Luna on a Chain

Chapter Four

Naturally, I didn’t sleep at all. My thoughts kept me from relaxing or distracting myself. Getting up early, I set myself a goal: to see my friend and talk to her by any means necessary.

Pacing the room from corner to corner, my patience began to wear thin. The first attempt to knock on the door and call for someone ended in failure. As did the second—and the third. Closer to noon, footsteps sounded outside the door, and a key turned in the lock.

I was sitting on the bed, staring straight at the door. At first glance, one might think I was calm and composed, but in reality my current state could best be described as overheated to the limit. Every muscle in my body was tense, ready to respond at any moment to a command from my brain to attack.

The door opened. The man froze on the threshold, clearly unsure whether to step inside. Apparently, my calm posture didn’t fool him. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at me seriously.

“With a face like that, I can’t take you to lunch. I’d definitely choke on my food.”

I snorted displeased and turned my head away.

“What do you want?” I snapped irritably.

“I wanted to invite you to lunch. We didn’t really get to know each other properly yesterday.”

“Where’s Maya?”

“Your friend is fine.”

“I want to see her.”

“If you have lunch with me, I’ll ask my brother to let you meet her.”

Letting out an annoyed sigh and clicking my tongue theatrically, I got up from the bed and walked over to him. He stepped aside and led me down the corridors.

“My name’s Maxim, but you can call me Max.”

“Alright,” I replied with a sarcastic smile. “That nickname suits you. I once had a dog named Max.”

“You’re sharp-tongued, beautiful,” he smiled. “Just don’t try that with my brother, or he’ll kill you on the spot.”

I felt a little ashamed of my words. Lowering my gaze to the floor, I walked the rest of the way in silence.

We ended up in a spacious, cozy kitchen where a middle-aged woman was bustling about. Seeing us, she smiled warmly and said:

“It was about time you fed your guest, Maxim. Kirill’s already carried off two trays of his own this morning.”

“Nina Sergeyevna, come on now. Kirill’s girl is the future mistress of this house. My companion here is staying on hostage terms—she doesn’t need to be fed that often.”

To say his words offended me would be an understatement. Clenching my teeth, I began inspecting the kitchen. Nina Sergeyevna approached me, took my hands, and led me to the table.

“Don’t listen to him, dear. He and his brother were never known for tact. I’ll feed you now—you’re so thin.”

“Thank you,” I replied politely and returned her smile.

While I ate the salad and cutlet with particular pleasure, Max drank his coffee and silently watched me. Once my hunger was satisfied, I picked up my cup and finally decided to speak.

“How long are you going to keep me here?”

“Don’t worry. As soon as we find something to bribe you with so you’ll keep quiet, we’ll let you go.”

“Let Maya go, and I’ll keep quiet.”

“I’m afraid that offer won’t satisfy Kirill.”

After tea, Max escorted me back to my room. Just as he was about to close the door, I grabbed his hand. His gaze first dropped to my fingers wrapped around his wrist, then flicked up to my face, lingering briefly on my lips.

Damn. That was awkward.

I pulled my hand away and tried to justify myself:

“Our deal.”

“What deal?” he raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“If I had lunch with you, I get to talk to my friend.”

“I’ll try to do something about it.”

With that, the door slammed shut in front of me, and the key turned in the lock.

Left alone in the room, I finally managed to relax a little. The moment I lay down, the treacherous exhaustion from a sleepless night crashed over my body. Resisting was pointless. Closing my eyes, I fell asleep.

A soft rustle pulled me from Morpheus’s embrace. I snapped my eyes open and scanned the room. Outside the windows, the sun was already setting. Taking a breath, I calmed my racing heart.

“Wow, you really soaked the pillow with drool,” a voice suddenly sounded behind me.

Startled, I yelped and jumped up, glaring angrily at the uninvited guest.

Max was lying on his side, watching my foolish reaction. Honestly, didn’t he ever get tired of smiling all the time?

“What are you doing here?” I snapped.

“I live here, actually,” he replied, getting off the bed and walking to the door. “I was going to take you to your friend, but I see you’re not happy to see me.”

He opened the door, clearly intending to leave.

“Wait,” I called out, running up to him and grabbing his hand.

And again—that awkward moment. His gaze slid to my lips and lingered longer than before. I pulled my hand away and stepped back.

“Let’s go,” he said and left the room.

Seeing my friend safe and sound made me so happy that I rushed toward her with open arms. She saw me and moved forward as well—but our emotional reunion was blocked by a massive wardrobe.

Or rather, an Alpha built like a wardrobe.

“One more step, you rabid woman, and there will be no conversation,” he growled like a beast.

No one had ever called me a rabid woman before. If looks could incinerate, that werewolf would’ve been writhing in agony.

“Come on, brother, stop it. Let’s step outside. Let the girls talk.”

Max intervened, slinging an arm over his brother’s shoulder and leading him out of the room.

I hugged my friend tightly. She looked quite content—it didn’t seem like she was being held here by force at all.

“Did he hurt you?” I asked with undisguised concern.

“No, he’s very kind to me. Although his motives do raise questions, but…”

She fell silent and lowered her gaze. Her face flushed instantly.

“But what?”

“Do you believe in love at first sight?”

“Oh, here we go,” I sighed. “Don’t tell me all that nonsense. No, I don’t. What did he promise you that made you melt so fast?”

“Vera, he didn’t promise me anything. I didn’t tell you, but we already met yesterday morning at the restaurant. The moment I looked at him, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.”

I was horrified. Was this really Maya talking?! Though anything was possible—she was his mate, after all, which meant she would be drawn to him. Damn it.

“Do you want to stay with him?” I asked, frightened by the question itself.

“I don’t know,” she said dreamily.

Oh, she knew. Bitterness and hurt flooded me. Why was it always these mangy creatures taking away what mattered most to me? A lump of despair tightened in my throat, and I had no choice but to turn and rush out. I heard Maya calling after me, but I didn’t respond.

Max caught up with me near the room I was temporarily staying in. Throwing him one last furious look, I stepped inside and slammed the door in his face.