Lycan's Imposter Luna

Saira~6

“Burying failed. Smashing didn’t work. What should we do to rid ourselves of this curse?”

“Keep your voice down. Though I’m the Alpha, I still need the pack members’ respect to lead with honor. As for her...we can’t bury her outside like we did last time. Whatever we do, we must do it within the four walls of this mansion.”

“Mother, father, how about...we drown her?”

I sprung up with a gasp, and rapidly blinked my eyes. Soaked with sweat, my nightdress clung to my skin, offering me little protection against the chill in the room.

“Just a dream, Saira. Just…another dream.” I gulped, forcing the images out of my mind. The dreams. They were becoming more frequent, persistent, since I came to the Lycans lair. As the first rays of morning sunshine basked me in their warm radiance, I couldn’t help but wonder if that meant something.

“Hehe. Of course, it means something. It’s a sign your tyranny’s about to end.” Zaria cackled with glee.

“Yes, and with me, it’ll be your end as well. How sad. Poor Zaria’s going to die without ever experiencing the feeling of running in the woods.” I snippily shot back.

I regretted my words almost as soon as her malicious laughter died out. That was a low blow. Even for me.

“Of all the humans out there, I don’t understand why the Goddess paired me with a rotten soul like you.” She snarled, sounding more aggrieved than venomous, before decisively cutting off our connection and huddling in her cage.

I sighed heavily and flipped back the covers. Why indeed. This was a question I had been asking myself for as long as I could remember. And up to this day, I found no answer. I prayed for Zaria to succeed.

At least one of us shouldn’t wander in the dark blind, right?

Right.

Releasing another sigh, I stood and entered the bathroom. Today, I would meet the Lycan Leader. The thought filled me with anticipation. But I couldn’t figure out why, as I hated the man. Perhaps it was because I was taking a step in the right direction, I surmised.

Taking a quick shower while brushing my teeth, I changed into a gray floor-length skirt and blouse, then coiled my ember locks in a long braid that brushed my knee. Putting on my favorite gold hoop earrings, I headed downstairs for breakfast.

The mansion was quiet. Aside from me and Idris Raed, only a handful of Omega servants resided in the Lycan Heir’s villa. I took a seat and grabbed an apple to munch on as the servants placed chicken burritos, sesame rolls with garlic and butter, fish soup, and fresh coconut pineapple juice on the round table.

The muffled thuds of footsteps ushered in the Lycan Heir. “Good morning, Saira. Did you sleep well last night?” Idris Raed greeted me as he pulled out a chair and sat beside me.

“Hm.” As good as it would ever be, I internally thought.

He grabbed a plate, rolled a burrito, spread butter on a sesame bun, and placed it before me. “We’ll meet the Lycan Leader in half an hour. Clan Elders will be present in the Meeting Hall. If you feel nervous, you can take my hand for support, but don’t show them any weakness.” He stressed, filling a cup with coconut-pineapple juice and setting it beside my hand.

I didn’t react to his service. Since I started living in his mansion, the Lycan took it upon himself to feed me. “Is that an order?” I asked, taking a bite out of the roll.

“No, I would never order you to do anything. It’s a heartfelt advice. The Lycans of the Pacific Sea are old-fashioned. They take joy in suppressing women and find even greater joy in forcing their opinions on them. If you want to live with dignity here, you must show them you’re not a pushover. Otherwise, they will stomp on you.”

“I knew there was nothing good in them.” I lamented, recalling how I got into this situation. Finishing my roll, I started on the burrito. Unsurprisingly, the Lycan beside me was already on his third one. “And you allow these psychopaths to lead your Clan?” I asked.

Gulping down his cup of juice, Idris Raed lowly chuckled. “Trust me. If it was up to me, I wouldn’t let them make any decision in the Clan at all.” He said and got out of his seat. “I’ll go and get my documents from your room while you finish eating.”

Before I monopolized it, the room I now sleep in belonged to him. “Go ahead, just make sure not to make a mess.” I warned him.

