Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26: His Date

Irina’s POV

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The voice was low, for my ears only. It wasn’t Aiden’s cold command or Lancer’s remembered warmth. It was Alpha Reigrow’s smooth, resonant baritone. His arm around my waist was firm, steadying, a solid anchor in the violent sea of my shock and pain. His touch was impersonal, yet it felt like a lifeline thrown to a drowning woman.

The gesture, however, was a spark thrown into a powder keg.

I felt the air behind me shift, grow impossibly colder and heavier. Aiden’s presence, which had been a storm on the horizon, suddenly became the eye of a hurricane centered directly on us. I didn’t need to turn to feel the full force of his glare; it was a physical pressure against my back, a silent, furious demand.

“Aiden is not happy,” Theia whispered, a strange mix of fear and vicious satisfaction in her

tone.

Understatement of the century, I thought, my heart hammering against my ribs so hard I was sure Derek could feel it.

“I don’t care if he is happy or not, Theia.”

Debbie’s light, tinkling laugh cut through the tension. “My, such chivalry, Alpha Reigrow! I have heard a lot about you, but I never expected you to be such a gentleman.”

“The well-being of all pack members is a priority,” Derek replied easily, his arm dropping from my waist as I found my footing. His tone was mild, but the look he shot toward Aiden and Debbie was anything but. “Irina is being so kind to show us our rooms despite all the work she still has left. I’m glad to have such a beautiful company by our side. Wouldn’t you agree, Alpha Keaton?”

Aiden’s jaw was a hard line. His grey eyes, when they finally tore away from Derek and me, were glacial. “I agree with the part that she must be busy. Let’s not keep the staff from their duties,” he said, his voice dripping with a contempt that made me flinch. He emphasized the word ‘staff’ as if it were a curse. “Lead the way, Omega.”

Theia growled this time. She was no longer the meek wolf who would cower every time Aiden said something mean to us.

“Yes, Alpha,” I murmured. I wanted to get out of here fast. Thankfully, this event only lasted three days. After that, I would pack my bags and leave this place.

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Chapter 26: His Date

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I could feel the three distinct auras behind me: one a blizzard of rage, one a sunlit meadow, and one a deep, still lake hiding unknown currents.

My first stop was the room prepared for Alpha Reigrow. “This is your room, Alpha Reigrow,” I said, my voice thankfully steady as I opened the door. “I hope it is to your satisfaction.”

He paused at the threshold, his chocolate eyes meeting mine. “I am certain it will be. Thank you, Irina.” His gaze was intent, as if trying to convey something words couldn’t in this very public, very dangerous space. Then, he stepped inside and closed the door, leaving the three of us in the hallway.

The silence was immediate and suffocating. Now it was just me, Aiden, and Debbie.

“And where will we be staying?” Debbie asked.

I kept my eyes averted. “Alpha Keaton didn’t tell us in advance he was bringing company, so we prepared two rooms. One for him, and the other for the Beta. If you could stay in the one down the hall I’ll prepare another room for you two.”

Debbie tilted her head. “Why would I need another room? The ones you prepared are fine.”

I wasn’t sure what to say next. Was she telling me they were going to share only one room?

“It’s the one down the hall, right?” She asked, and I nodded.

“Yes, that one and the one to the left,” I said, but before I could finish, Debbie turned around.

“Thanks, Irina! I’ll take the one down the hall. Aiden, you can have the one next to Derek. It’ll be like a little slumber party!” She winked, her tone light. Then, without another word, she practically skipped down the hallway, her red hair swinging behind her, and disappeared into the room I’d indicated for Aiden.

I stood frozen, completely bewildered. Aiden looked taken aback. I’m sure she is the only one who dared to speak to him that way.

“What just happened?” Theia asked, echoing my own thoughts.

Debbie hadn’t been mean. She hadn’t been cloyingly sweet with a hidden agenda. She’d been nice. Bubbly. And she had just utterly derailed whatever script Aiden had been following by refusing to play the part of his intimate companion.

The slam of a door down the hall made us both jump. Alpha Reigrow’s door was now firmly shut as well, leaving Aiden and me alone in the silent corridor.

The confusion on Aiden’s face vanished, smoothed over by a fresh wave of anger, though this time it seemed directed inward. His grey eyes locked onto me, and the full force of his

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<Chapter 26: His Date

attention was terrifying.

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“What did you say to him?” he demanded, his voice a low, dangerous growl. He took a step closer, invading my space. “Reigrow. What did you do to make him defend you like that?”

The accusation was ludicrous.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Alpha Keaton. I just met him today, minutes before you arrived.”

His eyes flashed with something dark and possessive. “He doesn’t get to touch what’s mine,” he snarled, the words ripped from him as if against his will.

I arched an eyebrow. “Alpha Keaton, you may not have rejected me, but that doesn’t mean I’m yours.”

“Irina-”

“No,” I said, cutting him off. “I’m not sure why you haven’t uttered the final words to break the bond between us, but since you seem to have moved on with your life, I should do the same.” The audacity to bring a woman to this pack and then accuse me of flirting with another Alpha. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish the preparations for tonight.”

Before I could leave, his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. His grip wasn’t brutal but unbreakable, his skin burning against mine.

“Let go of me,” I said through gritted teeth, trying to pull away, but if you compared an omega with an alpha, there is no way I could win.

“Stay away from him,” he growled, ordering me.

The hell?!

For the first time in weeks, I felt this anger surging inside me, and I didn’t try to suppress it. Theia surged forward, lending me a strength that wasn’t physical, but pure, unfiltered

defiance.

“Or what?” I shot back, my voice low and shaking with a rage I didn’t know I still possessed. I stopped trying to pull away and instead stepped closer, forcing him to look down at me. “What will you do, Aiden? Reject me? You should have done that months ago. Humiliate me further? There’s nothing left you can take. Bring another woman to flaunt in my face?” | gestured wildly toward Debbie’s door. “You’ve already done that! So tell me, what exactly is your threat?”

His eyes widened a fraction, shock momentarily overriding the anger.

“Yes! That’s it! Tell him!” Theia roared in triumph inside my head.

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apter 26: His Date

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in not your possession to claim when it’s convenient and discard when it’s not,” I

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