Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17: A Nightmare

Irina’s POV

Theia was a whirlwind of confusion. “He was jealous? But… why? Over who?”

I had no answers. Only a deep, unsettling ache that had nothing to do with my injuries. I couldn’t stay here, drowning in his scent and unresolved turmoil. The doctor came later, pronounced me healing well, and with a nervous glance around the Alpha’s room, gave me permission to leave.

I didn’t wait for Aiden to return. I gathered the few things I had and fled back to the stark, cold safety of my maid’s quarters. The tiny room felt like a sanctuary after the overwhelming intensity of his presence. Here, the air was still and smelled of dust and cheap soap, not pine and storm and tortured Alpha.

The following day, life returned to its grim normalcy. I was summoned to Julie’s room to help her dress for the day’s Gathering events. My body still ached, a constant reminder of the rogue and the subsequent emotional earthquake.

I entered her room, my head bowed, my posture the picture of subservience. Now that we were back on what she considered her turf, I expected a torrent of abuse and a fresh round of

threats.

But Julie was silent.

She stood by the window, her back to me, staring out at the Shadow Pack grounds. She didn’t turn as I entered. She didn’t acknowledge my presence at all. It was a different kind of game. Not the explosive, slap-happy drama she usually preferred, but a cold, calculated ignoring. She treated me like I was beneath her notice, not even worth her venom.

It should have been a relief. Instead, it set my nerves on edge. This was worse. This was the

calm before the storm. She was planning something.

I moved quietly, laying out the dress she was to wear- a beautiful white and yellow sundress that would look beautiful on m-

Her.

It would look beautiful on her.

She let me help her into the dress, her arms lifting mechanically, her body rigid. She didn’t complain about the fit. She didn’t criticize my technique. She just stared at her reflection in the mirror with a cold, distant expression, as if I weren’t even there.

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< Chapter 17: A Nightmare

“I’ll be gone for the day. We have a meeting with all the Alphas. You can do whatever you want, but I need you for dinner,” she ordered.

I lowered my head. “Yes, Miss Julie.”

The dismissal was clear. I turned to leave, eager to escape the oppressive silence of her room. My mind already turned to the mindless chores that would fill my day-a welcome distraction from the turmoil inside me.

My hand was on the doorknob when it turned from the other side.

Claim

The door swung open to reveal Elder Harden, his expression grim and impatient. He looked past me, his eyes landing on Julie.

“Julie, come. The meeting is starting shortly,” he said, his voice carrying the usual weight of command. Then, his gaze flicked to me, standing there like a ghost trying to disappear. “And you. Come with us.”

Julie’s cold mask slipped, revealing a flash of pure irritation. “Why? She’s not needed. She’s just my maid.”

Elder Harden’s jaw tightened, a clear sign he had no patience for her questions. “The matter requires her input. That is all you need to know. Now, both of you, follow me.”

My input?

Right… they brought me here because I got the education Julie didn’t. I almost forgot about

that.

Julie looked like she’d swallowed something sour. She shot me a venomous look that promised retribution for this inconvenience before sweeping past me, her head held high. “This is highly irregular,” she muttered to the Elder, but she followed him nonetheless.

Elder Harden led us not to the grand hall where the main Gathering meetings were held, but to a smaller, more private council chamber. I saw several Alphas sitting around; some of them I recognized, and others I didn’t. My mate was sitting at the head of the table.

His grey eyes lifted as we entered, sweeping over Julie before landing on me for a fraction of a second. His expression was a mask of cold neutrality, but I saw the slight tightening. around his eyes. He hadn’t expected me here either.

Elder Levis and another Elder I didn’t recognize were also present. This was a high-level council meeting.

“Ah, good, you’re here,” Elder Levis said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority. “Please, sit.”

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< Chapter 17 A Nightmare

Julie took a seat next to her mother, who offered her a tight, anxious smile. I remained standing near the door, unsure of my place.

“Irina,” Elder Levis said, his gaze focusing on me. “Please, come closer.”

Claim

Every eye in the room turned to me. Serim’s gaze was sharp, assessing. Julie radiated pure hatred. And Aiden… Aiden just watched, a silent, intimidating statue.

I took a few hesitant steps forward, stopping a respectful distance from the table. “Elder Levis,” I murmured, keeping my eyes down.

“We are discussing the upcoming trade negotiations with the Mountain Ridge Pack,” Elder Levis began, steepling his fingers. “It is a delicate matter. Their Alpha is… traditional. He places great value on protocol, on the strength and unity of a pack’s leadership.”

My stomach clenched. I knew where this was going.

“Julie,” Elder Levis continued, turning to her. “As Blue Moon’s heir, you will be expected to participate. To offer insights. Can you tell us the significance of the white fox pelt in their customs? It is often a central point in their opening ceremonies.”

Julie blinked. She shifted in her seat, a flush creeping up her neck. “The… white fox? It’s… a symbol of… prosperity?” she guessed, her voice lacking any certainty.

Elder Levis’s face remained impassive, but the other unfamiliar Elder shook his head slightly.

“It symbolizes cunning and successful negotiation,” I said softly, the words leaving my mouth. before I could stop them. Eighteen years of brutal tutoring kicked in. “It is presented to the visiting Alpha as a sign of respect for their shrewdness. To mistake it for prosperity would be seen as… simplistic and ill-informed.”

The room went utterly silent. Julie’s face flamed a deep, mortified red. She looked like she

wanted to leap across the table and strangle me.

Elder Levis nodded slowly, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. “Precisely.” He turned his gaze back to Julie, whose fists were clenched in her lap. “And the proper response upon receiving

it?”

Julie opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She was utterly lost.

“One must never touch the pelt directly,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I could feel Aiden’s intense gaze burning into me. “The recipient acknowledges it with a bow and a formal thanks for the ‘wisdom of the hunt, affirming the bond of respect between equals.”

The silence that followed was deafening. I had not just corrected Julie; I had completely humiliated her in front of the most powerful people in the region.

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<Chapter 17 A Nightmare

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