Chapter 10: I Walked In With Another Alpha

Irene’s Point of View

“Why are you acting like we’ve known each other for a long time?” I asked.

“You’re so… comfortable with me.”

The words felt strange even as I said them.

Arnold tilted his head, a grin forming on his lips.

“Maybe I’m just naturally friendly.”

I raised a brow.

“From what I know, lycans aren’t exactly friendly with other shifters outside their pack. That’s your nature.”

For a second, his expression shifted.

Subtle.

But I saw it.

Like I had touched something I shouldn’t.

“You don’t really believe that about me, do you?” he said.

“That sounds a lot like judgment.”

“And you sound irrational,” I shot back.

Arnold smirked.

Not offended.

If anything, more entertained.

“Oh, Irene…” he said softly.

“You don’t know how irrational I can get.”

A chill ran down my spine.

It didn’t feel like a joke.

It felt like a warning.

“You’re crazy,” I muttered, the tension tightening in my chest.

He chuckled.

Low.

Easy.

“Not even close. You’ll need to know me better before you start calling me crazy.”

“And why would I need to know you better?” I asked, already tired of this back and forth.

“We won’t see each other again after tonight.”

The thought of the party alone was exhausting.

If people saw me with him,

in his dress,

it would be a disaster.

“Because it’s refreshing to argue with you,” he said, almost casually.

I stared at him.

“You’re not just crazy. You’re weird.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m not complimenting you!” My voice rose before I could stop it.

That alone made me pause.

Luna Lorraine would never approve.

A Luna stays calm.

Always.

But what did it matter now?

I wasn’t going to be Luna anymore.

Eugene had already chosen someone else.

So why should I keep pretending?

Arnold just watched me.

Amused.

Like he was enjoying every second.

“Let’s go,” he said. “We can keep arguing on the way. Or we’ll miss all the good food.”

I exhaled slowly.

Dealing with him was exhausting.

As we walked out of the mansion, I felt the stares again.

The lycans didn’t hide it.

Curious.

Sharp.

Open.

Just like him.

Outside, a carriage waited.

Large.

Elegant.

I stopped.

Just for a moment.

Thinking.

“Changed your mind again?” Arnold asked.

“Can I do something else for you… but not this?” I said, keeping my voice as steady as I could.

The thought of people seeing me with him,

the Alpha of the pack that once stood against ours,

didn’t sit right.

I was already avoiding attention because of Eugene.

But this?

This would make everything worse.

Arnold would leave in a week.

I wouldn’t.

This was still my home.

My life.

No matter how broken it felt.

I had nowhere else to go.

No matter how much it hurt to see Eugene with Ruby…

I would have to endure it.

Because I had no choice.

“Do you want to go to the trial?” Arnold asked casually.

Like it was nothing.

Like he wasn’t talking about my future.

My chest tightened.

“How much do you hate me,” I said slowly, meeting his eyes,

“to want me dead the first time we met?”

The question hung between us.

Heavy.

And suddenly…

I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear his answer.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Arnold said. “I don’t want to kill you. That’s why I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Come to the party with me.”

“A chance?” I repeated, frowning. “Why don’t you go with your fellow lycans?”

“Because I only brought warriors,” he said easily. “All men. The women didn’t want to come. And I’m not interested in dancing with a man.”

I stared at him.

“I can’t believe this.”

“I can’t believe it either,” he said with a grin. “I actually have a date tonight.”

For a moment, he didn’t look as intimidating.

Just… a man.

Still dangerous.

But not as cold as before.

“If my pack throws me out because they think I’m a traitor for going with you,” I said as I started walking, “I’m holding you responsible.”

He caught up to me without effort.

“Then join mine,” Arnold said lightly.

I stopped.

He was still smiling.

“I mean it,” he added, more serious this time.

I didn’t know what to make of that.

It felt like he was always thinking ahead.

Like every word had a purpose.

I pushed the thought away and let him help me into the carriage.

The ride was quiet.

I didn’t speak.

I just stared out the window, watching the lights and people pass by.

But my thoughts wouldn’t stop.

At the party…

I would see Eugene.

And Ruby.