We still had fifteen minutes, so I wasn’t in a hurry. I finished my breakfast in comfortable silence, and went over in my head how to bring my request before the Lycan Leader. As a she-wolf, and one from the outside, I had no misconception about my current standing in this place.

However, I also wasn’t one to give up or cower from a confrontation for fear of failure.

Taking a deep breath, I left my seat and waited at the door with my hands clasped behind my back. When Idris Raed came down, we left the mansion without exchanging any more words.

The trek to the Lycan Leader’s Palace-and I say Palace, as that’s the only word to describe the blue behemoth before me-was a lot shorter than the journey to the Lycan Commander’s mansion. Situated in the center of the island, ginormous coconut and palm trees clustered on the right and left of the Palace, while a mountain waterfall loomed in the back, and outstretching vines encroached on the building from a vineyard in the front.

When we neared the building, a warrior opened the gate for us. His companions, standing on either side, dipped into a respectful bow, and stepped back.

‘How ostentatious!’ I tutted, internally reshuffling the imaginary hierarchy I created in my mind. Though a little different, it seemed the status of the Lycan Leader wasn’t much different from an Alpha’s in a werewolf pack. His prestige and place of residence was a notch higher than the Lycan Commander’s.

As we crossed the wired gate, I detected the faint buzz of static energy. An electrified, silver gate. From this, anyone could see the importance the Lycans placed on their leader’s safety.

“Lycan Heir, Luna Malivik, the Lycan Leader is awaiting your presence in the Meeting Hall.” A shy she-Lycan in a military uniform emerged from the back of the warriors and gestured towards the entrance of the blue palace. “I’m ordered to lead you.” She said and swept a scrutinizing glance at me.

I frowned. Was it me, or was there malice in her gaze?

Idris Raed smiled, one so rigid, I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes as my gaze swiveled between him and the she-wolf.

“Ahem! Saira, this is Asma, Caira’s sister and the Head of Security.”

Ah. Was that why she glared at me?

Before I could voice my doubts, Idris Raed grabbed my hand and commanded the she-Lycan. “Asma, take us to the Meeting Hall.”

“Yes, Lycan Heir.” Sounding awfully stiff, the she-Lycan turned and led us into the mansion.

As we passed Omegas and turned into a corridor, I leaned closer to the Lycan and whispered with a desire for gossip. “Is she only Caira’s sister and the Head of Security?”

“Why do you ask?” The Lycan threw back, a strange gleam flashing in his eyes as he looked at me.

“Why? No reason. Only…hehe…the daggers from your ex’s eyes were sharp enough to slice my skin.” I sneered.

“She…I’m sorry about that. I’ll warn her to watch her conduct and steer clear of you. She won’t cause you any trouble.” He anxiously promised.

“No worries, I don’t mind a little drama.” I said, ignoring the bitter smile that spread across his lips as we entered the Meeting Hall.

Instantly, tens of eyes immediately fell on our figures, causing me to frown in displeasure. Well…if I wasn’t already aware I was in a den of Lycans, their razor gazes were enough to remind me now.

“Saira, Idris, you’re here.”

A warm voice boomed from the middle of the hall. Seated on a blue throne, a middle-aged man garbed in black pants and a long-sleeved shirt, waved his hand towards us. “Daughter-in-law, come here. Let me have a look at you.” The man urged. His fair complexion and dark hair seemed to shimmer under the luminous glow of the chandelier hanging above his head.

As Idris Raed and I made our way to the center of the hall, the Lycan Leader got off his throne and impatiently descended the platform to grab my hand. “I heard you got sick. Are you feeling better now? Tell me, is this son of mine treating you well?”

I blinked my eyes in confusion, wondering where the warm reception came from. The Elders only played the role of villains.

Along with my father, the true mastermind behind my forced mate bond was this very man.

As such, his fatherly smile stabbed my heart in the most painful way.