The Alpha's Mafia Luna novel Chapter 24

Dinner was… weird.

I kept poking at the food on my plate, chewing slowly even though I

didn’t taste a thing. Damian was seated across from me, quiet as

usual, drinking something dark. Mira was the only one keeping the

table from falling into an abyss of silence, humming under her breath

as she twirled her fork through her salad.

He hadn’t said anything about yesterday.

No “why were you in my office, Selene?” No, “you saw the file, didn’t

you?” Nothing.

Maybe he was testing me. Maybe he didn’t care.

Fine. I wouldn’t ask either.

“Is everything alright?” Mira asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Hm?” I blinked.

“You haven’t said a word since we sat down,” she said. “That steak’s

not gonna cut itself, you know.”

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I managed a small smile and picked up my knife. “I was thinking.”

“About?”

“I want to go shopping tomorrow,” I said, just loud enough for

Damian to hear too.

He glanced up, one brow raised. “Shopping?”

“Yes.” I met his eyes. “Clothes. Shoes. Fresh air.”

Mira perked up. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

Damian’s gaze held mine for a beat longer. Like he was trying to

figure out if there was something hidden beneath my calm. I didn’t

blink. I didn’t flinch.

“Take a few guards with you,” he said finally. “Mira will go too.‘

I nodded once. “Alright.”

He didn’t ask why. Didn’t ask what I needed. He just went back to his

drink.

I didn’t ask anything either.

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The next morning, he was gone.

I checked the kitchen. The balcony. His study. Nothing.

No note. No text. No one even mentioned where he’d gone.

I guess this was just… normal with him.

Whatever. I wasn’t going to dwell on it. Not today.

“Are you ready?” Mira called out, already waiting near the car with

her sunglasses on and her hair looking like it had its own glam team.

“As I’ll ever be,” I muttered, stepping out.

The black car was polished like it just came out of a showroom. Two

guards in front. One driving, the other riding shotgun. Silent, serious

types. I slid into the backseat beside Mira.

“Tell me again why I’m doing this?” I asked.

“Because you need new clothes,” she said. “And because I’m bored.”

“I just needed an excuse to leave the house.”

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Chapter 24

“Mm. A woman after my own heart.”

The mall wasn’t far.

Crowded, glittering, overly fancy. Mira went wild almost instantly,

dragging me into shops, holding dresses up to my chest, whispering

critiques about random strangers.

“You’re buying that?” I asked, watching her hold up a feathered

purse.

“Yes,” she said without a shred of shame. “I have no idea why, but

yes.”

I smiled faintly. She was ridiculous.

I didn’t buy much. A few pieces. A jacket. Lip balm. The essentials–or

at least what I could pretend were essentials.

The truth? I didn’t care about shopping.

I just wanted out.

The air felt less heavy in the city. The voices, the chatter, the flashing

lights. It made me feel less like I was caged.

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We headed back around evening. The sun was starting to dip, painting

the sky with orange and gold streaks. Mira leaned against the seat

beside me, flipping through her phone.

Then I saw him.

“Stop the car,” I said immediately, sitting forward.

“Huh?” Mira asked, lifting her head.

“Stop the damn car.”

The driver pulled up smoothly to the curb, no questions asked.

Mira followed my gaze out the window–and froze.

Across the street, inside a softly lit café, sat Damian.

And Layla,

They were laughing. She was leaning forward, touching his hand. He looked… comfortable. Relaxed. Like he belonged there.

Like they belonged together.

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“I don’t know why, but I didn’t feel good,” I said quietly, eyes still on

them. “My chest feels… weird.”

“He’s not even supposed to be here,” Mira muttered, sitting up

straight. “Is he–Is she flirting?”

“She’s always flirting.”

Damian turned slightly, his gaze lifting–and just like that, our eyes

met.

I held it for a second.

Then leaned back slowly. “Drive,” I said.

Mira didn’t argue.

Silence again.

The car hummed gently beneath us, the city slipping past the

windows.

My thoughts felt loud in the quiet. My skin felt too tight. Why did I care so much? Why did it bother me to see him with her?

Maybe it was because of how easily he laughed with Layla… but never

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with me.

Mira was quiet for a second, then turned to me. “You okay?”

“No,” I said honestly, watching the city lights blur past the window. “I

don’t know why it bothers me this much.”

“It’s Layla,” she replied softly. “And he looked… happy.”

“He’s not supposed to be with her,” I said, voice tight. “She’s his ex.”

“And you’re his Luna,” Mira added, giving me a look.

“Exactly.” I turned toward her. “I’m his Luna. Whether he likes it or

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