Chapter 40
Rachel’s POV
I stepped into the Moon Goddess Suite behind Nathan, my breath catching as I took in the opulent surroundings.
The room was breathtaking–far more luxurious than even the Luna Buite back at Ironjaw.
A massive four–poster bed dominated the center of the room, draped in silvery–blue silks that caught the light like water.
My heart skipped a beat as I realized the implications. This suite was clearly meant for an Alpha and his Luna, not an Alpha and his… breeder.
“Are we sharing a suite?” I asked uneasily, my voice barely audible even to werewolf hearing. I wasn’t sure what answer I was hoping for.
Nathan turned to face me, shrugging off his jacket and rolling his sleeves to his elbows.
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The fix of muscles beneath his shirt caught my eye, and I felt my wolf instinctively respond with both submission and attraction to this display of power.
“Yes, we are. Is that a problem?” His raised eyebrow and the flecks of gold flashing in his eyes clearly communicated his irritation.
quickly shook my head. “No, Alpha.” Then I sighed softly, feeling an inexplicable sense of disappointment deepen within me.
After a moment of silence, I gathered my courage and simply said, “Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?” he asked, confusion softening the coldness in his voice slightly.
“For bringing me here, for allowing me to stay in your suite instead of… elsewhere.”
“Don’t,” he said as he walked toward the door, his voice returning to that businesslike coldness. “You know why you’re here.”
His words pierced my heart like tiny daggers. Though I’d always known I was just a breeder, hearing Nathan state it so bluntly was painful.
I hated how sensitive I was to his words, hated my yearning for this powerful Alpha, and hated myself most for harboring fantasies when I knew there was no future for us.
After Nathan left, I changed into a more comfortable, fitted white dress that Victoria had packed for me. I settled by the window, taking in the breathtaking view of Emerald City.
My peaceful moment was interrupted by the sound of Nathan’s name being called from the hallway.
Before I could react, the door swung open without so much as a knock, and a confident woman stood in the doorway, hands on her hips.
She was tall and curvy, with black hair that fell in soft waves around her shoulders. The family resemblance to Nathan was unmistakable in her facial features, though her eyes were a vivid green rather than gray.
She was dressed in stylish, avant–garde clothing that exuded a rebellious energy completely at odds with the formal atmosphere of
the castle.
Who the fuck are you?” she asked bluntly, curiosity and challenge mingling in her tone.
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I was too shocked to speak, my wolf alert and wary within me. I’m sorry… what?” I finally managed.
She rolled her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms over her chest. “sked who you are… why are you in my brother’s suite? Are you some plaything Nathan bro ght on a whim? Because honestly, you are, I don’t have time to deal with your kind.”
Another woman angry about my presence with Nathan… How many of these does he have?
I’m not a plaything.” After days of dealing with Madison, I’d grown little better at handling direct confrontation. I could feel my wolf stirring within me, no longer completely cowering.
I tried to keep my voice steady, and it came out stronger than I expected. “May I ask who you are and how I can help you?”
The air between us crackled with tension, both of us sizing each other up. Then suddenly, the door burst open again, and Nathan and Tyler rushed in,
Nathan’s pine scent immediately filled the room, his Alpha presence so overwhelming that both the woman and I instinctively took a step back.
“Gina, Nathan said through gritted teeth, his voice carrying both warning and resignation.
“This is Rachel,” Tyler said with a smile, attempting to ease the tension. “She’s your brother’s special guest, needing time to adjust to Emerald City.”
“Nathan… do you really hate the idea of a mate bond so much that you’d rather choose a breeder than a real mate?” Gina asked directly, her green eyes full of challenge.
Though I knew it was my role, hearing it stated so openly was still painful.
“Out, Gina,” Nathan commanded, his voice low and dangerous, his eyes flashing gold. He seemed to be fighting to keep his wolf from
fully emerging.
“King Jason is just down the hall, asking for you. He’ll be disappointed if you don’t see him first.”
Gina rolled her eyes, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Nice deflection, brother. This isn’t over, but I’ll let you off for now,” she called over her shoulder as she left the suite, her light footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Tyler departed to arrange preparations for the dinner, and a moment later, Nathan stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
His pine scent lingered in the air, now mixed with something complex I couldn’t quite decipher.
Left alone with my thoughts, I walked back to the window.
I knew becoming a breeder was never meant to be honorable, but I’d had no choice.
Now I was just part of Nathan’s plan, a tool, and once I gave birth to his heir, I would be “released–I now understood what that euphemism truly meant,
But as my fingers lightly touched my lips, remembering his kiss, my wolf whimpered deep inside, longing for a connection I would never have
