Chapter 23
Luna Aquamarine’s POV
D
About fifteen minutes had passed. I heard heavy footsteps coming to the chamber door.
The sound was clear. Alexander had a strong walk. It got attention even through thick walls.
Aaron spoke through the door. His voice was respectful but alert. “Primus Alexander.”
“You may go,” Alexander said back. His tone was short and bossy.
The door opened with a soft creak. Alexander stepped inside. His presence filled the room right away. It made the big chamber feel smaller. His once perfectly styled hair was a bit messy. There was stress on his shoulders. It had not been there before the fight.
“Katherine, Juliet,” he said right away. His eyes found mine across the room. “Leave us.”
Katherine stopped for a moment. Her protective feelings were fighting with her emotions. She wanted to make sure I was fine. “Primus Alexander, are you sure you want us to leave?”
Now.” The single word carried enough power.
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Katherine squeezed my shoulder gently. She stood by me. “We will be just outside if you need anything, Aqua,” she whispered. I doubted Alexander missed a word though.
Juliet followed. She gave me a look first. It seemed to say be careful. The door closed behind them with a soft click, It echoed in the sudden quiet.
Alexander stood near the door for a moment. His hands were held behind his back. He was studying me with those strong dark eyes. I stayed seated in front of the mirror.
I was suddenly very aware of how weak I felt. I was in just my simple dress. I had been stripped of all the fancy clothes.
“How are you feeling?” he asked finally. His voice was softer than I expected. I had heard the hardness in the hall earlier.
I was shocked. Did he just ask about my well–being?
“Mixed up,” I answered honestly. I turned in my chair to face him properly. “Shaken. And curious.”
His eyebrow went up slightly at the last word. “Curious?”
“About what just happened. About her. About what you talked about with the Elders aft
I left.”
The words came out before I could stop them. My need to understand was beating any attempt at being polite.
Alexander moved deeper into the room. His movements were smooth. But I could see the stress he carried. “It is Pack business. Nothing you need to worry about.
Pack business? This hurt more than I expected. “Nothing I need to worry about?” I stood up. I felt stronger on my feet than I had moments before.
“Primus Alexander, that woman tried to kill me three times. She ruined the coronation. She demanded you reject me. How is that not my worry?”
He ran a hand through his hair. It seemed like he was upset. “It is hard to explain”
“Then make it simple for me.” I crossed my arms. I was surprised by my own boldness.
“I am your Luna now Am I not? Or does that title only matter when it is easy for you?”
Something moved in his eyes. It might have been a surprise. Perhaps even approval. But his face stayed guarded
I just needed a little more push.
“What Gaia and I talked about with the Elders involves Pack safety. And kingdom politics. Things that need experience to understand.”
Things like what? That I am too weak to handle? Too new to understand? You said you would mould me to your kind. The words canie
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Chapter 23
out sharper than I meant. But I found I did not want to take them back. “Aren’t you a man of your word? Or would you prefer a Luna to only warm your bed?”
His lips curved into something. It was not quite a smile. “You are starting to sound jealous again Aqua. I see you’ve done your findings.”
This hit me like a physical blow. Jealous? Was I? The thought made my cheeks burn with shame. And something else I did not want to look at too closely.
“I am not jealous,” I said quickly. Too quickly. The denial sounded empty even to my own ears.
Alexander stepped closer. I fought the urge to back away. There was something hunting like in his movement.
But not scary. It was more like a wolf who had caught an interesting smell.
“No?” His voice had dropped to that low, rolling tone. It seemed to shake through my bones.
Π
“Then why do your eyes flash when I say her name? Why does your jaw tighten when you ask about what we talked about?”
it
“Because she tried to kill me!” I argued. But even as the words left my mouth, I knew they were not the whole truth. There was something else. Something deeper. Something I did not want to admit.
That is part of it,” Alexander agreed. He moved another step closer. “But not all of it.”
I felt like a deer caught in headlights. I was frozen under his strong gaze. My heart was racing. I could not tell if it was from anger. Or fear. Or something totally different.
“You are wrong,” I whispered. But the words lacked belief. “You are too harsh. Too rough.”
That wasn’t all.
“You threatened to kill Katherine and me over what we have no control over. You don’t even respect me enough to keep your affairs hidden. I could never fall for someone like you. I would not allow myself to.”
“Fall for me?” he finished. His voice was barely above a whisper now.
The words hung in the air between us. I opened my mouth to deny it again. To tell him he was being silly.
But nothing came out. Because deep down, in a place I did not want to look at, I was scared he might be right.
His face changed. The hunting look was softening. It turned into something that looked almost pleased.
“I like this,” he said suddenly.
It caught me off guard. “Like what?”
“This fire in you. This fierce spirit.” He pointed at me. I realized I was standing straighter than I had in months. My chin was raised boldly
This was despite my inner chaos. “This is how I want my mate to be. Always. Bold and fierce. Never cowering or backing down. Just like the day you foolishly burned my skin and bit me.”
His words sent a strange warmth through my chest. But before I could process what that meant, he was moving again. In two quick steps, he closed the space between us.
“Primus Alexander, what are you doing?”
My words were cut off. His hands came up to cup my face. His thumbs brushed gently across my cheekbones.
The touch was surprisingly tender. This was from someone who could command armies. Someone who could make the earth shake with his voice.
“You want to know what we talked about?” he asked. His face was inches from mine
I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin. I nodded. I did not trust my voice.
“We talked about how to protect you. How to handle the threat she represents. How to make sure that nothing like tonight ever happens again”
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Chapter 23
His thumbs continued their gentle stroking motion. I found myself leaning into the touch. Every rational thought was telling me to step
away.
“But most importantly,” he continued. His voice dropped to a close whisper. “We talked about how Gaia needs to understand that you are mine. My mate. My Luna. And nothing she says or does will change that.”
“Trust me. If any being, dead or alive, touches a hair on your head, there will be blood.” He mumbled. “Your old pack’s punishment isn’t even the tip of the iceberg yet.”
Before I could respond, before I could even fully process his words, his lips were on mine.
The kiss was nothing but brief.
This was claiming. Possessive. And yet somehow tender at the same time. His lips moved against mine.
It made my knees weak. I found myself gripping the front of his shirt to keep from falling.
Something moved inside my chest. Something warm and scary and wonderful all at once.
My heart hammered against my ribs as if trying to escape. For a moment, the world narrowed down to just this. His hands on my face.
His lips on mine. And the big realization that maybe, just maybe, I was in more trouble than I had ever imagined.
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