: Luna

I broke the eye contact, searching the crowd for my sister again, but she wasn't in sight. I grabbed the skirts of my dress and turned around, trying to get to the door. I needed to leave. I needed to leave fast. Everyone stared, making way for me to move.

Right before I got to the door, I felt sparks shoot up from my wrist, making my knees weak. No. He spun me around, bringing me flush against his chest. His arm snaked around my waist. I looked up at him, my cheeks flushed.

"Let go of me," my voice was breathy. He smiled. Not that sweet smile a wolf gives its mate but the one a lion gives its prey. It was predatory.

“Natalia," his voice was deep, smooth as slick. It went straight to my core. "Your chin has healed."

It clicked. He was the one from yesterday, the wolf in the woods watching me like a creep.

"You're the creep."

His arm tightened around my waist. He glared at me, and I didn't back down, though my pulse stuttered under the weight of his hazel eyes. The atmosphere was tense, everyone watching with bated breath. He took his eyes off me, glancing above my head. It made me remember where we were and the people watching. Alpha Black cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

"It seems my son has found his mate," he wore a proud smile, his eyes landing on Cassian's arm around my waist. I tried to pull out of his hold, but he resisted. "Son, come on and announce your new Luna."

New Luna ? No.

“Behave," Cassian whispered in my ear before leading me to the centre, where his father stood. My heart raced, my wolf howling in joy. No. I didn’t want to be the Luna, I didn't want to be tied back to this pack, to him.

Cassian cleared his throat. I looked into the crowd, once again searching for my sister. This time, I found her. She had a big smile on her face, pride glistening in her eyes. What's there to be proud of ? Being mated to a delinquent bully ?

"You all know her, Natalia Crown. The daughter of the late Beta, Nico Crown." He spoke, his voice carrying authority. I felt a small pang at the mention of my father. I wish he were here; he'd stop this. I glanced at my mother. She looked proud. My heart tightened. My mother looked proud of me for the first time because I was mated to the alpha. The same man that bullied me. "The moon goddess has made her choice, and I will honour it."

I wanted to scoff. He turned to me then reached for my hand. I pulled back, but he grabbed it anyway, bringing it up to his lips. He planted a small kiss, maintaining eye contact. A show. I felt butterflies in my stomach, much to my dismay.

He faced the crowd once more, smiling coldly. He leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear as he spoke, “Smile."

It wasn't a request. I plastered on something close to a smile, though probably looked like a grimace. The crowd clapped politely, some individuals howling in approval. It all felt unreal, like I was watching my own nightmare.

Alpha Black stepped forward and raised his glass. "To Alpha Cassian and Luna Natalia. May their bond strengthen our pack and honour our past."

More claps, more smiles, more fakery.

Cassian turned to me again, his expression unreadable.

"You're shaking."

"I'm not," I lied.

"You always were a terrible liar," he murmured.

"I still hate you," I whispered back.

He smirked. "Good."

I could feel every eye in the room on us. Every whisper. Every fantasy forming in their heads about the reunion of Alpha and Beta bloodlines. About legacy. About power.

They didn't know the truth.

They didn't know I wanted to set this entire ballroom on fire, set him on fire.

"There's a lot we need to discuss," he said under his breath. "Don't make a scene."

I smiled sweetly and whispered back, " I’ll do what I like."

His grip tightened, challenging.

"Don't test me, Talia," he warned.

"Or ?"

Cassian's hazel eyes darkened, a flicker of something dangerous flashing across them. "Or I'll carry you out of this ballroom over my shoulder, Luna title or not," he said lowly, his voice smooth but coiled with threat. "And I won't care how many people are watching."

My heart slammed against my ribs.

I narrowed my eyes. "You wouldn't."

His lips curled. "Wouldn't I?"

For a split second, we just stood there, glaring at each other. I hated him. I hated this. But my traitorous wolf purred, basking in his presence.

"We'll talk later," he muttered before turning to address the crowd again, smiling like he hadn't just threatened to publicly manhandle me. I took a step back, watching him do his thing.

I came back here with the intention of attending the ball and leaving immediately now I stood at the centre as Luna, forever tied to the pack.

I hated him more.

