Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Irina the Slave

Irina’s POV

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My blood ran cold. I knew that voice. I hadn’t expected to hear him so soon, and even less for him to be so close to me.

Aiden.

He was here, in the pack, right in front of me, his aura slipping, causing my head to spin.

I’m sure he had broken her wrist, with all the force he used. Thankfully, that man took her

away.

“Irina? Maybe we should focus on what is happening. You see that pouch?” Theia pointed out.

Right. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Is that wolfsbane?” I asked.

Theia nodded.

Where did she get that? Wolfsbane is now banned. The Council made sure to destroy all the

it wild plants in this country. The only way to get it is to get out of wolf jurisdiction or to get from an Elder.

Derek and Aiden were furious. Both their auras clashed.

Derek’s gaze shifted to me, filled with a grim apology. “Irina, I-”

“She was going to poison you,” Aiden’s voice interrupted, rough and certain. He hadn’t moved from his position, a solid, imposing barrier between me and where the threat had been. His own gaze was locked on me, intense and searching. “She had it in her other hand. You were so focused on the strike, you didn’t see it.”

My gaze fell; it was evident I was unprepared for combat. I’m not sure how I didn’t notice I wasn’t an Alpha’s daughter before.

“Stop scolding her,” Derek snapped, his voice cutting through the heavy air. “She’s been through enough.” He took a step toward me, his expression softening with a concern that felt genuine, yet suddenly fragile. “Irina, you are safe now. I will get to the bottom of this.”

Aiden let out a low, derisive sound. “Safe? Your pack member just tried to murder her with wolfsbane. Your word means nothing right now.” His eyes never left me, burning with an unsettling mix of fury and something else-a raw, possessive protectiveness that made my skin prickle. “She comes with me.”

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The statement was absolute, a decree. It wasn’t a request. It was an Alpha claiming what he

believed was his.

Derek moved to stand fully between Aiden and me, I own aura flaring in defiance. “She is my guest. She stays.”

The two Alphas faced each other, a silent war raging in the space between them. The air grew thick, charged with their conflicting power.

“ENOUGH!” I screamed to get their attention. “I can make a decision on my own.”

“Iri-”

“No,” I cut Aiden off. “I will choose where I want to stay. I know what happened has you on edge, but this can happen in your pack as well.”

Aiden’s jaw clenched. “You don’t know that.”

“But I do. I’m sure she heard the rumors about your proposal and acted out of misplaced loyalty,” I said, my voice gaining strength as I addressed both of them. “That doesn’t make it right, but it means other women will think the same thing in this or in Shadow-”

“WHAT?!” He roared. “What proposal?!”

“Opsie…”

“Aiden I-”

Before I could finish, Aiden grabbed Derek by the throat and shoved him against the nearest bookshelf. The sound of wood groaning under the impact was deafening in the sudden

silence.

“What proposal?” Aiden snarled, his face inches from Derek’s, his voice a guttural threat that promised violence. His control had shattered completely.

Derek, to his credit, didn’t struggle. He met Aiden’s furious gaze, his own eyes blazing. “I offered her the place by my side,” he gritted out, the words strained but clear. “As my Luna.”

He has a death wish.

“How f*****g dare you?! She is my mate!” He roared. “I’m going to-”

“You won’t!” I yelled. “You won’t touch a single hair on his head or threaten to take his title, because if you do, I’ll reject your ass again!”

I saw how Aiden’s back tensed; I know what I did wasn’t exactly the smartest move, but I was desperate. The air crackled with a dangerous new energy. Aiden slowly released Derek, his

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hands falling to his sides, clenched into white-knuckled fists. He turned to face me, and the look in his eyes made my blood run cold.

“You would choose him?” Aiden’s voice was dangerously quiet, a stark contrast to his previous roar. “After what he just allowed to happen under his own roof? You would threaten me for him?”

“It’s not about choosing him!” I shot back. “It’s about you thinking you can solve everything with violence! It’s about you treating me like I have no say in my own life! You can’t just barge in and start making demands, Aiden! That’s what started all of this!”

Derek straightened up, rubbing his throat.

“Derek told me you wanted to come to make things right with me, but I can see you haven’t changed one bit.”

Where is this strength coming from?

No idea.

Am I going to regret this later?

Most likely.

“Irina… I’m sorry. I don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all,” He admitted, but all I could do in return was scoff.

“I got hurt in your pack, remember? The night we met outside, I was covered in bruises, which didn’t happen because I’m clumsy, and you knew it.”

Aiden’s grey gaze dropped. “You are right. I’m sorry. This won’t happen again.”

“It better not,” I replied instantly.

“You’re right,” he repeated, his voice hollow. “I knew. I was stupid and still thought you were not worthy of being my mate, but now I can tell I’m not the one worthy of you.”

“At least he knows it,” Theia grumbled.

“So, I’m asking you to give me a chance now. I’ll stay here, but wait until you feel comfortable with me,” His voice was a plea. “All I’m asking you is to give me a chance.”

I looked at him and, for the first time, noticed how much Aiden had changed. He had dark circles under his eyes, and I’m sure he was thinner and paler. Almost as if he had aged ten

years.

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< Chapter 42: Irina the Slave

“He looks like…”

“Like s**t,” Theia finished for me. “It is obvious he ha

en sleeping or eating properly.”

I sighed. She was right. I’m sure his days haven’t been easy, and my heart…

It aches. I can’t see him like that, even though he treated me unjustly. I… I’ll give him a chance, even if I don’t think he deserves it.

“A chance,” I repeated.

He nodded. “A chance. Just one.”

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“You can stay, Aiden. But my terms stand. You follow my lead. You respect this pack and its Alpha. You prove yourself with actions, not words.” I paused, letting the full weight of my next words sink in. “And you understand that this chance is fragile. One wrong move, one moment of the old you, and it’s over. For good. You will accept my rejection, and I will move on with my life.”

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