Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Attack in the Library

Irina’s POV

I think I’m hallucinating.

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Perhaps Derek hit me too hard, and right now I’m lying unconscious in the middle of the ground. That makes way more sense than the fact that he is interested in me as his Luna.

“Why are you so stunned? He asked us to go out on a date with him,” Theia reminded me.

“A date is one thing. That’s like taking a stroll or swimming in a pond. What he is suggesting is diving headfirst in the middle of the ocean, filled with piranhas!”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. It is practically the same thing.”

I’m not sure how she can be so calm. I thought Derek wanted me because he saw me as a challenge, or perhaps he was interested in having me as his girlfriend, but as Luna?

That is way more than I am worthy of.

His arm around my waist was solid and possessive. He was not letting me go so easily,

meaning he wanted an answer.

And he wanted it now.

“Don’t you want to wait for your second chance, mate?” I asked him, my voice lowering. “Ant Alpha should have his fated mate by his side. I’m not worthy of being Luna.”

Derek’s gaze didn’t waver. “The mate bond is a powerful pull, Irina. But it is not a command. It is an opportunity, a potential. But so is this.” His hand tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to emphasize his point. “You may not think you are worthy of being Luna, but I beg to differ.”

I gasped, his grip around my waist tightening.

“I see a woman who survived in a pack that didn’t know who to punish. They wanted to find someone to blame, and they directed all their anger to you,” he said. “You could have hated them for it, you could have found a way to make them pay, but instead you chose to leave without owning them anything.”

My body shuddered as he leaned in, his soft lips brushing against my ear’s shell.

“You are a fighter, a warrior, but you still care and don’t want anyone to suffer,” he whispered against my ear. My legs started trembling. “I heard you protected the pups from Aiden’s pack,

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< Chapter 40: Attack in the Library

even though your own wolf was hurt because of Lancer’s rejection.”

How did he-

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ed, his voice a low, intimate vibration

“But that’s not all. You are also a strategist,” he against my skin that made my knees weak. “From what I’ve heard, many people admire you because of your skills during battle. I heard many Alphas had their eyes on you during the Alphas’ Gathering.”

Yeah, as a lover. I thought, but couldn’t bring myself to say it aloud.

“I agree with all of them. You are a great treasure, Irina. The only thing I couldn’t agree on was keeping you as a lover.” So… I didn’t even need to say it; he already knew what the rest thought of me.

“I can’t even say you are a diamond because they aren’t as rare as people think. It would be a star if I had to compare you to something. Unique, brilliant, and meant to guide an entire pack from the heavens, not be locked away in a treasure chest.”

His words stole the air from my lungs. A star….

Derek’s hand came up, his fingers gently tilting my chin so I had no choice but to drown in the sincerity of his gaze. “I don’t want a lover I have to hide, Irina. I want a partner the entire pack can look up to. I want a Luna whose strength makes them feel safe, and whose intelligence ensures they will thrive. I want you.”

A soft, disbelieving sound escaped me, half-laugh, half-sob. “A star?”

“The brightest one in the sky,” he affirmed without a hint of hesitation, his thumb stroking my

cheek.

“You will get in trouble for doing this. The council won’t be happy, and you just became an Alpha.”

“Do I look like I care?” He chuckled. “Irina, I became an Alpha because I am not a scaredy cat. I saw how the Alpha behaved here and couldn’t let him harm the omegas. I have obtained power to protect, not to please a council of wolves who have lost touch with what it means to lead.” His gaze was fierce, unyielding. “Let them be unhappy. My pack, my rules. And my

pack will be lucky to have you.”

I laughed. Derek is not scared of anything, but perhaps that is because he doesn’t understand what it would mean to go against the Council. His pack is beautiful; anyone who knew he had fallen out of grace would try to absorb it.

And there was another issue…

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I was mated to another, a man who could destroy Derek if he wanted to, and I couldn’t let

such a kind soul suffer because of me.

I refuse.

I grabbed his hand and finally pulled away. “Derek, I’m grateful for the offer, but I have to refuse. I understand if you want me to leave after-”

“Why would you leave?” he asked. “You are in my pack as a guest, Irina; that doesn’t mean you have to say yes to my advances.”

I blushed.

“At least not yet.”

“Not yet?” I echoed, my voice small.

“Not yet,” he confirmed, his smile soft but unwavering. “The offer stands, Irina. It will stand for as long as you need it to. But you are welcome here as my guest, for as long as you wish to stay, regardless of your answer.” He took a small step back, giving me the physical space l suddenly realized I needed to think. “The only thing I ask is that you don’t refuse out of fear for me. I can handle the Council.”

I gulped and nodded. It was time to return to the pack house.

“If Aiden were here, he would have challenged Derek,” Theia pointed out.

I sighed, knowing she was right. “I can’t let that happen, even if he seems right for me.”

“So, what do you plan on doing?” She asked even though she knew the answer. Theia loves to do that; she wants me to voice our inner thoughts.

“I will have to leave this pack after the trial. It wouldn’t be fair for him to risk his pack, his title, his very life for a woman tied to another Alpha by a bond she can’t break. A bond that could be used as a weapon against him.”

“But is it fair to us?” Theia countered, her voice a soft, rebellious whisper. “To deny ourselves this chance at happiness because of what-ifs? He said he can handle it. Besides, a rejection breaks the bond.”

“He’s brave, not invincible,” I argued silently, my gaze fixed on Derek’s retreating back as he led the way toward the pack house. The set of his shoulders was broad and confident. “And the bond will only break if Aiden accepts, which I doubt.”

Theia sighed. “Then let’s see what happens when our mate arrives.”

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<Chapter 40: Attack in the Library

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