<b>Chapter </b><b>57 </b>


    E


    The restaurant was packed with the elite of Ashw. Every table was filled with pack members in their finest clothes, all pretending not to stare at us even though I knew they were all ncing at us out of the corners of their eyes. I could practically feel their eyes burning holes into my neck as we made our way to our table.


    Alexander pulled out my chair with a flourish, leaning close to whisper in my ear, “Smile. Everyone’s watching.”


    I stered on my best Luna smile, the one I’d perfected over five years of pretending. Lately, it felt like even more of a mask that was too tight, stretching and cracking across the scowl I was wearing underneath.


    As we settled into our seats, I couldn’t help butpare this charade to our chess games in the hospital. Those moments had been surprisingly… real. Alexander’s smile had been radiant, hisughter like music to


    my ears.


    Nothing at all like this. Nothing at all like the fake smiles and false loving looks we wore now.


    Strangely, looking back at the days when we had put on our act before my visit to the hospital, it had been so much easier. It was still difficult, but not nearly as painful as this. Almost as if those rare moments of happiness in the hospital had made me realize all the more exactly what I was missing.


    The waiter appeared with menus a momentter. His eyes immediately flitted to my neck, where the fake mark was still on prominent disy. “Good evening, Alpha, Luna. May I say, it’s an honor to serve you both tonight.”


    As the waiter poured our wine, his gaze kept flicking down to my mark. I knew he was dying to say something. The whole tri–pack area was buzzing with the news by now. They were all wondering why I hadn’t been seen with a mark in five years, only to suddenly step out in public with one the very same day the media leak had happened.


    “Your mark<i>,</i><i>” </i>he finally blurted out, then immediately flushed. “I’m sorry, Luna. That was inappropriate.”


    This was my cue. Alexander and I had rehearsed what I should say if anyone mentioned the mark. I took a


    small sip of wine and smiled shyly.


    “It’s alright,” I said softly. “I’ve always been a bit… embarrassed by it. That’s why I covered it with makeup for so long. But I’ve realized now that all those pictures came out that it was silly. It’s nothing to be ashamed


    of.”


    The waiter’s face melted into a warm smile. “Not at all, Luna! It’s beautiful. A mark is evidence of mates


    loving one another. It’s the most natural thing in the world.”


    <b>65</b>%


    33


    I nced at Alexander, who was watching me with an expression that would appear absolutely adoring to anyone watching. Anyone except me. “Yes,” I agreed, turning back to the waiter. “I see that now.”


    “Well, I think it’s wonderful that you’re showing it proudly,” the waiter said, beaming at us. “You two are such an inspiration. The perfect Alpha and Luna pair.”


    I thanked him, maintaining my smile until he left to give us a moment with the menus. If only he knew the truth, I thought bitterly. If only he knew that the “perfect pair” was aplete and utter fucking sham.


    “You did well,” Alexander murmured once the waiter was out of earshot. “Very convincing.”


    “I’ve had years of practice,” I replied without looking up from my menu.


    Dinner dragged on interminably. Alexander and I made small talk, discussing safe topics like the weather and pack events, always with ayer of artificiality that made me want to scream. asionally, he might reach across the table to take my hand, or brush a strand of hair from my face–little gestures of affection that were entirely for the benefit of our audience and not at all for me.


    And yet, each time he touched me, my traitorous body responded, heart quickening, skin warming. And each time, I hated myself for it.


    This wasn’t real. None of it was real. Alexander didn’t love me, didn’t want me. He was only using me to salvage his reputation so his campaign could go on without a hitch. And I was only going along with it because I needed him to reject me eventually if I wanted to live.


    By the time we finished dessert, my face was sore from smiling and my head was throbbing from the strain of maintaining the facade. All I wanted was to go home, wash off this fake mark, and copse into bed for about a week straight.


    Alexander must have noticed my fatigue because he signaled for the check earlier than I expected. “You look tired,” he said, and for once, it seemed like he meant it.


    “I am,” Tadmitted. “It’s been a long week.” I hadn’t even had a full day at home after being discharged from the hospital before we had to do this. But we had to act quickly before the media shitstorm got worse, after all.


    The drive home was mercifully silent. Alexander didn’t try to continue our performance, for which I was grateful. I leaned my head back against the headrest and shut my eyes for most of the ride, too tired to keep them open for long.


    When we finally arrived home, I kicked off my heels the moment we stepped through the door.


    “I’m going to take a bath and then go to bed,” I said, already heading for the stairs.


    Alexander nodded. “I’ll be in my office for a while. I have some emails to answer.”


    11:30 Sat, 23 Aug


    F05%


    Upstairs, I peeled off my dress and removed my jewelry, leaving them in a pile on the floor. I’d deal with them tomorrow. Right now, all I wanted was thefort of hot water to soothe my aching muscles.


    I ran the bath as hot as I could stand it, adding a generous amount of cherry vani bath oil that Lilith had given me as a wee–home gift. As the tub filled, I caught sight of myself in the mirror–pale skin, tired eyes, and that damned fake mark on my neck.


    With a frustrated huff, I grabbed a makeup wipe and began violently removing it, scrubbing until my skin was pink and raw. Then I pinned up my hair and sank into the steaming water with a groan.


    The heat immediately began to work its magic, loosening the knots in my shoulders and back. I tilted my head against the edge of the tub and closed my eyes, just for a moment.


    The next thing I knew, a hand was on my shoulder, gently shaking me.


    “E? E, wake up.”


    I jerked awake, cold water sloshing around me as I sat up with a gasp. My eyes flew open to find Alexander kneeling beside the tub, his hand still on my bare shoulder and his face close to mine.


    For a disoriented moment, I just stared at him in shock. Why was Alexander in the bathroom? Why was he


    touching me? And why was I…


    Oh, Goddess. I was naked. Completely naked in the bathtub with Alexander’s hand on my skin.


    >


    S


    C


    Before I could stop it, that familiar fucking heat surged through me. My nipples hardened instantly, and I felt


    a throb between my legs that made me have to press my thighs together to quell it.


    Alexander’s eyes dropped for just a second, taking in my exposed body before quickly returning to my face. But that one nce was enough. I’d seen that look in his eyes.


    Lust. And…


    He’d scented my arousal.