Morning arrived, and I was tossing and turning; a certain golden-eyed figure had influenced my dreams, just as I had seen him in that starry way , dizzy, drunk, and barely able to keep his eyes open.

I woke up to an empty bed, relieved that Ryker had left quite early.

Last night, I had sneaked back into the room, and he was still snoring when I went to bed.

Before I could move, there was a knock on the door.

I cleared my throat.

"Come in," I called out, and the door opened, making me cover my nightgown with the bed sheet as Oscar strolled in; he was Ryker's dog.

"The alpha requests your presence in the dining room in five minutes," he snapped, looking at me as if trying to pinpoint something. I tried to hide my smirk, knowing the mask had worked.

"I'll be there," I answered, snapping him out of his gaze as he turned and left. I jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, preparing myself; i knew he would be there.

And Ryker probably wanted to introduce him to me.

"Avoid skin contact as much as possible."

Anita's words echoed through my brain as I picked up a shirt , a black king sleeve shirt, but it would do. I could only beg the moon goddess that this works and he would not see through my lies and know I was deceiving him.

I wore long jeans to pair with the black shirt, tying my hair in a bun as I stepped out of the room, heading towards the dining area.

I froze when I heard a conversation from the entrance.

"I met her, I swear it; I still remember her scent, rose mixed with pine," a deep voice resonated from the door, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Surely you must have seen her face?" Ryker asked him, and I sighed in relief, calming my beating heart.

"No... I was too drunk to remember her face..." he said, just as I walked into the dining room, where the conversation came to a halt as Ryker, sitting on the right side of the table, turned to look at me.

Then I saw him sitting opposite; he looked like a man out of a hangover. Yesterday did not do justice to the face I saw because he glowed. His dark hair seemed wet on his face, and he wore a dark green shirt with the sleeves all rolled up. I was captivated before Ryker cleared his throat.

"Dad... this is my ma..." Ryker froze as he stood right next to me, his face pale as if he just realized what was happening.

"It seems congratulations are in order," the Alpha King's voice rang out, making Ryker snap his face to him, his face pale as he looked back at me.

But my heart beat so fast, I waited , waited to see if he caught a hint of who I was, from the conversation earlier he knew, he knew he had found his mate, and there was no denying that.

"Your...?" Ryker asked snapping me back to reality, and I nodded. He placed his hands over his mouth, happiness consuming him immediately. It irritated me to see him this happy. He ran to the Alpha King, who stood to his feet as he hugged him.

"I'm going to be a father, dad, a father," he cried out, and I stood there watching their interaction.

"I'm happy, son. I'm happy for you," he said, his hands on his shoulders. Then he spared one look at me before he looked away, my heart beating heavily. I did my best not to stare into his eyes for too long; if I did, he would know. He would see into the depth of my soul, and he would know who I was.

"Com..."

"I'd love to return to my room and..." I spoke so fast before Ryker called me closer to him.

The worse thing that I could ever think of was staying right next to him, not when his scent was driving me crazy.

"Sure, sure, I'll have breakfast sent up," he answered, and without a look in his direction, I turned as I walked out of the room, my heart beating in my chest just when I was out the door.

I heard Ryker's voice."

.

"You will experience the same joy, dad. I’ll have called all the females in this pack, especially the ones who were in this house yesterday. You will find her today; your instinct can’t be wrong. You will meet your mate today," he comforted his father as I walked away from the door.

I returned to my room, and before I could reach it, everyone congratulated me, all happy that I was pregnant. I smiled at every one of them, though I felt bad lying to the pack members; I was pregnant.

Just as I was about to enter my room, I froze when I saw Oscar standing there.

"What do you want?" I snapped at him, and he grinned.

"Congratulations, Luna," he said, and I could spot a hint of mockery in his voice.

"You wouldn’t come all this way to wish me congratulations, would you?" I growled slowly at him.

"Ohhh... you know me so well. I just wanted to know about yesterday?" he asked, and I forced myself to act normal.

"What happened yesterday, Oscar?" I asked him as he came closer and leaned forward, my heart skipping a beat at what he was about to say.

"A little bird informed me she saw you sneaking back in the house, and then... there are a couple of questions..." he whispered, and I glared at him.

"What questions? I went for a quick air, that’s all..." I snapped as I tried to walk past him, but he held me back.

