Page 14 of The Possessive Alpha’s Reborn Luna

She stared at me. "I thought you'd be with Victoria."

I locked onto her eyes. No adoration in them. No shyness. No anticipation. Just cold indifference. And a hint of... wariness.

Damn it. She shouldn't look at me like that.

"Alice, do you hear yourself?" My gaze darkened. I closed the distance to the bed. "You think I'd stay there?"

"You rushed out of the wedding to be with her, didn't you?" She lifted her head and met my eyes. Those beautiful green eyes—no trace of caring. "So why come back? Wouldn't it be better to stay by her side? She's so sick. She needs you more."

"So that's what today was about?" I moved closer and grabbed her wrist. Hard enough to make her wince. "You acted cold at the wedding, said those things—just to make me feel guilty? To get my attention? Is this your new game, Alice? When did you learn to play hard to get?"

"What new game?" She struggled. "Cedric, let go."

"What the hell are you playing at?" I bent down, face nearly touching hers. The rich scent of dewy roses flooded my senses. "You think pretending not to care will make me notice you? Make me love you?"

"I'm not playing anything." Her eyes held mine steadily. No embarrassment at being called out. "I'm just done lying to myself. Cedric, I know you don't love me. You see me as a task. A duty. I know Victoria's the only one in your heart. So why should I keep groveling for scraps like I used to?"

"So what?" I couldn't help the cold laugh. "Didn't you always say as long as you could stay by my side, you were satisfied?"

"People change, don't they?" She said it calmly. "I've just finally seen reality."

I stared at her, searching her face for cracks, for pretense. Found nothing. Her expression was cold enough to feel foreign.

This was what I wanted. My father was destroyed by the mate bond. He fell for my mother—the mate the Moon Goddess chose for him. He went mad for her, lost all reason. Then she betrayed him. Got him killed.

I was twelve that year. That day taught me the mate bond wasn't a blessing. It was a curse. It made you lose yourself, lose control, spiral into destruction.

I would never make that mistake.

I wouldn't love Alice. Wouldn't let myself fall into that sick obsession. She was just a mate. A tool to bear my heir.

She'd accepted this marriage and understood her role. That should be good. So why didn't I feel as relieved as I thought I would?

"Do you know what tonight is?" I lowered my voice, tightening my grip on her wrist.

Her gaze flickered. Voice dropped. "The mating ceremony. I know."

"Then you know why I'm here." I leaned down and gripped her chin with my other hand. "The elders are pushing. The whole kingdom is waiting. We need an heir. Soon."

"I understand." She met my eyes. "Then let's get it over with."

The absurdity hit me. We were like strangers completing a transaction.

I didn't want to see her eyes anymore. I leaned in, one hand cupping the back of her head, the other braced beside her, pushing her down onto the bed. Her body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed.

I kissed her. Her lips were soft, tasted faintly of roses. My hand slipped under her nightgown, skimming her smooth skin. The fated mate bond exploded between us—electric currents spreading from every point of contact. My wolf howled in excitement, urging me on, demanding I mark her, claim her—

"Look at me." I released her lips, voice hoarse. A command.

She slowly opened her eyes. Already flushed with desire. I could see her want. Her body was responding to mine. For a moment, something softened in my chest.

"Alice—"

"Cedric." She cut me off, tone edged with impatience. "If you're ready, then continue. Don't waste time talking."

She finished speaking and yanked at my collar. Her thigh rubbed against me.

"Fine," I growled. "I'll give you what you want."