Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 77

Aiden’s Regret: Chapter 1

Tired Luna

Aiden’s POV

“Aiden,” Ethan called as he opened the door to my office. “You… might want to come outside.”

I didn’t even bother looking up from the paperwork on my desk. I sighed-long, frustrated,

exhausted.

“That’s the third time this week,” I muttered. “And it’s only Tuesday.”

Ethan’s expression told me enough: it was bad.

The pack still hadn’t fully accepted Irina. Even after the ceremony-after my declaration, after the Alpha command that shook the damn ground-people still made mean comments, they tried to isolate Irina or ignore her completely.

“Even if I go out there, they’ll try to hide it,” I continued bitterly, “They pretend like they didn’t do anything.” My jaw clenched. “And the idiots who still haven’t gotten it through their skulls that if they disrespect her, they die.”

Ethan winced. “Yeah, well… this time, dying might be considered a mercy.”

That got my attention.

I straightened slowly. “What happened?” My voice came out gravelly.

He scratched the back of his head. “So, uh. Our Luna… she’s outside.”

“I know she’s outside, Ethan. She went for a walk.”

“Yeah. But she’s… surrounded.”

“By who?” I snapped, already standing.

“By omegas.”

I froze.

“What do you mean omegas?”

“I mean like… ten? Maybe twelve? And they’re-” He swallowed a laugh. “Aiden, they’re crying.”

What.

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What the hell?

“Crying?”

I was already storming past him. “Why the hell are they crying?”

“Oh, that’s the best part,” Ethan added cheerfully as he followed me down the hallway.

“They’re apologizing.”

I stopped abruptly. “Apologizing?”

“Yep. Ugly crying. Like puffy eyes, snot, shaking voices.”

I blinked once. “What did she do?”

“Well…” Ethan grimaced. “That’s the thing. She didn’t do anything.”

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As soon as we reached the courtyard doors, I picked up the sound-soft whimpers. Sniffling. Mumbled excuses. Apologies tripping over apologies.

My wolf, already on edge, surged with alarm at Irina’s scent mixed among them.

I shoved the doors open.

And the sight froze me in place.

Irina stood there, calm as a goddess, her hands clasped gently in front of her. Meanwhile, twelve omegas knelt around her in a semi-circle, bawling like children.

“I’m so sorry, Luna-”

“You have every right to scold us-”

“We are unworthy-”

“Don’t let the Alpha banish us-”

I stared.

Irina looked up and met my eyes. “They are trying to frame me and make the pack think I’m abusing my power,” she explained through the link.

Irina’s voice slid into my mind so softly, so calmly, that for a moment I didn’t process the

words.

“May I ask what you have done?” Irina suddenly spoke, ignoring all the pleas from those

omegas.

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Some pack members had already heard the commotion and started gathering around, pretending to fulfill their duties.

They hadn’t said anything, but they didn’t need to. I knew they were judging Irina and me.

“We should banish them!” Arlo growled.

“Let me handle it,” Irina linked me back before I could open my mouth.

“We were unfair to you, Luna. We made mean comments about-”

“You think I’ll banish you for mean comments?” Irina asked with an arched eyebrow.

“I would,” Arlo grumbled lowly.

“The Alpha said if anyone disrespected you, they would be banished,” the omega argued. ” That includes making mean comments.”

For f***s sake.

They want to make me look like someone who threatens his own pack into worshipping his

mate.

“Stand up,” Irina said calmly.

None of them moved. If anything, they cried harder.

“I said,” Irina repeated, voice still soft but layered with Theia’s, which made even Arlo’s ears perk. “Stand. Up.”

Twelve omegas scrambled to their feet, trembling.

Irina never raised her voice. She didn’t need to; her aura was more than enough to silence them as she finally let it slip.

“If you believe I’d request your banishment over childish comments,” she continued, “then you clearly don’t understand me at all.”

Her gaze swept across them. “Or maybe…” She tilted her head, “You hoped someone would think I did. Is that it?”

The omegas froze. Irina’s intuition was correct.

She sighed heavily. “You four work in the pack house, right?”

“Luna, we just-we-” one stammered.

“You just what?” Irina asked, finally letting her eyes narrow. “Wanted pity? Wanted to look like

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the victims?”

A few of the crowd flinched.

“I know the pack hasn’t accepted me yet, but that doesn’t mean you can use these petty tricks to start rumors about me, and what’s worse, about your Alpha,” she stated firmly.

Several wolves in the crowd stiffened at that. It was one thing to start rumors about your Luna. That would get you in trouble with me, but to try to start rumors about an Alpha…

That is grounds for banishment, and they know it.

The four omegas from the pack house exchanged glances-guilty, panicked, caught.

