Arranged To The Beast Alpha
Choice he made

LEAH

"Hey, Andy, can we talk?" I caught her just as she was about to leave after dropping off my lunch.

Andy paused mid-step, the tray still balanced on her arm, her expression shifting from the usual warmness to mild curiosity.

"What's on your mind, Luna?” Her voice held a touch of worry.

I ran a hand over the smooth surface of the table eyes fixed on the meals she had presented as if it held the answers I was searching for.

"It's probably nothing," I started, feeling the weight of my hesitance. "But I have a few things I need to ask. I was hoping we could talk, just the two of us."

She chuckled lightly, a sound that I was starting to get accustomed to, especially that of Cleo's. "

If you say so." Andy set the tray down and slid into the chair across from me, folding her arms over the table with an expectant tilt to her brow.

The room seemed quieter than usual. "About The Alpha; Damien..." His name felt heavy on my tongue as if forbidden without his title.

"Is he... happy with the choice he made? I mean, with me as his Luna?"

Andy's smile slipped, replaced by a solemnity that pinched her features. She let out a slow, deliberate sigh. "That's not an easy one to answer," she admitted, her voice low and careful. "Alpha Damien is... complicated. Happiness isn't something he wears out in the open. He's feared and revered by all, Including his people. We cannot tell the emotions he feels, just cold and angry, pretty much all we have seen so far."

"I do know; I mean, I have seen it with my own eyes," I said, not wanting to sound naive. "I just-I need to understand him. More than what he shows the world."

Andy's gaze softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of sympathy there. "I wish I knew Leah

." she said, shifting slightly as if the admission cost her something.

"Damien's never been with someone... well of marriage or position and all, maybe playmates..." Andy trailed off; I understood what she meant; I saw it with my own eyes, the things he did with another woman.

"The only one who ever came close was Royanna." She said grasping my attention.

"Royanna?" Andy nodded.

"They were to be betrothed to seal the alliance between both packs, but it failed after the death of the Alpha; Damien broke the alliance."

I felt relieved hearing Andy explain better, which was extremely weird for me to admit.

"She was his childhood friend," she added, the words laced with a history I hadn't expected. "They grew up together, inseparable from what I heard. She was... different. Strong, willed, stubborn, and shared the same pain as Damien. The loss of their mothers at tender ages."

I felt a pang of something sharp and cold settle in my chest. It wasn't quite jealousy—it was more like the hollow ache of knowing you'd stumbled into a sad story or bad turn.

I did not need to ask how they died, everyone knew Luna's were maid pawns of Alpha's fanes and revenge.

A silence fell between us, thick and heavy. It was as if the walls were holding their breath, waiting for me to understand. The weight of history pressed against my chest, the realization dawning in pieces.

"Is there a significant reason Alpha Damien might want to host another honeymoon and make me tag along with him for the grand summit?"

And shook her head. "I have no idea, Luna; I think he is just trying to keep you safe, maybe at close range, maybe he cares for you."

My heart skipped a beat hearing her say that. Care for me? It sounded strange and made me feel weird.

There was no way to get a piece of better information from Andy. She's solid no doubt, a hard nut to crack. Cleo, however, might be a better target to get the information I need.

*******

By evening, I sought peace. The silk of my nightgown brushed my skin, a cruel reminder of the comfort I couldn't grasp.

My bed loomed, inviting rest, but the ache in my chest held me back. I needed to talk to my sister, but Damien stood between me and that relief.

Our room felt hollow. Sometimes, I forget that he owned this room before we got married. Since our disastrous honeymoon, he hadn't returned, leaving me alone to drown in my fears and pain. The maids gossip about him residing in his study. Taking a deep breath, I donned my robe and braced against the chill, slipping my flops on.

As I approached his study. I pressed my palm against the door, gathering courage. One knock. Silence. Another, more insistent, until the door creaked open on its own. Damien didn't bother to lock up, strange for a man as private as he is. Inside, shadows cloaked the room, lit only by the dim glow of dying embers. Damien lay on the couch, a half-empty glass abandoned nearby.

His shirt was undone, revealing smooth lines on his chest. My heart tightened at the sight.

I stepped closer, drawn to him. He looked different in sleep, the hard lines of his face softened. His steady breathing filled the silence. A rare sight to behold.

What am I doing? The thought nagged at me, but I knelt beside him, letting his warmth reach my cold skin. My gaze lingered on his relaxed lips, devoid of the sharp words that often slip out, startling or hurting me.

Before I thought better of it, my fingers brushed his curls. My pulse quickened, but I pressed on, savoring the moment.

Out of the blues his hand shot up, gripping my wrist. My breath caught as I met his sharp gaze.

"What are you doing?" His voice sliced through the silence.

I froze, unable to answer. His eyes searched my face, probing for an explanation I wasn't ready to give.

"I..." The word came out shaky. His grip loosened, but something unreadable crossed his features. The space between us felt electric, and I fought the urge to retreat.

"Why are you here, Leah?" His question held weight.

I looked down, shame and longing swirling within me. "I needed to speak to you," I whispered, the vulnerability stinging.

Damien sighed, leaning back, exhaustion etched on his face. "It's late," he said as if that justified our barriers.

"I know," I replied, my voice barely audible. The silence thickened, pressing down on us. I wondered if I should leave.

Then his gaze found mine again, hesitant. "Then talk," he urged softly.

The words I'd rehearsed slipped away, leaving me stranded in silence. So, I stayed, knees pressed to the floor.

"I don't have all night Leah." Damien pressed further. I nodded, swallowing my spew.

"I want to speak to my sister." I requested and earned a sharp glare from him.

"And why are you coming to me?" He asked. "Urm... I can't reach her from my tablet."

"Then reach out to your father; you are on good terms, right?" Sadness gnawed at me but I immediately masked it with a fake smile. "Yes. Yes, of course. That's true, I will reach him right away. I am so sorry for ruining your sleep." I said, my breath shaky and my footing unsteady. Tears burned my eyes and I hurriedly turned to face the door.

He must never find out, I can't ruin everything just to get him to agree.