Chapter 5

• Alyssa
• I didn’t expect Jace to walk towards me, and I certainly didn’t expect him to pull me into a hug. I froze when he wrapped his arms around me.
• “Good choice.”
• He let out in excitement as he hugged me tighter, but I couldn’t even move or say anything because my nostril was suddenly filled with the scent of him.
• It would have been normal if I could smell other shifters, but Jace is the first wolf I have smelled his scent in a long time.
• Something happened when I was younger, while I was still with the rogues who kidnapped me. They didn’t want me to be able to smell my pack members and find my way home, so they did something to me that removed my ability to smell other shifters.
• The only reason I was able to reunite with my family was because of the amulet that my grandmother had given to me as soon as I was born.
• “Why can I suddenly smell?”
• I whispered to myself. It was as if his hug broke a spell that I had been trying to break for years.
• He let me go after a while and smiled at me. I didn’t know what else to do as my mind was wandering everywhere, trying to make sense of what just happened, so I just forced a smile in return because I didn’t want to be rude.
• “I promise you that you won’t regret it! I will help you become the most powerful Luna ever.”
• I nodded without a word because I was still dazed by both the hug and the fact that I could now smell.
• “Say something!”
• He let out when he realized that I wasn’t speaking.
• “You have a nice manly smell.”
• I blurted out the first words that came to my mouth without thinking and regretted it as soon as the words were out. Jace smirked in satisfaction.
• “I didn’t mea---“
• He placed a finger over my mouth to cut me off.
• “Don’t deny it. We need some chemistry between us if you are going to pretend to be my mate.”
• I blinked in confusion.
• “I have to be your mate?”
• Talking with his hand over my lips made my tongue touch the finger he held over my lips.
• “Yes. Not real, though. I don’t need a real mate.”
• My eyes narrowed on him when he said that.
• “Will I be a fake Luna?”
• Since the mating wasn’t real, then maybe the Luna thing won’t be real.
• “No! That’s real. The only reason I said we won’t be real mates is because we won’t be doing stuff that real mates do.”
• “Making love?”
• I asked because that was the only thing that came to mind.
• “Yes, that. Unless you want us to---“
• “No, I don’t want that!”
• I let out, and my face became red with embarrassment.
• “No need to be so hostile. No pressure. You will be the real Luna, and it won’t be temporary either.”
• I liked the part where he said it wasn’t temporary.
• “We will live together for one month after which I will introduce you to the pack as Luna.”
• One whole month with him?
• “Just the two of us?”
• I asked him and he laughed.
• “Yes, why? Are you scared that I might jump you? Don’t be scared! I am a gentleman and consent matters to me.”
• Our eyes met, and my heart skipped a beat. I blinked and looked down. My eyes caught something that made me gasp.
• “My amulet!”
• I let out when I realized something was wrong with it. It looked different. It looked fake.
• “What happened?”
• I looked at Jace and pulled off the amulet that my father had given back to me at the healing center.
• “It’s fake! This isn’t it! He switched it and gave me a fake.”
• I let out and fought back angry tears. I didn’t want to cry in front of him.
• “Who switched it?”
• It took a moment to answer his question because I had to calm myself down.
• “The man who is supposed to be my father.”
• I explained to him about the amulet and its importance to me.
• “Don’t look so down. We will get it back.”
• He assured me.
• “No, I will go get it. I don’t want to drag you into it.”
• I told him. They told me to never return to that pack, but I won’t listen. If they want me to leave for good, then they have to give me back what’s mine.
• “As your alpha and your mate, it’s my duty to take care of you.”
• My heart skipped a beat when he mentioned the mate thing, but I had to remind myself that it’s all fake. He isn’t really my mate. He doesn’t want a real mate.
• “I get what you are trying to say, but leave this to me. I have to do this myself.”
• I told him. He looked like he was going to argue, but decided against it.
• “Okay, I will let you do what you want, but if you need my help. Let me know. Anyway, you should rest. If you need food, just use the intercom and someone will serve you.”
• Jace explained.
• “Okay, thank you.”
• I said and was about to leave when he spoke again.
• “You will have to take some lessons from my mother. She retired as Luna once my father stopped being alpha, and I took over. She knows everything you need to know to be the heart of our pack, and she will teach you.”
• Even though I didn’t like the idea of meeting his mom or his family because I am scared that they might not like me and tell their son to send me away, I pushed the fear aside.
• The first trait of a Luna should be fearlessness.
• “As long as I don’t get treated terribly, I am willing to learn.”
• I told him.
• “My mom is kind. The pack members are nice too. You will be welcomed.”
• He assured me as he followed me out of his office and pointed in the direction that I was supposed to go. As I walked to the room, even though I didn’t look back, I could feel his eyes on me, and it made me self-conscious. Once I entered the room, I closed the door behind me and rested my back against it.
• I dragged my finger through my hair as I tried to make sense of the last hour. I went from not having a place to go except the orphanage to having a big room to myself.
• “I have a mate. I am going to be Luna.”
• The mate part was a sham, but the Luna part felt fake even though it was real. I couldn’t imagine myself as Luna.
• “You have to accept it! You already said yes! You can’t take it back.”
• I told myself as I went to lay on the bed. I closed my eyes, but opened them again when I saw fire.
• I haven’t been able to sleep without medications since I woke up from a coma. I reached into my bag and pulled out the medicine that I was given, which helps me sleep. It was bitter, but I drank the dose.
• I felt hungry, but I didn’t want to call for food, so I just lay still in the big bed and plotted how I would get my real amulet back.
• “I will go there tomorrow and I won’t leave until I get my real amulet back.”
• I promised myself. I already know it won’t be easy, but I will do everything to get it back. That’s the only thing I have of my grandmother.
• And the only thing that can lead me to my missing brother.