#Chapter 3

I was dumbstruck for more than a minute after hearing Dimitri's words. Tears dropped down my chin as the pain ate deep into me.

Slowly, I walked towards the balcony, trying to see what was wrong with Vanessa.

I wasn't a person to wish evil on another, but right now, I had this nagging desire that Vanessa would lose her baby. It was wrong, but I just couldn't help it.

I saw Dimitri holding Vanessa close to his arms while healers worked around her, finding the best aid to keep her alive until they got to the hospital.

At one point, Dimitri couldn't take it anymore. “Out of my way, all of you!” he thundered and scooped Vanessa up on his arms.

My wolf screamed inside me and I let out a loud cry as I saw my Mate getting so entangled with another woman.

My scream attracted the hall as they saw me running down the stairs, trying to hold my long gown from getting between my legs.

I was crying and begging. My wolf was in shambles, jealousy tearing her apart. I was so close to rejecting Dimitri as my mate, for the pain was too much to bear.

Then I slipped on my dress.

The world flashed before my eyes as I came tumbling down the stairs.

“Mate!” I cried subconsciously, calling him to my rescue.

But none was forthcoming. I crashed to the floor and into one of the tables. Glasses of wine and plates of meals fell on me, giving me so many cuts.

I lay there in pain, my face covered in tears and my body in bruises.

There was a tense moment in the crowd as no one dared come to my aid when the Alpha was still in the vicinity. No one was allowed to touch me when Dimitri was around.

I saw him still standing at the door, Vanessa draped in his strong arms.

Three guards and healers ran up to him, asking to take Vanessa to the hospital themselves.

To my greatest surprise, Dimitri refused to let her go.

“Kaida is strong,” he said dismissively, “and can take care of herself. Vanessa isn't. Don't forget that dinner, Kaida!”

With that, he carried Vanessa out, leaving me lying in the mess of food, wine and bruises. I sobbed harder, unable to believe this was real.

After years of fighting to get pregnant for the Alpha, years of drinking thousands of herbal tablets from various healers, getting injected with bitter drugs— and this was how Dimitri chose to repay me. By going after another woman only because she was a few months pregnant for him.

My sobs filled the hall, rising among the murmurs around. No one was still willing to help me up. And it wasn't because of Dimitri. I remembered his words earlier, how the entire pack hated me for being barren.

I forced myself up but staggered backwards. I was caught by a pair of strong arms. A strange but intoxicating scent filled my nose.

I turned to see a masked man, his hair long and silky. He got me to a chair and began to silently pluck out the shards of glass and food on me.

His movements were quick and caring. But his eyes were wounded. He was furious at my Pack.

The hall stood back, watching this scenario, wondering who he was and how he'd entered into the hall. It was very clear from his scent and build that he wasn't part of the Pack.

Dimitri's guards approached him. “And who the hell do you think you are to—”

When they saw his eyes, their words instantly ceased.

They bowed their heads immediately, about to mention his identity. He tried to stop them but it was too late.

“You're most welcome, Alpha Axel Steele of Redhill Pack.”

The rival pack! My security senses heightened. Even though there'd been a peace treaty among our pack and theirs, I still felt uneasy whenever Axel was mentioned. I hadn't seen his face for the first time, either.

Shrouded in mystery, he was considered untouchable. And fearless.

I knew Dimitri would have somehow sensed Axel's presence, but because he was with Vanessa, he wouldn't turn back and see to the safety of his pack.

“Why did no one help her up?” he asked about me, his masked face darting around.

Russ walked back to the hall and froze when he saw Axel.

“How did you get in here, Axel?” he asked, taking slow steps towards us.

The clash of these formidable men was quite dangerous. If the Alpha was here, it'd have been softer, for he knew the importance of peace amongst Packs.

But Russ just didn't care.

It turned out, however, that Axel hadn't come to make trouble.

He turned to me and I was bothered that I couldn't see his eyes. “She called me,” he said, answering Russ’s question.

The murmurs from the crowd reached a crescendo.

“Silence!” Russ barked, his fangs shooting out for a second.

He faced Axel. “She called you? Do you even hear yourself? The Luna to Alpha Dimitri called you?” he snarled, then frowned. “Return whence you came, sire, before Dimitri hears this nonsense ever happened.”

After a full waiting minute, Axel decided to let it slide. It wasn't his territory, after all. He took one last glance at me and told the chief healer to make sure I was safe.

He left the packhouse.

All of this was so unreal to be true. How had he come? And what did he mean by I'd called him?

The only call I'd made was when I shouted “Mate!”

