Chapter 4

Amelia’s POV

Over the next week, Sarah settled into the packhouse. She immediately started acting like the real Luna. Just like I knew she would. She ordered my maids around. She criticized the staff. She walked around the packhouse, her chin lifted, like she owned the place.

That wasn’t even the worst of it though.

Every night, she found an excuse for Ronan to stay in her bedroom. She had a list a mile long.

“The baby’s unsettled,” she would claim, batting her thick eyelashes at Ronan. “Your Alpha energy soothes it.”

“I’m so uncomfortable. I can’t sleep. Your presence helps me relax.”

“The baby knows when you’re not there. You need to bond with the baby.”

I saw right through her excuses. She was manipulating him. Ronan, however, ate them up, hook, line, and sinker.

‘Ronan is our mate,’ my wolf snarled. ‘He should be with you. She’s trying to replace you, Amelia. Don’t let her!’

Every time Ronan told me he couldn’t spend the night with me, my wolf’s fury pumped through my veins. But I did my best to quell her. I turned the other cheek and endured it. I didn’t want to give Sarah the chance to complain about me.

Exactly one week after Sarah moved in, Ronan came to my bedroom after supper. Perplexed, I watched him walk across the floor to the side of my bed. He sat down, a box in his hands. It was wrapped in a bright red bow.

“Amelia,” he said, taking my hand. “I know this has been hard for you.”

I eyed him suspiciously.

“Why are you here?” I asked. “Surely Sarah needs your Alpha aura for the baby.” My tone was biting.

He chuckled. “Yeah. Sarah seems to think my aura helps the baby. I don’t know about that. But it does calm her. I came here to thank you. For not causing a fuss.” He brushed a strand of hair from my cheek. “you’ve been so patient. I knew you would understand. This is going to work, Amelia. Sarah was right. The three of us are a perfect little family.”

I held back my anger and glanced down at the box he was carrying. “What’s that?” I asked. 

“It’s a present. For you. A late third-anniversary gift.” He flashed me a mischievous grin. His eyes sparkled. “I hope you like it.”

I took the gift and undid the bow. Lifting the lid, I gasped.

It was a set of sexy red lingerie. The silk was soft as butter. It must have cost a fortune.

“I’m sorry that I hurt you,” Ronan said. “Sarah has always been like a sister to me. The pregnancy was…an accident. We made a mistake in the heat of the moment. But she’s giving the pack an heir, Amelia. And that’s exciting.”

My fingers traced over the soft red silk. His apology was sincere. I hadn’t expected him to do that.

“I want to thank you for your devotion to the pack. Lesser women in your position would have caused a scene. But not you.” He took my chin between his thumb and finger, lifting my face to his. “Not my Luna.”

Gazing into his eyes, a rush of gratitude washed over me. He really did love me. He really did care. My anger towards him softened.

“You’ll always be my Luna, Amelia. I promise you that.”

Touched by his sweet words, I smiled.

“I know you’ve been under a lot of pressure as Alpha,” I replied. “The pack wants an heir. And I can’t give them one. So…I guess I understand.”

“Do you like your present?” Ronan asked. “I picked it out myself.”

“Yes.” I pulled out the lingerie and held it up. “It’s stunning.”

“Put it on,” Ronan coaxed.

“But what about Sarah? She…”

He pressed his finger to my lips. “I’m staying here tonight. With you.”

The weight in my chest released. I’d misread the situation. Ronan wasn’t doting on Sarah. He was tolerating her. Appeasing her. It was still me that he truly loved.

His eyes smoldered with lust. I knew that look. Biting my lip, I stood up. He watched as I slowly pulled down the straps of my dress. I held his gaze as my dress dropped to the floor.

Everything was going to be all right. Sarah couldn’t come between us. Our bond was too strong.

“Put it on. I can’t wait to see it on you,” His voice was low and husky. Reaching for the lingerie, my heart hammered in my chest. I ached for him. For his touch. His lips. His…

“Ronan? There you are!”

Sarah’s voice pierced the air.

Gasping, I clutched the lingerie to my chest, trying to hide my naked body. She had just barged in my room without knocking.

Her eyes landed on me, fully exposed, the red silk draped over my chest.

“What are you doing?” I snapped at her. “You can’t just enter someone’s room without knocking.”

“I…um…I’m sorry,” Sarah stuttered. “I didn’t mean to…interrupt. It’s just that…” She brought her hand to her stomach while I scrambled to put my dress back on. “I’m feeling very nauseous. I was hoping I could borrow Ronan for the night. I need his Alpha aura to…’

“You have medicine,” Ronan cut her off. He stood up from the bed. He was not impressed by Sarah’s intrusion tonight. I smiled smugly to myself. “And Amelia is right. You shouldn’t come in without knocking.”

“Oh,” Sarah said. Her smile dropped. She looked genuinely hurt.

“Take the vitamins the doctor prescribed. They’re specifically for nausea, Sarah. Go lie down. In your own room.” Ronan’s voice was low.

“I would,” Sarah said, “it’s just that, well, I’ve run out of vitamins. And I really don’t feel well, Ronan.”

Ronan raked his hand through his air. He sighed deeply.

“How convenient,” I said. “That she just happened to run out of vitamins.”

“It’s not her fault,” Ronan started. Aghast, I stared at him. Couldn’t he see what she was doing? She was manipulating him again!

“Fine,” I quipped, pushing down my anger. “I’ll have Claire go to the doctor right now. She’ll get you more vitamins.”

“Thank you,” Sarah smiled at me. “That’s very kind of you.”

But as our eyes locked, I saw the flicker of jealousy on her face. Then I saw something even worse.

Hatred.

Sarah hated me. She was doing a good job hiding it though.

‘She won’t stop,’ my wolf said. ‘Not until she gets what she wants.’

“Yeah, well. She wants Ronan,’ I quipped back. “And she can’t have him. She can try all she wants.” I smiled to myself. “But Ronan is mine.”