MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA

As Reana approached the pack house, she spotted Ryder standing before a tree, his side profile to her. The morning sun cast a warm glow on his ruffled hair, and for a moment, he seemed…different.

Earlier, when she saw him, he hadn't looked so rough around the edges. Now, something about him stirred a peculiar feeling within her - a sense that there was more to this man than met the eye.

Reana's instincts whispered that Ryder might be hiding secrets, but she wasn't inclined to drive him away just yet. Her policy was to keep potential enemies close, where she could monitor their every move.

One might wonder why she didn't simply use her powers to uncover Ryder's true nature… Using her powers wasn't a simple matter for Reana. Yesterday, she'd drained her mental powers to foresee her pack's future and hadn't rested enough to replenish her energy.

Moreover, every time she tapped into her abilities, she paid a steep price; five years of her life force, forcing Reana to use her powers sparingly - only when extremely necessary.

"My Luna," Ryder's voice cut through Reana's thoughts as he approached her, smiling sweetly.

Reana snapped out of her thoughts, her gaze narrowed slightly. "Why didn't you wait in my chambers?"

Ryder's smile faltered for a moment before he replied, "Forgive me, but I was worried it would raise unwanted whispers." His lips curled into a charming pout. "I feared you'd be annoyed."

Reana's heart swelled with unexpected warmth, her icy demeanor softening ever so slightly. She almost laughed at how a tall, grown man with a broad chest, with chiseled features - a man that should be wielding his claws in front of monsters could look so endearingly adorable.

His pouty expression tugged at her heartstrings in a way she couldn't quite explain. And what touched her most was that someone, besides Kira, genuinely cared for her well-being, showing a concern that went beyond mere loyalty or duty.

"When I instruct you to wait in my chambers, you will do exactly that," Reana said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of softness. "What others think is of no consequence to you."

Ryder didn't immediately answer that. His gaze locked on hers as he took a step closer, his presence suddenly intimate. "You haven't eaten breakfast, My Luna," he said, his voice low and gentle. "It's almost noon."

Reana's breath caught in her throat as her eyes met Ryder's, the air between them charged with a sudden intimacy. She felt an inexplicable pull, like an invisible thread urging her closer, tempting her to surrender to the warmth of his presence. And that was what Reana did.

Her hands reached out, cupping his face as she suddenly felt her heart pounding in her chest, its rhythmic beat echoing the tremble of her fingers against his skin. "What are you, Ryder?"

Ryder's eyes flashed with something unknown, and then, a slow smile spread across his face, "I'm your subject, Luna."

"You're–" Reana began, but before she could finish, a frantic voice interrupted her.

"Luna, there's a-"

Reana's patience snapped. "Why are you people so nosy recently? Can't you see I'm busy?" Her voice was icy, a warning to the servant to tread carefully.

Yesterday, it was Beta Ryan disturbing her quiet moment with Ryder, and today, it was a servant. Just how daring are these people?

The servant trembled, bowing deeper. "It's just that..." she stammered, her voice barely audible. She didn't expect the Luna to be so enraged. Reana's anger was a rare sight, but whenever it surfaced, the consequences were dire.

Reana's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "Whatever brought you here better be important," she warned, her stern tone hanging in the air.

The servant hesitated, unsure if her news was significant enough to spare her from punishment. But she couldn't afford to keep Reana waiting. "That...Madam Katherine has been waiting for you since this morning," she stammered.

Reana's demeanor shifted, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Ah, drama! That's very important," she teased, casting a playful glance at Ryder. "Want to come?"

"I wouldn't dare say otherwise." Ryder replied with a deadpan tone.

His response coaxed a hint of a smile from Reana, the first glimmer of warmth in her eyes since the previous day. "Perfect," she purred, her gaze lingering on Ryder for a moment before turning to the maid. "Tell the kitchen to bring my breakfast to the hall."

With a swish of her skirts, Reana resumed walking with Ryder trailing behind her, his eyes fixed on the regal figure sauntering ahead of him.

…

"Reana!" Vivian's voice reverberated through the hall, her indignation unbridled. "What is the meaning of this!? You deliberately left us waiting for hours, and now, you're making us watch while you eat? We arrived at dawn, had no breakfast, and you're indulging in a leisurely lunch!"

Reana, seated at the head of the grand dining table, sparkled with amusement, her gaze drifting between the delicacies Ryder arranged on her plate and his handsome face.

His attentive service stirred a peculiar sense of joy, reminding her of the treatment from her father and brothers. And this had considerably improved Reana's mood. Shaking off the nostalgia, she replied, "Are you insinuating that you're hungry? You should have spoken up earlier; I would have ordered a feast be prepared."

Reana's tone was laced with mock regret, her eyes glinting with mirth. Ryder, seated to her right, smiled knowingly as he added more delicacies to her plate.

The long, rectangular table, capable of seating over fifty, seemed to stretch endlessly, emphasizing the distance between Reana and her stepmother and stepsister, who sat several seats away, their faces pinched with displeasure.

Katherine's eyes welled up with tears as she shook her head. "We're not here to beg for food, Reana. I just want to remind you... Have you forgotten your father's last words before he left on his final expedition? He entrusted you with protecting and caring for your siblings and me when you become the Luna of the pack."

Katherine's voice cracked as she wiped away her tears. "But what you've done to Karl is inexcusable, Reana. Attempting to send him to the Dark Snow Pack to die, it's –"

"Southern Islands, actually." Reana corrected with an air of nonchalance, her mouth still chewing her food.

"You–" Madam Katherine swallowed back her words. She was here to talk some sense into Reana, to implore her to take Karl's name off the list, not to anger her.