Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 82

Chapter 6: Hiding

Cindy’s POV

I pressed my back deeper against the cold wall of my room, wishing I could dissolve into it. If

I breathed quietly enough, maybe the bond wouldn’t feel like claws dragging across my chest every time Derek got closer.

The distance pains had faded the moment he entered the territory.

“Why? He wants us, Cindy!” My wolf, Marina complained, just like she always did when this subject was brought up.

I was tired of it. Exhausted.

“And?” I shot back, sharper than intended.

I know she wants her mate; she is a wolf after all. Her instincts tell her what I’m doing is wrong, even if I know it isn’t.

She froze.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “You already know why we can’t trust him,” I reminded her.

Marina growled softly-not at me, but at the truth she didn’t want to face. “He isn’t like them.”

I laughed dryly. “He’s an Alpha, Marina. That’s exactly like them.”

Silence.

She can’t even counter. If she thinks about it carefully, she knows I’m right.

Instinct may be one thing, but that’s why I have a brain, to not fall on such traps.

I slid down the wall, hugging my knees. The memory crept in, unwanted and merciless, like it always did. The sound of shouting. The shattering bond. The betrayal.

One moment, that was all it took for me to lose it all.

It happened when I was still little.

I can’t remember names or details. I’m not even sure if my brain decided to forget about everything, or if I was too young to recall it.

All I know is there is a lesson burned into my bones:

Alphas can destroy everything. Fated or not.

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Chapter 6 Hrding

Marina’s voice softened. “Derek isn’t like him, Cindy. He was rogue, he was not an Alpha from

the start, I’m sure if-”

“He doesn’t have to be,” I whispered. “I’ve seen what Alpha authority does. I watched it break a fated bond as if it were nothing. I watched it tear families apart. I watched it destroy people who

didn’t deserve it.”

My wolf pressed closer, remorse washing through her. “Alpha Aiden didn’t destroy his bond. You saw how happy he was during the Luna ceremony.”

I scoffed. “Really? You want to bring our Alpha? Shall I remind you what happened to Irina before our Alpha finally decided to accept her? And besides, would he have done so if it didn’t turn out, or Luna wasn’t the omega we all thought she was?”

Marina huffed but said nothing.

I pushed myself to my feet, pacing. “I trust Aiden as an Alpha. As a leader. That’s where it ends. Do you remember how he treated Irina? How he made everyone believe she was just a weak Omega? He knew she was supposed to be Luna since the Alpha’s Gathering, and yet he decided to stay quiet and even made mean comments before everyone.”

Marina’s tail lowered, her ears dropped. “He changed.”

“Too late,” I snapped. “Irina still suffers because of his mistakes. Because of his blindness. Because he cared about his pride more than his Luna’s wellbeing.”

My chest tightened.

I can see how much it hurts her that the pack hasn’t accepted her, and all because her mate didn’t treat her properly from the start.

Marina whimpered. “He loves her now.”

“He should’ve loved her then,” I whispered.

Silence again.

A painful one.

“And you want me to trust Derek?” I shook my head, bitter and tired. “An Alpha who was in love

with Irina first?”

Marina’s hackles rose. “He didn’t choose her. He chose us.’

“He didn’t get the chance to choose,” I corrected. “The Moon Goddess chose for him. If Irina had accepted his proposal, we wouldn’t even be a thought.”

2/6

Chaplet & Hiding

Marina growled, low and warning. “You’re hurting yourself.”

“No, I’m making sure I don’t make a mistake.”

Marina went silent again; she knows she can’t convince me. Do I feel bad for telling my wolf she can’t have what she has always wanted?

Yes, and I’m also scared I may go into heat at any moment.

Still, I refuse to accept his touch, to let my desires disrupt my reason.

Yes, I don’t trust Alphas as mates.

“Cindy, we need some help in the kitchen!” One of the maids called for me.

I sighed heavily. I didn’t want to go to the main house today, but it looks like I won’t have a choice.

Marina perked up instantly. “Kitchen means main house. Main house means-‘

“Shut up,” I muttered under my breath, already pushing off the wall.

My legs felt stiff, like my body itself didn’t want to move from the safety of these four walls. The bond pulsed again-faint, but present. A reminder that Derek was somewhere nearby. That every step I took toward the main house would drag me closer to him.

Closer to trouble.

Closer to temptation.

Closer to the one thing I swore I’d never accept.

I wrapped my arms around myself as I left my small room and stepped into the cold hallway. I made sure to hide between the other maids as we walked to the main house.

We cooked and cleaned, and everything was ready for the other visitors who would arrive today. Thanks to all the work, I was even able to forget about Derek and my whole situation.

“Cindy, why don’t you take five?” Lina, the head maid, suggested.

“I’m fine, besides, you still need help.”

She rolled her eyes and waved her hand, dismissing me. “We have more than enough hands here; you need some rest, child.”

Before I could open my mouth and argue any further, she pushed me out of the kitchen. ” Come back in half an hour!”

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Chapter 6. Hiding

With that, she closed the door.

Perfect.

Just perfect.

ann

Half an hour with nothing to do except think. Precisely what I was trying to avoid, while I was working, I could ignore these feelings stabbing my chest.

Marina practically vibrated in my mind. “We should go outside. Get some air. Maybe near the training grounds-”

“No.”

She huffed. Loudly. “You didn’t even let me finish.”

“I didn’t need to,” I muttered, rubbing my arms as I stepped further into the empty hallway. “I know exactly where you want to go.”

She didn’t deny it.

“I’m going back to my room until someone calls me.”

“Come on! At least let me go out for a run!” She whined.

I haven’t let Marina out for a reason. I’m scared that if I give her control, she will try to find Derek. She might not be as big as other wolves, but she is hella fast.

I leaned against the wall, letting my head fall back with a quiet thud.

The kitchen and the rest of the house were too noisy; only this hallway, used only by the maids, was quiet.

For a moment, it was peaceful.

I closed my eyes.

I shouldn’t have.

Because the moment I did, his scent drifted in.

Faint. Not close. But present.

Pine. Rain. Warmth.

My eyelids flew open.

“No.” No, no- Not now. Not during my break. Not when he wasn’t supposed to be anywhere

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Chapter 6. Fuching

near this side of the house.

Marina’s tail wagged, excited. “He’s looking for us.”

“More reason to hide,” I hissed, already moving.

I walked quickly down the hall, turning the corner toward the back exit where the staff usually took their breaks. The narrow corridor gave me a small sense of comfort-if Derek turned

I’d hear him, smell him, feel him.

this way,

I pushed open the door and stepped outside into the crisp air.

The backyard was quiet. Empty except for a bench near the tall trees and the faint sound of wind brushing the leaves.

I exhaled slowly and sat, rubbing my hands together.

Half an hour. Just half an hour. Then back to work. Back to blending in with everyone else. Back to pretending the bond wasn’t slowly suffocating me.

“Cindy…

I flinched.

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