Chapter 8
1618 Words
Vincent didn't understand why Diana had suddenly frozen.
At first, he blamed it on shock.
Then he slowly released her.
The moment he turned around, his blood ran cold.
Aiden stood in the doorway.
His expression was unreadable.
That was worse than anger.
“Al... Alpha, I was... I was just—”
“Another lie and you're dead.”
Aiden's voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
Vincent swallowed hard, his heart pounding against his ribs.
He'd faced rogues with bloodlust in their eyes. He'd stood beside Aiden during wars and watched warriors die without flinching.
But standing before his Alpha now, Vincent felt like a condemned man waiting for the executioner to decide when to swing the blade.
He waited.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Aiden said nothing.
Then he turned and walked away.
Vincent stared after him.
That was it?
No punishment?
No interrogation?
Nothing?
“Alpha?” Vincent hurried after him.
Aiden stopped.
He had barely caught up when Aiden spoke without turning.
“Why did you lie?”
Vincent's throat tightened.
“I didn't mean to.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Vincent lowered his gaze.
“I was scared.”
Aiden finally turned.
“Of me?”
Vincent hesitated.
“Yes.”
Something flickered across Aiden's face.
Disappointment.
Not anger.
Somehow, that made Vincent feel worse.
“I didn't know how you'd react,” he admitted. “Diana and I grew up together. I didn't think it was important.”
“Is she your lover?”
Vincent's eyes widened.
“God, no!”
The answer came so quickly that Aiden's eyebrow lifted, but deep down, he was satisfied.
“I mean...” Vincent rubbed the back of his neck. “I do love her.”
Aiden's expression hardened.
Vincent immediately realized how that sounded.
“No! Not like that. I mean like a sister. We've known each other since we were children.”
Aiden stared at him for several seconds.
Vincent didn't dare move.
“Childhood friends, eh?” Aiden finally said.
“Yes.”
“And you couldn't tell me that?”
“I didn't think it was the right time.”
Aiden scoffed.
Vincent exhaled quietly.
He'd survived.
Or so he thought.
“Thank you, Alpha. I'll return home now.”
“Who said you were going home?”
Vincent stopped.
Aiden had already turned away.
“You're moving into the mansion.”
Vincent blinked.
“I'm... what?”
“She might run away again.” Aiden's tone left no room for argument. “You'll be her guard.”
Vincent's eyes widened.
“Her guard?”
“Yes.” Aiden paused. “And you'll watch her at all times.”
There was something strange about the way he said it.
Vincent noticed.
So did Aiden.
He just didn't know why the thought of Diana being alone with Vincent irritated him so much.
Perhaps it was because Vincent had lied.
Perhaps it was because he didn't trust anyone around his new Luna.
Or perhaps—
No.
Aiden dismissed the thought immediately.
“She's your childhood friend,” he continued. “It should make your job easier.”
Vincent forced a smile.
“Of course, Alpha.”
Aiden walked away this time, forcing his legs to actually move.
Vincent waited until he was out of sight before dragging a hand down his face.
“I'm so screwed.”
Meanwhile, Diana paced across her suite.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Her heart hadn't stopped racing since Aiden caught Vincent hugging her.
She couldn't stop imagining the worst.
What if he'd killed him?
What if Vincent was lying somewhere downstairs, bleeding because of her?
She pressed her palms against her temples.
“This is all my fault.”
Her mother.
Vincent.
Everyone who got close to her seemed to suffer because of her.
A soft knock came from the door.
Diana froze.
Aiden.
It had to be him.
Her pulse jumped.
She rushed toward the door and yanked it open, ready to give him a piece of her mind.
“You bastard—”
“Hey.”
She stopped.
Vincent stood there.
Alive.
Diana stared at him.
For a moment, she couldn't believe her eyes.
Then she threw her arms around him.
“I thought he was going to kill you!”
Vincent stiffened before slowly wrapping his arms around her, not sure how he felt about hugging Diana anymore
“He didn't.”
Diana pulled back.
“Are you sure?”
He laughed. “I'm right in front of you.”
She examined his face, his neck, his arms.
No blood.
No bruises.
Nothing.
Relief washed through her.
Then she noticed his expression.
He looked miserable.
Her smile disappeared.
“What did he do?”
“Nothing.”
