Behind The Luna's Mask

Caught.

LIORA

I spent more time on my new phone, setting it up and researching on the internet about things I could find about Drayton and his legal wife.

That was the least I could do after he left me all alone in the big dining hall. I knew no one around the pack, nor could I step out recklessly as I feared faltering and blowing my cover.

Several hours passed, and I made sure I kept myself company with the phone. Aside from trying to perfect being someone's shadow, I learnt new things to benefit myself too.

“Good day, young lady.” A middle-aged woman who looked to be in her late forties showed up by my side out of the blue.

I observed her quickly, unsure of how to respond.

Was she someone Stacy knew? Scratch that! She wouldn't be addressing her as ’a young lady’ if they were that close.

She couldn't be one of Stacy's staff, and there was no way she was her business partner or something.

The woman's dressing didn't spell anything at all close to that. She was dressed in a very casual white leather jacket, which made her stance a bit formal, but something about her said otherwise.

Her aura felt more like that of a respected pack member.

I cleared my throat before responding to her, trying so hard to imitate all I had noted about Stacy's speech and mannerisms towards people.

“How may I help you?” I asked carefully.

The woman chuckled lightly. “You don't have to try so hard. I know you're not Stacy Steele.”

My heart skipped several beats, hammering so fast I thought it would tear through my chest. Her words echoed in my head like a cursed chant I couldn’t shake off.

“I know you’re not Stacy Steele.”

No. That couldn’t be possible. I had done everything right, or so I thought. I’d memorized Stacy’s speech patterns, her way of holding a glass, even the subtle flick of her hair when she was irritated. I had studied her videos, read about her from online interviews, and watched the few shows she had hosted with Drayton. I had been cautious, quiet, and deliberate.

Had I done something wrong? Said something wrong? Was it the way I answered her? Or maybe the way I sat? Was I too upright and too alert?

My palms began to sweat, and I forced a tight smile to conceal my panic.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” I replied, praying my voice didn’t shake.

The woman’s eyes glimmered with quiet amusement.

“Oh, don’t worry,” she said in a very casual tone, smiling. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Her smile didn’t comfort me one bit. It terrified me greatly.

I tried to control my breathing, my mind racing in a thousand directions at once. Drayton couldn’t have told her, I reasoned quickly. He wouldn’t risk it.

The whole purpose of this deception was to make everyone believe I was Stacy Steele. Exposing me would undo his plan completely.

So who was she, and how did she know?

My eyes darted to the door behind her, wondering if I could leave without raising suspicion. But she stepped closer, her footsteps soundless, graceful, and predatory.

“What gave you such an impression?” I asked, forcing my lips to curve into a small, rehearsed smile. “You seem… mistaken.”

The woman chuckled again. She circled around me slowly, her gaze sweeping over me from head to toe like she was reading something invisible on my skin.

“You don’t recognize me, do you?” she asked suddenly, stopping right behind me.

I froze and hesitated as my tongue was caught between lies and confusion. “Should I?”

She moved to stand in front of me again, her eyes locking onto mine. “So you don’t know me at all.”

“I...” The lie was already forming on my tongue, ready to spill. Of course, I remember you. How could I not? That would be what Stacy said, right? Smooth, confident, and dismissive like the Luna that she was.

But before I could speak, the woman waved her hand lightly, dismissing me as though she already knew the game I was about to play. “Don’t bother pretending. I’m not here to test memories you don't have.”

Her voice held a sharp edge of authority, which didn't sit well with me.

“I’m Agnes,” she said, straightening her jacket. “Your newly assigned tutor.”

I blinked. “Tutor?”

“Yes,” she confirmed, giving a faint nod. “Alpha Drayton sent me here. He believes you could use some refinement. Knowledge about the pack, its rules, history, and, of course, about Stacy Steele herself.”

My lips parted, but no words came out. I could only stare at her, struggling to catch up with her revelation.

A tutor. So she wasn’t here to expose me but to help me maintain the lie.

Still, I couldn’t relax. There was something unnatural about the way her eyes studied me.

“I think you’ve made a mistake,” I managed to say, forcing an awkward laugh. “Why would a Luna need a tutor?”

Agnes tilted her head, that same knowing smile stretching across her face.

“Of course,” she said softly, her tone dripping with quiet amusement. “A Luna who couldn't recognize the Alpha's nanny?”

Holy f**k! I swallowed hard. Did I just act totally stupid with confidence?

Well, I can't be blamed. There was no way I would have thought of such a possibility.

Agnes took a seat on the closest dining chair without asking, her composure regal and confident.

“You may sit, L—” she stopped herself, smirking, “Stacy.”

Her deliberate pause made my blood run cold. She knew. There was no single doubt about that.

I obeyed, sitting across from her, trying to steady my breathing. I felt completely dumb sitting there in front of her, having flawed in my steps.

Would she tell Drayton about this? My cheeks and ears heated from anxiety.

“I’m to begin your lessons tomorrow morning,” she said smoothly. “We’ll start with basic history; the origin of the Crescent Moon Pack, its hierarchy, and its allies. Then we’ll move to the Steele lineage, and everything the Luna...” she emphasized the word... “must know to act her part.”

I nodded slowly, unsure of what to say next.

Agnes’ gaze met mine and I lowered my head in shame, my lips pursed.

“Luna Stacy would never lower her head in front of anyone.” She stated. “Take that as your first lesson.”

I immediately sat straight, my head held high on my shoulders. “I’m sorry, Mis—”

“Agnes. She'll call me Agnes.” she corrected.

“I’m sorry, Agnes.” I apologized. “I didn't mean to play on your intelligence earlier.”

She sighed, repositioning herself on the chair.

“It’s fine, I understand your plight.” She uttered. “You were only trying to act your role, but anyone very close to Luna Stacy would have guessed something was different before you said anything.”

“And why is that?”

“Stacy would never be in the dining hall by this time of the day. She'll probably be at work or on a trip.”

I paid proper attention to the woman. “Not even when she's at her leisure?”

“On a scale of 90 to 100, Stacy Steele was always busy. She had something profitable and productive to do at every hour of her day, ranging from outings, work, charity, learning new things, exploring the world, and others...”

From what I had garnered about Stacy beforehand, I knew she was a very busy woman. But 90 out of 100 sounded extreme to me.

“So she never really spent her time at home?” I asked, a lot more curious.

“Yes, she was mostly out in the world as a leading woman,” Agnes answered. “Besides, if she was home, she wouldn't linger all day in the dining hall like you're doing.”

Ouch! Her emphasis on the last few words of her utterance weakened me. It felt like all the efforts I had poured into acting my role perfectly had just been blown off by the wind.

I faltered nevertheless.