Chapter 6

Luna's POV

Alpha Ryder's breath was hot against mine, as he practically devoured my lips. He ran his hands through my hair in ways that made my toes curl. Alara was already whining within me, wanting more of him.

My hands were no longer balling at my sides. One of them was on his chest, and the other was tugging at his hair. I moaned against his lips again, and he suddenly pulled back.

I sat down, wondering what I did wrong.

“You kiss differently too,” he said, standing up. He knew that something was wrong. This man was in love with his wife. I was so close to telling him the truth. I didn't know how much longer I could hold on to it.

“You can't tell him anything,” Alara whispered.

“You should get ready for the ball. The maids will be coming to dress you up in the evening. Your injuries should have healed by then.”

The thought of being right in front of the same people that had criticized me before gave me a headache. What were they going to notice this time?

He attempted going outside again, and I quickly held on to his arm that burnt beneath my touch. “You're barely around. Did I do something?”

“You already know. You're different. You're not Alara. And the quicker you tell me who you are, the better it is for both of us.”

My heart skipped a beat as he stalked out of the room. As I opened my palm, I noticed the necklace was still there, but it had changed colors. The pendant was now purple.

“Does it usually change colors?” I asked Alara, but she didn't answer me as well. I wanted to groan in frustration. Nothing was going as it should in the pack.

But for the mean time, I had a ball to prepare for.

***

Thyri’s POV

There was something about the woman that the maids had described. They said she was different. Softer. Almost aloof. In conclusion, she didn't act like the Luna of our pack.

I didn't want to believe any of that until I came to see her myself. I walked towards her room, bumping into Ryder on the way there.

“What are you doing?” He asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Come on,” I said, about to touch him. He quickly swat my finger away like a pestering fly. “I'm about to see our blessed Luna who managed to return.” I wasn't about to show him that I was hurt that he wasn't showing me as much attention as he should.

“She needs rest. She just injured her foot.”

I rolled my eyes immediately. “Please, Ryder. She has been resting ever since she got to the pack. I haven't even gotten the chance to see her. It doesn't make sense that she has been eating and sleeping ever since she got back.”

He looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn't. Instead, he looked away. “Don't do anything you'd regret.”

With that, he headed down the stairs, and I smiled to myself as I opened the door to their room. True to their words, Alara was on the bed, with her necklace in hand.

“You still have that, don't you?” I asked, and she looked up immediately, aloof. It was almost like she was studying my features for the first time.

“Do you need something?” She asked in a soft tone that almost sent me reeling. Before the accident, she was the one that would bark orders at me. But there she was, being polite. It was almost like she had forgotten that all I ever wanted was her husband.

“Are you serious?” I asked, walking towards her in a dramatic manner as I held her face in my hands. “You're seriously asking your best friend if she needs something? You and I know that this isn't how we roll.”

“How are you, Thyri?” She asked, and I finally smiled.

“I'm okay. Just glad you're back. I noticed the Alpha hasn't been spending so much time in the room. He would rather spend hours training with the soldiers.”

“Do you need him for something?” She asked in the wicked tone that I was used to. If I had any doubts that she was Alara, the feeling was slightly killed.

“We've been working together on a few projects. I mean, he should be here, trying for the baby just as the both of you agreed. At least before the adoption.”

That was the one thing about Alara that made me feel like I had her in my palm. She had been the Luna for years, but she didn't have a child yet. That was the main reason why the pack wanted me to become the Luna. I was supposed to be the one bearing the heir for the pack.

But of course, Ryder didn't even want to have anything to do with me. He would rather adopt a pup than make me a surrogate.

“If the Alpha decides to train the soldiers, then you should know the pack needs protection. I'm well taken care of, and I can as well take care of myself. Shall I inform you that he just kissed me before heading out?” Alara asked, her eyes flashing with hatred that she could never say outright. “You should go prepare for the party this evening. Probably make yourself useful with the decorations.”

She was meeting me for the first time in a while, and she was already barking orders at me again. I plastered a fake smile on my lips.

“Of course, Luna Alara.”

I headed out of the room, already planning my next move.

She might have been back home, but I could sense the distance between her and Ryder almost immediately. If she wasn't Alara, I was going to dedicate my all in finding out. And I was going to punish her until she was out of Ryder's life. I was done waiting on the side.

It was finally going to be my turn. Even if it meant she had to disappear again.

But for good this time.