“That isn't what your face says.”
Vincent sighed.
“Diana...”
“What did he do?”
Vincent looked away.
“He told me I'm moving in.”
Diana frowned.
“Moving in where?”
“Here.”
Her eyes widened.
“Here?”
“At the mansion.”
She stared at him as though he'd just announced that he'd joined Aiden's personal army.
“Why?”
“It will be fun.”
“Fun?”
“Yes.”
“Vincent.”
“I'm trying to make it sound better.”
Diana folded her arms.
“What did Aiden ask you to do?”
Vincent's smile vanished.
“Diana, it doesn't have to be—”
“Vincent.”
She stepped closer.
“Tell me the truth.”
Her voice was quiet.
But Vincent knew that tone.
Diana had always been stubborn.
When she wanted an answer, she would dig until she found it.
“He wants me to guard you.”
Silence.
Diana stared at him.
Of course.
She'd known it.
She was a prisoner.
A beautifully dressed prisoner locked inside an Alpha's mansion instead of a dungeon.
She laughed bitterly.
“You're his guard now?”
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be.”
“I mean it.”
“No, you don't.”
Vincent's face fell.
Diana turned away.
“You're all the same.”
“Diana—”
“Torturers.”
“That's not fair.”
She spun around.
“My mother is in his dungeon!”
Vincent hesitated.
Diana noticed.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You hesitated.”
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
Vincent cursed silently.
He'd known this would happen.
“Diana, Aiden isn't—”
“Don't defend him.”
“He's been decent to you.”
“Decent?” She laughed.
“He's holding my mother hostage.”
“He hasn't hurt her.”
The words escaped before Vincent could stop them.
Diana went completely still.
“What did you say?”
Vincent's face tightened.
“Nothing.”
“You said he hasn't hurt her.”
“I meant—”
“Vincent.”
She walked toward him.
“Tell me what you know.”
“I don't know anything.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear—”
“You're terrible at lying.”
Vincent stared at her.
She was right.
She had always been terrifyingly observant.
He sighed.
“I only know that your mother is alive.”
“Of course she's alive, he's using her captivity to taunt me.” Diana's voice trembled. “That bastard.”
Vincent didn't answer.
That silence told her more than his words ever could.
Diana's mind began racing.
Something wasn't right.
But before she could question him further, Vincent spoke.
“You're his Luna now.”
Her jaw tightened.
“I am nothing of his.”
“You're wearing his mark.”
Her hand instinctively went to her neck.
The scar was still tender.
Aiden had marked her.
The memory made her stomach twist.
“He thinks that means he owns me? I'd rather die than mate with him.”
“Diana—”
“He's wrong.”
Her eyes hardened.
“He wants a submissive Luna. And your family owes him.”
She straightened.
“Fine.”
Vincent frowned.
“Fine?”
Diana's lips curved into a small smile.
It wasn't a happy smile.
It was the kind of smile that made Vincent nervous.
“I'll be his Luna.”
Vincent stared at her.
“Wait just like that?”
“Yea.”
“That face says otherwise.”
Diana walked toward the enormous windows overlooking the estate.
Beyond them stood the towering walls surrounding the mansion.
Guards patrolled the grounds.
There were cameras.
Werewolves.
Locked gates.
She couldn't leave.
Not yet.
But she didn't need to leave immediately, she needed information.
She needed access.
She needed to find her mother.
And most importantly...
She needed to learn everything about Alpha Aiden, his strengths, his weaknesses, and know when to strike.
Diana slowly turned back to Vincent.
“If Aiden wants me to play the role of his Luna, I'll play it.” She told Vincent, unable to tell him that she was planning on doing anything that would destroy Aiden, since he wanted to destroy her first.
Vincent's eyes shrunk in confusion.
“Diana? Don't do anything stupid. He can be insane.”
She ignored Aiden's warning, a strange determination settling over her features.
She had spent her entire life studying the human body.
Observing.
Analyzing.
Finding weaknesses.
Aiden was no different.
He was simply the most dangerous patient she'd ever encountered.
And if she couldn't overpower him...
She would outsmart him, she lifted her chin.
"He has no Idea what's coming for him. I'll give him seven days to release my mother. If he doesn't, I swear on her life and that of the moon goddess, that I will kill him."
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