. Everyone knows she's Luna.” I bit down my frustration. “What does that leave me, nothing but a homewrecking wh…”

“But she's not my mate, Ever.” He shunned, head buried in my neck as he broke. “She's not the one I spent a whole month unable to get out of my head. She's not the one who makes me lose it anytime I see her. And she's definitely not the one I've gone crazy for.”

My body shuddered at his words as I stopped struggling, head resting up against him as tears streamed.

“It's been three years, Hagan. Why her?”

“It's just temporary, Ever. I promise it will soon be over.” He explained, grip loosening. “We both get what we want and she leaves. She's agreed too.” “Just…trust me,” he let out, chin resting on my shoulders.

We stilled for a while, letting the silence drown the tension that surrounded us.

“Why did she agree to it?” I asked.

He stared down silently for a while before finally replying.

“She's also had her fair share of relentless suitors.” Countless thoughts raced through my head. And I realized, even if it hurt to say, the truth was he was right. For now, Rhaeya was a better pick. At least to reduce the amount of proposals he'd been getting.

And plus, he said. It wasn't real.

“So it's not real?” I reiterated.

“God, Ever. What have I been saying?” He chuckled, turning me to face him. His face scrunched as he met my gaze. His hands wiped away the tears from my eyes.

“I don't like it when you cry.” He stated.

“Then maybe stop making me?” I shot. “I still don't like this…this plan.”

“I know,” he let out. “And I promise, it'll pass.” He enclosed me in his arms.

“Now enough of this talk.” He snuggled close as I broke out in giggles. “I've had it bad going to sleep this past month without hearing your grand blueprints. The one about stripping those matrons when you become Luna, how's it coming along?” He let out, and I laughed.

“I guess we'll see,” I told him. “I got into the black book again today, was on stable duty before I came here.”

“If only they knew who they'd dared to treat this way.” 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 with it serenading my senses.

“Well, as for stripping them, I still hold myself to that promise,” I let out.

“Being away this long was so excruciating.” He pulled me close. “Away from you.” He leaned in.

On instinct, I closed my eyes, readying myself for the warmth that should have followed. Instead, the sound of clothes being pulled off reached my ears.

I opened my eyes in sheer embarrassment to see him stripping down. My cheeks turned a bright red as I looked away, tucking my lips in.

“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.

“Uh…Hagan!” I yelled at him.

“What’re you going to do about it?” He flashed me a daring smile.

“Just wait a minute, you'll find out,” I said furiously, taking off my dress, my underwear still on me as I jumped in right after.

My head popped out of the water as I let out a deep exhale.

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 but he wasn't there.

And suddenly, I got pulled underneath from the top as he drew me to himself underwater. He eventually let go, and we both dove to the surface as we let out deep exhales.

“Do you want to drown us?” I shot, letting out deep pants.

“Our passion would keep us alive,” he let out, and I splashed him with water.

“God, you're impossible,” I let out, swimming back to the edge of the lake as he followed.

“What did you think I was going to do back there?” 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. “Just a month apart and it seems you've got pretty interesting thoughts in there.” He gestured to my head.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” I replied, about to climb out when he pulled me down. My back hit the edge of the lake as he swept me up and lifted me onto his hips.

“Of course you do, Ever.” His eyes met mine. “You know what you do to me,” he cooed into my ear.