MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA
Chapter 78: Confession

Chapter 78: Confession

Unlike the wooden bathtub Reana was used to, this one was made with porcelain, adorned with intricate drawings. It was beautiful, just like the room she was provided: lush carpets, velvet curtains, and intricately designed four-poster bed with silk sheets.

The humans seemed to be more productive, colorful, and innovative, unlike the werewolves community, who didn’t care for such luxuries.

They were content with their simple, rustic way of life and battles, and Reana had always been the same. But being here, surrounded by such beauty, peace, and opulence, made her wonder if there was more to life than she had known.

She slipped into the warm, colorful bubble, scented water, feeling the tension in her muscles ease as the fragrant steam enveloped her. The sweet aroma of roses and lavender filled her senses, calming her mind and soothing her skin. Reana closed her eyes, letting out a soft sigh as she sank deeper into the water, the warmth seeping into her bones.

It was pure bliss, and for a moment, she forgot about the troubles of the coming winter, the complicated feelings about Ryder, and hard life she’d lived, choosing to indulge in this fleeting sense of luxury and peace.

Mirian knelt by the bath, scrubbing her back with a soft cloth, working out the knots and kinks that had accumulated from days of travel and hardship. Reana let out a contented sigh, feeling the gentle pressure of Mirian’s hands as she worked out the tension in her muscles.

Butler Charleston had offered her maid to help her, but Reana had rejected them. After the numerous attempts at her life in the pack, Reana had developed trust issues, especially with servants. The only person she had allowed to attend to her was Mirian, not because she trusted her too much, but because she reminded Reana of the kind of life she wanted to live, was she given a choice.

Mirian watched Reana, contemplating whether she should start her confession or not. She had thought she had made up her mind, but now that she had the chance to speak, the words got stuck in her throat.

Mirian’s hands paused in their gentle scrubbing, her mind weighing the pros and cons of speaking up. She didn’t want to be discarded or killed, but like Ryder said, her fate would be worse if the Luna brought it up herself.

The sudden halt in Mirian’s gentle scrubbing made Reana open her eyes, a questioning look on her face. "Mirian, is everything alright?"

Caught off guard, Mirian’s heart skipped a beat. "N– nothing," her eyes darted away, her cheeks flushing slightly as she struggled to find the right words.

Reana said nothing more, shutting her eyes as if willing herself to relax, but Mirian knew better. She recognized the subtle tightening of Reana’s jaw, the faint furrowing of her brow. It was a sign that Reana was growing annoyed.

"Luna," Mirian started, her voice hesitant, growing softer, "th– there’s something I need to tell you. Something important."

"Hm," Reana hmmed, eyes still closed as she waited for Mirian to continue. The gentle hum of the water and the soft silence that followed seemed to stretch out, filling the space between them with anticipation.

Mirian took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest, and began to speak in a low tone, "I – I’m sorry, Luna, I have lied to you."

She waited, but Reana didn’t react. Then, she continued, "My cousin, Xavier got me to be by your side. He wanted me to warm my way into your life, earn your trust and then influence your decision so you’d choose him as your mate..." she trailed off, realizing how betraying it sounded.

The water in the bath seemed to grow colder, the silence between them thickening like ice. Reana’s eyes remained closed, her face a mask of calm, but it only amplified Mirian’s dread.

You don’t know when the Luna struck.

"And...?" Reana suddenly spoke, but her eyes were still shut, her back relaxing into the tub. Her voice was calm, almost lazy, but Mirian detected a hint of tension underlying her words.

Mirian swallowed, her heart drumming in her chest, "A few days after I started working as your personal servant he gave me a poison, saying it wouldn’t harm you, but would make you slow for a while. He intended for you to be attacked, then he’d come in to save you, making you think he’s the only one you can trust."

Mirian’s voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes fixed on Reana’s face, searching for any sign of reaction. But Reana’s expression remained serene, her eyes still closed, as if she were merely listening to a soothing melody.

"I –" she suddenly plopped on her knees and kowtowed, "I’m sorry, Luna, I–"

"Is that all, Mirian?"

"N– no," Mirian stuttered, her voice shaking as she lifted her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "There’s more. I...I gave you the poison but told Gamma Kira, who rescued you from the attack instead."

Her voice grew smaller, almost inaudible as she continued, "I helped Xavier in other ways too. I told him about your schedule, your habits... all those coincidental bumping into him, it was all planned. He wanted to make it seem like fate was bringing you two together."

Mirian’s words trailed off, her body trembling as she awaited Reana’s response. The air was thick with tension, the only sound was the soft lapping of the water against the tub.

Reana’s expression remained unreadable, "Is that all?"

"Y– yes, that’s..." she paused, biting her lips as she deliberated whether to say the last one. "I... he gave me a pill battle on the night the pack was attacked. He wanted me to feed it to you."

She quickly added, "I couldn’t bring myself to do it, Luna, I swear. I threw the pill away." Mirian’s words tumbled out in a desperate rush, her eyes pleading for Reana to believe her.