#Chapter 4

Kaida's POV

When Dimitri returned to the pack, it was almost evening the next dau. And he was alone. For a moment, I held my breath, unfriendly thoughts rolling out of my head.

What if something had happened to her?

"Where's she?" I asked Dimitri as he brushed past me.

He didn't even notice I had bandages over my head and hands.

Seeing the man I'd invested many years of my life loving and caring for, being obsessed with another woman, made me want to tear out my hair.

"She's where you can't reach her yet, Kaida," he said in a low, accusing voice.

"And what do you mean by that, alpha?"

"Did you make dinner? I'd be disappointed if you spent all your free time roaming the town."

He reached the window and turned around. It was then that his eyes fell on the bandages.

He tilted his head to the side, his eyes squeezed.

"Is this some ploy to get pity from me?" he said, and I felt like I'd been slapped.

He was still speaking. "Kaida, a lot of things don't look good on you. Pretense is one of them. This is so stupid."

"You heard me fall from the stairs, didn't you?" I interrupted him, my voice rising immediately. "You saw me crash into the table full of plates of foods and drinks."

"I didn't." His tone was flat, and I knew he probably wasn't lying. He'd been so overwhelmed by Vanessa's "plight" that he didn't see me fall.

But that was stupid.

I decided not to push. Talking to Dimitri these days wore me out. His voice reminded me of my incapabilities. His eyes reflected how he was only putting up with me.

"You didn't make the soup I told you to, did you?" he asked again.

I ignored him and walked to the kitchen to tend to the pot of broth I was cooking. Even with the wounds, I'd forced myself to make dinner.

As I stirred the pot, I felt him behind me. His groin pressed into my ass and he held my waist. His nose brushed my neck. I tightened the muscles of my body.

"My mark's still here, Kaida," he whispered, slowly rubbing himself behind me.

I remembered that glorious night years ago when Alpha Dimitri was all I could think of. When he'd pinned me to the wall and kissed me like crazy. Then he'd gently dug his teeth into the skin of my neck, marking me his mate. I'd gasped for air as his hands roamed around me, causing sparks to travel through my body.

But now, I resisted feeling that way again.

He ran a finger across the scar. "No one shall have you," he said. "Your inability to bear a child has hampered your beauty to a great extent."

I pushed myself away from him, my face set in warning.

No one can have me?

I then remembered Axel's response. About being called by me. How could the Alpha of another pack, miles away, have heard me?

I saw Dimitri's eyes on me and knew he was trying to split through to get to my thoughts.

I pushed a glass cup to the floor, so that the crash would infuriate and dismiss Dimitri.

But he caught it before it left the counter.

"Stop acting stupidly, Kaida," he snapped. "A proper Luna is known by nobility."

I still didn't say a word. “A proper Luna” was a really suggestive phrase to use.

"Be at the Orchid Restaurant by seven," he said. "Dress in your best."

"I can't come. I'm wounded from the fall. One you claimed not to have seen."

He responded quickly. "A Luna who values her comfort more than her Alpha's command. That says a lot."

He left without another word.

I stared at the door and gripped the edge of the counter. Was this how low-key ruthless Dimitri was going to be to me? All because of a Breeder? A Breeder whose identity was vague!

Then a question came creeping into my head: Where was she? Why hadn't he returned with Dimitri?

The fact that I'd unwittingly connected her face with the murder of my father made me want to know where she was all the time.

It was all still speculation, but the gut feeling was stronger than my doubts.

Vanessa might be a Breeder out to take my place as Luna, but that seemed to be just the first layer of her mission fold. Vanessa, the sweet voiced girl with large tits, could be a terror waiting to unfold in the pack. It was terrifying that no one else was seeing it.

I had to watch her. But this would mean I'd surrender my heart on a butcher's table, to take anything Dimitri and his Breeder threw at me. I was going to be battered emotionally and drained to my limit.

But if this was the price I'd pay for the pack, I'd do it.

With this fierce thought, I decided to prepare for the dinner.

***

When it was some minutes before the scheduled time, I called Dimitri's phone.

"I'm ready," I said, expecting a ride or him assigning a chauffeur to bring me.

"Then come,” he said as though amused. Then the call went dead in my ear.

Was this some kind of cruel joke?

He called back again and I was relieved.

“Dimitri,” I said.

"Yeah, Kaida, don't take any of my cars,” he said. “No car should leave the compound because of you. Take a cab instead."

Beep.

#Chapter 5

Kaida's POV

When I walked out to the mansion premise, I looked around at the fleet of cars littered everywhere. The least car there was a Rolls-Royce.