"Not now... I’m not done. You have a lover, do you not?" he asked me, and I stared at his face, anger swelling in me.

"What’s your point in this?" I asked, and he smirked.

"Who is he? Who is the man who got you pregnant?" he asked me, and I froze as I looked at him, then I blurted out laughing.

"You overstep, dog," I growled at him.

"I thought so. Watch your back, because I’ll be there, and whatever you’re planning, I’ll be there to stop it," he warned as he walked off. I entered my room and placed my hands on my chest.

He thought I had a lover; pathetic.

The hours went by, and in the evening, Ryker had planned a party to celebrate what he called his future son. I was disgusted, as if I would ever in my right state of mind make him a father. A man as cruel and wicked as him didn't deserve to be called a father.

Not to a child of mine.

I was getting uncomfortable here, the longer i stayed the more I risked exposure.

The last thing I wanted was for the alpha king to find out I was his mate..

“Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

I rushed forward to open it as Anita strolled in.

I looked around the hall to see if there was anyone around, and I hastily shut the door when I found out there was no one here.

“What are you doing!” I whispered yelled as she rushed toward me and held my hands. She looked panicked.

“You need to leave. This is worse than I thought,” she whispered, and I wondered what she meant as I held her to the chair to take a seat.

“I can’t just leave… the alpha king.”

“He will find you. Have you heard? He knows his mate has red hair. An hour ago, all the ladies with red hair were ordered to assemble in the square. If he…”

My eyes widened, and I looked around the room. This was bad, really bad.

“When can I leave?” I asked, and Anita looked at me worriedly. I knew she was risking herself, her baby, and her mate to help me, and I was heartless enough to make them bear the consequences of the mission failing.

As much as I saw them as family, I couldn’t be selfish and leave , endangering them in the process.

“Tonight, it’s the only time. Everyone will be distracted. Sooner or later , the secret would be out. George has contacted the vessel captain. He will be taking goods from the pack tonight. You will have to run today, or I fear for the worst,” she spoke, and I shook my head at her words.

“What if…”

“Noo, I know you know your worried about us but we will be fine, we stood there and we watched Ryker abuse you for years and our alpha and Luna killed , but we aren’t going to let you be enslaved to a monster off the rest of your life” she whispered and my heart melted at her love and concerns.

“Good we do it then, tonight" I answered and he nobbed.

I was dressed in a white dress, which looked super silly. It had been picked out by Ryker, he said he wanted me to look radiant.

I stood in the mirror as I stared at myself, my hands sweaty, worried with thoughts of tonight, how it would go. If it ended badly, then I knew I would be better off dead, because the things Ryker would do to me, I doubt there would ever be recovery.

And talkless of Anita and George who were risking their lives to get me out, Ryker would never spare them , I was so sure of it.

I shook my head at the thought of anything happening to them. As far as I know, they were the only family I knew.

The door opened and Ryker stepped in a white suit.

Since he claimed me as his mate , having kids was all he ever talked about, but I would rather die than give him a child. Over the years, he grew frustrated and turned me into his punching bag.

“The day has finally come,” he said as he stood by my side looking radiant, and I smiled.

Knowing I’ll have to drug him tonight, Anita would work on that, make sure he was so drugged he wouldn’t be able to move, that way I would slip away.

“I’m happy I could make your dream come true, alpha,” I whispered, and he smirked.

“Come… the pack is waiting,” he spoke as he gave me his hand, and I took it as we strolled out of the room.

“My father is so happy, he has promised you anything , you would want, anything at all, all you have to do is ask. An heir, an heir is what I would need, an heir sets everything right,” he whispered more to himself than to me.

The mention of the alpha king had my heart skipping, and my eyes watery. All my life I had dreamt of meeting my mate, but now like this, not, not the alpha king, the man that I even hated more than I hated Ryker, the man that turned my life upside down.

A few minutes later, we walked into the party, every pack member was present, and some threw me pity glances while some congratulated Ryker, who beamed like he just got a new toy.

We stood as pack members surrounded us, with congratulatory messages. I almost felt guilty for lying to them, but for Ryker, I felt no pity; he deserved what was coming and worse.

"There is my boy!" a loud voice that sent chills up my spine cheered from behind us, and I froze. I didn't need to see who it was as I shifted away, then the alpha king engulfed his son in a hug.

I clenched my fists, the sound of his voice made my heart race and that scent again.

