The Luna’s Second Chance Mate

Kaden’s POV

“No, no! I’m done listening to your bullshit! If you don’t have any dignity left, I have! So shut the fuck up!”

I picked up a pillow, angrily tossing it across the room till it smacked the door to the closet. I was mad, no, I was infuriated to the point where I simply wanted to rip out my wolf and shove it down the toilet. I needed him to just shut up for a minute and listen to what I had to say. But no, the sounds were threatening to drown out my sanity.

Admit it, Kaden. You’re wrong about her.

“Fuck off.” I snarled back, briskly walking to where the dresser stood idly. I gripped the edges of the exotic wooden desk, trying to steady my breathing.

I could hear her, even when she was several feet away from me. I hated the fact that I could hear it no matter how much I’d covered my ears. I could hear her soft sobs, somehow I could feel her curled up and muttering my name and I hated it. My wolf was groaning, ever since I’d locked her up. Now I thought of it, she was daring in ways I absolutely hated.

Kaden, you’re wrong. He repeated with a hiss. Why would you lock her up? Whatever did she do to you besides being your mate?

I despised the affection and dreaminess in his tone.

“You know better than to think I care about her. When in fact, I should have left her to die in the woods that day.” I blew out the hair hanging loosely in front of my eyes. He scoffed in return, if anything he rolled his eyes.

Kid yourself.

“I’m not kidding, and you should know your place.” I replied again, now spinning the seat around and throwing myself on it. I ran one hand through my hair, letting my eyes trail to my reflection in the mirror. I scoffed at what I saw. Pained and frustrated with tired eyes. That wasn’t me. No way in hell was that me.

“She reminds me too much of Amaya.” I admitted, facepalming at my outburst. “She’s like Amaya in so many ways, she still doesn’t understand her place as a servant in my mansion. The guts she has… imagine such a low life, telling me how to parent my own son, who the fuck does she think she is to tell me what to do? She called me irresponsible!”

My blood boiled at the thought. She didn’t even appear remorseful, she pissed me off so much. I reached out to the desk, driving everything to the ground. She could run her mouth? Then she’d better stop calling my name and sobbing, I was driving me crazy. But in so many ways, she differed from Amaya. Except for the fact that they were both cheating bitches, I couldn’t point it out just yet.

So, what do you want?

“That’s none of your business.”

At least reject her once and for all, Kaden. Since you’re going to forever deny that she’s your mate, reject her and get it over with.

“The fuck.” I snapped back, recoiling into the chair. “I’ll do what I want to do, now go back before I do something really stupid to your sorry ass.”

I didn’t want her as a mate and I already made that so clear. She could cry herself to death, it wouldn’t faze me. But my thoughts were killing me, and I ran yet another hand through my hair. They shifted to Declan, whom I’d imagined to be napping peacefully at this time. I remembered seeing her by the foot of his bed, wiping down his body like he mattered to her. I remembered the slight panic in her body language when he’d shot out of bed, and how she’d taken care of it despite her body not in its best condition.

Only slowly I remembered the day the Luna had come to the mansion. She had been with Declan that day too. Heck, now I thought of it, she’d always been with Declan. And he seemed to be fond of her presence. My son was more important than whatever was going on between us.

“Or not.” I mumbled. “I don’t want to see Declan hurt again just because some bastard who’s attached to him left without warning again. I’ll be keeping an eye on her.”

I wanted to see where this was going. I despised her, but I had to admit that no one had ever taken care of my son like her before. And I desperately wanted to wipe off that silly smirk from his face. He was mocking me.

I was lying, and he knew it.

Larissa’s POV

I could swear I was in the same room as crickets. The room was as dark as the last time I remembered, although it had been lit up earlier from the high windows. I sat hugging my knees with my hair spread all over. I didn’t even care to put it in a ponytail anymore, what good would that do me?

I was beginning to regret talking back at the alpha. He should have killed me then, when I desperately wanted to die. Now I wasn’t so sure that I wanted to, even if getting out of here would be too humiliating. I couldn’t even bring myself to cry, they’d completely dried up now. All I did think of was the hesitation and what I assumed was surprise in his eyes earlier.

