Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Alpha Derek Riegrow

Irina’s POV

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I checked my notebook. Because of the huge amount of work I had, I couldn’t find anything about what could have made Aiden hate me.

Lancer avoids me like I’m the plague, but it doesn’t hurt as much as I expected. The distance pains have dulled as well, fading from a sharp, constant agony to a low, background hum of wrongness. It’s as if my body and soul are finally accepting the severance, the scar tissue thickening over the wound.

I was now waiting for the final blow, but Theia and I were ready for it this time.

“I’m sorry about before, I… should have been on your side,” Theia whimpered.

I smiled despite the throb inside my chest when I thought about the rejection. “I know you want a mate, Theia. I’m the one who should be sorry because you were paired with a human like

me.”

Theia wanted to say something else, but at that moment, flower arrangements arrived. I had to make sure everything was right in place for tonight’s event, and then for Serim’s Alpha

ceremony.

“Where would you like these, Miss?” a young Omega delivery boy asked, his eyes wide as he took in the sheer volume of blooms.

“Over there,” I said as I pointed at some of the vases I had already placed.

As the boy scurried off, a familiar, hated scent washed over me.

I really thought she was going to leave me for the time being.

“Planning on redecorating with weeds, Irina?” Julie’s voice was a sneer as she emerged from a hallway. “I suppose it’s fitting. Common flowers for a common maid.”

I glanced around and noticed nobody was here. No wonder she is ready to pick up a fight.

“The flowers were picked considering all the visitors we are having tonight,” I said as I bowed, keeping my tone flat and servile.

“Weeds? Does she have any idea how much those ‘weeds’ cost? The orchids cost a freaking fortune!”

“I know, but she doesn’t. Even if we explained it to her, she wouldn’t understand,” I reasoned,

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Chapter 25: Alpha Derek Riegrow

aking Theia hump.

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ulie circled the arrangements, her nose wrinkled as if she smelled something foul. “They’re arish. Too much white. It’s funereal. It makes our pack look weak.” She stopped in front of me, her eyes glinting with malicious intent. “I think you’ve made a poor choice, Irina. A deliberate one, perhaps? To embarrass us in front of our guests?”

wanted to pinch the bridge of my nose and smack some sense into her, but at that moment, saw some pack members pass by.

selected them based on traditional pack symbolism for new beginnings and strength, Miss Julie,” I replied, making sure I kept my voice neutral, almost as if I didn’t care about what she had just said to me. “White for purity of leadership, green for growth. If you want me to change the arrangements, I can do it. We still have a couple of hours until our visitors start arriving.”

Are you correcting me?” she hissed, taking a step closer. The air around us grew cold. The pack members stopped and started watching us. I’m sure Julie hasn’t noticed them yet. “You

orget your place, Omega. I know about pack traditions.”

“I would never dare, Miss Julie,” I said, dropping my gaze. “I was explaining my reasoning for the arrangements, that was all, but as I said, if you want them changed, I can do it quickly.”

She scoffed. “That’s more like it. You need to learn your place and realize you don’t know everything about traditions.”

Actually, she’s quite right.”

A sudden voice cut through our fight.

The moment my eyes landed on the visitor, I froze. We were not supposed to have any Alphas

arriving yet.

Julie arched an eyebrow as she folded her arms over her chest. “And who may you be?”

The man who stepped into the scene commanded everyone’s attention. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark brown hair covering part of his warm chocolate eyes. He was dressed impeccably in a tailored suit that couldn’t hide all the muscles beneath.

Handsome was too simple a word; he was striking, with an aura of calm authority that

stantly put Julie’s petulant energy to shame.

I haven’t seen him before, meaning he must be from a new pack.

He offered a slight, polite bow that was both respectful and carried the effortless grace of a high-ranking wolf. “Alpha Derek Reigrow of the Silver Fang Pack,” he introduced himself, his

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< Chapter 25: Alpha Derek Riegrow

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voice a smooth, resonant baritone. “My apologies for my early arrival. The mountain passes were clearer than anticipated.”

