My heart jumped to my throat and a kind of pain I hadn’t experienced in a long ti hit like a brick.
Even though I knew about their affairs most of the ti because I could feel the pain, I hadn’t watched them do it since the day Mike forced to watch them in his room.
Innocent’s arms were wrapped around his neck, her body pressed tightly against his.
I paused for a split second.
Letting the pain I was feeling soak in and remind of who I was and what kind of relationship Mike and I have.
Or rather,
Don’t have.
The two of them separated slowly when they noticed .
Innocent didn’t even look embarrassed after being caught.
Instead, a smug smile spread across her lips as she leaned more comfortably against Mike’s chest.
Seeing that scene, I felt a knife twist in my heart, but I kept a neutral expression as if I wasn’t affected.
Mike, on the other hand, looked annoyed.
"Knocking before entering isn’t sothing you’ve learned?" he said coldly.
Hearing his tone and reprimand, I couldn’t believe that he was the sa man who had defended a few tis in front of others.
He even allowed the won in the pack to train because I wanted them to.
He had also stood up to Boris and even threatened him for my sake.
So, what was this now?
Was all that he did just for show?
I didn’t want to be distracted or think about such ssy things.
So, I closed the door behind calmly.
"I knocked. Twice."
"You should’ve waited." Mike replied in annoyance.
"Unlike you, I don’t have that much free ti for pleasure. I have important things to do."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
I walked further into the office, completely ignoring the tension in the air.
And Innocent who was still showing off her curves as if they were so trophy.
"Why did you co?"
Mike asked after tidying up a little. However, he didn’t move away from Innocent. As if they were joined together.
"I ca to talk to you about sothing important."
"As you can see," he said lazily, "I’m busy."
Innocent let out a soft laugh.
"Very busy."
I looked at her calmly as if watching a clown.
Then turned to Mike.
"There’s a business dinner coming up this weekend," I said.
"I want to attend."
Mike raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
He asked with an almost hidden chuckle, but I still noticed.
"I need you to take ."
For a mont, silence filled the room.
Then Innocent laughed.
Actually laughed.
"I’m sorry," she said mockingly, "did I hear that right?"
She turned to Mike, her fingers tracing lightly along his chest.
"Your... Luna wants to attend a business dinner?"
Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.
But I ignored her.
Even though watching what she was doing to Mike made want to claw her hands from his chest.
I held back.
I didn’t need any romantic entanglent with Mike.
Mike’s expression turned amused.
"You?" he asked.
"Yes."
"You don’t even understand how such events work."
At least he didn’t outright reject .
"I can learn." I took a deep breath and said.
His lips curved slightly.
"From who?"
"You don’t have to worry about that. You just need to tell . Are you taking or not?"
That answer seed to irritate him.
"Even if you can learn. How much can you learn in a few days? I have no ti to babysit you."
"I’m not asking you to babysit ."
"Then what are you asking?"
I t his gaze directly.
This was about my future and there was no way I was backing out.
"As the Alpha of this pack, you are expected to appear at public events with your Luna."
I didn’t mince my words.
Mike’s eyes darkened slightly from my direct words.
Innocent straightened imdiately.
"That’s not necessary," she cut in sharply.
"Many Alphas attend alone or with companions."
Her emphasis on the last word was intentional.
I finally looked at her again.
"You are right," I said calmly.
"Companions can attend."
Her chin lifted slightly in pride.
But before she could respond, I continued,
"But a companion is not a replacent for a Luna. To put it nicely, they are companions. To put it bluntly, they are mistresses."
Her expression stiffened.
Mike’s arm around her waist tightened slightly.
With his pride, even though what I said was the truth, he still didn’t want a negative title attached to his na.
"Watch your words," he said coldly.
I just sat down and ignored his coldness.
Even his alpha presence could do nothing to .
The atmosphere beca tense and silence followed.
Innocent let out a soft, mocking laugh.
"Do you really think you belong at a business dinner?" she asked.
"You? A girl who grew up as a slave?"
So, she didn’t like being called a mistress and decided to resurrect my buried past.
To add salt to injury.
"And yet," I said quietly, "I am still the Luna."
Her smile froze.
"You may stand beside him in private," I continued calmly.
"But in public?"
My gaze sharpened slightly as I looked at Innocent up and down.
"You don’t exist."
The temperature in the room seed to drop instantly.
Innocent’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.
"How dare you..."
"I am just stating facts. If you don’t like it, you can leave."
Mike stepped away from Innocent , as if distancing himself from a disgrace.
"That’s enough."
His voice was low.
I didn’t flinch.
"You want to take her to the dinner?"
He didn’t answer imdiately.
That hesitation told everything I needed to know.
Of course he wanted to take Innocent.
She was easier to control.
And more presentable in his eyes.
But that didn’t matter to because this wasn’t about what he wanted.
It was about what he had to do.
"You can take her," I said suddenly.
Both of them looked at , surprised.
But I continued before they could speak.
"You can take her as your companion."
I paused for a mont.
"But I will attend as the Luna."
There was no way I was giving my rightful position to that witch.
If she wanted to be Luna, she could wait until I leave to pick up my leftovers.
Mike’s eyes narrowed.
"Make your choice." I didn’t give them ti to think much.
Innocent stepped closer to Mike again.
"Take ," she said softly.
"I’ve attended these events before. I know how to behave."
Her voice turned sickly sweet.
"I won’t embarrass you."
Even I was almost seduced by her act.
No wonder Mike couldn’t let her go.
She was very smart and knew how to appeal to his pride.
But unfortunately for her, I understood that weakness too.
"Of course she won’t," I said calmly.
"She doesn’t represent anything."
Mike’s gaze snapped back to .
"But I do."
I stepped closer. Close enough that my voice lowered a bit could caress his ears.
"This isn’t just a dinner, Mike."
"It’s a statent."
I watched as his expression changed. Looking more dignified.
"If you appear without your Luna," I continued quietly, "what does that say?"
"That you don’t acknowledge your mate?"
"That your power structure is unstable?"
"That your authority isn’t enough?"
Each word landed carefully, making Mike’s jaw tighten.
I straightened once again.
I know he cares about his reputation and would not do anything to jeopardize that.
"I know you care about your reputation." I said it out loud.
"And right now," I finished, "your reputation needs ."
Innocent’s nails dug slightly into his arm.
"Mikey, don’t listen to her."
Mike looked between the two of us.
Then finally....
He exhaled slowly.
"...Fine."
Innocent froze.
"What?"
"I’ll take her."
His tone was calm, but you could hear the finality in those words.
Innocent’s expression shattered.
"But..."
"She’s right." Mike’s voice was colder.
"This is about the pack’s reputation."
Her eyes filled with disbelief.
"What about ?" she demanded.
Mike didn’t look at her.
"You’ll stay in the pack."
Innocent stepped back as if she had been slapped.
Her gaze shifted to .
It was a gaze filled with pure hatred.
However, I just t it calmly as if it ant nothing.
Mike looked at again.
"Be ready by Saturday," he said coldly.
"Don’t embarrass ."
I gave a curtly nod.
Then I turned and walked out of the office without another word.
But as I stepped into the hallway, a small, almost invisible smile touched my lips.
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