Lilia’s POV
The room went quiet.
“So you know.”
He eased back, gaze drifting to the blue dress at the foot of the bed.
“So it’s true,” I said.
“It’s true.” I hadn’t expected him to admit it that easily.
“The Elders want a Luna settled soon.
You know how it is,I’m new to the Alpha seat, my footing unsteady.
The Packs around us are watching, and the old men who bow to my face are only waiting for a slip.
Choosing Tina as my mate would bring me a great deal.”
”And me?” I clutched the blanket.
“I never dreamed of being Luna, Nathan.
You promised,you said once things were settled, I’d stand at your side.
Is my blood so cheap that this is what your promise was worth?”
”That’s not how it is…
and it’s temporary.” He cut me off.
“Breeder is a story for the Elders.
I need them looking elsewhere, not at you.
If I said straight out you’d be my Luna, do you know what they’d do?
They’d drag you out of this house and throw you in the dungeon.
Or worse,”
”Give me time.
I’m protecting you.”
Protecting me.
He said it like it was obvious.
And every time I wanted to believe him, that conversation through the door came back.
“You say you’re protecting me,” I said quietly, “but you never once asked if I was willing. You made every decision for me.”
He didn’t answer right away.
Moonlight fell on his lowered lashes.
He looked exhausted.
“Lilia, sweetheart, be good. Don’t fuss, all right?” He reached for my shoulder.
I pulled free, and my pajama top slipped, baring my left shoulder near the collarbone.
His gaze caught on the wound and the tattoo, and something in his eyes changed.
“What happened?”
”Nothing.” I pulled the fabric back up.
“Knocked it.”
”Knocked it.” He repeated the word, doubt all through his voice.
“Knocked it where?”
”At work.”
”Lilia.” He stepped closer.
“Was it those two Alphas at the tavern? Did they give you trouble?”
He stared at me a moment, then tipped my face up.
It was Jace, wasn’t it?
That bastard’s a notorious playboy.
Did he touch you?
Or Kael?”
”No.” I shook my head and kept my voice level.
“Kael is famous for never showing interest in women. I was wearing all that paint,one more look at me would have dirtied his eyes. He wouldn’t touch me.”
The knot between his brows loosened, but his hand didn’t.
His thumb pressed against my jaw, firm enough to hold my eyes to his.
“I never wanted you working at all, but we have to keep up appearances. Things aren’t calm lately. Stay inside the Pack House for the next few days.”
I didn’t answer.
“I know what you’re thinking, Lilia. I feel nothing for Tina.” He finally said it.
“Even if the mating ceremony happens, I won’t mark her first.
Once I have the resources and the alliances, I’ll end it with her.
And then,”
”And then I’d be your Luna?” I nearly laughed.
“Nathan, do you honestly think I’d believe that?”
”You don’t have to believe it.
You’ll see at the ceremony with Tina.
I told you,I won’t mark her.”
I couldn’t picture standing there, calm, watching the man I loved become another woman’s mate.
Did Nathan not hear how cruel he sounded?
“No, Nathan.
I’m moving out.
Now.”
”No.”
”Stay here for what?
To watch you hold her Luna ceremony?
To have the whole Pack congratulate you while I hide in my room pretending nothing happened?”
”Hey,calm down.
Tina isn’t moving in yet.” He turned to the window, back to me, shoulders drawn tight under his coat.
“You live here until she moves into the Pack House. That’s an order.”
I looked at his back and remembered: before he was Alpha, when the other Omegas beat me over the rumor I was an ill omen, he’d come in the night to dress my wounds.
“Lilia.” He came back and knelt at the bedside, hands braced either side of me.
“I’ve been out handling the alliances. I know you’re upset with me. That’s on me,I made you wait too long.” His hand settled on my shoulder and tightened.
“Stop fussing. Stay.”
I turned my face away.
“I’m not fussing.”
”Not fussing?
Then why move out?
Where would you even go?
Do you have any idea how bad it’s gotten out there?
The neighboring territories are tearing each other over land.
You’re really…”
A soft sound at the door,a cup against a tray, liquid spilling.
Nathan turned, crossed to the door in three strides, and pulled it open.
Grace stood there, the tray tilting, the milk cup overturned on the floor.
She was shaking all over, white-faced, lips trembling, unable to get a word out.
Nathan looked at the mess, then at her.
His expression went soft in an instant,that warm smile he kept for outsiders settled at the corner of his mouth.
“Grace.” His voice was quiet, as if afraid of startling her.
“It’s late.
You’re still up?”
”I…
I only wanted to bring Miss Lilia her milk…” Grace bent for the tray, her fingers shaking badly.
“Forgive me, Alpha, I,I slipped, I’ll clean it right away,”
”No hurry.” Nathan steadied her shoulder, gentle enough to frighten.
“It can wait until morning. You’ve worked hard tonight. Go rest.”
Grace nodded fast, backed away as if fleeing, and disappeared.
Nathan watched her go, glanced at the milk on the floor, and drew the door quietly shut.
I lay there watching him,that forever-warm face he wore for everyone else.
Courteous to servants, respectful to the Elders, unimpeachable with everyone.
I thought of all the years of it,every illness when he sat up with me all night.
If I didn’t know what I knew, I’d have called him the best man in the world to me.
Even now part of me strained to believe it,he was only tired, only cornered by the Elders; there were reasons behind everything.
Nathan came back and sat at the same spot, same angle above me, face calm again, as though nothing had happened.
I found that I still couldn’t do it.
“Tina will be your Luna. ”
I finally looked up at him.
Tears were already on my face; I didn’t know when they’d started.
“The Pack House is your home. You’ll have children of your own. I just… don’t want to be in the way.”
Nathan went still.
He crouched in front of me, and after a long moment raised his hand and brushed the tears from my cheek.
“Lilia.
If you truly want to move out,fine.
Then let’s settle the account.”
”I was the one who pulled you out of the snow.
Without me, you’d have died long ago.
Your life is mine,I gave it to you.” His voice was level and cold.
“If you want this debt cleared, then save five million dollars and bring it to me. Until then,you stay in this house. You go nowhere.”