“Da ... .did you find her, tell me you found her”Ryker asked his father who shook his head, as if to say no.

"I’m sorry for today. We will keep searching for her; we will turn this pack upside down until we find her, I promise you that," Ryker’s said, and my heart sank as a disappointed sigh fell from his lips.

"I’m a fool; the only thing I couldn’t remember is her hair. I’m sure the goddess , will be so pissed at me, for not grasping the opportunity when she presents it" he laughed it off. I tried to hold myself back so he wouldn’t hear the fast beat of my heart as I stared at them from the corner of my eyes.

Ryker whispered words to his ear, and he smiled like he hadn’t before.

"don’t worry about that..." he answered as he turned to me. We stared at each other for a second before I looked away.

"Diona... is it?" he asked, and I smiled as I bowed.

"Yes, alpha k..."

Before I could reply, he placed a hand on my shoulder, freezing me, but I quickly moved away from him, my eyes wide in terror.

My body almost collapsing from the shock, I could only be grateful for the thick material of my dress , that he didn’t feel my skin, or my cover would’ve blown.

"Don’t worr..." he froze as soon as I moved away, and I stared at the ground, afraid to look into his eyes, scared he would see the secret I was hiding and find out at that very moment who I was.

"Forgive her, father; she tends to be very shy," Ryker apologized at that moment. Asael, the alpha king, froze as I looked at him, but then a smile replaced the tension on his lips.

"Did he feel it?"

"Does he know?"

I asked myself at that moment.

"I’m sorry, I would love to use the bathroom," I whispered to no one in particular. Without waiting for Ryker's approval, I headed toward the direction of the halls, slipping out of the halls.

Before I exhaled, my hand was on my chest, scared for my life.

As I hurried to the bathroom, which would be on the other side of the building.

Footsteps ran behind me, and I didn’t need to look to know it was Anita.

She pulled me into a room.

As soon as I was inside, I collapsed on the ground.

"Get yourself together, you almost let it slip," she snapped at me as she rushed to the jug to get me a jar of water. We were in the conference room.

She handed it to me, and I gulped the water in one go.

"What do you think would happen?" I asked her, and she looked at me with confusion.

"I don’t understand..."

"What do you think would happen if he knows?" I asked.

"Don’t you dare imagine that you have to deal with another monster. Don’t even try to think about the worst of them all. He would take you, you know that. Claim you, and being his goddamn son’s mate changed nothing, he has every right to claim you as his fated mate”she hissed at me.. She was right, so right.

"Come, get yourself together. We have to be heading to Harbour soon. The maids have been informed of what to do; he will be down in no time," she whispered, and I nodded as she opened the door. Gesturing for me to return to the party

But the fear of being discovered, the fear of seeing him again, was something, I didn’t want to deal with.

I stood there, staring at the door in horror.

"I don’t want to leave... I don’t want to go out there. Please," I begged, a chill running up my spine as I remembered, his gold eyes staring back at me with suspicion.

Anita sighed.

"Then stay in here. I’ll mindlink you once it’s done. Get to the pantry and get changed into something more... comfortable," she hissed at me, staring at the halls before I nodded, and she slipped away.

As soon as she left, I settled back to the ground, lost in thought. I sat there for what felt like hours, praying this should work and somehow let Ryker be too drunk to know what was happening.

"It’s done," Anita whispered in my mind after seemed like an hour, and I got to my feet, my body shaking with anxiety. As I stepped out the front door, running toward the exit of the building.

I ran slowly toward the exit, not wanting to attract unwanted attention. As soon as I got to the pantry, just as Anita had said, there was a bundle of clothes waiting there, which I changed into: dark jeans and a dark shirt, making it easier to blend into the dark.

As I opened the door to the pantry, I froze at the sight of a figure standing there, staring at me. I panicked, my heart beating faster, my wolf stirring within me.

Not when his golden eyes analyzed me like some project, his eyes running through my figure.

"There you are, Diona. I have been looking all over for you," he whispered, and I’ve never been so terrified in my whole life.

My heart skipped a bit as I watched him, running his eyes over me. I was startled, terrified to see him standing there with so much authority.

I could feel the power coming from.him like a wave, my eyes wide as I stared at him as if I'd seen a ghost.

O my God

Why was he here?

What's happening??

Does he know?