Again.

What would they say?

What would he want?

Was there even anything left between us?

“We’re here,” Arnold said.

His voice pulled me back.

I hadn’t even realized I had drifted off.

I had been living in the pack house for a year.

Ever since I found out Eugene was my mate.

He was the one who brought me there.

From the orphanage,

to the only place I had ever called home.

I don’t remember much from before that.

Not clearly.

My earliest memory is simple.

Snow falling outside.

Everything white.

Like the world had been wiped clean.

“Do you want to walk,” Arnold asked, pulling me back again, “or should I carry you and make a grand entrance?”

I glared at him.

I shouldn’t act like this.

Not in front of him.

He was an Alpha.

And I…

was no one now.

Without Eugene, I wasn’t the future Luna.

I was just a girl from the orphanage.

Someone who had been lucky,

for a while.

“I’ll walk,” I said.

“Nice choice,” Arnold said, offering his hand as I stepped out of the carriage. “Though I would’ve enjoyed making a memorable entrance with you.”

“Don’t even think about it,” I muttered.

My eyes flicked to his shirt.

Still stained.

The blood hadn’t disappeared.

Only hidden beneath the cloak.

Of course he planned that.

If I tried to expose what happened,

he would be ready.

This man never moved without thinking ahead.

I scoffed, but the weight in my chest shifted.

Strangely, it wasn’t Eugene this time.

It was him.

This irritating, unpredictable man.

“Are you ready?” Arnold asked, tightening his hold on my hand.

Like he already knew I might run.

“No.”

I tried to pull away.

Useless.

I should’ve learned by now.

His strength wasn’t something I could fight.

“How do you feel?” he asked, ignoring my answer completely.

We stepped into the pack house.

People lined the hallway.

The moment they saw us,

they froze.

Shock.

Clear.

Unhidden.

“I feel like I’m going to throw up,” I said flatly.

I hoped it would disgust him.

Push him away.

“It’s fine,” Arnold said with a shrug. “If you need to, just do it. This party sucks anyway.”

I turned to him, stunned.

I wanted to tell him he was the reason.

That he made me sick.

But the words stayed in my throat.

Because no matter how annoying he was,

he was still the Alpha.

And I…

was no one now.

The worst part?

My future was still tied to a man who betrayed me.

A headache started to build behind my eyes.

I didn’t want to talk anymore.

So I let him lead me.

Into the hall.

Music filled the air.

Laughter.

Voices.

The party was alive.

Bright.

Perfect.

But I felt nothing.

I didn’t even look at the decorations.

Didn’t admire the setup.

Even though,

I was the one who planned all of this.

“Are you sure you want this?” Arnold asked. “Instead of being punished?”

I shot him a sharp look.

He only gave me an innocent expression.

Fake.

Completely fake.

Annoyed, I pushed the door open with my free hand and pulled him inside.

For once,

he looked surprised.

“What?” I said, lifting my chin. “Are you afraid to be seen with me?”

For a second, he actually paused.

Then,

a slow, dangerous smile spread across his face.

He shifted our hands and stepped forward, taking control again.

“Of course not,” he said smoothly. “It’s an honor to attend the party with you, Irene.”

His voice carried.

Confident.

Proud.

And just like that,

all eyes turned to us.

I wanted to shrink.

Disappear.

But before I could,

his arm wrapped around my waist.

Firm.

Possessive.

And he walked us deeper into the room.

Like I belonged there.

With him.

Gasps followed us.

Whispers.

Eyes everywhere.

“It looks like they’re excited to see us together,” Arnold murmured near my ear.

Too close.

Too intimate.

I ignored him.

Focused on staying calm.

Even as my palm grew damp.

“In my eyes, it looks like they want to curse me,” I said stiffly.

“Really?” he shrugged. “I thought they looked happy.”

I glared at him.

He didn’t react.

Instead, he nodded toward someone across the room.

“What about him?” he said quietly. “What do you think he’s thinking right now?”

I didn’t understand.

Not at first.

But when I followed his gaze,

my breath caught.

Out of everyone in this room…

it had to be him.

And somehow,

I knew.

There was no avoiding him this time.