CHAPTER 3 NORA EX-LOVER

She turned and caught a glimpse of the stranger's piercing blue eyes, her heart skipped a beat. That face she'd never forgotten, one that had tortured her nightmares for years and continues to haunt her.

"Nora," the stranger said, his voice low.

"It's been a long time my dear Nora."

She glanced at him, shocked and confused.

What was he doing here? How did he know Eve?

"Who are you?" She pretended, attempting to keep her voice steady.

He laughed, crinkling his eyes at the corners. "You don't remember me, Nora?" he inquired, his voice filled with agony.

And then, the memories hit her, they began flooding back, and she felt like she'd been punched in the gut.

"Ryder?” she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Ryder, her first love, her confidant, and everything, had left her hurt and confused after disappearing without a word.

Until Alex discovered her and made her life worth living again.

That same “Ryder” is here, standing in front of her, his eyes burning with such intensity that her heart skipped a beat and burned with pain.

Before she could ask him any questions, Eve came out, her voice full of contempt and hostility.

"Ryder, darling," she exclaimed, her eyes shining with triumph.

"I am so delighted you are here. You've arrived just in time to experience Nora's new life as my maid, so I'll have her serve you right away. Why did I inform Alpha Alex of your arrival...The Alpha of Stone Moon pack. She smiled and walked out, leaving her devastated.

We meet again,” he growled. She jumped back, her Irish eyes bulging out, and pain flashed through her eyes.

“Y-you,” She sputtered, clutching her mini gown.

Ryder sucked his teeth. Was she intentionally seducing him, on realizing that he was now the notorious Alpha of Stone Moon Pack?

She gasped, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and her breath quickened. Ryder chuckled darkly, reveling in her fear.

“You're as ruthless as always.” She sneered, staring at his face.

Ryder growled, he hated the irritation and hatred for him that flashed in her eyes. He needed her back in his life but she didn't. She seemed to detest him. Growling again, he grabbed her into his arms; his mouth automatically found the mark above her chest he gave her years ago and touched it; her breath ceased for a moment.

He chuckled, licking it again to seal it out of eyesight “You're coming home with me.”

“Never,” She retorted, her breath heavy, her eyes fluttering open and close. “This is my pack. I'm Luna.”Ryder Smirked Ex-Luna, but now a maid, you mean?

“No, I will not go with you.”I'm still….

“We shall see.” He said, letting go of her. He was surprisingly pleased as the scent of her arousal swarmed the room as he returned to his place in the packed hall Alex gave him to stay.

He had come up with a simple plan. Immediately after the party was over, he was going to bargain for her with Alex and if he refused him, he was going to bring hell to Zodak. Ex-Luna or not, she was his.

When he got her, he was going to use every means to break the spell she had over him that lured him to her for years.

…………..

Immediately after Alpha Ryder left, Nora fell to the ground shuddering and gulping in air. That was the most intense moment of her life. What the hell did that devilishly good-looking man crawl out from? And why was her body melting under his touch and gaze even after he had said the worst words anyone had said to her in a long time?

"Breathe in, breathe out, " she huffed, fanning her hot face. He also made the most ridiculous statement she had heard in a while. What did he mean by that statement ‘she was going home with him?’

He may be an Alpha, the most ruthless Alpha known to the werewolf world, but Alex was her mate. Despite the disparaging treatment he was giving her, because of the death of his mother, she was still his. They were mates.

"Just breathe," she muttered to herself and placed her hands on her beating heart to calm it.

She couldn't understand why, despite all the assuring words and thoughts she was giving to herself, she still felt afraid. Her body trembled, her heart thrashed within her chest, and how her wolf was going crazy in her subconscious.

"There she is," a snarky voice hissed, as the door of her thin room flung open. She was taken aback by this suddenness and moved further away from the door.

"Where have you been? Do you not know that Alpha Alex has been looking for you all over the place? Have you now forgotten your duties as Luna..oops maid of this house?"

Nora released a breath she didn't know she was holding and gathered herself to her feet. She looked at her intruder for the first time and it was one of the omegas Alex had been with. Nora rolled her eyes, then stared at her feet, pretending to ignore the young girl.

"Bitch, are you listening to me? Are you deaf or are you dumb? Alpha Alex has requested that you set the table for the party to welcome the warriors from Stone Moon Park, and you should also dress up to accompany his new Luna to greet the visitors. And you are ignoring me!" She ranted. Scoffing, Nora continued to pretend like she was adjusting her gown.

The young werewolf growled, "You're cocky, huh? You are cocky because you know I can't do anything to you right now. Well, watch what happens after the party."

With that, she stomped out of Nora's room and banged the door close. It took Nora a whole lot of self-control to keep herself from bursting into laughter. She always enjoyed putting those nasty girls in their places, even though she knew the repercussions would be dire.

She chose not to worry about that now and even ignored Alex and Eve. She allowed herself to fall onto the small foam in her thin room and then exhale.

The past few days had been a total hell for her. Alex had used all forms of punishment to make her pray for death. With the visitors around she will be lurking in the shadows and avoid him completely.

"Ugh," she groaned. "I know the torment will continue when that ruthless Alpha Ryder and his warriors return to his pack."

She massaged her temples with her eyes shut, wishing that, by some miracle, something would happen and change her new fate. At least that way, she would retain her position as Luna and Ryder would forget what they had in the past. At the thought of alpha Ryder, a cool shiver snaked up her spine, causing her to sit upright immediately.

Why was the mere thought of him making her body react like that? She laughed grimly as she remembered his threats. He was not only rude and wicked, but also out of his mind. Why would a normal-thinking person believe or even threaten to take away the Luna of a pack?

It was hilarious, and if she hadn't been so pissed off at him and too tired of the day's chores, she would have laughed harder. Her ears picked up the sound of thundering footsteps heading toward the thin room and she jumped to her feet Immediately