MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA

Mirian had been among the first to hear the rumor, but she hadn't believed it for a moment. How could a proud, cold, and wise Luna like Reana have an affair with a nameless servant?

Even the beta who was more deserving of her had not been opportuned to enter Reana's room, or hold her hand, let alone a servant. Yet, as she waited for Reana to reprimand Ryder, the expected rebuke didn't come.

Mirian's brows furrowed in confusion. Was the impossible rumor actually true? Could a servant possibly ascend to become their Alpha? Mirian recoiled at the notion, refusing to entertain it.

Even though she clearly believed that Reana had already cleaned herself up, Mirian decided to break them apart with a flimsy excuse.

Clearing her throat with a tad too much exaggeration, she interrupted the stare-down contest between the two, but in this case, the stare was filled with sparks and romance. "Luna, the water is getting cold," Mirian announced, her voice slicing through the tension.

Reana finally broke her gaze away from Ryder, her cheeks burning hot with embarrassment and something else. Yet, she maintained her composure, turning to Mirian with an air of nonchalance. "Why do the servants have only one set of uniform?" she asked, deftly changing the subject.

Mirian's mouth opened and closed in shock, but she swiftly composed herself when Reana raised an expectant brow. "That's not correct, Luna. The servants have at least three uniforms each."

Reana's gaze shifted to Ryder. "Then why does Ryder have only one?"

Ryder smiled effortlessly, "I've outgrown the others and gave them away to fellow servants."

That smile... Reana's resolve melted, her icy facade cracking ever so slightly. A primal urge stirred within her, a fierce desire to shield and protect that captivating smile, to ensure it never faltered or fell like her once blissful smiles.

Mirian glared at Ryder. She could detect the thick scent of deception, and her instincts told her Ryder was manipulating the situation to curry favor with Reana. However, the Luna seemed oblivious to Ryder's schemes.

Reana nodded calmly, her gaze lingering on Ryder's imposing frame. "Truly, you appear stronger than most warriors, let alone omegas." She turned to Mirian, her voice serene. "Take him to my dressmakers and have them make some suitable uniforms for him."

Mirian's eyes almost popped from her eye sockets, "Luna, you–" but Reana had already glided toward the entrance, leaving Mirian's protest unspoken.

The dressmakers only created attire for the pack's most esteemed members! What was Reana thinking, bestowing such privilege on a lowly servant?

Ryder's voice interrupted Mirian's stunned reverie. "My Luna, you didn't tell me why you needed me."

Reana froze, her hand on the door handle. She had forgotten the reason she summoned him. A faint blush rose to her cheeks. "Wait for me in my chambers." With that, she departed, leaving Mirian alone with Ryder.

If Mirian had powers, her glare could have frozen water. "You, what are you planning?" she hissed.

Ryder smiled unapologetically. "Exactly what you're thinking." With that, he turned on his heel, heading for the door.

Mirian's blood ran cold. This servant wasn't even attempting to conceal his ambition to become the Alpha. The audacity!

Enraged, she shouted after him, "What makes you think you're fit? No one in this pack will ever allow you to become–"

Ryder halted, his back still turned to Mirian. "Neither does My Luna find your cousin appealing." With that, he stopped giving Mirian importance as he opened the door and stepped out.

Mirian's heart skipped a beat. How did this servant know what her mission was? She was sure she'd never done anything to give herself away. Even if she did, this servant she'd never seen before should be the last to figure that out. So how…?

What she didn't know was that Ryder had done his homework - he knew his rivals, their schemes, and effort made to steal his woman, but he wasn't sleeping on it. He'd made appropriate preparations to pull them off the race.

…

After Reana approved the hundred warriors that were selected by Gamma Kira, she led the important members of the pack as they saw the delegation off to the gates, wished them a successful trade and hoped that they would return in the next thirty to forty days with good news, and their lives intact.

"Your life matters the most, whatever puts it at risk should be cut off. Whether it be trading, or someone in your midst." As she said that, her unwavering gaze landed on Karl, who wore a super long face with a dark expression.

It was clear what Reana wanted. Karl had a glib tongue and would definitely want to cause trouble on the way, but with the permission to kill him if he dared to do anything stupid that would endanger their lives, Karl would have no choice but to lock his stupid mouth all through the journey.

It wasn't that he didn't protest, he did and even ran to his mother to complain, but surprisingly, he'd not heard anything from his mother, who assured him that she would have a good talk with Reana this morning. And now that he was in the presence of so many people, he dared not bring up his dissatisfaction.

After the delegation left, Reana was about to return to her chambers when she was stopped by the Elders.

"Luna, we heard that you locked Beta Ryan up since yesterday?"

Reana wasn't surprised because she already knew this would happen. "And you're here to plead for his release?"

"Not exactly, Luna, but we fear that it's inappropriate to humiliate the future Alpha in that manner. We understand that he may have overstepped his boundaries. Perhaps, you could punish him behind closed doors…?"

"What does Elder Collins mean by that? Are you suggesting I demote him to being my servant?"

Elder Collins choked and his eyes widened. Right, this woman was good at twisting people's words and acting ignorant. "That's not –"

"Worry not, Elder Collins, I'll think about that. As for the idea that he'll become the next Alpha, I don't blame you for having wild dreams. However, you should know when to stop sleeping, Elder Collins."

All the Elders present were stunned. It would appear that she was addressing Elder Collins alone, but everyone knew it was a message to all of them present.

"What does Luna mean? Do you have someone you find more suitable?"

"Indeed, and I'm assuming you already heard the rumor?" With that, she walked away, leaving the Elders staring wide-eyed at her retracting straight figure.

"A servant, an omega as the Alpha of the pack? That's absurd." One of the Elders frowned after Reana was out of hearing.

The rest of the elders shook their heads, feeling disappointed.

"Even though the Alpha might become a figurehead, it doesn't mean that the spot is open to just anyone."

"We need an Alpha who will be respected by the people, one that when Luna is weak and feeble, will take the mantle of leadership and lead the pack to greatness, not some servant! Does she want to make a laughing stock out of our pack? A woman leading a pack filled with men is already enough of an insult, and now, a servant?"

"Perhaps, Luna only finds the servant pleasing to the eye. She can have him around as a plaything if she wants but definitely not as the Alpha of the pack."

Everyone else nodded. Women weren't known to have multiple men, but for the fact that the Elders were willing to turn a blind eye or even encourage this type of behavior, was telling of how little they cared about morals.