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Derek’s POV

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I was waiting for Luna in the car because she had to go to the club, AGAIN. Finally, I felt her presence but instead of sitting in the back seat, she opened the door of the front seat and sat beside me.

“Let’s go, Derek.”, She said casually.

“Luna, why are you sitting in the front seat? I mean you never sit here.”

“If we are going to pretend only on that night then Adams might get to know that I did everything on purpose. So, we have to start spending time together in public from now on.”, She explained. I didn’t say anything on that and started the engine of the car.

***

“Would you like a drink?”, She asked. Currently, we were sitting in the VIP booths. Generally, Luna used to drink alone or with some random guys but from tonight she was going to drink with me. This was what she had said in the car.

“Just water. I am driving, so I am not drinking.”, I politely declined her offer.

“Good decision.”, She chuckled.

Someone came over, taking our drinks orders, and soon bridging them back before leaving Luna and me for it. I was feeling a little awkward by staying near Luna alone. It was not like we're alone for the first time but this ‘pretending thing’ was making everything uncomfortable for me.

“What are you going to wear for the party?”

“I have a few suits but I guess I need to match your status instead of looking like your bodyguard. So, I will get one.”

“Leave that. I will ask my designer to design one for you.”

“No Luna, that is not required.”

“Adams knows that I am very picky in choosing clothes. That’s why I always get all the clothes designed by my designer. And knowing that I asked my personal designer to design your suit, would pissed him off.”

“Okay. But you don’t know my size or my taste.”

“I know your size as well as your taste.”

“And how’s that?”

“We’ve stayed in the same packs, Derek. That's a different thing that we never get a chance to know each other but I have seen you half naked, multiple times.”, She winked playfully. “Those amazing eight packs and your sexy figures haven't been hidden from anyone.”, She added smirking.

I laughed, shaking my head at her. She must have observed me closely during my training hours with the warriors. I had no idea how to react to that fact because being a werewolf, staying half-naked was part of our life.

“So, you keep looking at my eight packs?”, I said, raising my brow at her, trying not to smirk.

“Common Derek. It’s not my fault if my Beta trains every warrior, wearing just a boxer.”, She said, rolling her eyes. “But I started observing these things closely after Adams left.”, She added, nibbling on her lower lip nervously. Her eyes were looking at me in a way they don’t usually. Her eyes kept changing from time to time. She quickly ran her tongue over her lower lips before pulling her eyes away from me. I took a deep breath, not used to her being this way around me.

She was flirting with me and I didn’t know how to respond to that.

“In case if Adams asks, tell him we have been casually seeing each other for a couple of weeks, Okay? And thought to appear publicly together this week.”

“Why? I mean it is for just one night, right?”

“Because if we tell him that you are my lover just for the night and he will figure it out why I am taking you. That’s why, we will tell him that we have been casually seeing each other for a couple of weeks, which includes sex as well.”

I spilled the water which I had in my mouth and started coughing when I heard the last part.

“What?”, Luna asked casually, raising her brow. “You have to tell more and more lies. That’s it.”

“Oh really! What should I say if he asks? Yes, Stacy and I fuck each other?" I asked and immediately regretted my choice of words.

“Exactly.”, She winked with a smirk. “By the way, who knew that you can talk in this way, Beta Derek?”, She added.

“Those people who are close to me.”, I laughed, shaking my head. We have always maintained a professional relationship so there was no way she would have known this side.

Luna Stacey told me about all the other lies that we could say if anyone crosses questions us. It sounded like I had to keep lying that whole night, with everyone, about everything. I was nervous at the same time because I was not used to attending events like that, not as a guest, but like guards for safety purposes or related to pack’s work. I knew some people would be talking because they would think of me as an opportunist.

How cliche...The Luna and the Beta.

Maybe agreeing to this was not such a good idea after all. Too late, I doubt that I could change my mind now.

***

“I think we need to go home. You have had too much to drink.”

“Yes, I think you are right!”, Luna laughed.

“Come on, I will take you home.”,

“Oh, that’s naughty. Are you planning to have sex with me?”, She asked, grinning like an idiot. While I was shocked to hear her. She was really not in her senses.

“I didn’t mean in that way, Luna”, I replied sternly.

“Yeah! Yeah! But there’s no harm in flirting with you, right?”, She said, rolling her eyes, getting to her feet, and stumbled slightly.

“Careful”, I grabbed her, holding her up. I helped her into the car before running around and climbing in the driver’s seat.

“Take me to my penthouse. I don’t want anyone…

“....to see you in this state.”, I said, interrupting her in between. “I know.”, I added. I drove her car to the penthouse and expected her to hop out of it on her own but it seemed like she had drunk too much compared to other nights.

Sighed, I climbed out, going around to help her out.

“Derek, what’re you doing?”, She laughed, prodding my nose.

“Helping you to reach your penthouse.”, I replied. “You have drunk too much tonight.”, I muttered, loud enough that she could hear it.

“I know”, She laughed. “But it’s because of you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t act shocked, Derek. I drank this much because of you...because I knew I could trust the person with whom I was drinking,”, She laughed again, pinching my cheek. “By the way...you need to get my keys from here.”, She added, pointing toward her breast.

‘You gotta be kidding me.’, I glared at her and she laughed again. And started looking for the key in her handbag. We waited for a few minutes, still, she was not able to find her keys.

I hesitated, not wanting to take her handbag from her, but I didn’t have any choice. She wasn’t able to get the keys on her own.