The question flowed through my brain, as i felt cripped at that moment.

“Alp…ha…king,” I stumbled as I tried to bow. Just as I saw him coming toward me to help me stand well enough, I pushed backwards.

Scaring the fell of what his touch would do to me.

“No…” I snapped urgently, moving backward and falling on my ass. He froze as he looked at me with confusion, but I was much more terrified of that one movement of his that nothing else mattered.

Because I knew for sure the cat would definitely be out of the bag if he ever touched me, and nothing terrified me more than that.

“Forgive me…I didn’t mean to startle you,” he apologized as he stood up straight. I pushed myself up from the ground as I bowed, my legs shaky, as I closed my eyes and looked beneath me.

“Thank you, Alpha…if you wouldn’t mind, may I ask what is the reason for your presence? Is something wrong?” I asked hastily as I avoided looking at him, scared of what I might see in his eyes or scared he might look right into my eyes and know, know who I was to him.

Then everything would be in vain, and I’d be stuck in a circumstance that I knew for sure I’d never be able to forgive myself.

“You must forgive me, Diona, but I sought you out because I have some issues that I would love to address with you,” he spoke, and my heart skipped a beat. I looked everywhere but at him, clenching my fist behind me as if to hide my anxiety.

“What would that be, Alpha?” I whispered without looking at him.

“I’ve observed your temperament, and I would love to address the issue of you being absent from your mate’s side. In twenty-four hours of being here, I have observed you avoid his company, and even now while he drinks himself to stupor, you hide in here to evade him. I find your attitude undeserving for a woman of your standing as a Luna. You should be the first and foremost female in the pack, even exercising authority over the Alpha as his mate,” he spoke, and with each word, rage engulfed me.

My rage intensified

How dare he……

Stand there and dictate what I must do, when he was unaware of the torment I endured at the hands of his son, when he didn’t know the suffering, maltreatment Ryker had inflicted upon me for years.

I couldn’t bear it, I was too shattered to care about who he was at that moment; he had crossed the line and I wouldn’t tolerate it.

I should have kept my mouth shut, and nobbed like a fool. I should have turned away and left as soon as possible, to prevent my next course of actions, the words that spilled out of my lips next.

"Then it would be entirely your fault, Alpha King, after all, you are his guide, and I would argue he inherited all his bad behavior from you. Before you hurl accusations my way, I suggest you ask your beloved son what he has done to me, or perhaps you should truly get to know the boy you call a son. You criticize me for being an irresponsible Luna, but your son is an abuser, a liar, a cheat, and a narcissist!" I snapped at him, breathing heavily as I locked eyes with him.

Then it struck me.

I froze when I realized what I had said, when I understood that the words that had escaped my lips were enough to place my heart in his hands or lead to my decapitation.

I froze, my face contorted in terror as I stood there, horrified by my own words.

"I’m... I’m... I’m... I’m so sorry, Alpha," I cried out as I closed my mouth, stepping backward, tears streaming down my face, but he remained there, frozen, staring at me as if he had seen a ghost. I couldn’t decipher what I saw in his eyes.

I didn’t know if it was anger, pain, rage, or shock.

But I didn’t care; I turned and ran in the opposite direction.

This was my chance to escape this pack, and I knew if I missed it, I would never forgive myself.

I ran, and with each step, I glanced back to see if he was following me, but each time I felt relief; he wasn’t. I didn’t know what his temperament was like, but I knew he was ruthless.

And I would rather leave before he came after me or, worse, told Ryker what I had said about him, knowing what Ryker would do to me.

If there was anything Ryker valued, it was his relationship with his foster father, and trying to portray a good image to his father. I had just thrown everything out of the window, and if he found out about it, not even this fake pregnancy would save me from his wrath.

The border appeared before me as I hastily hurried forward, sensing Anita and George nearby, knowing they would be there to wish me farewell.

I moved towards the ship, tucking my rubber gloves higher to shield me from the cold. As I moved forward, I breathed in and then out, knowing that in a few minutes I would be on board for a new life.

Just as I took another step forward, I felt a tug as someone grabbed my hands. I yelped as I turned to face the intruder to find him.

He stared into my eyes with rage, anger, and confusion, and I looked terrified to see him, much more terrified than I had been when I found him in the hallways.

"Where do you think you're going?" he hissed at me, and I’ve never been more terrified in my whole life.