MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA

Reana choked and quickly withdrew her hand. Looking behind her to make sure no one was in sight, but of course, her entourage was a sniffing distance away, their eyes widened with shock.

They heard that, thanks to their heightened senses.

Reana cleared her throat and dismissed them. Finally alone with Ryder, she turned back to face him. "Are you flirting with me?"

"Does My Luna want that?" His lips curled into a charming smile as he stepped forward, his eyes still holding hers in place, as his hand casually reached out to pick a few grasses from her messy hair, coincidentally trailing a finger over the sensitive part of her ear. "I could be anything you want… even a –"

"Stop it!" Reana put a distance between them. She sounded stern and her face was cold, but her heart was pounding in her chest. His touch drove an electric feeling through her. It made her feel weird, but also, strangely, alive.

Reana's eyes flashed with warning, seeing that his hand was still hanging in the air, a sniffing inches from her face, but she couldn't deny the flutter in her chest, partially expecting him to touch her again.

His smile never wavered, but his eyes sparkled with amusement, as if he knew exactly the effect he was having on her. "Stop what?" he asked, feigning innocence, his voice low and husky. "I'm just trying to be–"

"Enough! Otherwise, I'll throw you into the dungeon. You're…" Reana's voice trailed off when the light in his eyes suddenly dimmed. He looked away, his gaze dropping to the ground, like a child who had been reprimanded for acting spoiled. And for a moment, Reana saw a flicker of hurt in his eyes. 

He cupped his hands and bowed slightly, "I'm sorry, Luna Reana, I didn't mean to upset you. Do forgive me," his expression was neutral, but the pain in his eyes betrayed him, and Reana felt a pang of guilt for her harsh words. 

He stopped calling me My Luna, she mused, much to her shock.

She had been so caught up in trying to maintain her composure and assert her authority that she hadn't stopped to consider how her words might affect him. Now, as she gazed at him, she felt regret for her thoughtless remark.

Realizing she'd never actually cared about how her words hurt people before now, her cheeks flushed with heat, and she turned away, trying to break the spell that seemed to be weaving itself around her. Still, she couldn't, so she turned and stormed off. But as she walked away, she could feel his gaze still on her, like a warm caress, making her skin prickle with awareness.

She quickened her pace, trying to shake off the feeling, but it only seemed to intensify. Suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her, and she knew he was following her. Reana's heart skipped a beat as she wondered what he would do next.

Would he push his luck and try to provoke her again, or would he finally back off? She didn't dare look back, fearing what she might see in his eyes. Instead, she kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, her shoulders squared and her jaw set, trying to maintain a semblance of control.

When she rounded a corner, the feeling of being followed ceased. She halted and sighed with relief, her shoulders sagging slightly as she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She leaned against the cold stone wall, trying to calm her racing heart and gather her thoughts.

Why did he have to follow her? And why did she feel so unsettled by his presence? She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and tried to shake off the feeling of vulnerability that had settled over her.

But she still couldn't let go. Curiosity took the best of her, wondering what he was doing and why he had stopped following her. She pushed off from the wall and cautiously made her way back around the corner, her eyes scanning the corridor for any sign of him. At first, she didn't see him, and she wondered if she had just imagined the whole thing.

But then, she caught a glimpse of him standing under a tree, his back to her. He looked lonely and vulnerable, Reana felt a dull ache in her chest for reasons she couldn't explain. The way he stood, with his shoulders slightly slumped and his head bowed, conveyed a sense of defeat and resignation. Reana's heart went out to him, deep with regret and guilt. She felt an overwhelming urge to go to him, to comfort him and ask him what was wrong.

But her pride wouldn't let her. 'He deserved it for flirting with me,' she convinced herself, but the words rang hollow, even to her own ears. She knew she was just trying to justify her own behavior, to avoid admitting that she was affected by his vulnerability. Annoyed by this feeling, she turned and walked back to her quarters.

Just as she turned, Ryder suddenly turned around, his eyes locked on her retreating figure. As if the image of him that Reana perceived just now was a deliberate act to garner her sympathy, his lips stretched into a mysterious smile. "See you tomorrow, My Luna," he whispered, bringing the hand that had touched Reana's hair to his face and taking a long sniff as if her scent was engraved deeply in it.

"Alpha Snow, congratulations. You finally–"

Ryder shot a death glare in the direction of the voice, "Marcus," he growled, his voice low and menacing, his eyes flashing with a warning. "Not. Another. Word."

The air vibrated with Ryder's Alpha energy, and Marcus, sensing the danger, took a step back, lowering his head as shiver rushed through his spine. He had made a mistake that could cost him his life, again. "Please, forgive me, Ryder."

Alpha Snow clearly warned them not to address him in that manner while in the Black Moon Pack, and here, he just disobeyed him out of excitement. If Reana knew that another pack's Alpha has been living in her pack for three years, hell would break loose and his Alpha wouldn't get the girl anymore.

The scary thought caused his heart to tighten. Maybe he should take some poison that would seal his own mouth for good before he ruined things for his Alpha.

Ryder's gaze lingered on Marcus for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he turned back in the direction Reana had disappeared, his eyes narrowing as if he was already strategizing his next move.

With a calculated tone, he instructed, "Send a message to Qasas: as of today, the southern islands will exclusively trade with the Black Moon Pack. Furthermore, they will receive a 50% discount on all transactions with us." His voice was low and even, but the weight of his words was unmistakable.

Marcus's eyes widened in surprise. Was their Dark Snow Pack finally breaking its own rules and opening its doors to trade with the Black Moon Pack? He recalled that the Black Moon Pack was one of the blacklisted packs. 

Yet, today, Ryder had single-handedly changed that rule – all because of Reana. A knowing glint sparked in Marcus's eyes as he bowed, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Yes, Ryder."

"Why are you bowing to a servant, Marcus?" Ryder arched a brow. How many times would he lecture this Gamma of his to stop showing him such deference? In the Black Moon Pack, Ryder was just a servant, a lowly rank that didn't warrant such respect.

But old habits die hard. Straightening his back, Marcus promised, "I'll pay attention to it, Ryder," Marcus said, his voice firm. but Ryder only rolled his eyes because this mistake will be repeated again and again.

"See to the message, Marcus. I want it sent out by nightfall." With that, Ryder strode away.

…

Reana woke up the next morning wearing a long face with unpleasant dark circles. But her body protested getting out of bed but she had to. Today, they would be picking out some warriors to accompany the delegation to the Dark Snow Pack and she couldn't miss it, as she had to see them to the gate.

"Luna–" Kira suddenly barged in and froze mid-sentence, "Didn't you sleep last night?"

She didn't. She only managed to get a few minutes of sleep. She was thinking about Ryder and the strange feelings he invoked in her all through the night.

Aside from her mate, no man had ever invoked such feelings in her. But because she had a strong control over the thing between her legs, and also because she had no time for romance due to the numerous troubles that plagued her at that time, she remained untouched.

Perhaps, Ryder was her second chance mate? She quickly shook the thought off. If he was, she'd have felt it. So why was she drawn to him? What makes him different from other men?