Chapter Four

"I guess you feel better now," he said, gently walking towards me. I barely escaped having been marked yesterday night; I know the possessive prick would be eager to brand me his. 

"Damn!" I internally cursed; if only I had seen him earlier, I would pretend to be sick or dead if that was what it would take to keep his canine away from me. 

"Not really" l replied "Aren't you supposed to be out right now?" I asked before I could even realize it. 

"I decided to come check up on you."

"Oh," I said in a low tone, glad he didn't catch up. 

"What is your name, pup?" he asked. I wanted to kick him in the eyes for calling me a pup but held back in my anger. 

"Katya, Katya Paw," I replied. 

"Kay, I love it," he said, smiling. 

"Whore," I cursed, if only those smiles could hide your sins. 

"Why were you here last night?" he asked yet again. Of course, the same old questions, 

"I went out hunting for my dinner and lost track of time. I got lost in the woods on my way back, and here I was," I said, faking some tears. 

"Oh goddess, why are you alone in the woods?"

"I lived in the woods; my pack was overrun by rogues a few years ago, and I have lived in the woods ever since." The tears flowed free while I held my chest. Don't judge; I might as well give him a hell of a show. 

"It's okay, Kay, you have me now," he said, hugging me so tightly. This is laughable; did he just say that? Yeah,  I have him till he betrays me.

 

He held me tight while gently stroking my hair. I felt the sparks erupting from the area where his skin touched mine, but that ship had set sail a long time ago, as I heard my tummy churn in disgust. 

I gently brushed his hands away while faking a smile. 

"Speaking of food, we should fix you breakfast."

"Yes, please, I'm famished; I haven't eaten anything since yesterday," I quickly replied. I didn't want to spend another second with him in an enclosed space.

"Right,  I will be back shortly," he happily responded, I smiled back, and he disappeared out of the room. I quickly rushed into the bathroom to freshen up before he got back; the less skin he saw the better for us. 

When I was done bathing, I dashed into his wardrobe, and it was exactly like I remembered it to be the first day I came here. 

I grabbed his white shirt and a pair of black pants and I put it on, the white shirt was oversized. But I do not have many options till I go shopping. I let my red hair down, and I was checking myself out in the mirror when the door opened. 

"You're dressed," he blurted out. 

"Yes, I hope you don't mind," I said, pointing at the clothes I wore. 

"No, nice choice of clothes; it's as if you read my mind; I think it suits you better."

"If only I could tell you that I had seen this play out before, I thought to myself. 

"You think," I said, smiling and checking myself out. While he nodded in affirmation. 

"Do you want to eat here or do we..." 

"We should eat with the rest of the pack; I am eager to meet everyone." I cut him off. 

"Sure, after you," he held the door for me to step out. Glad I took a different decision; I opted to eat in the room with him and we didn't finish that stupid breakfast as we spent the greater part of the day devouring each other. 

But then I was startled to see two guards stationed right outside his door, he was an arrogant fool who never believed that he needed to be guarded in his home. 

"Why the changes?" I asked myself, first returned from the Alpha duties earlier now this. 

"Maybe it's just me," I whispered to myself as I entered the dining room. The pack members were already seated when we entered, but they made to stand the instant Agnar got inside, he waved them to sit down while we were down at the table designated for us, 

It was a simple meal of pancakes and honey with lots of fruits, I picked up a plate and served myself. 

I took a bite, munching away, while trying hard not to give a damn about anyone in this room.

"Alpha Agnar!" I heard the voice of that sneaky woman call from behind us. 

"It's the former Luna," one of the pack members whispered. 

"What is she doing here?" another asked. 

"I know she hasn't eaten in the dining room for ages."

"I was beginning to forget what she looked like," another whispered. 

"Gertrude" 

"I heard you have finally found your mate, and I hurried over to celebrate with you," she said, smiling heartily. 

If only that were true. The Gertrude Ridge I know is a sneaky snake; she has been the bane of my existence ever since she laid eyes on me. Honestly, she is one hell of an actress, but she would never fool me again. 

"You heard correctly, this is my mate, Katya." He introduced me to her, and she quickly rushed to my side smiling as everyone watched. 

