6: LUNA…AGAIN?

Chapter 6: IRON-HIDE’S LUNA.

VANESSA’S POV

I stood there in utter shock as I watched Tristan lie with a smile so genuine, I could have believed him myself if I didn’t know the truth.

Luna?

His child?

What is he talking about? This man wouldn't even spare me a glance at the hospital room when the doctor was announcing my pregnancy, and here he was— lying to the elders of his pack, not minding the consequences.

"What are you talking about?" The pretty lady was the first to break through the silence that had followed Tristan’s words while the elders shared a confused look among themselves.

"Alpha, just a while ago, we were just talking about finding you a mate, and you didn't mention anything about having a mate or someone carrying your child. What is with this shocking news?" One of the elders asked.

"I understand that this is a little surprising, and this is honestly not how I planned to inform you all. To be fair, I didn't share the news earlier because I wasn't sure what your reaction was going to be." He paused for a while before he continued. "Meet Vanessa, my mate," he introduced me to them.

The elders ignored his introduction because they were more interested in finding out why he kept it a secret more than anything else.

"Why would you keep her a secret? Why are you afraid of our reaction? Do you have any idea how amazing this news is?”

"I didn't know how to tell you all about our relationship because she is from another pack but I can't hide her anymore— not when she is carrying my child," Tristan finished.

I stared at him, amused by how he could lie so smoothly without getting caught or leaving room for any kind of suspicion. What exactly was he thinking? Was this not the same man who told me he would take me back to wherever I’m from today?

"Babe, what are you doing here? I thought I warned you not to move around carelessly?" He scolded with a cute pout, trying to keep up with the pretense. My mouth was left ajar, as I struggled to form a proper word.

He tucked me closer to himself, encouraging me to play along, leaving me no choice but to put on a fake smile as well. I had no idea what he was doing but I played along.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your meeting, I just got bored of staying alone in the room and I missed you too. You were not even in the room when I woke up," I said with a pout.

The elders seemed to believe our little show as one of them spoke up. "Alpha, we will be taking our leave now, but find it in your time to schedule another meeting soon so we can discuss this new development.” One of the elders said and others nodded in agreement.

"I will send a message soon, have a great day." Tristan greeted the elders, as they headed out.

Is that how much trust those elders have in their Alpha? They didn't even question him or his intention and they looked like they were going to approve of anything he said right away even if it was a lie.

I pushed my thoughts aside at the sound of the pretty woman's voice once again. Seeing how Tristan had just introduced me as his mate, she can't be his Luna as I had assumed and it felt like I dodged a bullet there.

"What was that?" She frowned.

"What was what?" Tristan feigned ignorance, as he stared down at her coldly. His voice was just as cold and his grip around me tightened. I could sense the tension between them and it sure doesn’t feel good.

"Is this some sort of joke?" She asked but Tristan's expression remained the same.

“What part of it amuses you, Rhiannon?”

Rhiannon. Such a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.

“The part where you suddenly bring a random woman when I was just here yesterday. And you expect me to believe she is your mate?” Rhiannon’s eyes accessed me from head to toe and I squirmed under her gaze. It was clear that she didn’t like me even when she had only just met me and I would have given her a piece of my mind if I was sure of who she really was and where she stood.

One thing was certain though, she wasn’t just any woman to Tristan. Everything about her reminds me of Ellena, the woman Declan swore to love until his death.

"You heard what I said to the elders— she is my woman, and she is carrying my child. If you will excuse us, I will reach out to you later, so that we can talk." Tristan dismissed the woman politely.

She scoffed at Tristan's words before taking her leave. I doubt she believed what he just said but she left anyway. Whatever was between them was none of my business for now.

How can he drop that bombshell without even notifying me?

I turned to face him, only to find him looking at me already.

"The note you left behind says you are dropping me off. Why would you tell such a lie if today is going to be the last time they would be seeing me anyway?" I asked as I wondered what was going through his head when he told such a lie.

"Let's talk later, I need to be somewhere," he said without bothering to wait for my reply, as he took his leave, leaving me all alone in the hallway.

