Kane

Asbela soon brought me a plate of rice, gravy, and chicken nuggets.

"Mom’s coming tomorrow; tidy up her room and make sure everything is in order," I told her, taking the plate and heading toward Zara’s room.

Pausing outside her door, I adjusted my expression, realizing I couldn’t show any emotion. I felt terrible, but there was no other choice. I knocked, waited, and hoped she was still awake.

A minute later, she opened the door and stood before me in her nightgown, a bored expression on her face.

My eyes, as usual, were completely fixed on hers, and maintaining an impassive expression proved much harder than I expected.

Her red hair fell softly over her shoulders and curled like crimson snakes over her ample bosom. Her nightgown was V-neck, allowing me just a glimpse of the upper curves of her ample breasts, just enough to make my mouth water.

But her neck, her elegant neck, was bare. I was so used to seeing her with that necklace... which now lay in my safe.

Looking away, I focused on her face. "You haven’t eaten dinner. No one goes to bed hungry under my roof," I tried to say with authority.

This did not affect stubborn Luna; she seemed almost bored by my words.

"I ate. You got the wrong information." She tried to slam the door in my face, but I stuck my foot out before she could close it completely.

"Lying doesn’t suit you." I held back my anger, hoping I wouldn’t have to threaten her again to get her to eat.

Her face twisted into a scowl, and my heart pounded as I saw the indifference in her eyes. They had been so bright before, but now they were filled with only resentment and pain.

"What are you, moral guardians? You may be my boss at the office, but I don’t have to answer to you for what I do after work, especially my eating habits."

She turned into a fireball, and I would have definitely been burned if I hadn’t been careful. I pointed at her, then at the plate.

"My house, my rules. I say eat, do it."

As if in answer to my question, she opened the door a crack and slammed it hard against my leg. The impact was so strong that I felt my poor toes being crushed even inside the shoe. If I hadn’t stopped in time, I would have winced from the searing pain in my leg.

A smug satisfaction crossed her face as she said calmly, "I won’t. Move your leg, or I’ll keep doing this until you do." She slid the door open again.

She wasn’t going to listen to me like this; I had to play on her emotions. "No one is worth your health. Just think about your family, your father, what would he think if he found out you were skipping meals?"

She froze at my words; anger crashed through her with renewed vigor, enveloping her like armor.

She growled like a lion: "Don’t talk about my father." Snatching the plate from me, she glanced at my leg. I knew she wanted me to leave.

But I didn’t stop; she was hiding so much.

"You must tell me who spoke to you at my parents’ house. Whoever is giving you all this information could be extremely dangerous."

Pain crossed her face at my words; the trust between us was shaken, and I knew she would never trust me again. And I didn’t deserve it.

"I didn’t tell you anything. I won’t tell. You’re so good at keeping tabs on others. Find out for yourself."

Her sad gaze fell on my leg again. Before pulling her away, I placed my hand on the blue wooden door, and her eyes widened, as if she were afraid I’d come in.

"And one more thing. Mom’s arriving tomorrow, so we’ll have to act accordingly."

A look of indifference flashed in her eyes as she shifted from one foot to the other.

"I won’t kiss you, even for your mother’s sake. The less contact, the better, but I’ll try to tolerate you. Don’t expect too much. The question is, what would your mother think if she accidentally found out I am a demon queen?" she asked so innocently, teasing me for mentioning her status.

If that truth came out, she would be even more angry with me than she already was.

"Then it’s best she doesn’t find out. Goodnight, my stubborn Luna. Tomorrow you’ll move into my room."

I removed my foot, and she slowly closed the door. Her pain-filled eyes lingered on mine before the door completely closed between us, hiding her from me.

I just stood there, staring at the closed door. My wolf ached; at least tomorrow I’d be able to touch her.

But would she want that? I had to be careful not to overdo it, because I imagined how hard it would be for her.

"Forgive me, Luna," I muttered toward the closed door before heading for my own.

Who cares anymore?

***

Zara

I looked at the plate he brought me, and I felt sick. He didn’t want to acknowledge my feelings, but he brought food.

Why did he care whether I ate or not? Wasn’t I just an excuse for him to satisfy his lust? Men like him don’t need an emotional connection with women; they only need meaningless sex.

Hasn’t he already achieved that?

How long will it be before he brings home another woman to sleep with? Who knows, he already did.

Seeing Marcus with someone else almost broke my heart, and now Alpha would go down the same path.

And would he exploit my weakness for my family to get his way every time I disobeyed him? The thought irritated me terribly.

I tried to take a spoonful of rice, but my throat was straining, and my stomach clenched. Pushing the plate aside, I climbed back into bed.

His mother had probably chosen the worst possible time to visit, but that meant I’d have to move into his room. This was my chance; I could snoop around his room and look for clues.