The Alpha's Winning Bid

Unspoken Fears

Natalie's POV

"What are you doing?"

The sudden voice made my heart jump.

I turned to see a young woman, around my age, standing there with a soft smile, her curiosity clear in her voice.

Sweat beads formed on my forehead.

"I... I was just... looking for something to eat." My voice shook, and I felt exposed, like I'd been caught doing something wrong

"Luna, you don't have to do this alone. We have skilled chefs here,"

The girl spoke, gently pulling me out of the kitchen. I blinked rapidly and stepped back slightly, taken aback by her kindness and friendliness.

The words "Luna" and "chef" felt strange to me. Memories of the Blue Moon pack came back. I had the title of Luna under Asher, yet everyone treated me like a lowly maid. Even the Blue Moon chef had refused to give me a proper meal, leaving only scraps. A quiet ache settled in me as I remembered those days, and I kept my gaze low.

Leading me into the large living hall, the girl clapped twice, calling over a group of servants dressed in black and white uniforms. She spoke firmly, "Attention everyone. Meet Natalie Myers, the Luna of the Crescent Moon pack."

I blinked rapidly looking still of them as i stepped into some another world.

The staff all knelt immediately, heads bowed in respect—even the girl joined them. I took a step back.

How could they honor someone like me, when in the Blue Moon pack I had been mocked and called the "Empty Shell"? My hands trembled slightly as I tried to steady myself, feeling both overwhelmed and unsure how to react.

"Please, stand. You don't need to be so formal." I set aside the weight of my past memories and gently rested a hand on the girl's shoulder, encouraging her to rise. Such respect felt unnecessary.

She took my hand and smiled. "Luna, you are very kind."

"Please, just call me Natalie," I said with a faint smile.

My heart was still unsettled by the title, and my pulse was racing as I wondered if I really deserved this.

"Hello, Natalie! I'm Rosa, Alpha Jacob's cousin. I live on the second floor with my mate, Austin," she said cheerfully.

Rosa's smile was warm, but I stayed cautious.

She leaned back slightly, folding her hands neatly on her lap, her posture relaxed but confident. "Alpha Jacob has done so much for the pack," she began, her eyes shining with admiration. "He worked hard to get where he is today. From the very start, he never relied on anyone else. He built everything himself."

I kept my gaze on her, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of the night payjama.

She continued, taking a few steady breath, her hand gesturing as she spoke. "He's now the Alpha of our pack and has even ascended to the title of King of Alphas. He's strong, fair, and fearless. Everything he does is to protect the pack and make sure everyone is safe."

Her voice softened a little, and she smiled as if sharing a treasured secret. "And you know, he's a descendant of the Moon Goddess. He's destined to free our world from evil. Everything he does... it's like he's carrying that responsibility with him, always."

I felt a small stir of awe but kept my body stiff. Her words painted Jacob in a light I hadn't fully realized before.

Rosa leaned back again, crossing her legs casually, her eyes twinkling. "Of course, he wasn't always so serious. He used to be..." she paused and looked at me with a teasing smile.

My brows furrowed as i looked at her kneenly.

"He used to be quite the playboy." She resumed. "She-wolves used to be around him constantly, like bees to honey. And in the human world, it was the same. But even then, he never lost that drive to become what he is now."

I nodded slightly, my pulse quickening at the thought of Jacob's past. He used to be a player?

Could someone like him ever be faithful? Would he abandon me too? My heart trembled.

But the way Rosa described him, he sounded like a gentleman, a man who kept his word.

Even hearing it from someone else, it was clear how much he had grown. Rosa's admiration showed in her posture, her words, and the way she watched me for my reaction.

For the first time in a while, I let myself feel a little hope. If Jacob had come this far on his own, maybe I could trust him.

I was in a place where I would be safe.

A while later, after talking about Jacob, Rosa looked me over from head to toe.

"Natalie, you didn't seem to be doing well. You still need rest," Rosa said with a smile. "Why don't you head back to your room? I'll make sure your breakfast is ready."

I nodded, biting my lip and looking away, unsure whether to say yes or no.

Growing up in the Blue Moon pack, I had learned to think carefully before agreeing to anything, afraid of angering anyone and being punished.

"Do you have any preferences? Anything you like or dislike?" she asked.

I quickly told her what I wanted, and she nodded. "Good. I'll have the staff bring it straight to you. You just relax."

A little while later, a tray with my breakfast arrived at the door, exactly as I had asked.

"Hey, good morning."

I was hurriedly eating my breakfast alone in my room when I heard his voice.

Alpha Jacob walked in.

I slowly raised my head to meet those see-green eyes smiling at me.

He stood there, tall and broad-shouldered, with all his manly charm and killer smile. His dark hair was slightly messy, and his white shirt clung to his chest, making him look effortlessly strong.

The scent of sandalwood and musk filled the air around him, making my head spin and my thoughts stumble.

His sudden presence made me tense for a moment, but I quickly took a few deep breaths to control and greeted him, pretending everything was normal.

Before I realised, Jacob poured a glass of milk and gently pushed it toward me. "Have some milk."

I blinked at him, caught off guard. That small, caring gesture made me feel like someone actually looked out for me. A faint warmth crept through me as I slowly took the glass, my pulse quickening in a way I didn't expect.