So, I, even as the Luna of the pack, wasn't worth to be brought to a restaurant in a Rolls-Royce?

My wolf begged me to stay back, to flout Dimitri's invite.

‘He will keep disrespecting us if we continue being his lickspittle,’ she screamed in my head.

I shook my head and whispered, “Stay calm, Kaida. I know it'll hurt, but I need to try one more time. Maybe our Mate will return to his senses.”

I didn't wait to think that Vanessa was a descendant of the Witch Lineage, the ancient enemy of werewolves. They were masters of disguise and deception.

She could have posed as a Breeder just to…

Wait a minute.

“Something just occured to me,” I mumbled under my breath as I took the long walk towards the gates. “If Vanessa was really a wolf, then she can transform, can't she?”

My wolf considered this, but was now curious where I was taking this too.

‘How do you plan on exposing her, if that is true?’ asked Kaida.

Leave that to me, I thought as I flagged down a cab. But I heard a voice behind me.

“Go ahead, you, I'll take it from here.”

The cab left and I turned to see Russ in his car. I frowned.

“What do you want?” I asked him.

He paused. “Are we at any loggerheads, ma'am? I just want to help.”

His voice was unnaturally kind and it sent wary signals down my spine. Russ was never this soft-spoken.

“Help me do what?”

“Hop in, I gotta drop you off.”

I wanted to decline, but evening was coming fast and it was quite rare to catch a cab close to the royal estate. So I obliged.

He was silent half the drive. But I could see a small smile on his lips. Almost mischievous.

“Don't act surprised. My duty is to protect you too. Especially when the alpha is… rather preoccupied,” he said, throwing me a glance.

I clutched my purse. “Okay. Thanks.”

We arrived at the Restaurant. “Wanna hear one more secret?” he asked before I could come down.

I waited.

“If you ever need company of any sort, Kaida, you have my phone number.”

His wink was so subtle it was absent. I left his car shaken. What was this? Why this strange care and suggestive offers?

At the front of the restaurant were six cars, all of Dimitri's. Why had he come with too many cars?

I took a deep breath and stepped into the dim-lit, exotic restaurant. I couldn't remember the last time Dimitri brought me to a restaurant. I wondered why he did now.

M

When I was received by a porter and saw Dimitri's table, I immediately got my answer.

Seated robustly with almost all her breasts out her dress was Vanessa. Hale and hearty. She was covered in dazzling makeup and jewellery. This appearance hinted to my suspicion.

Dimitri's hand was on her stomach, caressing it through her dress. She was leaning back, giggling and enjoying this attention. He had a hard time getting his hand off when he saw me.

“Luna,” Dimitri greeted, briefly standing for formality, but it was obvious it lacked warmth.

“Alpha,” I replied curtly, barely registering his deceptive face.

My eyes glanced at Vanessa, who rolled her eyes and smirked. She didn't stand to greet me—of course not. Since she was carrying the Alpha's child, why would a breeder bother with respect?

"Vanessa," I acknowledged her not because she deserved it, but courtesy had been ingrained in me. Also, I didn't want her to suspect anything. If I'd succeed to expose her identity, I needed her to feel comfortable with me.

It was then that she turned on a cruelly fake smile at me. "Oh, Luna Kaida, I’m glad you could join us. Dimitri said it would be good for us to spend more time together—for the baby’s sake. Also wanted to let you see that I am well. I survived that attack.”

The accusation was too raw to be hidden. I looked at Dimitri as he pretended to be speaking with the wairess. I also noticed she'd called him by his first name, flinging the alpha title out the window. That must have come from a high level of closeness and lenience.

Vanessa kept that smile on her face. I curled my toes, trying to hold myself from screaming at her.

“How wise of you both," I replied.

For a moment, we went silent when the waiter came and took our orders. But Vanessa, ever the performer, didn't allow a moment of quiet. She kept chattering and throwing bluff around, something a “proper Luna” should do.

“I must say, this pregnancy has been such a blessing to me and the entire pack. They are all supportive, and Dimitri... Well, he's been incredible. Haven't you, Alpha?"

I watched Dimitri's face light up with admiration. Everything about Vanessa awed him. I couldn't remember when last I awed him. Even when he had sex with me, it was wholly to satisfy his ravenous libido. He rarely kissed me. His idea was, of what use was having sex with me anymore?

“The baby is the future of our pack,” he said, livid. “It’s only right that I’m there for you and the child. If this is what I live for, I'll be quite fulfiled.”

