Chapter 42

“I am sorry.” I waved off Celeste’s apologies.

She cried and cried and I felt there was more to her tears than she let me see but someone came to prepare my bath soon.

A small omega with kind eyes knocked on the door and when I opened up, she jumped back. Relief crossed her face when she didn’t see Valens anywhere in the room.

“The alpha is scary. Oh lord.” She fanned herself. “When he came with Astrid to my room, I thought I was about to be banished.” The girl talked a lot and her voice was calming, helping me get my mind off the bad memories I had to revisit for Celeste.

“Umm, I think I’ll go.” Celeste picked up her purse with her red eyes and tears stained face.

“It’s okay. I’m fine now.” I hugged her. “Thank you for visiting. Maybe we can get something to eat tomorrow?”

“Thank you. That’ll be nice.” She squeezed me before she left with a watery smile.

“You smell fresh,” the omega who prepared my bath said. She leaned into me, making a hand gesture as if blowing my scent into her nose. “What a pretty Luna.” She beamed at me then surprisingly, she gave me a hug.

“Are you from Redville?” Even before I asked, I already knew the answer. I knew most of the omegas in Redville and none of them liked me.

“No, I’m from the Nightingales. The prince conquered my pack and I tagged along. I’m Octavia.” She stretched out her hand and I had no choice but to take it.

“Nice to meet you, Octavia. I’m –” She cut me off with a giggle.

“I know who you are. You’re Luna Aysel. Everyone knows who you are now.” She exaggerated but it made me feel good to be recognized as somebody even if I didn’t feel worthy of the recognition yet.

“Don’t you miss your pack?” I changed the subject before my head got too big.

“No,” she said stiffly. All the humour in her wilted in a second. “They weren’t very good people.” She sighed. “But I left them behind so that’s their loss. I will leave you to do your thing. It was a pleasure meeting you, Luna Aysel. Now, I will go brag to the others that haven’t met you yet about how gentle you are.”

“Ah – okay –” She stole a quick hug before running off. I was too stunned to speak for a few seconds. Then I laughed. She was cute.

I spent the rest of the day eating and stressing over why Valens wanted me at his office. I still walked funny even if I tried to hide it. I would be happy to go out but going out to see Valens made me anxious.

I started dressing by three. I wasn’t putting on makeup or a fancy dress but I needed to keep busy. I tried on three different jeans and a bunch of other tops, trying to choose a fitting look.

“Uggh!” I threw the baby pink shirt I was holding. I didn’t have this problem when I had only a handful of clothes to wear. Choosing clothes had to be a disaster and much of my clothes were to Clover’s taste and not mine.

The clothes were pretty and all that but I felt they weren’t practical and there were too many colours. I preferred dull colours because I didn’t want to stand out, but the clothes I had now would not help me blend in. They looked flashy and expensive.

I got to the Office with a few minutes to spare. The place was so busy, a boy almost ran into me carrying four hot cups of coffee.

“Sorry, Luna!” He exclaimed as he dodged and continued his speed walk down the lobby.

His words drew attention and I immediately felt numerous eyes on me. Before I knew it, three girls and one man had already approached me.

“Luna Aysel?” I recognized one of the girls from my high school. She topped every class and people were sure she’d do wonders in the real world.

“Uhh, I’m here to see Valens?” The way they surrounded me made me feel uncertain.

“Come, I can take you.” The man tried to grab me but I sidestepped him. “I work on the floor just beneath him.” He puffed out his ch3st.

He may be important enough to work just beneath the Alpha but I didn’t come here to be manhandled and I didn’t want another man’s scent on me before I saw my mate. I told him that and he looked embarrassed.

“I’ll take you, if you’ll follow me.” Two girls piped up at the same time. I didn’t tell them that I already knew his office. I didn’t want it to seem as if I used to sneak into his office to do dirty things so I followed the girls to the elevator.

“What’s that?” One of the girls asked, gesturing to the paper bag I was clutching.

“Oh, it’s uh – just a doughnut.” My skin heated.

“Wow, that’s so cute,” one girl whispered in awe.

Valens asked me to come with ‘an appetite’ but for some reason, it felt right to stop and get him something from the pastry store. He might hate it but at least I tried.

“I have never been this high up.” One of the girls squealed when the elevator stopped at the highest floor. The other girl agreed with her.

“Thank you,” I muttered to them, exiting the elevator.

“I’m Clarissa.” One girl shouted.

“Emma!” The other inputted as the elevator shut.

It was three minutes before four o’clock so I rushed to his door. The secretary’s seat was empty as was the desk so I went straight into his office.

I closed the door behind me as he raised his head. His brows raised and I realized I hadn’t knocked.

“I – uh –” He pushed out of his seat, his face impassive.

“You’re two minutes early,” he said when he faced me. “That’s good.” He put a finger under my chin and tipped my face towards him. My eyes closed when he leaned in but after a second without a k!ss, they slowly opened to behold a smirking Valens.

“You’re eager, aren’t you?” His voice mocked me.

“Uggh –” L!ps pressed against mine before I found an excuse. My eyes closed in a second.

No matter how many times it happened, I always enjoyed k!ssing Valens. He tasted familiar now and I knew what to do. The k!ss ended way too soon and I suppressed a whine.

“How are you feeling?” I gawked at him when he asked that question.

He’d never asked me that before. He was acting weirder and weirder today. Too kind.

“I – Uh – I’m fine. How are you?”

“Good. I have something for you,” he said.

“I have something for you too.” I handed him the bag with the doughnuts as he made to turn. He took it from me, his fingers lingering on mine.

“You got me doughnuts.” I nodded. “Thanks. I like doughnuts.” He k!ssed my cheek before turning and dropping the bag on his desk. He went around it and pulled a square box from his drawer. He handed me the dark blue box.

“What’s this?” I was opening it as I spoke. “Oh, wow.” Inside lay a shiny neckpiece and earrings. My hands shook when I saw them.

There are expensive things and then there’s diamond jewellery.

“Ah is this – I mean –”

Flashy things never caught my attention but this was a love shaped diamond necklace with two sparkling earrings also shaped like hearts. They reflected every bit of light and they were absolutely stunning.

“Is there – is this for the mating ceremony?” It looked way better than the ones I’d been gifted which he returned. I made to close them but I was entranced.

“Do you want to put them on?” He smiled, looking very much pleased with himself. I nodded, eager to have them on me.

He went behind me, pushing my hair away as he placed the necklace around my neck. Then he carefully replaced the studs on my ears with diamond.

His hand caressed my neck and I felt his breath on my skin when he leaned forward, tucking my hair behind my ears.

“Happy birthday, Aysel.” Sedvction dripped from his words and they muddled my brain. I didn’t immediately grasp the meaning of his words but when I did, I gasped.

“It’s my birthday!”