Open love

10 AM

ALINA'S POV

I screamed loudly as I woke up from the horrible dream I had. It was gruesome, yet painfully real.

Clutching my chest, questions flooded my mind. Do I really want to begin a journey with someone like him? Someone so cruel?

The dream left chills crawling down my spine. But even worse—it gave me a strange feeling about him. He isn’t what he seems. He’s hiding something.

Then I noticed it—the reason I woke up. My clothes were drenched in water.

“What…is happening?”

I was still confused when I heard a voice.

“Quickly… change the sheets now!” a woman said as she stepped out of the bathroom.

She was dressed in a black suit. Her brown hair fell in soft waves over her shoulder, and her face looked gentle—kind, even.

But I reminded myself not to be quick to trust. It backfired once with Reti.

“Oh… hi. You woke up. I was gentle with the water…” she said softly—too softly.

I looked her up and down, still convinced this was some strange dream. How could anyone be kind to me now?

“I can’t believe I got woken up like that!” I muttered and tried to go back to sleep.

But as soon as my back touched the bed, her tone sharpened. “I wouldn’t try that if I were you. Alpha Noxi gave strict instructions to get you up at precisely 8 a.m.”

So it wasn’t a dream.

“What happened yesterday? One minute I was with Noxi…”

The moment I said his name, she whistled sharply.

“You should correct that statement,” she warned.

I scoffed. “What? He’s not even here!”

“Respect is due to his name whether or not he's nearby. Now get up so I can do my job.”

Her response made my eyes twitch, but I obeyed. Maybe she was a maid, and I didn’t want her getting punished because of me.

“Okay… but do you know what happened yesterday?” I asked as I walked toward her.

She smiled, folding her hands behind her back. “All I know is you tried to make the same mistakes twice. His exact words were: ‘The little one doesn’t learn.’”

I didn’t know what she meant, but I turned away and headed to the bathroom.

When I came out, a short black dress was waiting for me. She gestured for me to wear it, her eyes not even bothering to look away as I dropped my towel.

*****

THE HALLWAY

I was now on what felt like the hundredth hallway the woman had led me through. I guessed her job was to introduce me to every part of this giant mansion. Makes sense, I was supposed to be Luna.

Eventually, we stopped in front of a room. She gestured for the guards and maids to stay behind, then opened the door.

The room had a massive glass window overlooking the compound—it was breathtaking.

I walked to the window, admiring the view… until my smile faded.

There he was—Alpha Noxi—riding a horse as if he were some noble hero. The nerve. The goddess only knows what he really wants from me. But I’m not a puppet. It takes two to tango.

That asshole!!

A table was pushed beside me, and on it was a tray with an apple and a knife.

“He looks so innocent, doesn’t he?” the woman said quietly behind me.

“No. He doesn’t. I don’t trust him. I don’t even know what he wants with me, and I hate the feeling… He feels so... off.”

She tilted her head. “So do you.”

“Huh?” I turned to her.

“Nothing. Have a bite of the apple!” she said, almost too sweetly. My eyes dropped to the tray.

I reached for the knife, but she grabbed it first—then pierced it hard into the apple.

I flinched.

“Let me tell you something…” Her eyes sharpened. “I don’t trust you one bit. I don’t know where he found his ‘hidden mate’ in the space of two days, but I swear—I will slice through every lie the same way I cut this apple.”

Her voice made my skin crawl. No one is ever this nice to me without reason. I knew it!!

Then she raised the knife to my neck.

“You better not lie to me. Lies have consequences. He says you’re from the Golden Moon Pack… but I smell hatred in your blood.”

“ How could she smell hatred? “ I thought. “ Is that even possible? Am I missing something?”

“Bitch… you don’t wanna mess with me,” she hissed, then shoved the knife back into the apple.

“Could you please stop that?” I asked quietly, shutting my eyes.

When I opened them, I saw her reflection in the glass. Her grin stretched wider.

“I will. But I hope you’re ready for the mating show in an hour. We didn't talk!!”

*****

My footsteps echoed loudly as I approached Noxi. He was deep in conversation with another man.

He didn’t even glance at me.

“Ahem!” I coughed, fake and exaggerated. Still no response.

Okay… Plan B.

I walked over to one of the horses, patted its side, and hoisted myself up—but before I could sit fully, a strong hand yanked me down.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he snapped.

I pulled my hand from his and shoved him. “That’s what I should be asking you. A mating ritual? Are you kidding me?!”

He smirked. “What? You're scared of what I’d do to you, huh?”

“You’re disgusting! I wish those dirty thoughts of yours could replace the brain cells you clearly lost. A mating ritual? I—”

“Ohhh… so you want it now?” he interrupted. “We’ll have it.”

“What?”

Before I could respond, he picked me up. His arms were strong—annoyingly strong.

He carried me to a space that didn’t look anything like a mating place.

Everyone was there.

At the top of the stairs stood two royal figures—heads high, unmoving, proud.

“What is all this?” I asked, but Noxi didn’t answer.

My gaze found that same woman from earlier. She drew a line across her neck with her finger—“Kill.”

“This is the mating room!” someone announced.

I froze. “A mating room?”

“Yes. In my pack, we mate in this royal tent, in front of everyone. That’s how it’s done!” He said grinning.

What is going on? A mating room is in front of everyone???

My heart dropped as I saw his hands reach for my gown, starting to unbutton it.

No. This couldn’t be happening.

Please, goddess—let this be another dream. Because how could I possibly… mate with him… in the open?

Is this really happening?Do I deserve this?