#Chapter 6: Tangled Deceptions

Raymond froze at the doorway, his eyes scanning Kane's room with sharp intensity. "Kane, have you seen my Luna?!" My heart stopped. I was hidden beneath the covers, pressed against Kane's warm body, desperately hoping Raymond wouldn't take me as anything more than a nameless blob on the bed. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not like this. Kane smirked, his voice casual and teasing. "This is my Luna. How would I know where yours is?" His hand slid down to grope my ass playfully as I wriggled deeper under the covers, trying to disappear entirely. I had to bite my tongue to keep from yelping at his boldness. I held my breath, feeling mortified as Kane's hand continued its mischievous exploration beneath the blanket. How could he be so calm? His fingertips trailed along my bare skin, making it nearly impossible to stay silent. I bit my lip hard to suppress any sound that might escape. Raymond was just a few feet away, and I was naked in his best friend's bed. The humiliation would be unbearable if he discovered me. Raymond took a step forward, confusion in his voice. "It smells like Aurora in here." He took a few deep breaths, sniffing suspiciously. My blood ran cold. Raymond always had an impeccable sense of smell, even for a werewolf, and mine was all over this room. I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for the worst. Kane leaned lazily against the headboard, his voice smooth and untroubled. "I have company, as you can see, but I can assure you it's not your precious Luna." He tightened his grip on my waist beneath the covers, silently urging me to stay still. Raymond's expression shifted, a knowing smirk forming on his lips. "Still as lucky as ever, huh? Is it that sexy little Omega I've seen you with before?" Kane shrugged in response. "You know I don't kiss and tell. Or at least not while the lady is still in my bed." Peeking out from beneath the sheets, I could see Kane giving Raymond a pointed look, one that clearly suggested he’d overstayed his welcome and should leave. I sighed with relief as I heard Raymond make his way back toward the door. "Right, well, let me know if you see Aurora. The entire pack is looking for her." With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him. The moment I heard the click of the door, I bolted upright, throwing the covers off and scrambling to collect my scattered clothes from the floor. "In a hurry, princess?" Kane lounged on the bed, watching me with amused eyes, making no move to help as I frantically dressed myself. "This was a mistake. A huge mistake," I muttered, pulling my shirt over my head with trembling hands. "No one can know about this. Especially not Raymond." Kane's lazy smile widened. "You didn't seem to think it was a mistake last night." He stretched like a satisfied cat. "In fact, you were quite... enthusiastic." Heat rushed to my cheeks. "I was... I don't know what that was. But it wasn't me! I wasn't thinking clearly." "Is that what you need to tell yourself?" Kane raised an eyebrow, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Because the way you moaned my name didn't sound like someone who wasn't enjoying herself." "Stop it!" I snapped, hastily buttoning my pants. "This never happened. We never happened. Got it?" Kane's expression shifted, something darker passing behind his eyes before his trademark smirk returned. "Whatever you say, future Luna." I rushed to the door, checking the hallway before slipping out. My heart was pounding as I tried to smooth my hair and straighten my rumpled clothes. I had barely taken three steps when I ran straight into my father and Alpha Marcus. "Where have you been?" My father's voice was cold, his eyes narrowing dangerously as they swept over my disheveled appearance. "The entire pack has been looking for you." "I—I went for a walk," I stammered, unable to meet his gaze. "I needed some air after everything yesterday." "Why didn't you show up with Raymond?" he demanded, stepping closer, his anger radiating off him in waves. Frustration and resentment suddenly boiled over inside me. After everything that had happened—being thrown out of Raymond's room, spending the night with Kane—I couldn't hold back anymore. "Why don't you ask him?" I shot back, my voice harder than intended. "Maybe there was another woman in his room." Raymond appeared just then, his expression tense. "Aurora, stop making misleading comments." His eyes locked with mine, silently warning me not to say more. My heart shattered all over again. Even now, he was protecting Giana. He didn't care that he had left me out in the cold all night, that I had been humiliated and hurt. All that mattered to him was keeping his precious secret. Both Alpha Marcus and my father looked uncomfortable, exchanging significant glances. "Stop talking nonsense!" my father snapped, his hand gripping my arm painfully tight as he dragged me away. "You're making a scene." It wasn't until later that night, back at home, that I was able to confront my father in his study. I couldn't contain my anger any longer. I didn't want to believe he was capable of such a thing, but I needed answers. "Did you drug me?" I demanded, watching his reaction carefully. He scoffed, barely looking up from his papers. "I handed you an opportunity on a silver platter, and you still failed to make use of it. Useless." His dismissive tone cut deep. Then, narrowing his eyes, he glanced up at me suspiciously. "If you weren't with Raymond... how did you deal with the effects of the drug?" Cold fear gripped me. "I walked it off," I lied quickly. "The fresh air helped clear my head." My father looked skeptical but didn't press further. "Don't mess this up, Aurora. Your mother's treatment depends on it." The unspoken threat hung heavily in the air between us. I nodded stiffly and left, feeling trapped more than ever before. *** The next day at school, Raymond and I arrived together, putting on a show of unity for everyone watching. The hallways buzzed with excitement over our engagement, and Raymond casually invited his friends to attend his upcoming coronation ceremony. "You're all welcome to attend. It'll be the event of the season," he announced, his arm draped loosely around my shoulders in a display of affection that felt more like a cage. A group of my acquaintances approached, unable to resist teasing us. "Come on, you two! Give us a kiss!" they chanted, their eyes bright with anticipation. I glanced at Raymond, who gave a slight nod, seemingly unbothered by the request. With a resigned sigh, I relented. "Fine. Just a kiss on the cheek." I leaned in, preparing myself for this necessary charade. But just as my lips were about to touch his skin, a commotion erupted from the back of the crowd. We both turned to see Giana standing there, her face a perfect mask of heartbreak and betrayal. Without a word, she turned and ran, looking utterly devastated. Raymond's expression darkened instantly, his posture tensing. Without even a glance at me, he shoved me aside and took off after her, leaving me standing alone in front of our curious audience. The humiliation burned through me like acid, each pair of eyes witnessing my shame feeling like another wound. I stood frozen, unable to move. Even though our engagement was nothing but a fraud, a painful charade we both were forced to play, it didn't help the pain that shot through me at watching it crumble before my eyes. Raymond had chosen his fated mate over me once again, and this time, everyone had witnessed it.