“Just a minute, Luna.”, I said, taking her handbag from her and found the key instantly.

“Wow! Your fingers know how to work well.”, She commented on which I glared at her again.

“You’re no fun.”

“Stop being a perv.”, I glared at her again.

“I am your Luna. you do remember that right, Beta Derek?”, She said, looking at me trying to be serious, but the stupid grin on her face was giving her away.

“Go...now and lock it from inside.”, I said but then shook my head observing her expression. Luna stuck her tongue out at me before trying to storm off like a child, failing because she was struggling to walk straight.

“You’re lucky. I have brought a guy here, you know.”, She grumbled under her breath. I ignored her, knowing that she was behaving in this way just because she was super duper drunk. I opened the door, helping her in and searching around for a light. I finally found it, and looked around seeing she still had decorated her penthouse with the photos of Adams, including their wedding photos. They looked amazing and happy together.

But immediately I felt bad for her. She probably had thought that she would spend all her life with her mate, happily.

“I need a drink.”, She said, stumbling away from me.

“Tell me, where’s the kitchen! I’ll get water for you.”

“No….Not water...but that…”, She said, pointing toward the bar.

‘She's gotta be kidding me.’

“No.”, I ordered her sternly. You already have had enough. You need lemonade because you have to work in the morning.”, I added.

She slowly turned to face me and gave me an unpleasant look on her face.

“Okay, father.”, She said sarcastically.

“Where is the kitchen?”

“That way?”, She replied, pointing toward the exit and entrance door. That was not helpful. I would need to find it myself.

“Sit here for a while. I’ll get lemonade for you.”, I said, before looking around to find the kitchen.

“Are you ordering me?”

“No. I am requesting you. Please, Luna.”, I asked, to which she nodded her head.

After a minute, I returned holding a glass of lemonade, to where she was, sitting across from her. She was wiping tears from her face.

“Luna, are you okay?”, I asked in concern.

“No, not really.”, She said, trying hard to stop herself from crying. “Why can’t I move on from him, Derek? He moved on so easily then why can’t I? It has been two fucking moths, and here I am still a pathethic mess, still feeling broken beyond repair.”, She snarled.

My heart was aching for her. I couldn’t understand her pain because I had never been through her situation but her sadness was the last thing that I wanted to see, right now. I reached across the table, placing my hand over her.

“Because you loved him deeply and you still do, Luna. And that's why this is hurting you so much. But I know one day, you will get over it, you just need some time. You will be okay, in time….I guarantee that.”, I said, giving her a small smile.

She wiped her tears, running her hands through her black hairs.

“I hope you are right, Derek.”, She said, taking a sip of the lemonade. A silence fell between us as she got lost in her thoughts, I knew she was thinking about him. I let her be. She finished her lemonade off.

“I should probably get to bed.”, She said, standing but like earlier stumbled a little.

“Come on, I will give you a hand. Point me in the direction of your bedroom.”

“Thank you for looking after me, Derek. I know I am being a pain in the ass but I can tell you that you will be an amazing father one day.”

We made our way to her bedroom. As soon as we arrived, she started opening her clothes and climbed on the bed.

Oh my god.

I quickly turned my head in another direction and was ready to leave when I heard her voice again.

“That’s so sweet, Derek. But now, you can look toward me. I am under the blanket.” Sighed, I turned around and saw her smiling. “I have one question...hmm.. What if no one loves me again? What if I never fall in love again?”, She asked, looking at me.

“I am sure that will not be the case, Luna. You will fall in love again when you are ready. And I am sure the right one is out there for you.”

“I hope so. But do you think anyone will truly want me knowing that I could give him everything he wants except his own children. I feel like at the end of everything I will be alone just like now I am. I have nothing, Derek, work and money is all I have.”, She said, looking like a broken woman once again.

I made my way to her, sitting next to her, facing her side-on.

“You will have everything, Luna, when you will find the right person. And Adams was not the right mate for you. No one is perfect, Luna. For example, we can see that the moon is full of imperfections but it’s still beautiful and a pleasure to watch. It has beauty and elegance without reason. Like the moon, we should be calm and reflect beauty despite being imperfect in appearance. We should shine in the darkness of life and give way to the path of light.”

“Wow! What were you in school? A philosopher or nerd?”, She asked in a serious expression and then started laughing.

“Very funny. Good night.”, I said and was ready to go when she held my wrist, stopping me from leaving from there.

“Please don’t leave me alone.”, She requested. “Will you stay?”

Her question surprised me. That was the last thing I expected her to ask. She was looking at me with pleading eyes. I knew she was asking this because she was feeling lonely. I knew I should tell her, no, but knowing that she wouldn’t be able to keep herself safe in case of any attack, I didn’t say her no.

“Okay.”, I replied. “I will be sleeping in the living room.”

“But why would you sleep there?”, She asked and then smirked a little, shifting over to the other side of the bed and patting the space next to her.

“You are too much.”, I replied, glaring at her while she laughed like a maniac.

“Okay...Okay! I am sorry. I have to ask one last question.”

“Good night, Luna.”

“Please...Please na! I am serious this time.”

“Hmm”

“Will you be my friend, Derek?”, She asked, forwarding her hand toward me. A woman and my Luna as my friend? But there was nothing wrong in being her friend, right?

“Okay!”, I smiled, shaking my hand.

Within moments she had fallen asleep. I stood from the bed, and looked around, finding a blanket and some pillows for the sofa in the living room. Then I headed to the kitchen, grabbing some water for her, she would need it in the morning.

#TBC