Chapter 4

Ella POV

I left Gabriel and Sophia standing in the garden. I didn’t turn back to look at them, although I could sense their expressions of shock.

The thought of two of the biggest pains in my ass being dumbfounded by my actions brought a smile to my face.

Now, I just had one more person to throw off: Alexander.

I made my way inside, deciding that a nap really did sound lovely after the morning I’d had so far. My suite was all the way on the west wing of the mansion, a good five minutes’ walk through the labyrinthine halls.

When I finally reached my suite and stepped inside, I hesitated, glancing at the small bed pushed into the corner. I couldn’t help but wrinkle my nose at the sight.

My room was small and insignificant—basically a glorified guest suite. It was well-appointed and cozy—a small bed with a handmade quilt laid on top, a little en suite bathroom, and a writing desk under the window—but hardly fit for a Luna.

I should have been dignified enough to share a room with Alexander all these years, but when he had shoved me as far away from his quarters as he possibly could, I hadn’t argued.

I had taken the assignment with a smile and had even thanked him, as if being treated like a guest in my own home was work thanking him over.

And what was even worse was that my sleeping arrangement hadn’t gone unnoticed. The household staff may not have realized that Alexander and I were never intimate, but they certainly knew that he didn’t like me.

I would often hear them gossipping about it, whispering and giggling over my humiliation. They said that I was no better than a mistress, that I didn’t even have my husband’s respect.

They were right.

The thought now made my stomach twist with discomfort. Now that death was so close I could taste it, it broke my heart to think I had spent so many years limiting myself.

Lilith was right; if I wanted to live, then I needed to change.

And even if I survived this, then I needed to be true to myself afterwards. I couldn’t bear to waste any more time letting myself get used and abused.

I made a decision then; I wouldn’t be napping in this room. No, I would go where I should have gone a long time ago.

Without hesitating, I turned on my heel and strode out of my room and down the hall. The closer I came to Alexander’s quarters, the more heads I turned. But I kept my head held high and moved with purpose, not letting anyone stop me.

Goddess, even the lighting and decor was better in the east wing. Ornate skylights above cast intricate swirling patterns across the marble floors, and portraits depicting Alphas and Lunas from days long gone lined the walls.

To think that I had spent so many years avoiding this side of the mansion…

“L-Luna?” A young servant girl emerged from Alexander’s room with a pile of sheets in her arms. She curtsied when she saw me, although the confusion on her face was evident. “Alpha Alexander is not in his room, if you’re looking for him.”

“I’m not looking for him.” I simply gestured for her to move out of the way, and after hesitating for a moment, she did.

I knew she thought it was strange for me to enter Alexander’s room, as I had never done before, especially without him in it. But I was the Luna for now, whether anyone liked it or not. I could go where I pleased.

Taking a deep breath, I turned the knob and opened the door. Alexander’s scent washed over me as I stepped into the dimly lit room.

The curtains were shut, casting the room into semi-darkness, so it took my eyes a moment to adjust. But as they did, I became aware of the room’s grand space—tall ceilings, a large main chamber with a smaller antechamber and an enormous en suite bathroom.

A large four-poster canopy bed dominated the main space, freshly made with clean sheets and plush pillows. In the antechamber was a comfortable sitting area with a fireplace, a loveseat, and two armchairs.

Alexander had no need for a desk here, seeing as how he had his own study—another luxury I wasn’t afforded even though there were plenty of spare rooms in the mansion—but there was room for it.

And the bathroom… It was like something out of a dream. An in-floor bathtub the size of a small swimming pool. A walk-in shower with crystal doors that caught the light. And all of the toiletries any person could possibly want.

Feeling vindictive, I decided to take full advantage of the space.

I began with a luxurious bath, where I used all of the toiletries I wanted, even emptying some of the bottles of lotions and soaps. I lavished myself for a good while, taking care to scrub every inch and even use Alexander’s expensive skincare to do a face mask.

Afterwards, once I was dried off, I padded into his large walk-in closet and began rifling through his clothes. He mostly just owned suits, some of which I pulled off the rack and tossed onto the floor just for good measure, but I found a plush robe that was luxurious under my fingers and slipped it on.

