E POV


    I couldn’t help it. That damn bond, that fucking perfect form of his-it made my body react in ways I didn’t want, made a throb form between my legs that I couldn’t tamp down because of the way he had my thighs spread.


    All it would take was for him to move aside the robe, unzip his trousers…


    Suddenly, the door swung open.


    “Alpha, the first guests are arriving for the banquet-”


    Gabriel’s voice cut off abruptly as he saw ourpromising position. I jerked my head up just in time to see the Beta’s face turn beet red, and he quickly whirled around to avoid looking.


    “I apologize for interrupting, but the first guests are arriving. They’ll be expecting you soon.”


    The moment had passed, and Alexander coolly sat up, then slid off the bed and tugged his button-down on. “Tell our guests we’ll be down shortly.”


    We. As if we were a real couple who had been really about to make love.


    As if any of this wasn’t a fucking joke.


    Gabrial nodded and quickly left. I sat up, pulling the robe tighter around myself, and tried to keep my expression as neutral as possible. I couldn’t tell if Alexander had felt the same physical reaction I had to our closeness or if he was just manipting me, and I decided it was better if I didn’t try to find out.


    “I’ll go get ready,” I said, standing.


    “No need.” Alexander finished buttoning his shirt and strode over to the door, grabbing his suit jacket on the way out. “I’ll send someone to bring you a dress. Since you enjoyed using my suite so much to get ready earlier.”


    I blinked, but nodded tightly.


    He then grabbed the doorknob, but hesitated, ncing over his shoulder.


    “For what it’s worth, I know you’re full of shit,” he said. “Try all the tactics you want, but I won’t divorce you.”


    And just like that, he was gone.


    I sat on the edge of his bed for a few minutes, feeling both satisfied that I’d sessfully frustrated him for a few minutes but also a little disappointed. This was going to be harder than I thought.


    A momentter, there was a soft knock on the door. I opened it to find the same servant girl from earlier holding a silky red gown in her arms.


    “The Alpha asked me to bring you a dress, Luna,” she said, curtsying and holding it out to me.


    I took the dress and held it up, studying it. It was nothing short of dramatic, the silky red fabric flowing down and nipping in at the waist. It had a plunging neckline and low back, and the thin straps were practically nonexistent.


    I recalled purchasing this dress when I first married Alexander, thinking that he would want me to dress sexy-before I realized that I was expected to dress more modestly as the decent Luna of the strongest pack. I had put it in the back of my closet without wearing it even once and hadpletely forgotten about it.


    It was the exact opposite to the sort of thing I normally wore…


    Chapter


    But since I was dying anyway, why not just wear the damn dress?


    Alexander POV


    My parents had been killed six years ago, leaving Ashw to me-their seventeen-year-old son.


    And I knew their death wasn’t just an ident.


    Over the years, I had managed to narrow it down to three packs who may have been involved-one of which being Stormhollow. E’s pack. I still hadn’t gathered enough evidence to be certain, but I was actively searching for the truth.


    That was why it came as such a hindrance when I found out E was my fated mate, and why I had worked so hard to avoid developing any real love for her, even going so far as to ce her bedroom as far away from mine as possible.


    I needed to marry my fated mate for the sake of my pack. But if it came down to discovering that Stormhollow was responsible for my parents’ death, then I couldn’t risk being held back by love for her. Whether she was directly involved,pletely innocent, or a spy for Stormhollow was irrelevant.


    All that mattered was that I couldn’t let a woman stop me from persecuting those who had taken my parents from me.


    So, for five years, I maintained careful distance, adhered to a strict no-intimacy contract, avoided her at all costs, and was even outright cruel to her just to keep her away.


    But today, when she had suggested a divorce, I had snapped. I was more upset by the thought than I wanted to be.


    Someone nudged my arm, and I looked up to see Gabriel staring at me. I’d gotten so lost in my thoughts that I had forgotten where I was standing-outside the banquet hall, waiting to make my entrance.


    “I still think you should just ept her offer,” Gabriel said quietly. “If she takes the me, it won’t hurt your image. You’ll still be able to win the election-it might even help you in the long run. Create a narrative about a lovesick Alpha who continues to serve his people despite his heartbreak.”


    My jaw ticked.


    “I’m considering it,” I said slowly, deliberately. “I don’t know about this mysterious illness she imed to have, though.”


    My Beta tilted his head. “Illness or no, I’m still of the belief that she’s a Stormhollow spy, and you’re far better off without her. It will only bring trouble.”


    “You’ve been saying that for five years, but admittedly we’ve found nothing pointing in that direction.”


    Gabriel scoffed. “That’s because she acts so damn perfect all the time. But today…” He shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe her mask is slipping.”


    “Maybe. I don’t know. Let’s not make any assumptions.”


    “Ah.” Gabriel sighed. “You’ve begun to develop some real feelings for her after all, haven’t you? Well, I suppose we should have expected this, her being your fated mate at all, not to mention her beauty and prowess as Luna. But you have to let go


    unless-”


    “I haven’t fallen for her.” My words came out harsh, short. Gabriel stiffened, realizing he’d overstepped. He may have been my friend, but at the end of the day, he was also my Beta.


    “Besides,” I went on, perhaps trying to convince myself just as much as him, “I can’t fall in love with her. I think her innocence is all just an act, and now she’s being insufferable, and…”


    My voice trailed off as I heard heels clicking against the marble floors. I looked down the hall to see a head of silky blonde


    Chapter


    hair moving toward me, blue eyes fixed on me. She wore a red gown that hugged her curves, the crimson silk pooling around her feet like a river of blood as she moved.


    My wolf instantly stirred, ever so strong, and I couldn’t push him down this time.


    “GO KISS OUR MATE AND MARK HER NOW, you moron,” he shouted in my mind. “How many times do I have to tell you


    that?”


    I swallowed hard and looked away. “Shut up.”