No Bride for My Alpha Mate

“What’s going on here?” he asked, his tone deceptively calm.

Araceli turned to him, her expression shifting to one of innocent surprise. “Oh, I was just checking on Isadora,” she said sweetly. “She seemed upset, and I thought I’d see if she needed anything.”

Her words were a lie, but I didn’t correct her. I was too focused on Luciano’s piercing gaze, which now rested squarely on me.

“Isadora?” he said, his voice low and unreadable. “Is that true?”

I didn’t respond, my mind racing as I tried to gauge his reaction. Did he suspect anything? Had Araceli seen too much?

Luciano takes a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he notices my packed bag.

Luciano’s eyes lingered on my bag for a moment too long. The flicker of recognition in his gaze set my nerves alight, but I kept my expression steady. If he wanted to pry, I was ready to defend myself. Instead, he shifted his focus to Araceli, his tone sharp.

“What are you doing in her room, uninvited?”

Araceli immediately donned her mask of innocence, her lips trembling as though she were the victim here. “I just wanted to check on her, Luciano. Isadora’s been so... tense lately. I thought she could use some support from a friend.”

I let out a bitter laugh, unable to hold it in. “A friend, Araceli? You don’t even know the meaning of the word.”

Luciano’s glare snapped to me, his jaw tightening. “That’s enough, Isadora.”

The dismissal hit harder than I cared to admit, but I bit my tongue. This wasn’t the time for an argument. His tone softened when he turned back to Araceli, his entire demeanor shifting. “Go back to your room. I’ll handle this.”

Araceli hesitated, her gaze darting between us before she flashed me a triumphant smile and sauntered out.

Luciano turned back to me, his towering frame casting a shadow over where I stood. “What’s with the bag?”

“Reorganizing,” I replied flatly, refusing to meet his eyes.

“Don’t lie to me, Isadora.” His voice was low and sharp, the threat in it unmistakable.

I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. “Believe whatever you want, Luciano. It’s not like you’ve ever cared to listen to me.”

His lips curled into a sneer, his disdain palpable. “Always playing the victim. Maybe if you focused less on your wounded pride and more on your duties as Luna, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “My duties? You mean standing by while you sneak off with her? While she parades around like she’s already Luna?”

His expression darkened, but before he could respond, a knock at the door interrupted us.

“The pack meeting is about to start,” came a muffled voice.

Luciano shot me one last cold glare. “We’ll finish this later.”

I followed him to the main hall, every step heavier than the last. Whispers filled the room as we entered, the weight of the pack’s judgment settling on my shoulders. Araceli was already there, strategically positioned near the front, her hand resting protectively on her stomach. She caught my eye and smirked, her triumph shining through.

Luciano took his place at the head of the room, his presence commanding silence. I stood off to the side, feeling the weight of the pack’s gazes on me.

The meeting began as usual, with patrol schedules and upcoming ceremonies being discussed. My mind wandered as I fought to keep my composure.

“Now,” Luciano’s voice rang out, snapping me back to reality. “About the upcoming mating ceremony...”

My stomach twisted.

“We’ve been planning this for months,” he continued, his gaze sweeping across the room before landing on me. “It’s meant to solidify the bond between me and your Luna. But,” he paused, letting the silence stretch,