: hate

The room was dark, a dim light casting a soft glow. The scent of sandalwood mixed with something else, something I couldn't place my finger on, filled the air. It was sweet and masculine, addictive.

“Natalia," Cassian spoke, his hard gaze fixed on me. "We can both agree this is an unfortunate situation."

I scoffed, glaring daggers at him.

"But like I said, I'll be honouring the moon goddess. So you have no choice but to comply." He continued.

"Is that what you called me here for? To state the obvious?" I folded my arms as if preparing for battle.

His jaw clenched. "I called you here to make something clear."

I tilted my head. “Go on, Alpha," I emphasised on the alpha, venom laced in my voice.

"I'm not asking for your love or forgiveness. All you have to do is stand by my side, united."

I scoffed again and turned my back to him, heading for the door.

"Yeah, whatever," I opened the door and in a flash, he shut it before I got the chance to step out. I gasped in surprise. His front was flush against my back, I could feel the hard planes of his chest pressing against me, sparks flying everywhere.

"Where do you think you're going?" His voice was a raspy whisper, sending chills down my spine. My heart rate increased. I hated this proximity, hated the things it did to my body. "I haven't excused you. Yet."

His breath fanned against my hot skin.

"Get away from me," I demanded weakly, frustrated by how breathy it sounded.

Cassian didn't move. If anything, he leaned in closer, his body heat wrapping around me like a net I couldn't untangle myself from. His scent engulfed me, driving me mad with anger and something else, something I refused to admit to myself.

"I think we both know you don't mean that," he murmured against the shell of my ear, his voice thick, low, confident.

I swallowed hard, my fingers twitching at my sides. "You're wrong," I whispered, though the conviction I meant to lace into those words faltered. My body was failing me and he knew it.

His nose brushed lightly against my neck. I shivered. Damn him. "Am I?" he asked.

I spun around so fast we were almost nose to nose. "Yes," I snapped, forcing the tremble from my lips. "You are. I hate you, Cassian. I've hated you since you made high school a warzone for me. You think one look, one bond, one title is going to change that?" I leaned on the door, staring at him, hatred blazing in my eyes.

"I don't expect you to forgive me, matter of fact, I don’t care if you do. But don't stand here and lie to yourself, don’t try to deny it, this attraction between us,” I stared at him, breath shallow, throat dry. Every nerve in my body screamed to move, to push him away, to run. But I didn't. I couldn't.

Because damn it, he was right.

The mate bond pulsed like a second heartbeat. Even now, with all the history between us, all the bitterness, I felt the invisible string tying me to him pull tighter.

"I hate you," I repeated, barely above a whisper.

"I know," he said.

And then, the bastard smiled. Just a little.

“It doesn’t matter. All you have to do is be a good little Luna, a Luna the pack would love. A Luna my father would love.”

“So that’s it then. I’m just a political trophy, a little thing to hang on your arm and smile sweetly,”

He held my gaze

“Exactly,” his eyes lowered to my lips “you’re a smart girl,” his tone was condescending.

I shoved him hard in the chest, and this time he let me go. He stepped back, hands raised in mock surrender, but his eyes never left mine.

"I’m not an object,” I snapped. “I'm not your puppet. I won’t be your trophy wife,”

“Who said anything about a wife?” he quirked up a brow. Anger blazed beneath my skin.

“You know what I mean !”

“Don’t get so riled up.” He reprimanded, his eyes dancing with amusement “I do know what you mean, Talia. Don’t get ahead of yourself. I crowned you the Luna doesn’t mean we’re married. You’re not my wife,”

“And I don’t want to be !” My frustration was evident in my voice. “I don’t want to be your wife or Luna. I h…”

“I hate you,” he interrupted, folding his arms. “You’ve repeated that line over a thousand times this night. It’s getting old.”

I stared at him in disbelief, frustration and anger right beneath my skin, making me feel like I was going to explode. I opened my mouth and shut it, unable to come up with something. I scoffed and stormed out of the room, shutting the door loudly.

I hated him. I hated him so much.

: clout

I woke up with a groan. My eyes felt heavy and my body ached. The ball last night had weighed me down more than expected.