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Irina folded her hands in front of her again. “You insulted me. Fine. That’s on you. But staging a spectacle so others believe I’m abusing you?” Her eyes narrowed. “That is manipulation. And it puts the entire pack at risk.”

I felt heat crawl up my spine. Irina was standing up for herself.

“L-l-luna, our intention was never to-”

“Your intention is clear, and although I’m not going to banish you, I will assign you somewhere else. I can’t let omegas who want to harm their Luna and Alpha stay in the house,

“Irina’s order was absolute.

One of the omegas choked out, “No! Luna, please! W-We didn’t think it would get this far-”

“Yes, you did.” Irina’s reply cut through his excuse like ice. “You wanted witnesses. You wanted to look afraid. You wanted people to believe I was cruel.”

All the omegas started crying, for real this time. To lose your job at the pack house meant the rest of the pack would scorn you.

They begged, but Irina wouldn’t budge, and she had my absolute support.

“And all of you,” she continued, sweeping her gaze across every warrior and omega who decided to stop to hear what was happening, “I know you are desperate to see me banished, but know that your Alpha has marked me. If I ever leave, he will be in pain, so stop these

ridiculous antics.”

The crowd quickly scattered after that, and I finally cut the distance between my mate and hugged her tightly.

She didn’t need me here; she had been more than capable in managing that situation, but I’m glad she isn’t pushing me away now.

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“You handled that,” I said quietly, “better than most Alphas would have.”

Irina didn’t smile. She didn’t glow with pride. She just looked… tired.

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“It was necessary,” she murmured. “They were trying to make you look like a tyrant. I won’t let that happen.”

I wanted to kiss her, to let her know that I appreciate everything she has done, but that i would take care of the rest. That I’d crush anyone who even thought of trying to frame and harm her again.

That she didn’t need to fight these battles alone.

But before I could say any of it…

Irina sighed.

It was a long and heavy sigh, like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

She offered me a smile.

Beautiful. Gentle. But hollow.

“Irina…” I murmured.

She shook her head lightly, stepping back from my hold.

“I’m just tired,” she said, her voice smooth, steady… and painfully empty. “I’ll go lie down for a while.”

I reached for her wrist without thinking, but she slipped out of my touch with a practiced ease

that told me it wasn’t accidental.

“I’ll be fine,” she added, looking up at me with eyes that said everything she wouldn’t speak

aloud.

“I just need some rest.”

Then she turned around and walked inside.

The moment she disappeared from sight, something inside my chest tightened like a fist closing around my heart. My wolf growled sharply, pacing in panic.

“She is getting tired because the pack members keep messing with her, Aiden. You need to stop them or else we might lose her!” Arlo was frantic, pacing inside my mind.

And to be honest, I wasn’t sure on what to do myself.

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He wasn’t wrong. The pack was harder and harder to control, despite the fact that I had made. sure everyone understood disrespect toward my mate wouldn’t tolerated.

“What if she decides to leave the pack an call Derek?!”

That made me freeze.

I know Irina loves me, but enough is enough, and even if she is in love, that doesn’t mean she

has to stand rudeness.

The fear hit me so hard I had to brace a hand against the nearest wall. I hadn’t realized I was walking aimlessly until now.

Ethan stood a few feet away, watching me.

“Don’t,” I warned without looking at him.

“I didn’t say anything,” he replied.

“You were about to.”

“Actually, I wasn’t.” He crossed his arms. “I’m just trying to decide whether I should tell

that you’re being an i***t… or remind you this didn’t happen because she’s weak. The pack is simply being a collective pile of—”

you

“Ethan.”

“-disappointments,” he finished.

I dragged both hands through my hair.

“She’s exhausted,” I murmured. “She shouldn’t have to deal with this. She shouldn’t have to defend herself every damn day. She shouldn’t feel-”

Unwanted.

Unwelcome.

Like a stranger in her own home.

Like leaving is easier than staying with me.

My wolf snarled, the sound loud in my skull.

Ethan stepped closer. “Aiden… she doesn’t want to leave.”

I didn’t answer.

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“Fix this,” Ethan said softly. “I’m sure you have something in mind.”

I swallowed hard.

“Irina won’t like it,” I argued, that’s why I haven’t done this yet.

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Ethan shrugged. “Better to have an angry Luna than no Luna at all. Remember, Debbie isn’t here anymore; perhaps she feels alone.”

I run my fingers through my hair. “I can’t ask Debbie to come for a visit, she will come with Kael and Derek, and-”

“Derek has a mate,” Ethan pointed out.

“One who hasn’t accepted him,” I countered.

Ethan approached me, clasping my shoulder. “Do it, Alpha. Don’t let your fear stop you. You already did that once, and that’s why you are in this mess.”

I sighed, because Ethan was right.

It was time to stop this nonsense once and for all.

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