Eleven

Rhea.

I took a deep breath, keeping my eyes shut for a moment longer, feeling the warmth of his touch lingering on my skin. Slowly, I opened my eyes and quickly scanned the room, my heart pounding. I was alone. The room was silent, except for the faint sound of my own breathing. My dress lay discarded on the floor, a crumpled reminder of last night.

I sat up, pulling the quilt around me, and let out a deep sigh. A smile slowly crept onto my lips as I remembered spending the night with Remus. He had been so gentle, so caring. I could still feel the warmth of his touch and the way he looked at me, as if I were the only person in the world. As I bit my lip, a wave of heat rushed over me, and I hugged the quilt tighter, savoring the memory.

But I needed to get moving. I slipped out of the king-sized bed, the cool floor beneath my feet jolting me back to the present. I hurried to the bathroom, eager to wash away the remnants of last night and clear my head. As the hot water cascaded down my body, I tried to focus on the here and now, but my thoughts kept drifting back.

I couldn't help but think about how my life had changed in just a single day. I was now an Alpha's mate, which meant I was Luna. The thought should have filled me with pride, but all I felt was a confusing churn of emotions.

My mind wandered back to Alpha Damien. No matter what he had done to me, I couldn't get him out of my head. I'd loved him for as long as I could remember, always finding excuses for his cruelty, telling myself he didn't mean it, that he would eventually notice me.

I closed my eyes, letting the hot water wash over me, trying to cleanse my mind of those thoughts. The water stung as it ran down my bruised back, but I ignored the pain, focusing instead on the sensation of the water. It was soothing, in a way, and I felt a small sense of relief as I scrubbed myself clean.

I had never experienced a shower like this back home. There, I had been lucky to get a few minutes under a cold, dribbling faucet. But here, the bathroom was luxurious, with shiny tiles and plush towels. It made me think of my mother and sister. Were they okay? Were they worried about me like I was worried about them?

Finishing my shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and found a new toothbrush. I brushed my teeth quickly and stepped out of the bathroom, using another towel to dry my hair. As I moved into the bedroom, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Remus was standing in the middle of the room, staring at me. His eyes were full of something I had never seen before—adoration, maybe even love. His gaze was intense, but it wasn't harsh or demanding like Alpha Damien's had been. Damien always looked at me with coldness, like I was something he could use and then toss away. But Remus's eyes... they were different. They were warm, soft, and full of something I couldn't quite understand.

For a moment, I felt exposed, vulnerable. I clutched the towel closer to my chest, even though he had already seen me naked more than once. My cheeks flushed, and I looked away, unsure of what to say.

"Good morning," Remus said softly, his voice gentle. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine," I replied, still holding the towel tightly. I could feel his eyes on me, but instead of making me feel uncomfortable, it almost made me feel... safe.

"Breakfast is ready," he continued, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I thought you might be hungry, so I made the chefs make breakfast a little bit earlier. I'll be waiting in the living room for you to get dressed."

I nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He lingered for a moment longer, his eyes never leaving mine, and I felt a strange flutter in my chest. It wasn't love—no, I didn't feel that way about Remus. But there was something about his presence that was comforting, something that made me feel like I could breathe a little easier.

As he turned to leave, he paused by the door, glancing back at me. "Take your time, Rhea," he said softly. "I'll be right outside if you need anything."

I watched him go, feeling a mix of confusion and something else I couldn't quite name. After everything that had happened, after all the pain and betrayal, it was strange to have someone look at me the way Remus did. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but as I got dressed, I couldn't help but feel a tiny spark of hope flickering inside me. Maybe things could be different. Maybe I could be different.

I finished getting dressed and took a deep breath before heading out to join Remus in the living room, my heart beating a little faster with each step.

Remus lifted his eyes from his phone and looked at me. His gaze lingered, and a small smile spread across his face as he took in my appearance. I was wearing a simple yellow knee-length dress, the fabric light and flowing, with short sleeves and a modest neckline. It was the kind of dress that was easy to move in but still felt feminine and bright.

"You look beautiful," Remus said softly, his voice warm. The compliment took me by surprise, and I felt my cheeks flush slightly. I wasn't used to hearing things like that, especially not from a man.

He stood up from the sofa, and we stepped out of our chamber together, heading downstairs to the pack house dining area. With each step we took, my nerves tightened. As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I could hear the voices coming from the dining room. Even without seeing them, I recognized the tones—his parents, Elara and Marcus, and possibly his sister, Rachel.

Remus must have sensed my tension because he took my hand in his, giving it a light squeeze. I looked up at him, and he flashed me a reassuring smile. I tried to return it, but I knew it came out as a weak, fake one. Still, his small gesture made me feel a little more at ease, though the tight knot of anxiety in my stomach remained.

We entered the dining room and I immediately felt all eyes on me. Elara, Remus's mother, sat at the head of the table, her expression stern and unreadable. She was a woman of elegance, her dark hair neatly pinned back, and her sharp eyes assessing me from the moment I walked in.