I found my way back into the lounge, where I sat patiently waiting for Tristan to come back as I thought of what next for me to do.

No matter how hard I think, I can't seem to find any solution. This changes everything. Heck, I was going to beg to stay in his pack but he seemed to have other ideas.

Hours went by and Tristan was yet to be back. I became impatient as I paced around the room. I don't even know what my fate is yet. What if he decided to drop me off where he found me as soon as he got back? How would I provide shelter for myself and my unborn child?

My thoughts were cut short by the sound of the bell. I ran to the door, hoping that Tristan would walk in and inform me that he pitied my situation and decided to allow me to stay.

The bell rang once again, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pushed the door open, only to see a bunch of people with different boxes in their hands. Before I knew it, the lounge was filled with baby items. Shoes of different sizes, clothes and packaged boxes filled with goddess knows what.

"Are you sure you are delivering this in the right house?" I asked one of the delivery men confused with what was happening.

"Yes ma'am, the Alpha requested that we send this to his home address," the delivery man answered leaving me in shock.

Just exactly what is this man planning? I looked over at the items that filled the room and shook my head— there was no how I would be able to afford this if he needed a refund.

"Have a good day, ma'am," the delivery man said as they took their leave.

I sat still as I tried to understand what was happening.

Minutes later, Tristan came in.

"Oh good, the items have been sent in already.” He said, as his eyes scanned the room filled with baby items.

"Can you please tell me what is going on? First, you announced that we are together and then you sent in all of these. I don’t know what this is about but I do not have any money to pay for all these.” I said, truthfully. I had not even a penny to my name because all I thought of was being a perfect wife and Luna to Declan.

"You don't have anywhere else to go, do you?" Tristan asked.

I hesitated, “Yes.”

"Seeing how you are not ready to talk about what happened to you or why you are homeless, I won't question it and I will allow you to stay here. In return, you will pretend to be my Luna and when you give birth to the baby growing in you, he will be mine," he proposed.

He was willing to take responsibility for the child that wasn't his? I couldn’t believe my ears.

"Why would you do that? You don't even know who I am.”

“Do you have a better option? Or you’d rather tell me who you are then?”

I couldn’t.

I was too embarrassed to talk about my past and how I had gotten rejected and casted out in the end.

“No.”

“Great, then what other options do you have aside from staying here and letting me take care of your child?” He asked.

"Why are you doing this?"

"You heard the elders — I need a Luna,"

That still doesn’t answer my question.

“What happened to finding your mate?”

His eyes seemed to darken for a second and I realized that I must have overstepped because Tristan looked offended by my question.

“Seems like you are not interested in my offer. Prepare yourself then, I shall return you to where I picked you up from.”

He turned to leave and I rushed to grab his arm and stop him.

“Wait, no! I’m sorry…I-I’m just so confused right now.”

“Listen, Vanessa. We both can help each other and get something out of it. You need a roof over your head and I need a Luna—at least, a pretend one. I will take care of your child like mine and in return, I won’t ask about your past.”

It sounded like a fair enough deal. I looked down at my stomach. My child deserved better after I had stupidly brought him into this world and this was my chance.

I slowly nodded.

“Okayy…let’s—let’s do it.”

"Good," Tristan muttered and he turned to leave.

“Wait, you’re just going to leave? What do you plan on telling your people?”

He just shrugged, “I will handle that.”

He was about to leave when he stopped.

“You might do well to cover that scar from now on.”

Scar? What scar?

It took a moment to understand what scar he was talking about. It was the scar on my neck, a result of Tristan’s mark leaving me. I touched it instinctively as I realized he’d known all along that I was once mated yet he chose not to say anything about it. He must mean it when he said he wouldn’t ask questions about where I’m from or who I was.

With that, he left me standing in the middle of the room.

Unconsciously, my hand settled on my flat stomach, my palm splaying over it. My child, my little baby will survive after all. With that also came the realization that I didn’t need Declan and I will do all it takes to right my wrongs of stupidly getting myself impregnated by giving my child everything.

It was time I let go of my past.

Of Declan.

Of the love I have for him.