Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 84

Chapter 7: You Set The Pace

Derek’s POV

After what Aiden told me, I can better understand Cindy, but that doesn’t mean I will accept

the game she is playing.

The only way to get over this situation is to talk and clear everything. She needs to tell me her fears, and I need to find ways to erase those memories.

She needs to understand that hiding won’t solve our problems, and that even if she rejects

me, I won’t accept it.

Cindy is my mate, end of the story.

And she is perfect.

“The problem is we can’t find her, and we have been looking for more than an hour,” Rowan pointed out.

I sighed heavily, my shoulders slumping.

He was right.

I’ve tried to walk around the pack, and sometimes I caught a whiff or two of her scent, but the moment I tried to follow… it vanished.

“Cindy is clearly avoiding us,” I replied, thinking where else I could look for her.

“I know, Captain Obvious,” Rowan rolled his eyes. “I meant we need a new way to look for her, because this one clearly isn’t working.”

I couldn’t even snap back at him, because Rowan was right. Just like I could smell Cindy, she could do the same and run the moment she knew I was close. If I wanted to catch her, I had

to wait until she was too focused on doing something else to keep track of her other senses.

“Alpha, where are you?” Kael asked through the link. “Dinner will be served in about an hour. You should change.”

I looked at the sky and noticed the sun was already setting.

I can’t believe so much time has passed, and Kael was right. I had to get back. I came here as a visitor, if I don’t go down for dinner, that could look like I don’t respect Aiden.

Which I don’t, to be honest, but I know how difficult it has been for Irina, and I don’t want to

add more fuel to that fire.

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Chapter 7 You Set The Pace

I started walking back; it was time to give up on my quest.

For today. I won’t give up on Cindy.

I returned to my room and quickly changed. Inside, I saw a few omegas rushing around, probably preparing everything for dinner tonight.

Claim

“Why don’t we follow them? Cindy works in the pack house; she must be with the rest.” Rowan suggested.

“Rowan, this isn’t our pack. Aiden and I aren’t exactly friends. People can’t see me lurking around, or they may assume the worst. Like I’m investigating their Alpha,” I reminded him.

He huffed, but didn’t say anything else, so it looked like he understood my point.

“Alpha Derek?” One of the passing omegas flinched when she nearly bumped into me, bowing quickly before hurrying away with a tray.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

Do I look like I’m going to scold them or something? Don’t they know I was a rogue?

I’m not going to eat them, and I don’t want to think that I look scary because that means Cindy is scared of me, not only because of what happened, but because I don’t look approachable.

But the people in my pack don’t treat me like this.

Ugh, my head hurts. I decided to ignore those thoughts and kept moving down the corridor, heading toward the stairs. I needed to head back, look presentable, show face for dinner, and then-

Something hit me.

Hard.

Not physically. Not a sound. Not a movement.

A scent.

Sweet. Soft.

Warm vanilla. A hint of sandalwood.

My entire body locked.

Rowan’s ears perked. “Derek?”

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< Chapter 7 You Set The Pace

I didn’t answer. I had to focus on the scent and figure out where it came from.

I inhaled again-deeply this time.

The world narrowed. My wolf surged forward, teeth bared, pacing restlessly.

“Mate. Mate. Mate.”

She was nearby, the kitchen most likely.

Claim

I followed her scent down the hall, past a few doors, turning sharply at the back corridor near the staff exit. I ignored the few stares from the other pack members. I’m sure they are wondering why I’m here, but I won’t stop. If I do, Cindy may leave.

I stopped a passing maid. “Cindy. Have you seen her?”

Her eyes widened. “U-Um-she was in the kitchen earlier, Alpha Derek, but-”

“Where is she now?”

“Out-outside,” she stuttered. “She was told to take a break.”

I thanked her and continued walking until I rounded a corner and found the narrow service hallway-the one used by staff.

Her scent stopped at the back door.

My chest tightened because I could smell something else.

Salt, and that could only mean one thing… Cindy was crying.

I pushed the door open and stepped outside into the sharp evening air.

The yard was empty. No movement. No sound.

But her scent…

She was definitely here.

I closed my eyes and took another deep breath. The vanilla I had missed so much hit me like

a truck.

I followed her scent toward the trees, steps long and fast, breath deepening.

She was close-so close my heart slammed against my ribs like it wanted to break free and

run to her before I did.

I heard a sob, making me run even faster and then… I found her.

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She was sitting by a bench, shoulders trembling, looking up at the moon with tears falling

down her face-

And something snapped inside me

My body moved on its own. I cupped her face between my hands, tilting her toward me, and the sparks exploded under my palms like wildfire.

“Who the f**k made my mate cry?!”

My voice came out harsher than intended.

Her eyes widened-wet, red-rimmed, fragile in a way that made my chest ache.

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

“Cindy.” I softened my grip instantly, thumbs brushing her cheeks, wiping away those tears. Tell me.”

Because I would tear apart the earth, the sky, the pack house- I would burn every threat, every reason, every shadow that dared touch her-if someone made her cry.

I leaned my forehead against hers, breathing her in, ignoring the tremble in her lips.

“Who hurt you, sweetheart?” I whispered, voice low and rough. “Tell me so I can end them.”

But the truth hit me then-

Cindy was crying, the day I arrived to this pack. She was scared, I could practically smell it rolling off her in waves.

She was scared of the bond, of me, of what I could to do to her.

Slowly, I lifted her chin to meet her eyes.

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