Swapped Luna part 6

ALPHA THORNE

I don’t sleep that night. Maeve’s bluster keeps replaying in my mind. The gall of that woman.

I toss and turn in bed, flustered by the thought that she is in her bedroom, far way from me. I feel like we have unfinished business. She left me stunned at the lake, and I don’t like losing the last word.

She has become so unpredictable that I can’t rely on my typical commands and insults. She used to shrink away from me every time I mentioned her betrayal—rightfully so. But now it’s like she’s trying to humanize herself for forgiveness or perhaps confuse me enough to slip past my defenses.

She used to be so shallow. No deeper than a one-inch mirror she fawned over her image in. She’s deeper now. Ever since that fall, it’s like she has become a new person.

It takes me a while to fall asleep. When I awake the next morning, I skip breakfast and head to my office for a scheduled phone call.

Then I prepare for my daily run. I look around for Fang because he often joins me, but I don’t see him anywhere. The wolf must be roaming the territory.

I take off running, my bare feet connecting with the soil that has been in my family’s lineage for generations.

I approach the lake and head for the treeline, my pace slowing to halt when I spot Maeve throwing small pebbles into the water. Beside her is a wolf. Not a werewolf, but Fang.

I’m baffled by the sight of them together. What the hell is he doing beside her? He hates that woman. I wouldn’t put it past him to maul her.

But he’s…laying at her feet like a plush rug. His head laying on his paws like he’s enjoying a morning beside his master.

This wolf trusts no one but me. He is loyal to no one but me. And yet he defected overnight?

I set a hand against the nearest tree and close my eyes, listening closely. Maeve is talking to Fang, but the distance between us is too great to hear her clearly.

“It’s so frustrating. Why is he so cold with me?” She groans. “I’m ranting, aren’t I? I’m sorry. I hardly know you and I’m talking your ear off. I hope you two aren’t too close.”

She bends down to pick up more pebbles.

“I must say that you’re a really good listener. We could become great friends.” She chuckles. “If only you would show your other form to me. But I get it. The Beta told me you’re shy, so I’ll wait for your big reveal.”

What other form? What big reveal?

She’s talking to the wolf like she’s expecting a reply. Did her fall make her incapable of understanding how wolves work?

How bewildering.

I resume my run, my mood taking a turn for the worst. I can sense Maeve’s eyes on me as I run. And I swear that I can imagine her small squeal of surprise. She has been doing that a lot. Making these small noises when she’s caught deep in thought or when she messes up.

That’s something new. I should find the quirky reaction irate. I normally would. But I’m finding it…something akin to endearing.

That’s not normal.

I grunt and run faster. Running an extra lap before storming home to shower and waste hours locked in my study. Working harder than usual to forget about her. On a normal day, she would hardly cross my mind at all.

I only open the door in the evening to accept my dinner platter. It’s typical of me to dine alone, surrounded by paperwork and books. The long, lavish dining table downstairs has not been used in months.

I thank the maid that brings the platter to my door, not glancing at it until I set it on my table. Only then do I spot the bright pink cupcake beside my plate of steak.

A cupcake? I have no taste for sweets. My chefs know not to send me dessert, so I don’t know where this came from.

I leave my study and call for the maid.

“Hey, where did this cupcake from?”

The maid stiffens before turning around and bowing. Shyly, she replies, “from the Luna, sir. She has baked cupcakes for all the staff and requested this one be sent to you.”

Baking? Maeve does not bake. Goddess knows she would panic if she got any flour in her hair and burn the kitchen down.

“Thank you,” I tell the maid before closing the door and returning to my desk.

I am worried about the cupcakes she made for the maids. She is a jealous and vindictive woman. I wouldn’t put it past her to poison them.

My eyes ignore the juicy steak, focusing on the cupcake instead. There are…sprinkles and smiley-face buttons on it.

I’m the decorated Alpha of hundreds of werewolves. In my prime and deadly, but this woman sent me a pink cupcake fit for a child.

I rumble with laughter at the utter ridiculousness, and reach for the cupcake. I peel the liner down and take a bite of the thing, freezing when flavor explodes on my tongue. This is…warm, moist, and with perfectly balanced sweetness. Utterly delicious.

I stare at the empty linen as I chew on the cupcake. Regretting that I ate it because now I crave more. That is unheard of, given my lack of interest in sweets

I sigh, frustrated by all these little ways that Maeve is getting under my skin. She is changing up her game, and it might just work.

I finish my dinner and return to work, forgetting about her. She has her own life far away from mine, and this house is too large for us to run into each other in the halls.

And I certainly have no reason to seek her out. It will be many days before I see her again.

It’s late at night when a soft knock disrupts me from work. I shut my laptop and call out, “enter.”

The same maid from earlier opens the door. “Alpha, I’m sorry to disturb you.”

“It’s alright. What is it?”

“Well, the Luna’s handmaiden can’t…can’t find her. She’s not home.”

I frown. “What? It’s late. She’s recovering from a head injury. Why would she be wandering alone at night?”

Where the fuck could she be? The territory is secure, but she shouldn’t be alone at night in her condition. I don’t want to make a habit of carrying her to the hospital.

Maeve usually doesn’t go anywhere without a personal attendant. But lately she has been dismissive of her handmaiden.

I glance at the window.

“Where are you?” I mutter.

That’s when I remember last night’s shenanigans by the lake. She told me she would expect my return. Demanded it, really.

She was serious about that?!

“That foolish woman,” I mutter as I head for the door.

I walk outside and find Fang nearby, pacing like he’s searching for something. He looks at me and whines, and I instantly realize that something is wrong.

Why isn’t he with Maeve? They were bonding this morning like old friends. I figured he would explore this strange connection to her for a few more days before losing curiosity.

I whistle at Fang and take off toward the lake.

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