Lycan's Imposter Luna

Idris~8

Not for the first time, I internally ridiculed my brother for being a fool. Pretty and gentle she-Lycans like Caira Mirza could be found in any pack or clan around the world.

But a strong, confident, and loyal woman like Saira Malivik, who foolishly waits for the soulmate the Goddess chose for her, was hard to find. Fortunately, Einas was too blind to see this.

“She’s ours now! Even if he regrets his rejection later, we won’t let him take her back!” Malko growled in the back of my mind with the possessiveness of a mate.

I chuckled and reminded him. “That decision isn’t ours to make. Saira already hates me for forcing a Bonding Mark on her. I won’t take a risk that’ll make her loathe my existence.”

Though not as strong as the marking between soulmates and chosen mates, a Bonding Mark had the ability to dull the connection between true mates. And in the rarest cases, when the bond grows strong, it could establish a chosen mate bond between the couple forced into the union.

Not that she was forced on me.

I was more than happy to be Saira Malivik's husband, even if it meant sleeping in separate bedrooms for the rest of our lives.

“Be more ambitious, will you? How long do you think Einas will remain muddled? Sooner or later, Jalal will talk sense into him. If the bastard changes his mind, we will lose our mate. Because we both know Saira…she only needs a reason to return to him.”

He had a point. But I had no words to reassure him. Because, just as he said, Saira wouldn’t hesitate to leave me if Einas showed the slightest interest in her. Even after the dinner party, she still planned to wait for him. If Einas really changed his mind, then...

“That’s a ridiculous accusation!” Mirza Orabi’s furious growl pulled me back to my senses. I blinked upon seeing what was happening. The damn Lycan was growling at my wife! I grabbed my wife's hand and pulled her behind me, trying to shield her with my body, but failing as the stubborn woman refused to hide behind me.

I'd only wanted the former Commander to know his place and show him my wife had my support. But now, I felt an impulse to tease her for her rebellion.

“Stay still. Don’t give anyone the impression we don’t get along.” I whispered, caressing my nose against her cheek.

Her body stiffened at the action. I wasn't sure if it was the warning growl in my voice or the physical contact that caused it, but my heart melted at her reaction. Through my peripheral vision, I caught a flicker in Mirza Orabi's eyes, as my brother’s expression stiffened.

Malko grew anxious. “He’s feeling something, Idris. Please, think of something. There must be a way for Saira to belong to us. She’s ours!” He declared.

Einas…Could he already be regretting it? No Way! He'd already made his decision. He chose Caira. No way in hell would I let him forget why!

Moving my gaze away from him, I faced the former Commander, who was in the midst of finishing his statement. “We keep our women away from the training field, not to control them, but to give them a carefree and comfortable life!”

Saira snickered. Ignoring my protest, she wrenched her hand free and crossed her arms across her chest.

“What a way to brainwash your pack members, Lycan. However, I don't buy your crap. You’re afraid of losing the authority you hold over your females. I see it in your eyes and in the way you carry yourselves with an aura of superiority." She said, then continued with a chuckle, "You know, I never understood why my father insisted on making me his heir before. After all, the Evergreen Pack isn't short on capable warriors. But after coming here, I think I understand him a little. My father must’ve wanted me to become Alpha, probably because he realized the sickness you pricks are inflicted with. He doesn't want his precious daughter to become a victim of your twisted chauvinistic mindset."

Damn! Though I warned her, she didn't need to be so honest and blunt. My breath caught in my throat as silence descended on the hall. Not one of the elders spoke as the awkward tension spread, for lack of a better response to refute her claims.

After what seemed like an eternity, Raed Basil cleared his throat, diffusing the tension. “Mirza, I believe Saira must have a bad impression of us. I don’t blame her. Our previous actions weren't exactly honorable." He coughed again, then continued. "But now that she’s one of us, we should respect her decision and give her the freedom of choice. Let her join the Warrior Training Squad.”

“But Lycan Leader…”

“I understand your worries, Mirza. But as the Lycan Heir pointed out earlier, Saira Malivik isn’t an ordinary she-wolf. As the Alpha Heir of the Evergreen Pack, I’m sure she has the willpower to endure our training regime. Right, Saira?”

"If it's me you're worried about, then you can rest assured, Lycan Leader. I won't complain even if I break a bone."

Disgruntled murmurs resounded in the hall. The Clan Elders and Mirza Orabi were clearly unsatisfied with the Lycan Leader’s decision. However, they swallowed their discontent and dispiritedly nodded their heads.

