Chapter 2 2
Aurélie POV
Why was she here? What the hell was she doing here?
I tried to catch Damien’s eyes, to pull something from them anger, surprise, anything that would tell me what her presence meant. But he wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was fixed on her.
She stood in the doorway, a picture of calculated chaos, pretending to be flustered by my interruption. The shiny black hair that used to fall down her back in the photographs had been chopped into a sleek, deliberate bob. She wore a cleavage-baring pink top, tight white jeans that hugged her curves like a second skin, and pink heels that glittered under the light. She looked like she had been styled for a show.
And me? I stood there in an oversized black T-shirt and leggings, swallowed by fabric that did nothing to disguise the growing swell of my stomach.
“Oh, you must be Aurélie!” she chirped, far too bright for someone who had just waltzed into another woman’s home. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m like Damien’s little sister, I am”
“Geneviève.” I sliced through her words before she could finish, watching the flash in her eyes when I said her name. She let her gaze slide over me, slow and assessing top to bottom, like a queen inspecting a peasant. She didn’t sneer, but if I hadn’t been watching her, I knew she would have.
My wolf shifted beneath my skin, restless, snarling softly. There was something in her something cold and serpentine. Damien had a chill about him too, but his was deliberate, guarded. Hers was different. Hers was born into her.
“I’m sorry for descending unannounced,” she said sweetly, placing her hand on Damien’s upper arm, her touch a deliberate claim. “I’ve run into some… difficulties. And I knew only Damien could help.”
The way she stroked him made my stomach twist, a cold sickness spreading through me. That was my husband. The father of the child growing inside me.
“I hope you don’t mind me being here,” she continued with a smile that never reached her eyes. “It’ll be nice to get to know my sister-in-law, anyhow.”
Sister-in-law.
That was rich. I’d seen the photographs. I knew what she had been to him.
Damien still wouldn’t look at me. His attention was locked on Geneviève, and it stung like a blade dragged slow across skin.
“Geneviève’s pack was attacked by rogues. She barely made it out alive,” he finally said, his voice level.
A sharp breath escaped me. “Naturally, we’ll shelter her,” he added not as a question. An order.
“Of course,” I answered automatically. She was lucky to be breathing.
“Where will Geneviève stay?” I asked, already thinking of the guest houses near the border, easy to prepare, distant enough to keep the peace.
“She can stay in my old rooms. Here. In the Alpha house.”
My heart sank like a stone into a cold river.
“Oh no,” Geneviève said with feigned modesty, waving her delicate hand. “I couldn’t possibly. I’ll just stay in the front guest room.”
She could have chosen the guest houses. But no she wanted to stay here.
“They’re my rooms,” I muttered, heat crawling up my neck. She’d know now. She’d know that I didn’t share the Alpha suite with Damien.
“It’s settled,” Damien said, smiling at her. “My old rooms.”
I forced my Luna mask into place. “Very good. I’ll have catering speak with you about your food preferences.”
“You’re a star,” she cooed, opening her arms to hug me. My wolf growled low, silent, refusing to let her touch me. I sidestepped before her perfume could stain my skin.
“I’ll have the staff prepare your rooms,” I said stiffly, and fled before Damien could feel the storm boiling inside me.
I left the office door slightly ajar. As I walked away, Geneviève’s soft giggle slid through the crack, wrapping around me like smoke. Were they laughing about me? My wolf bristled. My lungs burned.
And then it hit me like a slap in my shock over her sudden arrival, I hadn’t told Damien about the baby.
I went straight to Fabrice’s office at the medical centre. He was the only one I could confide in. I confessed that Geneviève’s appearance had stolen the moment I’d planned to share the news of my pregnancy.
I told myself I’d keep it a secret for now. Geneviève wouldn’t stay long. Once she was gone, I’d tell Damien and we’d plan our future just the two of us.
But Fabrice’s reaction wasn’t what I expected. He grew tense, frustrated. “You need to tell the Alpha,” he said firmly. But I couldn’t. Not now. Damien had to focus on Geneviève’s situation, and as Luna, I was expected to stand beside him. Even if it broke something inside me.
Hours later, I stood inside Damien’s old room, preparing it for her. In two years of living here, I’d never stepped foot in this space. It was steeped in his scent, more personal than the Alpha suite had ever been. It made my skin crawl that she’d sleep here.
“I can’t believe she’s back,” Élodie muttered, breaking my thoughts. “I can’t believe the Alpha’s letting her stay.”
“Why wouldn’t he?” I asked quietly.
“She was a nightmare. Acted like the Luna when they were together. Ordered us around like dogs.”
“Don’t I do that?” I chuckled weakly.
“No, Luna. You ask. She commanded. She’s… evil,” Élodie whispered.
“Élodie,” I scolded.
Denise rushed to smooth it over. “I think what she means is… Geneviève used to stay in these rooms before.”
The words hit like a blow. “What?”
“Yes, Luna,” Denise said softly.
My pulse pounded in my ears. Damien never let me into his Alpha rooms. I’d built an illusion for the pack that I slept in his bed every night. But that was a lie.
The memory of that night two months ago surfaced his disgust when he’d found me in his bed. The way he fled. A dizzy spell seized me. Denise caught my arm, guiding me to sit.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
“There. Perfect example. She didn’t even bother to learn our names,” Élodie spat, earning a growl from Denise.
“She won’t be here long,” I said, forcing calm. “Once Damien helps her, she’ll leave. Be patient.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if she caused her pack’s fall,” Élodie hissed.
“Élodie!” I growled but it was too late. Geneviève was standing in the doorway, eyes sharp, smile painted on like a weapon.
“Continue preparing the room,” I commanded, my voice steady though my blood burned.
As I turned to leave, her fingers brushed my elbow light but possessive.
“Aurélie,” she purred, “could we talk? In private?”
She shot Élodie a venomous look before turning her smile back on me polished and false.
“Of course, Geneviève,” I answered, dread settling like lead in my chest. I didn’t want to spend another second alone with this woman. But I didn’t have a choice.