Beside her sat Marcus, Remus's father, who seemed more interested in his plate than anything else happening around him. He was a man of few words I noticed when I came last night. Rachel was seated next to him. She had a kind face with soft features and bright eyes that immediately lit up when she saw us.

Rachel smiled warmly at me, and I felt a small wave of relief wash over me. "Good morning, Rhea," she said cheerfully. "I'm so glad you're joining us for breakfast."

I smiled back, genuinely this time. "Good morning, Rachel. Thank you for having me."

However, my relief was short-lived. On the other side of the table sat Tessa, a woman with dark, piercing eyes and an air of hostility that seemed to cling to her like a shadow. She barely acknowledged my presence, her gaze fixed elsewhere, a clear snub that didn't go unnoticed.

Elara's eyes never left me as we took our seats. The moment I sat down, she began her interrogation, her voice cutting through the air like a knife. "So, Rhea," she began, her tone icy, "do you think you're capable of being Luna? Of taking care of my son, Remus?"

Her question caught me off guard, and I struggled to find my voice. "I…I hope so, Elara. I'll do my best."

Elara's gaze didn't soften. If anything, it grew more intense. "Doing your best isn't always enough," she replied sharply. "The role of Luna requires strength, intelligence, and dedication. It's not something just anyone can do."

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment and my heart pounded in my chest. I glanced over at Remus, hoping he would say something in my defense, but he remained quiet, his eyes fixed on the table. His silence made my chest tighten with disturbance and displeasure.

Rachel, noticing the tension, quickly intervened. "Here, Rhea," she said gently, getting up from her seat and placing a plate of food in front of me. "I hope you like what we have this morning. We've got plenty, so please help yourself."

I gave her a grateful smile, but the knot in my stomach was too tight for me to even think about eating. I glanced over at Tessa, who was glaring at me with open disdain, her lips pressed into a thin line. She hadn't touched her food either, but unlike me, it seemed to be out of sheer spite.

The pressure in the room grew thicker, and I felt even more out of place. I knew I should eat, that it was expected of me, but I couldn't bring myself to take a bite. My appetite was gone, replaced by a swirling mix of nerves and discomfort.

I picked up my fork and tried to force myself to eat, but my hand was trembling. I felt so small, so out of place, and all I wanted was to disappear. I glanced at Remus one more time, hoping he would at least look at me, say something to make this easier, but he didn't.

I dropped my fork and excused myself from the table. I didn't wait for anyone to give me permission or ask what was wrong. I needed to get out of there. My heart felt heavy, and my eyes stung with the tears I was trying to hold back. I could barely see as I hurried up the stairs, my vision blurring with every step.

By the time I reached my room, the tears were already falling. I slammed the door behind me and leaned against it, letting out a choked sob. I didn't even know why I was crying, but it felt like a mix of everything.

Remus hadn't defended me when his mother was being so intentionally rude and mean, and that hurt more than I wanted to admit. I felt disrespected, judged without anyone even trying to get to know me.

Tessa's hostility seemed like a minor problem in comparison to the weight of everything else. And then there was the homesickness, creeping up on me like a shadow. I missed my family so much it ached.

I was now standing in the middle of the room, lost in my thoughts, when I felt strong arms grab my shoulders. I jolted, a gasp escaping my lips. Before I could fully react, I was spun around to face Remus. His eyes were dark with concern, but I was too upset to care.

"Rhea," he murmured, his voice deep and authoritative, sending a shiver down my spine. It was the same voice he had used to protect me yesterday when I first arrived. But today, he hadn't done anything. He had just sat there, letting his mother insult me like I was nothing.

"Why didn't you say anything?" I demanded, looking down to avoid his gaze. My voice was shaky with anger and hurt.

"I'm sorry, Rhea," he said softly, his tone soothing. "I didn't want to make things worse. I know my mother can be harsh, but—"

"But nothing," I cut him off, my voice rising with frustration. "You just sat there and let her treat me like that. You didn't say a single word in my defense!"

Remus reached out, his hands gently cupping my face. "I'm sorry," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine, trying to comfort me with a kiss.

But I pushed him away, anger flaring up inside me. "No, Remus!" I snapped, stepping back. "Kissing me isn't going to make this better. You can't kiss me when something goes wrong and expect it to fix everything!"

He looked taken aback, his expression a mix of surprise and hurt. "Rhea, I—"

"No," I interrupted, shaking my head. "If you want me to forgive you for just sitting there and letting your mother disrespect me, then you need to prove it. Not with words, and definitely not with kisses or sex. I need to see that you actually care, that you're willing to stand up for me when it matters."

Remus stared at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. I could see the conflict in his gaze, the struggle between wanting to comfort me and realizing that I needed more than just his touch. I needed his actions to back up his words.