My brother, on the other hand, looked pissed.

“Father, I request you to take back your order. I can’t train this woman.” He spat, disgust practically leaking from his eyes as he glared at my wife.

“And why is that Lycan Commander?” I snarled, fighting to keep my Lycan from rushing to the surface. He detected the way Saira stiffened at the bastard's words, and that made him jittery.

“Forgive me, brother, but your wife…she hasn’t accepted my rejection yet. We’ve all heard stories about the mate bond, and know that a slight contact is enough to k****e a spark. Though Caira is sensible, I don’t want her to feel insecure.”

“Commander Einas has a point. Who knows what’ll happen between them on the training field? What if they get too touchy with each other?”

"That would be beyond shameful, it would ruin the brothers bond, not to mention their reputations."

As if. Einas and I barely exchanged a few words. There was no bond between us to speak of.

“As our Lycan Heir’s Luna, Saira Malivik should’ve already accepted the Commander's rejection. Why hasn’t she done it yet?”

“Could it be? Does she still have designs on the Lycan Commander?”

"It's possible..."

Finding a way to exact vengeance for their earlier humiliation, the Clan Elders remarks grew more and more outrageous the longer they talked. I glared at my brother, blaming him for putting Saira on the spot.

“Saira, don’t mind their words. The Elders…”

“Why should I mind?” She cut me off with a confused expression. “It’s true I haven’t accepted Einas Raed’s rejection. The Moon Goddess is the one who formed our bond. Just because he rejected me, doesn't mean I have to do the same. After all, I’m only fighting for what’s mine.”

My heart sank. Her words were only meant for me, but everyone in the hall heard them loud and clear. Doesn't she feel embarrassed to make such a bold declaration in public?

"She wouldn't be our choice if she wasn't honest. You have to put in a lot of effort to win her heart." Malko sniggered, making me scowl.

“Saira Malivik, how shameless can you get? Even if you don’t respect yourself, you shouldn’t forget your current status. You’re confessing to being hung up on me in front of your husband.” Einas shook his head with clear disgust and disbelief on his face.

Saira swept her cold eyes over him, and sneered. “First of all, I didn’t say I’m clinging to you. I only refused to accept your rejection, because I have no reason to make life easy on you. And second, you better watch your mouth, Einas Raed, if you don't want your deeds to spread to the rest of the world. Don’t forget, you and your Clan deceived me into this marriage in the first place.”

I stiffened, then slowly lowered the hand I raised to rub her back. Saira didn't need me. She could fight her own battles. She wasn’t afraid to expose her intentions to the crowd, and neither did she lack the courage to confront the ridicule of the elders.

Was a soulmate that important to her?

To the extent that she didn't care about her reputation or what everyone said about her?

Einas growled, his eyes darkening as his wolf fought to come to the surface. "You bi..." He began, but I raised my hand to stop him from pushing my wife at the cusp of another public condemnation. “Einas Raed, as the Commander of the Pacific Sea, are you seriously telling me you don’t have the willpower to stand the seduction of a mere she-wolf?” I asked.

Einas paused, then his eyes widened in disbelief. “You! So you admit that she wants to seduce me! And you're okay with it?”

I grinned. “I admit nothing, Commander. I'm okay with nothing. However, everyone has the right to pursue who they like. There's no shame in that. Doesn't my wife have the same right to fight for her soulmate?”

“As you said, she's your wife.”

"By deception. And I don't own her. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with her intention. She only wants to train.” Even if she was wrong to pursue another man, I had no right to stop her. “When I, as her husband, have no problem with her training and being around you, what right do you have as a brother-in-law to question her character? As a Lycan Commander, not only is your thinking skewed, but you’re also a narrow-minded coward.”

“Idris, enough. Einas is your Lycan Commander. Until you become the Lycan Leader, you must give him the respect deserving of your superior.” Raed Basil admonished me from his throne. “And Einas, I won’t change my decision. Saira will join the Warrior Training Squad, if that’s what she wants to do. As for you…well, she won’t be your only trainee. Alright, that’s it for today. Everyone’s dismissed.” Rising from his seat, the Lycan Leader descended from his throne and fled the Meeting Hall.

It was obvious he no longer wanted to discuss this topic.

I snorted at my brother. He was still glowering at Saira with a ferocious expression. Half-protective, half-possessive, I grabbed her hand and dragged her from the suffocating hall.