MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA
Chapter 148: Lingering Mate Bound

Chapter 148: Lingering Mate Bound

In the dining hall~

That evening, after dinner, Reana and Mirian finally decided to have a conversation about Detroit.

Staring at the girl standing before her with her head down, Reana sighed softly.

If it were up to her, she wouldn’t want Mirian to mate with someone from the Dark Snow Pack, but she couldn’t make Mirian’s choices for her, not when she saw how much she liked that Detroit person.

And it irked her for no reason.

Reana had sent Mirian to look after Detroit as a test, and now, Mirian was standing before her with Detroit’s scent all over her.

Reana felt slightly disappointed.

"What do you know about your suitor?" Reana suddenly spoke.

Mirian glanced up at her, her lips thinned into a straight line.

Reana’s eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing as she studied Mirian’s reaction.

"I know he’s... intense," Mirian said carefully, choosing her words with caution. "And possessive," she added, her voice barely above a whisper. "But he’s very soft at heart, Luna." She quickly added.

Reana arched a brow, expression cold, but her eyes were as neutral as they could be.

A man in love would be soft at heart only to the woman they love. Reana thought, so she didn’t take Mirian’s protest to heart.

"Possessive, huh? That’s interesting," she said, her tone measured. "And what do you think about that?" she asked, her eyes locked onto Mirian’s.

Mirian hesitated, unsure of how to respond, unsure of what Reana wanted to hear. "I... I don’t know," she said finally, her voice soft.

Reana’s gaze lingered on hers for a moment before she nodded thoughtfully. Reaching for her cup, she poured herself a drink. "Tell me, Mirian, what do you feel for Detroit?" she asked, her voice gentle but probing.

"I– I think I like him." She replied almost immediately.

Reana’s hand shook slightly as the drink spilled. But her emotions revealed nothing. Setting the bottle down, she pushed the cup across the table. "Take a seat," she ordered.

Mirian pulled the chair in front of her and sat on two seats away from Reana.

"Do you think I can’t see that?" she asked, her voice warm. "The way you smell like him is quite noticeable."

Mirian’s face flushed, and she grabbed the goblet of wine with both hands, willing her hands not to tremble. This was the Luna’s personal cup, no one has ever used it. Not even Ryder, her beloved.

Reana leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Mirian like a scorching flame. "But do you love him?" she asked, her voice low and curious.

Mirian’s heart skipped a beat as she considered the question. Did she love Detroit? She did. Too much and she’d only just realized it.

She looked up and locked eyes with the Luna. Slowly, she nodded, "I... I think I do."

Reana felt a stab of pain in her chest. She frowned at her own reaction. Why was she feeling heartbroken? Her frown deepened, her heart heavy with mixed emotion, from which she sensed – betrayal, jealousy, hurt, and a deep-seated sense of loss.

It was as if a lover had betrayed her.

She immediately brushed that thought aside. That was absurd. Perhaps, the only reason she was feeling upset was because Mirian, whom she saw as a version of her old self, whom she’d grown to like over the years, would be leaving her forever.

Right. That was why.

Even though she convinced herself that that was the reason, the ache in her chest lingered, refusing to be easily placated.

Reana’s eyes dropped, her gaze falling to the table as she struggled to come to terms with her emotions. She couldn’t quite shake off the feeling that there was more to it, that her reaction was rooted in something deeper and more complex.

"L– Luna? Are you sad?" Mirian’s voice suddenly cut through her thoughts.

Reana’s gaze snapped back up to Mirian’s face, her expression smoothing out into a mask of calm composure. "Why would I?"

Mirian didn’t speak. She saw it. The overwhelming sadness, the frown on her face, the mixed emotions. Everything. She saw everything. That was how she felt too when the Luna started going out With Ryder.

She had sleepless nights for a while, until Detroit came into her life, serving as a temporary distraction. And when she left the human village, Marcus crashed into her life too, giving her more things to wirry about. That was how she forgot about the Luna.

"You and Detroit..." it Reana began. "He’s a member of the Dark Snow Pack, I’m sure you know that?"

"Yes, I know," Mirian replied, her voice soft.

Reana’s gaze locked onto hers, her expression serious. "Aside from the fact that they are unbelievers in the moon goddess, there’s a history between our packs, tensions and... unresolved issues. Are you prepared for the challenges that might come with being involved with someone from the Dark Snow Pack?"

She paused, her fingers drumming the table, her heart growing uneasy. "If one day, they decide to turn their blade on us, will you be able to watch them slaughter your people?"

Mirian swallowed hard. Her eyes dropped, and for a moment, she struggled to find her voice. "I... I don’t know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Reana’s words had struck a chord, forcing Mirian to confront the harsh realities of her situation. She had been so caught up in her feelings for Detroit that she hadn’t fully considered the potential consequences of their relationship.

Reana sighed and leaned back into her chair.

"B– but, is there a way we can resolve our differences? Didn’t our people go over to the Southern Islands for trading? If, if we succeed, won’t the feud be dissolved?" Mirian’s eyes lifted, a glimmer of hope in them.

Reana’s expression softened slightly, her gaze contemplative. "Yes, our people have gone there for trade negotiations. It’s been almost two months and we haven’t received any messages. We’ve sent carrier birds twice." She stopped talking, her brows creased slightly.

"Even if we manage to secure a trade agreement, it’s not with the Dark Snow Pack, but the dwellers of the Southern islands. Again, the Dark Snow Pack is not a trustworthy entity," Reana finished.

"They’re a pack known for their cunning and ruthlessness. And their Alpha is, he’s..." she shut her eyes, not wanting to go into what she knew from reading the leader of the Crimson Caravan’s future

Mirian’s face fell, the glimmer of hope in her eyes dwindling. She knew Reana was right; as a gossip connoisseur, she had heard the stories about the Dark Snow Pack’s reputation.

But she couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing, a desire to make things work between their packs.

Reana’s eyes seemed to bore into her soul, as if searching for any sign of weakness or uncertainty. "Mirian, I need you to be clear-headed about this," Reana said, her voice low and serious. "Can you really trust Detroit? Will he protect you and your interest when things go south?"

Mirian stayed silent. She lifted the goblet and drank the wine in one gulp, the liquid burning her throat as she swallowed. She set the goblet down, her eyes meeting Reana’s, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

Then, Mirian made up her mind. With the determination she didn’t know where it came from, she spoke, "I’ll make it a condition for Detroit. If he can convince his Alpha to come to a peace agreement with our pack, I’ll be his mate."

Reana’s gaze narrowed slightly, her expression unreadable. She seemed to be weighing Mirian’s words, considering the feasibility of such a condition. After a moment, she nodded. "Very well, Mirian. Let’s see if Detroit is willing to make sacrifices for you. If he can deliver on this, then fine."

After a pause, she continued, "And Zeta Marcus, what are your plans for him?"

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