Petal

"Sit." Aslaan’s voice echoed in the almost empty office space.

There was only one seat, and I sat on it. My knees pressed together, hands together on my laps for a moment felt like I was back in a school principal's office, waiting to be scolded again.

My eyes, however, didn't behave. They found him, watching his every movement. The way his fingers shifted through the pages of the books he pulled off the shelf. The way his muscles flexed with even the slightest of movement.

Physique-wise, Aslaan was broader and his wolf felt stronger than his brothers. And if he were to hurt me, there’s no way I would survive it.

My stomach shrank.

Meanwhile, my wolf paced under my skin—giggling, pacing restlessly. She clawed at the walls of my ribs like she was chasing him through me.

My hands rolled into fists. She was laughing, at what, I had no idea.

I hated how I didn’t feel safe, yet my wolf did—it was misleading. How I noticed the faintest details, the hair, falling messily like it didn't care, like everything he wore had been chosen with disinterest. I hated that I couldn't stop looking at it.

“Are you going to keep staring at me like that? Aslaan returned a book and reached for another from the highest tier, effortlessly.

I whipped my face away, my skin prickling. “Why did you bring me here?”

“Give me a minute.”

As Aslaan returned his attention to the book in his hand, my eyes trailed back at him.

Could he really not feel the mate bond? Or was he just good at acting?

After all, I was half human. A hybrid. Aplague, I was called. My pack sold me out just get rid of me. Zoran and Kanaan despised my existence.

Maybe he wasn't any different? It’s much easier not to notice your mate was a breed.

I reminded myself, even if he acknowledges, we would still reject each other. He thinks I’m a spy for his brothers, and I can never be comfortable with his presence, not with that face of his.

Aslaan snapped the book shut, and caught between the fingers was a piece of paper.

The sight of paper nagged at me, making my skin throb with heat.

"I’ll get straight to the point,” Aslaan said, his voice rough at the edges. "You said my brother took everything from you, Let me help you get it all back.”

His words squeezed my chest.

"Let me help you get revenge.”

My eyes narrowed as I tried to make sense of what he was saying. "Last night, you thought I was a spy, and now you want to play superhero.” I paused. “Why are you doing this?”

Silence descended, tightening every corner of the half-baked office.

My eyes flicked between the paper and his face. “I need to know what I’m getting myself into.”

I couldn’t disregard the greedy demand for vengeance in my chest, still, I couldn’t jump into the fire.

Leaning on the shelf, Aslaan crossed his legs and hands. His gaze darkened and his lips tightened. The thick silence kept stretching before us.

He sighed long as though he had mustered all the air in his lungs and let them out at once.

"Zoran was born first," Aslaan said. "I came second. Kannan last. Zoran was meant to be Alpha. But the Moon Goddess chose me."

My brows lifted, but I didn't interrupt.

"He couldn't take it. Claimed I cheated. So he set me up—framed me for something I didn't do. I was exiled."

I swallowed. "What crime?"

"Not your concern."Aslaan tilted his head. "Yet." He quickly added.

I nodded.

“The point is he has got me out of the way. He paid rogues to hunt me down and kill me, but I survived—by faking my death.” He continued.

Silence crept in, hot and chilling at the same time.

I straightened my spine . "So you want revenge. And you want me to join hands with you."

He met my gaze head-on. "Yes."

"But why me? You've got power. You've got your network,” I said, voice sinking, “And I have nothing to offer you.”

Aslaan’s lips curved into barely a smile. “I’ll be the one to decide that.”

All the hair on my skin that was almost invisible to the naked eye stood up, stiffening.

Zoran’s words tore through my mind. ‘You should be grateful to me, because you’re completely useless. The only thing you have is this body of yours.’

Disgust roiled over my skin.

Was that what he was after too—my body?

Sweat broke across my palms. Blood pounded in my ears and somehow became impossible to breathe.

Run away, my body screamed, yet it refused to move like the chill in my bones had glued me to the seat.

A thin voice warned me he might hurt you. So I sat still, my thighs clamped together.

Aslaan’s grip tightened on the paper.“Do you agree?”

Like he noticed how stiff my back was, He said, “It’s a good deal. You will be under my wings. Not only would I offer protection, I would also help you with your revenge.”

His words, like cheese on a trap.

Aslaan pushed off the shelf and inched closer. “I swear on the moon goddess, I wouldn’t treat you like my brothers did.”

I exhaled. “What am I agreeing to?”

“Be my Luna.”

My heart stilled.