The Luna They Underestimated

Chapter 13

Rowan’s POV

The Alpha takes his attention off me and scowls at Matthew, who has taken a huge bite of pizza, cheese dripping from his lips.

"Why aren't you with Angie?"

Matthew snorts.

"You really thought I'd be stuck with that Barbie doll? I dumped her on someone else. I don't want my lunch hour wasted listening to her lies."

Instead of scolding him for neglecting his duties, the Alpha chuckles.

"Where is she now?"

Matthew grins and swallows the hunk of pizza, a malicious smile splitting his lips.

"I left her with Evelyn."

He shoves the rest of the giant slice into his mouth.

"What?" I squeak. "Like my mom, Evelyn?"

He nods, his smirk enormous. He's so damn proud of himself. Maybe the Moon Goddess isn't completely against me. I can only imagine the hell my mom will unleash on that b***h. She'll run her until she coughs up blood.

I bite back the giggle threatening to erupt.

Alpha Thorne's eyes flick my way and he raises a brow.

"Something funny, Ro?"

The question is serious, but the smile on his lips isn't. My Alpha is enjoying this.

"My mom is going to eat her alive," I giggle. "Angie's going to have to scrape gum off the cafeteria tables, or run laps for an hour straight." I snicker. "Or learn how to throw a proper punch."

Both the Alpha and the Beta chuckle at my glee.

"Exactly why I arranged for Evelyn to be in charge of her," Matthew says with a sober nod. "That girl needs a humbling experience. You're wrong, though. It's not the cafeteria where she'll be scraping gum. It's under the student desks."

He winks at me and takes another slice. Instead of cramming it into his mouth, he thrusts it at me.

"Eat."

The Alpha nods along as if this is perfectly normal.

"Eat," he agrees. "Then we'll talk."

I wonder if this is a last-meal situation before he kicks me out. But for once the usual doom and gloom doesn't feel right, and I'm hopeful. I can't imagine he'd smile and laugh with me if he planned to throw me away.

Instead of arguing, I take the pizza and bite in. Both men smirk and take their own slices. We eat in silence until the box is empty, and Matthew gets up to take it out to the trash and returns.

Alpha Thorne raises a brow at him, and they stare at each other, eyes glazing over with a mindlink. Matthew shrugs and deliberately walks back to his chair, plopping down and smirking. Whatever was said, he's clearly amused.

The Alpha rolls his eyes and shakes his head but doesn't speak. Instead, he turns his focus back to me, and this time I don't have a slice of pizza to fend him off with.

Matthew shifts in his seat, leaning a little closer.

"You like it here so far? Besides having to deal with Angie and all?" He makes a little shooing motion with his hand.

I nod.

"It's different, the way you run everything. But I've already made a friend, I think, and I'm not behind in any of my classes." At least until I have to train.

The Beta leans in and sniffs the air near me, and his whole body vibrates. A soft, strange growl rumbles from him.

The smiling Alpha Thorne is gone. He glares stone-faced at his Beta.

"I think I know why her scent reminds me of someone," Matthew says.

I glance at him, curious what he means, but he never gets the chance to elaborate.

"Back off, Matthew," Alpha Thorne snarls.

Matthew holds still for a second, glancing up at the Alpha and gauging his seriousness, then puts his hands up and smiles. He shifts back to his own seat and gives me my precious space.

"Is it time for detention?" I ask, wondering when this punishment will begin.

"No, I wanted to ask you some questions," the Alpha replies, his voice calm again.

"As would I," Matthew says, leaning forward and looking at the Alpha, who growls at him.

"What sort of questions?" I ask slowly. If I say the wrong thing, I'll get us thrown out of the Pack. The room suddenly feels like it's closing in on me as I try to calm down. I'd rather swap places with Angie right now. Scraping gum sounds way better.

"Why did you really leave your Pack?" the Alpha asks, his eyes pinning me.

Flames of anger lap at my gut. I wish the pizza box were still here so I could hit him over the head with it. Why is he ruining everything?

"If you're insinuating my family is hiding something, why did you even accept us into the Pack?" I demand.

"You're sure you want to question your Alpha?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I bite back an instinctive snarky retort and bow my head in submission. Questioning him is the last thing I need. I scold myself for snapping. Hopefully Mom won't find out.

"If you really must know, it's because I love knowing I snagged two of that prick Victor's best fighters."

I note he doesn't even add Alpha to my old Alpha's name. He must really despise him.

"Considering you come from those two, I must say your bloodline intrigues me. I wish to see exactly what you're capable of. Yet as I've been watching you, I notice you carry a lot of pressure on your shoulders."

I sigh. Why does having Beta blood change how people think of me? Why am I suddenly on a higher pedestal because of it? All I want is to be a normal she-wolf, without the wolf part, obviously.

"Oh, you don't agree?" he asks.

Shit. I must have sighed louder than I thought. I raise my chin and stare up at him.

"And what if I'm a disappointment?"

The Alpha chuckles like I've told a joke.

"You? Ro, you have Beta genes, and your mother... well, she's a tough woman."

I wonder if he'll still think so when he knows my dirty little secret.

Matthew c***s his head, studying me.

"I've got a question."

I brace for whatever hardball question he has. What secrets has he uncovered over lunch?

"Yes? What is it?" At least I sound normal, not like the scared rabbit I feel inside.

"Have you found your mate yet?"

"She isn't eighteen yet," the Alpha answers for me.

Matthew's shoulders droop. Is he disappointed about my age?

"Tell me, why did your family really leave?" the Alpha says. "I promise no repercussions will come if you tell me the truth. You'll be free to remain here."

My heart skips a beat. My stomach drops and I break into a cold sweat. My uneasy grip on control slips.

The Alpha sniffs the air slightly, his eyes narrowing on me.

"Why are you scared?"

I can't hold on. I'm going to break down.

"Can I go, please?" I whisper. I can't manage anything louder.

He reaches across the desk to take my hand, but I pull it out of reach.

"Ro, you can tell me," he offers, sincere.

I think about it. How easy would it be to tell the truth and be done? But no. It isn't just my life at risk, it's my parents' too.

"Nothing. What they told you is the truth, Alpha."

He tilts his head, and his eyes slide to his Beta, who gives a small shake of his head.

"You can go, Ro. But I will speak with you again."

I don't wait. I rush out the door.