My wolf growled in my head, urging me to snap, but I kept my composure.

“Yes, you've gone out of your way, Dimitri,” I said, then I snapped out of my self control. “Vanessa, no matter how much of an importance you think you have, don't forget you've got a vague identity. You were adopted into the Pack.”

My voice was kept leveled, but the words bore deep.

Vanessa’s eyes widened with frustration; the corners of her mouth twitched, but she recovered quickly.

“Of course, Luna. I’m just doing my part, ensuring the future of the Pack. Even though, I don't know what brought about this now.” She giggled uneasily. “After all, the baby’s health is the most important. I’m sure Dimitri agrees.”

Before I could retort, Dimitri interrupted, “She’s right, Kaida. The child comes first, above every other thing.”

His words stung, but I folded my hands on the table to keep them from trembling. Was that why he didn't let me take any of the cars? While he had brought Vanessa in a convoy.

When the wairess arrived with the orders, Dimitri asked if I was enjoying the evening.

“Naturally,” I said with a tight smile.

Vanessa, brazened by Dimitri’s support, leaned forward, and her eyes locked with mine.

“Speaking of health, it’s been amazing how smooth this pregnancy has been. I suppose it’s because Dimitri’s been so involved. But you know, Luna, a mother’s bond with her child starts in the womb. It’s all about who’s closest to the baby. I'm sure you know about that.”

It was a jab and an insult, but I refused to take the bait.

“Well, Vanessa, you should enjoy it while you can. Being pregnant is one thing; being a Luna is entirely different. You’ll never understand its weight."

Her smile dampened. She clutched her belly. “At least I understand one thing you couldn't and can't.”

Wow. I sat there, our eyes locked. Dimitri was speaking with an Elder who happened to own the restaurant.

“Tell me, Vanessa, who are your parents?” I was all in now. This wasn't the plan, but a pre-plan, to set the pace.

I stared at the strange pendant on her neck and wondered why she'd always had it. It wasn't a medieval world, but a lot of things could happend in the werewolf world. Dark magic was real and existed.

The hell, I couldn't just feel right about this so-called Breeder! I wanted to save myself, the Alpha and the whole pack from her. Why wasn't anyone seeing this?

I was battling with a lot of things, and I just needed a tiny wave of support from my Mate. But Dimitri was hell bent on Vanessa's worship.

Vanessa jolted from my words and I felt her touch Dimitri under the table.

Dimitri’s attention was turned back to us. “That’s enough, Kaida," he snapped firmly.

“There’s no need to undermine Vanessa. She’s carrying our heir, something you..."

He stopped, but the damage was done. My heart tore apart. I knew just exactly what he wanted to say.

“Go on, Dimitri. Finish what you were saying."

He looked away and guilt fell on his face, but he turned to Vanessa.

“This dinner is supposed to be a celebration,” Dimitri said, picking a glass of champagne. “Let's not ruin it.”

“Celebration?” I chuckled.

“If that’s what this is, then by all means raise your glasses. But don’t expect me to toast to betrayal.”

Vanessa gasped, and her hand went flying to her chest like I’d slapped her.

“Luna, I don't think it's fair. I didn't mean to..."

“Is it?” I cut her off.

“You’ve done nothing but insert yourself where you don’t belong. And Dimitri, you’ve let her.”

Vanessa’s doe-eyed innocence disappeared, replaced by a steely glare.

“I belong exactly where the Alpha needs me."

“And where the Alpha allows you,” I snapped.

Dimitri slammed the table, startling the other customers, who didn't dare complain.

“Enough, both of you!” His jaw was tight, eyes burning with anger as he turned to me.

“Kaida, this isn’t just about you. This is about the pack. And if you can’t put your pride aside for the sake of Greyhounds, then maybe you’re the one who doesn’t belong here.”

It was like an explosion in my head. A physical pain. You signed up for his, I heard Kaida whisper.

But I refused to satisfy them by showing my pain. Instead, I stood and calmly smoothed my dress.

“Thank you for clarifying, Alpha,” I said with a cold, low voice. “You brought me here to spite me, right? Enjoy your dinner.”

I walked out with my shoulders held high despite the tears threatening to fall. It was blowing cold when I got outside; the burning inside me wasn't abated.

Then I heard footsteps behind me. I turned, expecting Dimitri, but it was Vanessa.

“Running away like a coward you are, Luna?”

“What did you say?” Suddenly the pain my father had felt as the disguised wolf cut through his throat, returned to me.

Face to face with Vanessa, I was delighted. She had fallen right into my trap.