Irene’s POV
“A disfigured, barren Omega can’t be the Luna of the Silvermoon pack.”
My heart throbbed in pain, and I bit the corner of my lip. Raising my head, I saw the rest of the Elders in the council room nodded in agreement to Elder Elodie’s word,
“Elder Elodie, watch your tongue. Irene is my Luna and nothing will change that!” Alpha Ryan growled as he jolted up his feet, making the Elders drop their heads.
Ryan glared at the council members, his sea-blue eyes that had once looked like the calm waves that melted my heart, now raged like a storm, as he defended me.
Months ago, I was attacked by rogues in the woods, poisoned with silver toxins that severed my bond with my Alpha wolf spirit, making me a weak, disfigured, Omega. The poison went too deep and it affected my womb.
My chest heaved as I locked eyes with Ryan, my traitorous heart skipping as he smiled softly at me. “Irene will be mine, whether barren or ugly, she will remain my luna.”
It would have felt so good to see Ryan stand by me in this condition, if I hadn’t just found out that he was behind the attack. Why would he do this to me?
I wanted to see his end game. I balled my fist, my heart quaked in wrenching pain, it refused to accept that the man who I thought was the best thing in the was my worst enemy.
I felt my mate bond pulsing under the scrutiny of his gaze, my wounded wolf whimpering very faintly at the back of my mind. I drew a deep breath, forcing myself to smile back at Ryan.
Half my face was covered with a white feathered mask, covering the scar that ran from my temple to my chin.
“This meeting is over,” Ryan declared, and in a few minutes the elders all walked out of the room.
Ryan had made a wrong choice of profession, I must commend his acting abilities. “I will find a way to get an heir, sweetie. No one else can take your place, not in this pack or in my heart.” His hand flew to his chest as he spoke, walking up to me.
Yeah right, arsehole.
“I promise to fix this…” I pressed my eyes shut when his slim finger touched up my waist, gliding down my lower back as he paused on the curve of my butt. I gasped, it felt as though roaches were crawling on me.
Why the fuck can’t he keep his hand away? I’m trying to tolerate him here.
He stepped back after placing a kiss on my forehead, before walking out of the room.
“Thank goddess, I didn’t have to push him away,” I breathed, rolling my eyes.
*** *** ***
“Babe, I told you I will fix it, right?” Ryan asked as barged into my room.
I rushed down to my mask, and wiped away the tears that glittered on my cheeks, before I turned from the mirror, and faced Ryan. He held a young child in his hand.
What is this now? I thought as I walked up to meet him in the center of the spacious room. Ryan had a bright smile on. My stomach churned in disgust as I smiled back at his incredibly handsome face. He had fooled me with his cute smile, not again.
“This is Brandon, he lost his parents in his pack war. We should adopt him and name him as our heir, this is mostly for the good of the poor child.”
“Poor child.” I clicked my tongue as I squatted next to him. “How are you, Brandon?”
He smiled brightly. His sea blue eyes made shiver run down my spine. This smile, it cannot be mistaken. His dusty brown hair. Damn it.
For a moment I was caught off guard as I stared at the kid in shock. This must be Ryan’s child. How dare Ryan bring his child with his lover for me to adopt and raise as mine? After he made me barren himself?
Oh, this must be the game plan all along. Well played Alpha Ryan… well played. You hurt me so badly, almost tearing my soul from my body, so your lover’s child for you would be the heir of the pack.
My chest heaved heavily as a fresh pang of betrayal stabbed my inside. The back of my eyes burned, tears threatened to pour out. I balled my fist so tight, stopping myself from quivering out of pain.
I looked away, slowly standing up, my long lashes flipped frantically in a bid to draw back the tears. “Oh Ryan,” I started, facing him with a grin, my arms crossed over my chest. “Fate is a bitch, you know. How does Brandon look just like you, but nothing like me?”
Ryan’s face turned blue as he stared at me wide-eyed. “Eh- how… I said his parents died in a war. Common Irene.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, causing him to scratch the back of his head nervously.
You should be worried, Ryan. For taking me for a fool, you should be worried. I pressed my lips into a thin line as I struggled to hold my laughter.
“I was just kidding. Brandon is a cute kid.”
“Yes?” Ryan voiced cheerfully, his eyes bright as he pulled me into a hug, I kept my face straight behind him, my hands by my sides as I refused to hug him back. “I promise to stand by you, there’ll be no more problems now that we have an heir”
What a good actor? I felt sick of his fake affection, it made me question if he had ever loved me.
“You are the best, Irene. You will forever be my beloved Luna.”
“That’s enough, Ryan.” I scowled as I pushed him off. When he saw the disgust on my face, his grin faded off. “I accept your kindness, but I’m afraid this is the end of the road.”
He frowned, stepping back in shock. “What- what are you saying?”
“I, Irene Howle, reject you Ryan Flyforth as my mate,” I growled at him, clenching my teeth as I felt our mate bond pulling apart, the pain mild. I had almost lost connection with my wolf anyway.
Ryan froze, his shoulders tensed as he grabbed his chest, writhing in pain. “You can’t- do that, Irene.”