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, Everyone’s watching.”


    “Smile.


    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,” 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.”


    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.


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