"Hello child," she said, still smiling. Damn,  I gave it to her. I couldn't pull off this charade, but again, I learned from the best. 

"Katya, my stepmother, Gertrude," he said. I quickly stood up from my seat and hugged her. I could feel her body stiffen under my touch.

"Mother, please guide me to be a better Luna to the pack," I said amidst tears, She wanted a show, and I will give her one.

I released her when I was sure that everyone in the room had seen us. I could see the surprise written all over her face, and I smiled. She cleared her throat while scratching her head a bit. 

"Anything you need, child, this is your home now," she said, demonstrating with his hands. 

"We should prepare for your mating ceremony immediately," she announced, and the once silent room suddenly came alive with whispers. 

"Gertrude never runs back defeated, she always has a good comeback. " It's customary that before the mating ceremony, the she-wolf must be bearing the mark of his mate. I would die before I bear his mark. 

My fist tightened, and I wanted to beat the hell out of her for trying to ruin my plans but stopped myself. I could see the excitement written on their faces, especially Agnar, who was grinning the whole time. I don't blame them anyway, who doesn't love a wedding, but no matter what, this wedding will never hold. 

I suddenly faked being dizzy and stumbled, but Agnar's strong arms caught me before I could fall. I held my head with one hand while the other held onto his strong shoulders as he lifted me off the ground. 

"The mating ceremony would have to wait till my mate gets better," he announced, before carrying me off to the room. I buried my face in his chest as I smiled in victory. 

He gently laid me on the bed, covering me up. "You should rest, Kay; you will meet all the pack members when you are strong enough; the mating ceremony can wait; I have found you now; that is all that matters, and nothing could ever separate us," he whispered to me while patting my hair gently if only he meant those words. 

 "I will soon be back, if you need anything, all you have to do is ask," he said and I nodded before he turned to leave. I sighed in relief the minute I was alone. 

"That was close,"

 "Damn Gertrude! I didn't finish my breakfast because of her antics," I blurted out, rubbing my tummy, it seemed as if no matter the choice I made, I was fated not to finish my breakfast, but then I was grateful I found my way out of the mess before it was too late. 

The Crystal Lake Pack is the strongest and biggest pack; the people I saw in the dining room are just a small fraction of the pack that made it to the dining room. When Agnar inherited the pack from his father, it was just a tiny pack, but Agnar grew the pack to what it is now. 

But then I have no idea who has a grudge against Agnar that wanted him dead; it's time to find out who it was and to do that, I need to get all of my gears from when I hid my bike. I quickly got off the bed and hurriedly stepped out of the room, only to see the two guards stationed outside the room. 

"I almost forgot about them," I blurted out. 

I made my way downstairs and stepped out of the house. I occasionally met a few people on my way, and each time they smiled at me and whispered something when I walked past them. I was about to dash into the woods when I saw someone hurriedly sneak into a deserted old house, wearing a hood.

I stopped immediately and hid. After a few seconds, another person wearing a hood went in. 

I moved closer to the house to see who they were and, if possible, hear what they were saying. 

"I can't do it." 

"What do you mean by you can do it? If you had done what I asked you earlier, I wouldn't have to be worried about some stupid, silly girl," the other person yelled, but then on a closer look, I noticed one of them was Gertrude. 

What is she scheming this time around? I tried seeing the face of the one with her, but she was standing with her back to me. 

"I am sorry, Luna, but I won't be coming to this meeting anymore; I'm done," she said. I saw Gertrude's face suddenly turn pale. 

"Here, a little something to buy your silence," Gertrude offered her a bag, which I assumed was money. 

"I don't want your money or anything," she said to her, they paused for a second. 

"Fine, if this is the end of our deal,  we should at least part ways on good terms right," she said, waving at the lady to come closer for a hug. 

They hugged for some seconds, and just when I was about to leave, Gertrude plunged a knife into the girl's stomach. 

My mouth fell open and my body was filled with goosebumps, I wondered why I had missed this the first time, why did I see her for the cold-blooded murderer she was. 

"I will get what I want, even if you help me or not" she whispered to her ear, and her lifeless both fell on the floor.