Chapter 12

Selena’s POV

You know how you lose all your consciousness to sleep?

It’s like a robber that strips you off all your worries and senses.

There are times when it was good

You know? You snap out of cruel reality for a bit

But now? I wanted to curse it

Cause as I turned a bit.

I noticed that the bed was warm

Too warm.

The first thought that occurred to me was the lamp was too bright

As I turned to reduce it a bit, my hand brushed against something

No, someone

Then my breath freezes cause I remembered

It came rushing back to me that this wasn’t my room in the first place.

Cassian?

Was he the one I touched?

Would he think I was trying to make a move on him?

The first thought that occurred to me was to turn around and act like I was still asleep

That’s if my fluttering eyes would allow me pull that off

And then I felt the body move and I instinctively shit my eyes muttering silent prayers to the loon goddess.

Curiously got the best of me and I cracked my eyes open.

And stared into a pair of big brown ones.

“Good morning,” Sisi whispered, her voice soft and unsure.

“Ohh it’s you”

You sound scared

I gave a weak smile

Hopefully she couldn’t tell that my heart was at the verge of exploding.

Thankfully the human body wasn’t see through

. “Never mind, sweetheart. Just… good morning.”

She grinned and scooted closer. “You sleep with your mouth open.”

“Do not.”

“Do too. I almost put a grape in it.”

“You had grapes?”

“No, but if I did, I would’ve,” she giggled, rolling out of bed. “Come on. I’ll show you where to brush your teeth before you start stinking.”

“Well, that’s rude.”

“Daddy says truth is better than lies.”

“Touché,” I murmured, pulling the robe tighter as I followed her.

She dragged my hand into a bathroom that looked like a spa.

The floors were wet and I could tell that Cassian had already used this place.

I was hyper conscious.

What if there were CCTV cameras here?

But sisi?

She supervised everything. How I squeezed the toothpaste. How long I brushed. She even folded my towel while I rinsed. When I came out wrapped in the robe again, she was already in front of the wardrobe like a tiny drill sergeant.

And most times, I wonder how someone as bubbly as her could’ve been mute all this while.

The way her big brown eyes shone when she looked at me and the wide smile that never seemed to leave her face whenever she looked at me.

Maybe this was my journey to finding another purpose in this life.

“This onee,” I looked up to see her holding a pastel blue dress. “I think blue makes your hair look like fire,”

I arched my eyebrows at her, “I look like a fire hazard now?”

“Noooo,” she screamed in defense. “A pretty fire”

I couldn’t help the smile that creeped to my lips

I liked her.

I was barely done putting on the dress when someone knocked on the door, forcing me to hurry up with the wearing process.

I nodded to sisi and she excitedly pulled the door open

Two maids strolled in.

Heck even the maids were elegant as fuck.

It made me feel out of place.

Like an animal

What followed immediately was a massive cart.

“What is all this?” I asked, blinking at the mountain of food.

“Breakfast, Luna,” one of them replied politely, as if delivering a few eggs and not an entire buffet.

I blinked. “For how many people?”

“Just you.”

“I can’t eat all of this.”

“Alpha’s orders.”

“Of course they are,” I muttered, placing my hands on my hips. “Do you people ever question those orders?”

“No, Luna.”

“How convenient.”

“Excuse me,” a familiar voice drawled from behind the maids.

Conrad strolled in like he owned the place. His eyes scanned the room, then landed on me, I was barefoot, hair damp, and mildly irritated.

“Thank the goddess you’re not naked,” he said with mock relief.

I rolled my eyes. “Why would I be naked?”

“I don’t know. You have the kind of aura that says ‘I sleep dramatically.’”

“I have the kind of aura that says ‘I throw pillows at annoying men.’”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” he grinned, then turned to the maids. “Thank you, ladies. You may leave us.”

They curtsied and walked out silently, wheels of the buffet cart squeaking slightly.

Conrad waited until the door clicked shut before turning to Sisi. “Sweetheart, do you mind stepping out for a bit? I need to talk to —-.”

He paused as though he didn’t know what exactly to refer to me as.

“Are you going to kiss? She’s for daddy,” Sisi protested, punching her hands in the air.

I choked.

Conrad blinked, then smirked. “I wouldn’t want your daddy to kill me.”

I watched as sisi tried to muffle the laughter as she ran off.

“She’s going to start a rumor,” I warned him.

“She already has. Anyway—” He folded his arms and leaned casually against the wall. “We need to talk about your role.”

“My role?”

“You’re officially the Luna now, remember?”

“Fake Luna,” I corrected.

“Details.” He waved a hand. “Now that you’re staying, people are going to start asking questions. How you two met. Why you suddenly moved in. Why you’re sleeping in the Alpha’s bed without a ceremony.”

I rubbed my temples. “I have to sleep in his bed?”

“You already did, didn’t you?”

“That doesn’t count. I was on the edge. I barely breathed.”

Conrad laughed. “I’m sure he noticed.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Spit it out, Conrad.”

“You and Cassian have been in a long-distance relationship. It’s a cover story. You met during some spiritual pack exchange event or whatever—”

“Do those even exist?”

“They do now,” he said with a shrug. “You’ve been apart because of spiritual training and political reasons. Now you’ve reunited.”

“That’s the most cliché thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Which makes it believable,” he grinned.

“And I just go along with it?”

“Like a pro. You’ll start etiquette training today. First rule, never look too surprised even if a girl tries to kiss your man.”

“Has that happened before?”

“Not yet. But… never say never.”

I sighed, dropping onto the edge of the bed. “This is all insane.”

“Yup.”

“And the worst part?”

“What?”

“I’m starting to get used to it.”

He gave me a slow look. “That’s not the worst part, Selena.”

“Oh yeah? What is?”

“The worst part is Cassian might be getting used to you too.”

I blinked.

He didn’t give me time to respond.

“Your first etiquette lesson starts in ten minutes. Wear shoes.”

He shut the door, leaving me staring at the mountain of untouched food and one very terrifying realization sitting heavy in my chest.

I was starting to care.

And that…

That was dangerous.