I heard the metal gate rattle, prompting me to lift my head up. For a minute I clenched my eyes shut at the light intensity, why was it always so bright?! I heard a wry chuckle soon after and forced myself to open my eyes.

The room was so brightly lit, I hadn’t realized that there was a light bulb installed in this hub of darkness. I couldn’t see clearly at first, only making out the silhouette of a figure crouching down to my eye level. Alpha Kaden?

“Uh, hi, Larissa.” The voice half whispered out, catching me off guard. That wasn’t his voice. It sounded oddly familiar however, I couldn’t figure it out.

Agitated, I blinked rapidly to make out a face from the blurred figure in front of me. I soon recognized the long black mane and the lopsided smile, easing my worry and I let myself relax. Propping myself to a cross legged sitting position, I pushed aside the hair littering my face.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Hi.” I repeated a little dryly, it wasn’t like I could sound any better than a dehydrated toad. My throat scorched badly, and no one was kind enough to consider giving me some water.

Tsk, what did I expect? The alpha saw me as some traitor who was after his son’s well-being. He wouldn’t even admit that I was his mate and was always ready to make a fool out of me. “Hi, Jackson.”

“I see you know who I am now, Larissa.” He chuckled in return, bobbing his head ever so slightly.

I stared at him for a while, watching his expression shift subtly from playfulness to concern. “I never got to thank you properly for that day, you know the day I was injured.”

It made me crack a small smile. “I must admit that I was scared out of my wits seeing all those weapons.”

“Thank you for treating my wounds. They may have gotten infected if not for you.”

“You’re a wolf.” I chuckled back with the same small smile. “Regardless of treatment, I’m sure you would have healed.”

“You’re right.”

“And I never got to thank you properly too.” I continued, and he raised a brow.

He brought a hand to caress the other as if in confusion, his entire expression was a question. “The day I forgot Declan at kindergarten and I was almost kicked out. Thank you for trying to reason with the alpha on my behalf.”

He quickly nodded in realization, snorting. He shifted his weight on his toes in his crouching position before speaking again.

“Yes, although I don’t think that worked. The alpha is not one to lose his cool over trivial matters like that, so I didn’t expect him to flip at a maid like that. It’s the first time I’d seen him so angry over something that had nothing to do with the affairs of the pack.” He finished with slight confusion laced in his voice.

I shifted my attention to the hard ground in discomfort, making out outlines of how the concrete cancer made patterns of horses and Declan’s army of soldiers. Maybe it was in my head, but it was intriguing nonetheless.

It’s because he hates me, I’m his mate and he doesn’t want anything to do with me. I wanted to say that and get it off my chest. But Jackson was one of the alpha’s right hand men, why would I out myself like that? It was a bad idea, especially if it got out somehow. I could really lose my life this time.

“He hates me.” I said instead, fiddling with the hem of my dirty dress. It wasn’t a lie either ways. It just wasn’t the full truth. I raised my head to catch him looking at me like like I’d said something utterly stupid. His expression fell flat and he brought a hand to push his bangs aside.

“That must have something to do with how you met him.” He spoke thoughtfully, bring his thumb and index finger to stroke his jaw. “I genuinely don’t think the findings tally, because you don’t seem like that kind of person.”

“What do you mean?” I questioned, whipping up my head immediately.

My question and his outburst seemed to have caught him off guard, with his eyes widening slightly as he turned to look at me. Confusion consumed my thoughts, what did he mean by that? How exactly did I met the alpha that was out of the ordinary?

As if meeting your mate at the brink of death was the most ordinary thing in the world.

“That’s not in my place to tell, Larissa.” He said instead, composed with a small, insincere smile that just made my curiosity grow.

“Since when was it permitted for my men to visit my prisoner without consent?”

I couldn’t see him, but I could recognize the authority in his voice whenever he spoke. Especially when he was displeased. I felt Jackson stiffen before turning around, not even breaking a smile.

Trailing his movements, I looked up to see the alpha leaning by the door frame with a harsh scowl that quickly grew into a blank stare. If looks could kill, Jackson would be dead by now.