Chapter 16

Kyra's POV I checked into a hotel. As a rejected Luna without pack protection, I had no better options. As long as I reminded my stepbrother’s face, my stomach churned,I will not come back for his help. After last night's incident, I couldn't sleep in that condo. The memory of that drone's blinking camera light haunted me. Someone saw my naked body. It was so scary and creepy. What was even more unacceptable? While I screamed in terror, my mate was fucking his fated mate. Again. He always chooses her, Sylvia, my wolf, growled in my mind. Even now, I still felt very angry and anxious. Every shadow felt like rogue eyes watching me secretly. "I called for food. You should still eat, Luna." Luke said, his warrior instincts keeping him alert. "Did you alert the pack’s gammas at the condo?" I asked. "Yes. I asked for a copy of the surveillance video around the tower. The unit is on the fourth floor so there’s a 50 percent chance that the culprit is outside the building.” “The other 50 percent?” He clenched his jaws. “The possibility that he’s one of the residents and he’s executing his crime while he’s inside his unit." His eyes flashed amber,his wolf snarled. "If the drone appears in any footage, we'll hunt them down." I looked down and pinched my fingers. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes again. "Keep this between us. No one else knows - especially not him." "But Luna-" "That's an order, Luke." *** The next day after lunch, Chris visited me. He froze when he saw Luke standing beside me while we were both watching the surveillance video on my laptop. I even saw my assistant’s eyes widen when she saw me and Luke in that position. Let them talk - in wolf society, a warrior guarding his Luna was sacred duty, not scandal. "Uh... C-Can I...come in?" Chris stammered. I nodded. Luke withdrew respectfully, but Chris kept eyeing him through the glass door. "Shouldn't you be at your photoshoot?" I asked. I nodded at Chris. Luke immediately gave us privacy. Chris on the other hand seemed bothered. He kept on glancing at Luke through the glass door as he sat on the chair in front of my table. “You have a photoshoot, right?” I asked to get his attention. He immediately gave me a sweet smile. “The shoot for today is done. I just…came to ask how you are.” “I’m fine, Chris.” His eyes flickered with worry. “You collapsed at the party, Kyra. I followed you to the hospital but Nathan stopped me. He…” he paused and laughed. My forehead creased. “What?” He grinned. “He said you're his mate. I think he’s still angry with me. He’s still overprotective of you just like before.” I swallowed hard. Damn you, Nathan! First you reject me, then deny others access? “Don’t mind him,” I said and smiled. “Yeah…” he paused and glanced at Luke behind the closed door again. “I see now why you rejected me again.” Sylvia huffed in amusement “Let him believe it. Safer this way.” My lips parted. He thought I had a romantic relationship with Luke. I want to correct him but I think it would be better to let him think that way. If he thinks I have a thing with Luke, he won’t try to court me again. I was not in the mood to develop any relationships, at least not now. And I just really saw Chris as a friend and nothing more. I didn’t understand why he still liked me even when I was constantly rejecting him. “So, I should take a leave. I came thinking about having dinner with you but I think you have a dinner date already.” “Chris…” He smiled. “Don’t worry about me, Kyra. I will move on. For real this time. Thank you for making me happy again.” I chewed my bottom lip as I watched him leave. He even patted Luke’s shoulder and grinned at him before he left completely. I knew Chris. He was hurt but he was still smiling. This was the mystery of love. Why did we fall in love with the person who was in love with someone else? Why not with the person who was in love with us too? How complicated! I sighed and jumped in shock when my phone suddenly rang. I immediately picked up the call and cleared my throat… “Hello?” [Kyra?] “Grandma?” [Yes, honey. Can you visit me at my house, please? I feel sad. Let’s talk.] Sylvia whined. “She'll beg you to forgive him.” I squeezed my eyes closed. How could I tell her Nathan had broken our bond? I felt my conscience kicking me inside. I should tell Grandma the truth but I couldn't bring myself to tell her. I felt like I would shatter her into pieces. I was also afraid that something bad might happen to her if I told her the truth. Her heart was fragile. We all knew that. [Can’t you give your old lady a chance to be with you? I miss you, my granddaughter.] I opened my eyes and bit my bottom lip. “I…will visit you the day after tomorrow.” [Oh! Thank you, honey. Thank you so much. You don’t know how happy you made me. I’m expecting you at dinnertime the day after tomorrow, okay? Don’t be late! I will cook your favorite food.] I chuckled happily and nodded. “Yes, Grandma. I missed you and your dish too. See you.” I felt disappointed with myself as soon as the call ended. I palmed my forehead and squeezed my eyes closed again. God! I should tell the truth when we meet. I couldn’t lie to her anymore.