Silver Fang?

“The previous Alpha was challenged by a rogue. I’m sure he is the rogue,” Theia reminded me.

Julie’s bravado faltered for a fraction of a second, her cheeks flushing as she realized she’d just been rude to an Alpha. “Alpha Reigrow,” she said, her tone shifting to a poor imitation of graciousness. “Welcome to Blue Moon. I am Julie, the Alpha’s daughter.”

“A pleasure,” he said, though his chocolate eyes flicked to me for a heartbeat before returning to her. “I couldn’t help but overhear your discussion regarding the floral arrangements. I must say, your maid is correct. The symbolism is quite traditional and, if I may say so, impeccably chosen. I’m sure you were behind this organization as well, which means you have trained her well.”

Julie’s face stiffened. This man had just insulted and praised her at the same time.

“You are right,” she quickly said, recovering her act. “I must have forgotten about the flower arrangements. Planning such a huge event is straining you, see.”

“Indeed, it is,” Alpha Reigrow said smoothly, his smile never wavering, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He turned his gaze fully to me. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well, although I don’t know your name.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. This was dangerous. Praise from another Alpha would only fuel Julie’s hatred. I kept my eyes downcast, my voice a soft murmur. “Thank you, Alpha Reigrow. I merely follow the established customs through Miss Julie’s guidance. My name is Irina.”

“No last name?” He inquired, so all I did was shake my head.

He must not have heard about my fall from grace, but soon he will hear the rumors and treat me like the rest.

With disdain.

“Well, Miss Julie and Irina,” the moment he mentioned my name, I felt a shiver run down my spine. The way those words rolled out of his tongue sounded so sexy…

WHAT?!

No, Irina. I need to snap out of it.

“Could you please show me to my room? The trip was not as long as I expected, but I still

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<Chapter 25: Alpha Derek Riegrow would like to freshen up.”

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I nodded, bowing just slightly when Julie grabbed my arm. “If you dare move, I’ll kill you,” she whispered.

“Of course!” She cheered, dropping my arm to take a step closer to the new Alpha. “I’ll show you to your room, and you can tell me all about Silver Fang as we walk. I’m sure it’s very interesting.” She looped her arm through his, a gesture that was overly familiar and entirely inappropriate for a first meeting.

Alpha Reigrow’s smile remained placid, but I saw the subtle tightening around his eyes. He gently but firmly extracted his arm from her grasp. “That is a kind offer, Miss Julie, but I would not dream of pulling you away from your crucial oversight of the preparations. Irina seems more than capable of showing me the way. Unless, of course, you feel your guidance is required for something as simple as finding a guest room?” He raised a single, questioning eyebrow.

Julie’s face paled, then flushed again. She was trapped. “Of course not,” she said, her voice strained. “But I just received word that our other visitor just arrived, so why don’t we wait by the front door, and then Irina can take all of you to your rooms?”

I have an ominous feeling about this, but since what she said made sense, I had no way to

decline.

We walked to the main door and stood in the grand entrance, the silence between Julie and Alpha Reigrow thick and awkward. My own heart was a frantic drum against my ribs, the ominous feeling coiling tighter in my gut with every passing second.

Then, we heard it. The low, powerful purr of an engine, followed by the crunch of tires on the gravel drive. A sleek, black SUV, imposing and familiar, rolled to a stop directly before the main steps.

The driver’s side door opened first.

Aiden Keaton emerged.

The air left my lungs in a silent rush. He was dressed in a dark, impeccably cut suit that emphasized his broad shoulders and lethal grace. His expression was its usual mask of icy indifference, but his grey eyes scanned the entrance, missing nothing.

The low, humming ache in my chest, the one I’d almost grown accustomed to, sharpened into a piercing throb. Theia let out a faint whimper.

But then, Aiden didn’t approach. Instead, he turned and walked to the passenger side door. My breath hitched.

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