The soft fabric felt like I was wrapped in a sheep’s thick coat.

Grinning like an idiot, I scurried over to the bed and threw the covers back. I climbed in and nuzzled down into the blankets, letting out a little gasp of pleasure at the plush pillows and silky sheets.

This… this was how a Luna should be living.

Alexander would no doubt be furious when he found out I’d been in his room—and I did intend for him to find out—but that was the whole point. And if I could also have the time of my life, for once, while working to make him divorce me… Then that was even better.

Soon enough, my eyelids began to grow heavy, and sleep pulled me under.

…

I woke to a familiar scent: bourbon and woodfire smoke.

Alexander.

Holding my breath, I cracked my eyes open just enough to see him standing in front of the full-length mirror with his back turned to me. My eyes widened slightly as I adjusted to the dim light and realized that he was shirtless, in the midst of dressing himself.

For a moment, I allowed myself to just watch him. I had never seen Alexander shirtless before, and while I knew he was muscular and well-built, this…

This was something else.

The physical attraction I felt upon seeing his broad shoulders and muscular back was immediate and intense.

Despite my compromising position, I found my gaze wandering over his form, savoring the way his waist narrowed until it disappeared into his sleek black trousers. And his ass…

Was this the specimen that could have been mine if only he hadn’t been so cruel?

Was this the man that I could have been sharing a bed with all these years?

“I’m going to assume you slept enough if you’re so wide awake now, staring at my body.”

The sound of his voice snapped me out of my reverie, and my face instantly reddened. I shot upright, suddenly feeling more bashful than I should have—I had chosen to come here and use his room to anger him, after all, and yet now that he was here, I felt awkward and silly.

Alexander turned around, frowning. Goddess, the front of him was even more impressive than the back.

“Why are you so eager to be intimate with me?” he asked.

As he spoke, his gaze dipped, and I realized with a start that the robe had fallen open, revealing one bare breast, nipple peaked in the cool air. I gasped and quickly shut the robe, but it was too late. He had seen everything.

My face reddened even further, and I shifted, preparing to get up.

But Alex swiftly moved toward me.

Before I could react, he was pushing me back down onto the bed by my wrists. One knee hooked over and pushed my left thigh to the side so he could kneel between my legs.

I felt more exposed than ever before as he held me there, staring down at me.

I couldn’t shift beneath Alexander’s weight. He held my wrists fast, pressing them against the bed, and stared down at me.

But he wasn’t looking at me the way a normal husband would look at his wife. There was hate in those green eyes.

“Being sweet and innocent didn’t work, so now you’re trying out some new tactics to seduce me, eh?” His gaze flicked distastefully across my collarbone. “Even climbing into my bed and wearing my robe without permission. Like a whore.”

Anger overwhelmed me, so hot and sudden it almost made me burst out laughing.

“You got me,” I cooed, calming myself somewhat. “How do you like my new style? It seems to have caught your attention, so I must be doing something right.”

A low growl rumbled in his chest, and I couldn’t help but smile knowing that my words had hit their mark.

“If this is who you really are,” he said, “then you should know that that’s the exact kind of person I hate.”

Good, I thought bitterly. I knew Alexander always hated women like that, and I hoped it made him hate me even more. The sooner I could get this over with, the better. It wasn’t as if I had much time left.

“Well, I’m exactly that kind of person.” I lifted my head just enough so that my breath fanned across his neck as I whispered in his ear, “But if you reject me now, you won’t have to deal with me anymore.”

Alexander stiffened. I almost hoped he would just do it now, say the words and end all of this. It was probably too hopeful of me to think this would be over so quickly, but I was desperate.

But he didn’t say the words, nor did he release me.

And then I felt something shift between us.

The mate bond.

It was hardly more than a flicker, like a few sparks at the end of a live wire, but I could feel it—the faint ripple of mutual attraction, the speeding of our pulses, the way his body subtly shifted toward mine.

His groin slightly pressed against my leg, and I felt something thick and warm twitch in his trousers.