MY CAGED LUNA

CHAPTER FOUR BEHIND HIS MASK

Edward's eyes widened in surprise as he opened the door, his gaze darting back and forth between me and the surrounding area. He stepped aside, allowing me to enter, but his nervousness was palpable. I couldn't quite put my finger on why he seemed so on edge, but my instincts told me something was off.

As I entered the house, I was struck by the stark contrast between the alluring scent inside and the dull, disheveled interior. The plates were piled high in the sink, and the sitting room looked like a tornado had passed through it. I scanned the room, searching for the source of the intoxicating aroma.

"Is anyone else here?" I asked Edward, my eyes narrowing as I watched him closely.

He hesitated for a fraction of a second before responding, "No." But his heart skipped a beat, and a faint sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead. Despite his attempts to appear confident and calm, I sensed a flicker of deception.

I pressed on, my curiosity piqued. "Was anyone here before us?"

Edward's response was immediate, but his voice was laced with a hint of desperation. "No."

Now I was certain he was hiding something. The scent had drawn me in like a magnet, but I couldn't quite pinpoint its source. My eyes locked onto the staircase behind him, which appeared to lead down to the basement. My instincts screamed at me to investigate, but I pushed the urge aside. I had come here for a different reason.

My wolf, Strom, growled softly in my mind, sensing my unease. I silenced him with a mental command. Strom was a fierce and loyal companion, but he only reacted when necessary - in life-or-death situations or when our authority was challenged. His quiet protest only added to my growing concern.

I took a deep breath, refocusing on the issue at hand. "Edward, I came here to talk to you about your absence. What's going on? Why have you been missing work?"

Edward's expression smoothed into a neutral mask, but I could sense the tension beneath. "I've just been dealing with some personal issues, sir. Nothing to worry about."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Personal issues? That's all you're going to give me?"

Edward nodded, his eyes darting towards the staircase before returning to mine. "For now, yeah."

I pushed aside my curiosity about the basement and the mysterious scent for the time being, focusing on the task at hand. "Edward, listen to me," I said, my voice firm but measured. "I know you've been going through a tough time for over seven years now, but it's time to focus and move on. Don't mix your personal life with business. You're one of the best, and I wouldn't have come here personally if I didn't think you were worth it."

Edward looked up at me, a hint of surprise in his eyes, but he said nothing. I continued, "I could have sent you a message, but I took the trouble to come here because I value our working relationship. Now, I need you to snap out of whatever funk you're in and get back to work."

I paused, studying him intently. Edward's expression was guarded. I knew I had to tread carefully.

Edward broke the silence, his voice low and gravelly. "Thanks, sir. I appreciate it." He gestured to a nearby chair. "Please, sit down. Can I get you a drink?"

I shook my head, declining the offer. "No, Edward. I'm fine. I just need you to focus on the task at hand. Let's get back to work."

With that, I turned to leave, Alex following closely behind me. As we walked out of the house, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Edward was hiding something, but I was determined to get to the bottom of it later. For now, I had to prioritize our working relationship and get him back on track.

As we pulled out of Edward's driveway, Alex's eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, his hands gripping the wheel tightly. "Hey, Fred, did you notice Edward's mood back there?" he asked, his voice low and concerned. "He seemed like he was hiding something, and it was awkward."

I nodded in agreement, my mind still reeling from the encounter. "Yeah, I picked up on that too. And there was something else... a scent. I don't know how to describe it, but it was unsettling."

Alex's gaze flicked towards me for a moment, his brow furrowed in concern. "You look uncomfortable, man. What's going on?"

I shook my head, trying to brush it off. "It's nothing, Alex. Just my imagination."

But Alex's eyes lingered on me, his expression skeptical. He knew me too well, and he could tell when something was bothering me.

As we drove, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. I thought to myself, I'll go back to Edward's house later, in my wolf form. I'll wait behind the bushes until he goes out, then I'll sneak in and check the basement myself. I need to get to the bottom of this.

"Alex, I need you to dig up some information for me," I said, my voice firm and authoritative. "Check if Edward has any other family apart from his wife. Get me everything you can find by the end of the day and

present it to me tomorrow."

Alex nodded, his expression turning serious. "Okay, Fred. I'll check and dig up something. I'll send it to you by tomorrow."

..................

As soon as we got home, Alex retreated to his quarters, while I made my way to our loyal chambers. I went upstairs to my room, painted in a sleek black, grey, and white theme. I removed my clothes, grabbed a champagne, and took a sip while I prepared for my spa shower.

Just as I was relaxing, a knock came at the door. I wrapped a towel around my waist and opened the door to find Melinda standing there, which was a surprise to me. "What are you doing here?" I growled, my voice strong and annoyed.

Melinda smiled sweetly, "I want to spend time with you, Fred. We're going to get mated soon, so we should get to know each other better."

I was taken aback by her audacity. "Get out" I command in annoyance. She reached out to touch me, and I pushed her away, my anger rising. "I don't want this to repeat itself, Stay away from me."

I slammed the door shut, but I could still hear Melinda's defiant yell. "You'll still be mine, Fred, whether you like it or not. You'll never find your mate, and even if you do, I'll make sure she's gone."

Hearing Melinda's defiant words, made my anger boil over. I reopened the door, dragged her down the stairs by her hair, and told a guard, "Lock her up in the dungeon. She's not leaving until tomorrow, no matter what; I heard her struggle and yell as she was dragged away, "You'll never break me, Fred! I'll never change my mind! You'll never win!"

Her words only fueled my anger,

she dared mention my mate, and I would not hesitate to take action against her. The moment she swore to harm my future mate, she sealed her fate, and I will stop at nothing to protect my mate. I will go to any length to ensure the safety of my future mate

I'll give her credit, Melinda is a courageous one, walking up to me like that. The other wolves call me the 'Grin Reaper' for a reason - when I knock on your door in anger, death usually follows. And yet, she had dared not only to stand up to me but also threaten my future mate. She has no idea what she's gotten herself into.

Oh, I'll make her suffer for this, but I'll do it slowly. I'll savor every moment of her pain and fear.