Chapter 020

I mean, it made so much sense now, seeing the type of person she was normally. But finding out that she and my stepmother had once again forsaken proper tradition for their selfish interest had me stumped. Knowing Diane, she'd most likely used a very convincing method to rope the Alpha in, and I almost felt sorry for him.

I was also very angry considering the fact that it was my mate who'd been roped into such a thing.

“That dress looked terrible on you, by the way,” she suddenly said, and I was pulled out of my reverie. I almost thought I hadn't heard her properly.

“...what?”

She smiled up at me, looking so innocent that one would not believe it was venom dripping from her words. “That thing I said outside about the dress being lovely on you was a lie. I just didn't want him to think his offer to pay was not appreciated.”

I stared at her in disbelief, my initial thoughts now shoved to the back of my mind. “You could have just told me. I'd have returned it instead of-”

“Bad as it looked on you, you need a dress to my wedding, and it managed to fit your eyes.” She shrugged. “That's why I let it slide.”

I almost gaped at her.

“Besides, you're not the star of the wedding. I am. So you won't matter.” As she said that, she stood and gestured to her bags. “Help me with these, sister dearest.”

So you won't matter.

I blinked back the tears that were beginning to form and picked the bags, following her to her room. She was right. It was always going to be this way. She would be the star of the show, and I'd be the one switching the lights on and off.

She deserved the position of Luna, not me. She would be far better by his side.

From past experience, I mechanically helped her to arrange the bags into the appropriate areas of her room, feeling smaller and smaller.

“After the Alpha and I get married, I'd convince the Beta to go out on dates with you,” she giggled.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

Not only had she once again made me feel like a slave, but finding out that the Alpha could have been…could have been mine just changed things for me.

“No,” I ground out. “It's not necessary.”

Then I turned on my heels and left her room, not wanting her to see the tears that now filled my eyes and were beginning to fall.

Later that evening, Diane had still not returned, and my wolf stirred again. But I didn't do anything about it since I just believed it was becoming active again.

However, about three days after that, I heard her whimper and say she needed a run.

I didn't waste any time. I got up from my bed, put on light clothes, and left the house. I hadn't even entered the thick of the woods before I shifted. The air was cool, and the scent of musk wafted into my nostrils from every side.

I almost cried from the joy that filled my heart at the fact that I was racing through the forest, wild and free.

I missed this. I missed it so much.

My wolf responded kindly to my emotion before preparing to howl, and I gladly indulged her in the action, even laughing when she flopped on the floor and started rolling around like a dog.

I was still laughing when a twig snapped a few meters away.

♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎

Roman POV:

Julian's eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as he looked over the document Jacob had brought in. We had been talking about our plans for the supposed bachelors’ party (I didn't think it was necessary, but Julian insisted it was) when he walked in, a serious expression on his face.

With every line he read, the expression on my best friend's face seemed to be getting dimmer and dimmer. “You've got to be shitting me.”

“What does it say?” I asked.

“That they still want your head.” He swore and moved it aside. “The bounty reward has been doubled.”

Jacob's face was grim. “We would have to restrict your movements outside the compound, Alpha.”

I chuckled. “Restrict my movements? That sounds ridiculous, Jacob.”

“He's right.” Julian was still frowning. “What if we were just lucky today? What if someone was trailing us on our way back to the pack house?”

“I checked,” I said darkly. “I'm not a fool, Julian.”

“Never said that. But Jake here is right. We can't let you go outside regularly anymore.”

“What about the people?” I asked with a frown.

“They've all been banned from going for runs or adventures. Unless the guards are sleeping, or the person knows the holes in the security, there's no way anyone can come in or go out. This was effected less than thirty minutes ago when we saw the poster.”

Julian glanced at him. “You should have told us first.”

Jacob’s voice was unwavering as he replied. “It is late, Beta Julian, and this is the time people crave runs the most. I had to act in my capacity as the Gamma.”

I nodded. “That's really efficient of you. Thank you, Jake.”

“It's an honor, Alpha.”

Julian groaned, gaining our attention. “This is getting worse by the minute.”

I didn't respond to my best friend's remark immediately. “We need more time to strategize.” Exhausted, I placed my head in my hands and sighed.

He gave me a concerned look. “You good?”

“I have a bounty on my head.” I glared at him. “How do you think I feel?”

“Honestly, you could be feeling flattered.”

Jacob snorted.

I shook my head at him, and the three of us remained in silence for a while before my wolf stirred and began to whimper.

Very odd.

“What's wrong?” Julian asked, his eyes alert. He must have noticed my frown.

“My wolf,” I responded. “It's trying to tell me something-”

“Alpha!” a guard suddenly screamed through the mindlink. I recognized him as one of the men that usually manned the front gate of the compound.

“Erik. What's going on?”

“Rogues…gah!”

The mind link went dead, and I jumped to my feet immediately, racing out the door and my ears ringing with the message I'd just received. I wasn't even completely aware of Julian and Jacob's presence behind me.

I couldn't be late.

The guards were losing terribly by the time we arrived, and my two subordinates immediately took charge of the situation while I surveyed the area, trying to find any rogue that might be sneaking in.

I was about to join them in their fight when I heard a groan a short distance from where the fight was happening. My wolf whimpered again.