"What a terrible nightmare," I chuckled to myself, remembering the events that transpired. “Imagine being mated to..." The words dried down on my tongue when I spotted the green ball dress I'd worn the night before. It, in fact, wasn't a nightmare; I was really mated to Cassian. I laid down on my back, staring up at the ceiling. Cassian.

"Talia?" My sister's voice called out from outside the room. I ignored her, hoping she'd go away. "I know you're up."

I shut my eyes and turned to my side, the moment she twisted the door knob. I heard footsteps and then, blinding lights. She opened the curtains, the morning sun spilling in like poison, hurting my eyes. I groaned. She took the covers off me.

"Come onnnn," she grabbed my shoulders, dragging me up to a sitting position while I grumbled underneath my breath. “It’s the day after your official Luna coronation."

"There's no such thing as a Luna coronation," I countered, finally sitting up. She settled beside me, her eyes wide with mirth.

“Well, you know what I mean."

Why was she always so cheerful ? Tasha and I were twins, but we were what you'd call polar opposites. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, taking after our father, while I had ginger hair and green eyes, like our serpent of a mother. She was cheerful and social, while I was the gloomy outcast.

"I saw an announcement on I*******m," she continued. “There’s going to be another ball where you'd be announced as Cass... Alpha Cassian’s," she corrected herself, "partner."

"What ?"

"Yep. The ball last night was strictly for pack members. Now he has to be officially announced to the world as the new CEO and you his bride."

"I'm not his bride," I corrected.

“Sure," she rolled her eyes, picking up her phone.

I forgot about that. The humans were oblivious to the world of wolves so it's only natural that they announce me as a bride. In other words, another party is going to be held and I'll have to be around him again, smiling. I sighed, dreading the thought.

"Now that you're the Luna, we'll need to prepare you f..."

The doorbell went off, interrupting her. We exchanged a confused look. Our mother wasn't home, she worked at the pack hospital. We weren't expecting any guests so who could be at the door ?

"I'll go get it" Tasha offered. I nodded, following after her to see who it was. The door opened to reveal Amanda, a girl from my childhood.

"Hiii" she brushed past Tasha, barging into the house and throwing her arms around me" I frowned at Tasha in confusion. She shrugged.

"Talia" she pulled back, holding my hands tightly. "It's so nice to see you again"

"Um ... sure" I eyed her cautiously.

Amanda. I didn't particularly like her or dislike her. She was just a girl in the background, a girl I never spoke to. It was a surprise she was here, hugging me and acting like we were old friends.

"Luna"

I looked behind Amanda and noticed an elderly woman bowing, a fruit basket in one hand.

It clicked. Amanda was here for clout. I pulled my hands away, taking a step back. I pinned her with a hard stare.

"Amanda" my voice was cold, disappointment evident in my eyes "what are you doing here?"

"I came to pay my respects Talia, and to welcome you back" she smiled.

"Luna" I corrected "you've paid your respect, you can leave now"

She looked shocked, her mouth opening and closing. She averted her gaze to the ground, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. She turned around and stormed off, the elderly woman following behind her but not before dropping the fruit basket at the entrance. Tasha shut the door behind them, her eyes wide with amusement.

"That wasn't so nice" she reprimanded, picking up the fruit basket.

"She deserved it" I followed her to the kitchen where she set the basket on the counter.

"You're the Luna now. You need to learn how to handle things politically"

"I don't want to handle things politically." I sighed "I don't want to deal with them." I casted my gaze to the ground "I just want to go home"

"You are home"

I shook my head, playing with my fingers. I felt my eyes sting with tears.

"This isn't home"

"Then where is home?"

I said nothing. I didn't have an answer for her. I couldn't say America was my home. I went there for college and that's it. I didn't make any real connections in the four years I spent there. I couldn't consider here, Italy my home either. It held too many bad memories.

So where was home ?

The door bell rang. Tasha and I froze.

"If that's Amanda again…”

The door bell went off again. I stormed out of the kitchen, heading towards the front door, angered by the intrusion. The door bell went off again. I opened it, glaring daggers at the figure I didn’t expect to see.

Cassian.

Of course. Because hell couldn't let me breathe for a full hour.