Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 88

Chapter 11: The Bet

Aiden’s POV

Irina’s glare could have set me on fire.

I knew the second the words left my mouth that I’d f****d up. I wanted to talk things out to avoid further misunderstandings, but I guess I should have waited until tomorrow.

“Ya think?” Arlo huffed. “Freaking genius.”

Her lips parted, breath still uneven, pupils blown wide from pleasure… and fury. A lethal combination. My lethal combination.

I kept my hands on her face, thumbs stroking her cheeks gently, trying to keep her anchored to me before she spiraled into full-on rage mode.

She didn’t answer right away. She just stared at me like I was the biggest i***t in the entire country.

“…Aiden,” she said slowly, with that very special tone that meant you’d better choose your next words carefully or sleep outside.

f**k.

I swallowed, softening my voice. “Baby… I noticed you were burning holes through the new guests tonight. Did something happen? Did she say something to you?”

“Are you dumb?” Arlo asked, but I ignored him.

“Did something happen?” she repeated, incredulous. “Are you seriously asking me that?”

She shoved my hands off her face, but not entirely-she let them fall to her shoulders

instead.

Okay, that was a good sign.

“Do you have something to tell me?” She questioned with a quirked eyebrow.

I was about to open my mouth when Arlo growled. “Aiden, let me give you a piece of advice if you don’t want Irina to leave us.”

“What?”

“When a woman asks you something, it is because she already knows the answer.”

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Chapter 11 The Bet

“Do you think she knows Karen and us-”

“Us?” He huffed. “I can’t control your d**k, Aiden. You know I never wanted to be with anyone besides our mate. And answering your question, yeah, I’m sure she knows.”

f**k…

“So?” Irina pressed.

I froze.

Not because I didn’t know what to say-but because Arlo was pacing inside my head like a rabid wolf ready to chew my spine out.

“This is it,” he muttered. “This is the moment she either stays… or she skins us alive and decorates the damn hallway with our fur.”

“Not helping,” I hissed mentally.

Irina’s eyebrow lifted higher. Her arms crossed beneath her breasts, and her foot tapped once

on the floor.

“Cat got your tongue, mate?”

f**k.

Okay. No more delays.

“I should have told you about Karen,” I admitted, keeping my voice steady.

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t interrupt.

“But before you jump to conclusions-”

“Oh, I am already there,” she said sweetly. Terrifyingly sweetly.

Arlo whimpered. “Why did you take so f*****g long?”

I pushed him back and focused on her.

“Irina, I swear I didn’t have a romantic relationship with her,” I explained. “Karen wanted more, but I told her I would only be with my mate. She didn’t take it well and hasn’t spoken to me in years. I’m not sure why she came to the Harvest Moon. I only invited her brother.”

Irina didn’t move away. But she didn’t soften either.

“When the warriors told me she had arrived, I wanted to talk to her and make sure she didn’t stir up trouble. I warned her I found my mate and that I wouldn’t tolerate it if she said

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The Bet

something to you.”

Irina rolled her eyes. “Didn’t you hear her?”

I sighed heavily and nodded. “I did, and asked Ethan to handle it this time. There won’t be a second, I can assure you that, baby.”

She stared at me like she was deciding whether to kiss me… or throw me off the terrace.

“I told you Karen wouldn’t follow your rules,” Arlo reminded me.

“Then that means we will have to declare war on Black Claw,” I replied without hesitation.

I only gave her one chance because I respect her brother, but I asked Ethan to make sure Karen understands that what she did today won’t be tolerated a second time.

Irina scoffed. “Oh, really? Did she look warned to you? Because to me she looked very-” she wiggled her fingers mockingly “-scared.”

Arlo groaned. “Our mate is right, you should have done better.”

I ignored him and stepped closer, placing my hands on her waist.

“She won’t try anything again,” I said softly. “Not after tonight.”

Irina arched a brow. “You think she listens to you?”

“She will,” I said, voice dropping lower, darker. “Because anyone who disrespects my Luna will deal with me. Personally.”

Irina’s eyes flickered-just a tiny flash of satisfaction she tried to hide.

“Okay, why don’t we place a bet?” She said, crossing her arms over her chest and smirking.

Goddess… Why don’t I like this?

“Alpha Aiden,” For f***s sake, that’s the last voice I want to hear right this moment.

I took a deep breath and turned around. I was in the middle of my training session with the warriors, and unless it was Irina, I hated it when anyone bothered me.

“Karen,” I greeted coldly, letting her know I was not happy with what she was doing. “Is it something important?”

“Nah, you should just tell her to f**k off,” Arlo exclaimed.

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Chapter 11. The Bet

She smiled like she thought this was some sort of game. “I just thought we should talk.”

“I don’t,” I replied.

Karen took a step closer. I didn’t move, but my wolves did-every warrior stiffened behind me, ready to step into action.

“It’s about earlier,” she said sweetly. “I didn’t mean for things to escalate. I just wanted to-”

“You insulted my mate.” I didn’t raise my voice. I didn’t need to.

Karen blinked innocently. “Aiden, she misunderstood. I didn’t mean-‘

“Karen,” I cut her off sharply, “stop talking.”

Her mouth snapped shut.

Good.

I stepped forward, making the distance between us shrink until she had to tilt her head back. My expression never changed.

“You were given a single warning,” I said quietly, so quietly she had to strain to hear. “One. If you do what you did yesterday again, I’ll hand your head to Levin.”

Karen swallowed, and for the first time, she looked unsure. “I… I didn’t think you meant it. Everyone knows you hated Irina.”

“Oh, I meant every word.”

I leaned in slightly.

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