His Reluctant Luna novel Chapter 37

Lucian's POV - 

I was going through the paperwork to catch up on the business and keep myself distracted. My chest was hurting, which was expected. My wolf had been distressed ever since Alice left. He did not understand the human side of my emotions and complications.

"Come in," I said automatically on hearing the knock.

"I brought your dinner, you didn't have your lunch, Alpha," Katherine said, laying down the tray.

"I am not hungry," I replied, reading the same line of the document for the third time.

"This will not do, Lucian. I know you are missing your mate. That does not mean you start ignoring the food. I might be a lone wolf, and not know much about mates, but I know that, by staying hungry, your mate's not going to come back." Katherine shoved the plate of pasta at me.

I smiled and took it from her. She had been like a second mother to me ever since my own was unable to take care of me. She was the one who alerted me about the poison all those years ago and saved my life. I shook my head; I wanted to avoid recalling those terrible days.

"Alright, you win," I replied, taking the plate.

She gave a satisfied smile.

"Katherine, are you happy here?" I asked while playing with my fork, poking it aimlessly at my plate.

"What do you mean?" She asked puzzled.

"I mean, didn't you ever consider getting into a relationship with someone?" I hoped I was not crossing the line by asking a rather personal question.

"You mean other than my mate?" She smiled.

I nodded sheepishly.

"No, I have always believed in mate-bonds, I think my mate is somewhere out there looking for me. Sometimes, it takes time in finding them. But that is just me. Not everyone thinks like me."

"Don't you feel lonely?" 

"With a family this big? No way. I have so much to do, too many mouths to feed. Who has the time to feel lonely?" 

She chuckled.

"Good to know that," I wolfed down another fork full of pasta.

"Katherine, you are one of the few people I trust; hence I am entrusting you with an important job. Please tell the pack members that I have rejected Alice, she is not my mate anymore, nor their Luna."

If glares could kill, I would have been a dead man by now. That is how angry she was.

"What have you done now? Did you hurt her? Why did she leave? How could you do this to your mate?" 

The flurry of accusations would never end.

"Katherine, listen to me, I have not rejected her. I mean, not the way you are assuming. Consider this as a part of the investigation. Someone from the pack started that fire, and I have to find that person."

"Oh!" Katherine stopped and blinked.

"I am sorry for my insolence, Alpha," she said, bowing down.

"It's fine Katherine, now please spread this rumour," I said.

"Rumor?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, as a rumour, I just have this feeling that the target was Alice, once the culprit is assured that she is no longer in the picture, he or she might get lax and give away some clue." 

"I see," she nodded with understanding. "I will do as you command, Alpha."

" Alpha, when is Madam Luna coming back?" She asked before leaving.

"As soon as she starts missing me," I grinned. 

Alice Anderson, you will beg me to take you back. I smirked.

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Alice's POV -

I was missing Lucian, his touch, his smell, his laugh, his voice, the way he kissed me, the way he held me in bed... Damm! I was going wet just thinking about it.

"So, when is your fiancée arriving?" Emma remarked.

"What? " I replied, waking up from my reverie.

She smirked. 

"Mark, when is he arriving, I mean what time?" 

"Evening 4," I replied absentmindedly, hugging my pillow.

"Great! I have booked a hotel for you in the city. Bobby can drive you...."

"No, I don't want anyone with me. I will go alone." I spoke.

"Rick will raise hell if he finds out," Emma said.

"I know that is why you need your help me sneak out."

"It's not that easy, Alice, the security has been tightened. Why can't you just go with Bobby and a few guards? For your safety."

"Nothing's going to happen to me, don't worry. It is good that Mark has arrived. I had to break up with him anyway. I could not do that on the phone. It would have been too selfish."

Emma's face broke into a smile.

"Oh! You are going to dump him! I mean, sorry, that's sad." She tried keeping a straight face but failed miserably at it.

I suppressed my smile. Emma had been asking me to do that right from the first day.