Claiming His Luna

Cercei’s POV

She returned to me, or perhaps because of her mother. Honestly, I wasn’t overly concerned about the reason as long as she had returned. When my men informed me that she had arrived at the airport, a sense of relief flooded my heart, dispelling the desperation that had gripped me for the past few months.

“See? I told you she’d come back to look for her mother,” Frank declared proudly. I shot him a stern look; I didn’t need him flaunting his foresight.

“Are you annoyed because I was right or because I was utterly right all this time?” He teased, provoking me further. I glared at him, trying to dismiss the throbbing headache that was creeping in.

“Get out of here,” I growled, massaging my temples in an attempt to ease the pain. Frank couldn’t help but smile as he exited my office.

But was that the only reason for her return, to take back her mother? If that’s the case, she won’t succeed.

She emerged from the car with her hands cuffed, blindfolded, and her mouth taped shut.

“Seriously?” Frank whispered beside me, and I watched her closely.

“What? Are you all gay? Treating an alone woman that way? Set her free!” Frank’s voice resonated, commanding my men.

Our eyes locked the moment the cloth was removed from her face.

She looked exactly the same, yet something was different about her. Her eyes retained their innocence, and there was a glint of mischief in them.

I was taken aback, fearful that my longing for her would be obvious in my stare. So, I turned away and locked her up.

An asshole move, I know.

“She seemed rather uncomfortable in your glass cage, you know,” Frank stated, standing before me.

“I had another room prepared for her,” I replied calmly, sipping my drink.

“Another cage,” he commented.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“She’s a prisoner, so naturally,” I retorted.

“Go fool a turtle or something,” he shot back. I looked at him sharply, wondering where he found the audacity.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your own prisoner?” I raised an eyebrow, catching him off guard. I grinned; finally, I had the upper hand. He had been tormenting me with his teasing remarks ever since Cercei arrived.

“What was her name again? Oh, Maria,” I pretended to forget. He looked at me flatly.

“I think I saw her talking to Evans this morning,” I added with a mischievous grin.

Of course, I was well aware of the secret affair between Maria and him, Cercei’s best friend, which unfolded on the same night Madam Cecè was taken. Once I obtained the information I aimed for, I granted them their freedom, along with a promise of protection against Remus. Madam Cecè decided to retire, but Maria chose to stay. She was drawn to Cercei’s mother and longed to be reunited with Cercei again.

Maria was mysterious; there was something about her that I couldn’t define right now.

****

“I don’t want you by my side in rags,” I regretted my words when they escaped my lips. Her eyes filled with pain, and I wanted to kneel and beg for forgiveness. Unable to bear the sight of her pain, I hastily left.

I am taking her to the ball to show Remus that I had Cercei and her Mom in my hands, but deep down, I also wanted her as my date to display her to the world.

Seeing her in that dress nearly took my breath away. Yet, I began to doubt whether bringing her along was a wise decision. I felt an overwhelming urge to fend her from most men’s attention.

She was stunningly beautiful, deserving of every good thing in this world.

In our hateful confrontation at the vast garden, I lashed out at her, telling all the pain that I had nurtured over the past few months.

“He killed my mother,” I confessed, my voice trembling.

“He orchestrated an ambush that took her life,” I clarified, a tear I struggled to contain finally escaping.

“Tell me, does that sound like mere collateral damage to you?” I questioned her shocked face, my tone becoming more intense. My mother’s death was no mere accident or unfortunate circumstance. It was a deliberate act. Remus had planned the ambush, and he knew exactly what he was doing. It was nothing short of a premeditated attack, and it filled me with rage.

And yet, why was Cercei trying to protect me despite what had occurred? It should have been the other way around. It was my responsibility to protect her from any harm. Did she do it for my sake? How could it be for my own good when her disappearance had plunged me into an abyss of misery? I had endured a living hell when she left.

Losing both my mother and her at the same time had shattered my heart, and now she was telling me that she didn’t want me to become collateral damage.

I called it a big bullshit!

I must say, I strongly disagree with her perspective. This conflict has been ours long before my mother became involved. It is inherently mine because she is mine. She is my mate, regardless of how adamantly she denies it to herself. There’s a connection between us that goes beyond words; she recognizes my scent, and I can feel a sense of familiarity and belonging whenever we touch. Every inch of our bodies fits together like a perfectly solved puzzle. We are meant for each other.

The revelation of my mother’s death shocked her, and I despised the pity in her eyes. I don’t want her sympathy, not even from her. Let her sympathise with Remus for all the punishment I’m going to exact on him, but not with me.

I don’t want her to stay beside me out of guilt or pity. I want her to remain because she genuinely wants to be with me. I want her by my side always and forever.

****

“You’re quite amusing,” Shire Lowell laughed and playfully hit me. We’ve encountered each other several times, typically at events like this. She also has connections to Remus, and I’m working on earning her trust; perhaps I could use her against him. Yes, I admit it’s somewhat devious, but that’s part of who I am.

“I’m glad that I amused you, my lady,” I replied with a slight smile. Lowell appeared composed and collected; breaking through her defences might take some time. Then again, I could sense a glimmer of interest coming from her toward me, which might prove advantageous.

But my attention was swiftly drawn away when I noticed Cercei engaged in conversation with another alpha.

“Please excuse me,” I politely excused myself and went to Cercei. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer, asserting my claim over her.

“Greetings, Alpha Lucian,” Vincent Hamilton, Alpha of the Malroux pack, extended his hand. Of course, I knew his status; every alpha must be familiar with other packs and their histories.

“ALPHA HAMILTON, my pleasure to see you tonight,” I replied with emphasis, raising an eyebrow.

He regarded me with a smug expression, and I scrutinised him intently.

“I was merely saying hello to my waitress,” he smiled, but my temper flared, feeling insulted and triggered.

“Your waitress?!!” I emphasised his last words.

“I meant the waitress who served me in Dinan,” he tried to sound respectful, but if he truly were, he wouldn’t dare show his face before me or engage in conversation with my woman.

A terrible display of disrespect from an Alpha.