Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Stronger Than an Alpha

Derek’s POV

Claim

I wanted to conquer Irina’s heart. She was the perfect Luna, even if she was an enigma wrapped in mystery. Watching her stand there, poised between Aiden and me, her spine straight and her eyes blazing with a resolve that had been forged in fire, I felt a familiar ache. The desire to protect her warred with the undeniable truth: she was not mine to claim. Not in that way.

Irina was not my mate; she won’t ever be, and apparently, their relationship is improving.

She was Aiden’s.

At least the bastard finally realized the star he had before him. Now that we aren’t even sure

what Irina is, I’m sure he curses himself.

She is not an omega, that’s for sure, but I have to agree with Irina on something. She doesn’t smell like anything else. Even her aura is meek, so I wonder what mysteries we will unravel.

“So, you are really going to let her go?” Kael asked as he stepped inside my room.

I am almost finished packing. My friend already contacted me, and we had a lead. Traveling by car from here took three days, but it was necessary. This would shed some light on who Irina truly is and what she is capable of.

“She is not my mate, Kael,” I reminded my Beta.

”

“And she never will be,” Kael finished for me, leaning against the doorframe with a knowing look. “But that’s not what I asked. I asked if you’re going to let her go.”

I paused, my hand hovering over the bag. “Do I have a choice?” I chuckled dryly. “I gave Irina a choice, but of course, the bond will win.”

“Not necessarily,” Kael countered. “He was a huge douche, if you played your cards right, you

“No,” I cut him off. “Irina is not a toy to play with, and I’m not going to get in the middle of her bond. Something will happen if she is meant for me, but if she isn’t, I won’t force things.”

“That’s why I like you, my human,” My wolf growled in approval. “We are an Alpha of honor, not a scavenger who steals another’s fated claim.”

I almost chuckled; my wolf always treated me like this. Rowan was like this. He never called me by my name, but he said he liked me, so I guess I have to believe him.

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<Chapter 46: Stronger Than an Alpha

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“So, you are just going to help her out of the goodness in your heart?” Kael questioned, his eyebrow shot up in disbelief.

I wanted to roll my eyes. This was not the first time melped someone. It was true that it all started because Irina caught my eye, but now it’s bigger than that. “This isn’t just about Irina anymore, Kael. This is about the truth. An Elder is involved in a cover-up. A pack is built on a lie. That kind of corruption threatens us all.” I slung my bag over my shoulder. “If exposing it helps Irina find her place, that’s a bonus. But I can’t let what is happening keep happening. Today it is Blue Moon, tomorrow it could be Silver Fang.”

Kael’s smirk finally faded, replaced by a look of grudging respect. “So we’re not just helping the girl. We’re cleaning house.”

“Exactly,” I said, heading for the door. “We’re going to find out who Irina is, and in the process, we’re going to expose the rot in Blue Moon and the Council. Whether she ends up with Aiden or not is irrelevant. What matters is that when the dust settles, the playing field is level, and

the liars are held accountable.”

I paused at the threshold, looking back at my Beta. “And if that means I have to watch the ‘star’ I recognized shine in another Alpha’s sky, then I’ll just have to be content with knowing I helped polish her.”

It was the truth, even if it tasted a little bitter. Some victories weren’t about possession. They were about principle. And this was a battle I intended to win.

We were near the meeting spot with Rylan. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. Irina stood between Aiden and me, her posture rigid with a mixture of anticipation and fear. Aiden was a coiled spring, his gaze constantly scanning the shadows, his entire being focused on her safety.

I watched her from the corner of my eye. The ‘meek’ aura Kael had mentioned was still there, a quiet hum, but beneath it, I could now sense something else-a deep, resonant power, like a slumbering volcano. The wolfsbane immunity wasn’t a fluke. It was a symptom of a much larger truth.

A twig snapped in the distance. We all tensed.

A figure emerged from the trees. He was lean, with sharp eyes that missed nothing, and scars that spoke of a life lived on the edge. Rylan.

His gaze swept over us, lingering for a moment on Irina with a flicker of recognition and something else… pity?

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< Chapter 46: Stronger Than an Alpha

“Derek,” he greeted me with a curt nod, his voice a low rasp. “You brought company. And trouble, by the looks of it.”

“The trouble was already here, Rylan,” I replied ev

e’re just following its trail.”

Claim

Rylan’s eyes returned to Irina. “You look familiar,” He stated.

Irina’s breath hitched. “I…”

“We came here because there was a wolf living here as a rogue,” Aiden explained. “Julie, we aren’t sure if she lived by that name, but here is her picture.”

Aiden gave him his phone, and my friend took it and nodded. “Yeah, Derek told me about her. I’ve been asking around, and she lived a preeeety sweet life.”

Irina made a small, choked sound beside me. All this time, she had carried the weight of guilt, believing she had stolen a life of luxury while Julie suffered.

“Explain,” Aiden commanded, his voice like cracking ice.

Rylan just stared at him. Ethan, his Beta, came from behind and smacked the back of his head.

“Could you tell us more?” I asked with a more polite tone.

Rylan shrugged, a cynical twist to his lips. “The rogues who took her in weren’t struggling. They didn’t live in a pack but had everything she might need. The girl had tutors, for Moon’s sake. Learned to fight, to read, to act like a proper little lady. They thought she was their kid, meaning they wanted to give her everything, but one day, that settlement was destroyed.”

“Destroyed?” Irina asked, and Ryan nodded.

“I found a few survivors, but yeah, there were ten rogues, almost all of them were killed, and that woman,” He returned the phone to Aiden. “Was gone.”

“When did that happen?” I asked this time.

“About… five years ago? I’m not so sure, but it happened before she turned eighteen, of that

I’m certain.”

Irina stumbled back a step, her hand flying to her mouth. The color drained from her face, leaving her ashen. “Five years… I… I thought she didn’t know about me until recently, but does that mean…?”

She didn’t finish, but she didn’t have to. We all knew what she had in her mind.

“Irina,” Aiden called softly. “You don’t-”

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< Chapter 46: Stronger Than an Alpha

The rigid control she’d maintained since we arrived was shattered. Her knees buckled.

Claim

Aiden was there in an instant, his arm snapping rounder waist to hold her up. “Irina!” His voice was sharp with alarm.

But my eyes weren’t on Aiden. They were locked on Irina. As the world tilted for her, the meek aura around her vanished for a second as she lost her balance. It was replaced by something else, but it was so quick that we almost didn’t catch it.

Rylan let out a low whistle, his sharp eyes wide. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he muttered, looking from Irina to me. “You didn’t tell me she was a live wire, Derek.”

“I didn’t know,” I said, my voice rough. My own heart was hammering against my ribs. Her aura was stronger than an Alpha’s, that much I know.

Aiden held Irina close, his face a mask of concern and confusion. He’d also felt the tremor in the air and the brief, seismic shift in the woman in his arms. “What was that?” he demanded, his gaze darting between Rylan and me.

“That,” Rylan said, crossing his arms, a grim smile playing on his lips, “is the real question, isn’t it? I’ve never felt anything like it, but if you want me to explain what happened to your mate, I would say she is far stronger than an Alpha.”

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