Claimed as the Alpha's Second Luna

Chapter 7 The Choice

Annie's POV:

I bit down hard on my lower lip and forced myself to swallow the words that were already on the tip of my tongue.

Alexander asked again, "What exactly happened, Annie?"

Elena slipped her arm around Alexander's with perfect ease, tilted her chin up, and flashed her gentle, harmless smile:

"What could have happened? She was just being clumsy and broke a flowerpot."

The lie rolled off her tongue without a hint of a slip.

She even gave me a soft little smile, as if the vicious standoff from just moments ago had never happened.

Alexander looked down at her and placed his other hand over the back of Elena's hand, which was draped over his arm:

"You're shaking."

"Am I?" Elena smiled again, this time with a touch of endearing vulnerability in her voice. "Maybe the sound of the flowerpot shattering just startled me. I'm really fine."

Alexander didn't doubt her.

I watched as his tense shoulders relaxed, and his cold, commanding tone, which had been so intimidating, melted into a tenderness reserved only for Elena.

Yes, they'd been partners for ten years.

Of course he would trust his Luna unconditionally.

Even when he'd driven me to the brink of madness with herbs in the darkness, roughly pinning me beneath him and taking me as he pleased, even as I sank into the deepest depths, the name that escaped my hoarse throat was, from start to finish, Elena.

But now he stood just a few steps away, his palm firmly clasping Elena's hand, the tenderness in his eyes impossible to hide.

That was his true self: a lucid and deeply devoted Alpha, belonging solely to his mate.

He would never believe my one-sided account.

I shut my mouth, swallowing the bitterness in my throat along with it.

But I'd never back down like this!

Running away wouldn't save my son, and keeping quiet forever wouldn't protect him either.

Since the Alpha was right here, I might as well make a request, one that Elena absolutely couldn't refuse in front of Alexander.

"Luna." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "Jack's birthday is next week."

The smile on Elena's face remained perfect, but a flicker of displeasure flashed in her eyes.

"I'd like to bring him home for it. Just a few days."

I kept my hands clasped in front of me, the picture of a grateful servant.

"As you just said, the instructors say he's doing so well in training. I just want him to have one dinner in his own house. Sleep in his own bed. That's all."

Elena didn't respond.

"A boy shouldn't miss his own birthday."

Alexander's deep voice suddenly broke the silence.

I looked up and met his deep gray eyes, fixed on me without blinking, as if probing for something.

Elena's fists were clenched, but she let out a light, gentle laugh: "Of course he should come back! I was just about to bring that up with you."

She even took a step forward and placed her hand on my shoulder like a loving mother: "A mother and son should be reunited on his birthday. I'll send someone to the camp today to deliver the message."

How perfect. Gentle, generous, magnanimous. It was as if a benevolent Luna were standing before the Alpha, granting a lowly servant the most ordinary act of kindness.

But what she meant was, "Your son will return only when I decide it's time to let him go."

"Thank you, Luna," I said, keeping my composure. "At your word, I'm ready to go pick him up at any time."

Alexander's gaze dropped to my hands.

"You're bleeding."

I looked down. The cut across my palm had opened when I made a fist, blood seeping between my fingers, bright against the dark wool of my uniform.

I hadn't felt it.

"It's nothing," I said, and hid my hand behind my back.

"I must have accidentally splattered some blood on it when I smashed the flowerpot just now."

"Have the healer look at it," he spoke to Elena, but his eyes stayed on me a beat too long. "See that it's taken care of."

"Of course," Elena said, her voice as sweet as ever, but her body subtly forced its way between us, clinging tightly to his arm once more and completely blocking his view.

"Annie, go pick up your child, he's still waiting for you."

She was shooing me away, not even letting me linger in Alexander's sight for a moment.

I knew that feeling all too well, just like the intense jealousy that wrapped around me every night when she gripped my collar.

"Jasper will accompany you," Elena added, as if the thought had just occurred to her. "The road to the camp is long. You shouldn't walk it alone."

Her eyes met mine over Alexander's shoulder. Her smile stayed sweet.

I instantly understood her plan.

Elena had sent him here either to have a perfect spy keep a close eye on my every move, or to deliberately keep him occupied so he couldn't help me behind the scenes.

Either way, I had no choice.

"Thank you, Luna," I said again.

I turned and walked down the path between the rosebeds.

Her voice came from behind, sweet as syrup.

"Come back early, Annie. You still have work tonight."