Chapter 5

Luna's POV. 

Something was terribly wrong. It had been days since I started living here as Alara. I still didn't know what I was supposed to do, but Alara's mate didn't come to see me like he would do for his mate who just returned after a few years. 

He was even more cold towards me. But that gave me time to learn more about Alara. She was the opposite of me. She was bold, charming, and a people person. 

“Do you remember anything before you went missing?” I asked, and she was silent for a while. It was nice having someone that I could talk to in my head. At least she kept me company while the others left me to heal. 

“Nothing,” she whispered. She was weak, and so was I. My feet that were injured in the woods hadn't healed yet. That wasn't normal. 

A knock came at the door, and I sat up. “Come in,” I said loud enough, and the person walked in. It was a young girl dressed in a maid's uniform. She held a small tray in her hand, giving me the widest smile I've ever seen anyone give. I didn't have it in me to smile, but I gave her a small smile as well. 

“Diane asked me to bring you your favorite coffee,” she said, a she set the tray down. The aroma of the black coffee immediately it me off. I slowly pushed the cup away from me. 

“Where is the Alpha?” I asked. I didn't know if it was me or Alara asking. But I was genuinely worried about him. I barely even knew his name. 

“Alpha Ryder is out training with the other men of the pack. The recruit for more guards and soldiers is going on. He should come and see you soon.”

I nodded, biting the lower part of my lip. She glanced out through the window, shaking her head. 

“It's quite sad that you went missing right there,” she whispered, pointing out through the window. My ears perked up immediately. 

“Where?” I asked, and she pointed towards the lake that I could see right through yhe bedroom window. 

“The guards said that was the last place you went missing. The maids were suggesting that you don't go there again.”

“I won't,” I told her with a smile. Within me, I knew fully well that I was going there. Alara would never let me breathe. She has been restless, wanting to know who hurt her. Who held her captive for years. 

I counted to thirty when the maid left the room, and I slowly slipped my legs into my flip flops, as I headed out of the room. The handle of the door was shockingly cold, almost like it was asking me to just go back to bed. But I couldn't. 

The hallway was empty as I stepped out. It was the first time since I had seen the house, and damn it was magnificent. The walls had imprints of actual gold on them. I wrapped my hands around the banister, supporting my weight. 

I finally made it out of the mansion. I hid behind bushes and trees until I found myself in the woods. The river that I had seen from my window was a few feet away. 

“Go back,” a voice in my head said, but I quickly pushed it away. 

I walked further, until I was right in front of the lake. I felt goosebumps against my skin, nd a shiver ran through my spine. From the corner of my eyes, something was shining. I turned, taking in the sight of a necklace with a pendant of the full moon. It felt like I had a certain connection with it, but I couldn't place what it was. 

“Luna,” another voice called out, and I froze immediately. It was the last voice that I heard before I died. 

Damon. 

I didn't need any warning bwfore I started running back to the pack. Energy that I didn't even know I had was puming through my feet, and I tried not to cry from the pain. My eyes were tearing up, and my sight was blurry. 

I was forced to stop when I ran into a wall. Oh, I mean someone. I looked up, and Alpha Ryder was looking down at me, with his brows furrowed. 

“What are you doing outside?” He asked, and a lie was at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't say the words. He looked down at my hand, where I held the necklace like it was my life. 

“You found it.”

I wanted to ask him what he meant, but that was only going to make him suspect more. 

“Can I go back upstairs?” I asked, and he nodded before glancing at my feet that had already bled all over the grass. Before I could even say a word more, he carried me in bridal style. 

I hated the way his scent was making me feel, but I couldn't help it. I found myself burying my nose in his chest. It was almost like I was high. 

He slowly selt me down on the bed, before heading to the bathroom to grab bandages. I sat down, as he knelt in front of me, undoing the bandages. He wiped them clean with spirit, blowing it with his breath every single time I flinched. I exhaled sharply as he wrapped it up again. 

“Thank you,” I whispered, fluttering my lashes as I avoided looking at him. The only thing I could smell was the mixture of my arousal, and his perfect scent. 

He tilted my chin with his index finger, making me look at him. He could probably smell it too. 

This man was hot. How the fuck did Alara control herself around him? I could hear her moan slightly. Oh wait. That came from my own lips. 

“Fuck it, come here,” he said, before slamming his lips against mine, barely giving me space or time to think or breathe. 

But hell, I would rather kiss this man than breathe.