Chapter 5
Astrid's POV
I needed to find Clara. Even with the strange man's words echoing in my head, I had to talk to her. There was no way he was right. Clara wouldn't hurt anyone, especially not her own sister.
But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find her. It felt like she was avoiding me. Maybe she was. Before I knew it, evening had arrived. I'd been so busy searching for Clara that I hadn't noticed the time.
Sighing, I started toward my room. Then, like a lightbulb switching on, I turned around. I had to find Leon.
I needed to understand what had happened today. Leon said Clara was his mate. What did that make me? What was I to him? I had become Luna because he was my mate. The connection I felt the first time I saw him was like nothing else. It was like a deep pool pulling me under. But now he was saying someone else was his mate.
I still needed to understand about Clara, how she had survived. But I also needed to know what was going on with Leon. There had to be an explanation. Could it be that he didn't love me anymore?
With that thought, I headed to Leon's room. We didn't share a room; he was the Alpha. I hadn't thought much about it before. But when I got to his door, the guards stopped me.
"What's going on?" I asked, frowning.
"The Alpha can't be disturbed," one of them said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
The first guard, Kevin, said, "The Alpha can't be disturbed, and he told us not to let you in."
"I don't understand," I said with a frown plastered on my face. "I just want to talk to him."
I tried to force my way in but it wasn't possible. They didn't move an inch.
"Please, let me speak with him. It's important." I pleaded with them.
But they gave me a stoic expression. To be sincere, they didn't care that I needed to speak with Leon.
"The Alpha isn't here," Kevin said, but I saw a light on in his room. A shadow moved behind the curtains. He was in there.
"What about the light in his room? I just saw him move." I argued.
"It's someone else." Kevin replied.
But I knew he was lying. No one entered the alpha's room without permission. The only reason I had been able to enter previously was because I was his Luna.
"Leon!" I shouted, my voice echoing. "Leon!" I called. I could see someone in his room. He just didn't want to see me, like he'd told the guards.
"Leon!" I called again. "I just want to talk!" But he didn't come out, not even to speak through the window. He ignored me. I waited hoping he would come out to speak with me but it didn't happen.
Members of the pack walked past, some chuckling pointedly at me while some looked at me with disgust. I've never been accepted here. It had never been a place for me before and this just made me more of an outcast.
"Leon!" I called out again but there was no reply.
It was strange. Maybe he just needed time. Maybe we could talk later. It wasn't like he was ignoring me. Leon wouldn't ignore me. That was impossible. We'd been together for years. I was his Luna. He wouldn't avoid me. He just needed time. Yes, that was it. He just needed time. I said to myself even as I felt the doubt creeping in.
"Okay," I said. "I'll come back tomorrow." My heart sank at the thought that he didn't want to speak with me. Didn't I deserve an explanation about my sister? Wasn't that worth something? But I would speak with him tomorrow. I was sure he wouldn't ignore me then. He was probably busy with the representatives that were coming to the pack.
The alliance with the humans had been his idea. I'm sure he wasn't ignoring me. He's just busy. Yes, that's it.
Walking slowly, I went back to my room. As soon as I opened the door, I saw the maids packing my things. My brows furrowed in confusion.
"What's going on here?" I asked.
Just then, Mary walked in. "Oh, you're here," she said, sounding pleased.
"What's going on? Why are my things being packed?" I asked her.
She laughed. "Well, this room belongs to the Luna, and you're not the Luna anymore," she said gleefully.
"I don't understand," I said as I shook my head. "Leon and I still need to talk. This isn't settled…"
Mary laughed loudly. "Do you really think the Alpha wants you? He's already told everyone that Clara is his Luna," Mary said, sneering. "What don't you understand?" She asked me.
"Look." I said gently. "I just need to speak with Leon. He's busy right now but I'm sure all this will be resolved any tomorrow." I told her.
"I thought you were smart enough to understand this. You're not the Luna. You never were. Our Alpha has brought his true Luna, which means you need to get out," she said.
"But this is my room," I said.
"Not anymore," she said.
Her tone grated on my nerves so I decided to use my authority.
"I am your Luna. You do not disrespect me." I said to her in a firm voice.
This time, Mary and the maids laughed, making me feel sick. I was making a fool of myself. I knew it, but I couldn't understand what was happening. This had to be a mistake. Leon would come out and say it was a mistake. We had been together for years.
"Our Luna needs you to vacate this room," she said. "She needs her rest."
"You can't send me out." I argued.
This room was the one thing that belonged to me in the pack. I couldn't let them take it away from me. No.
"This room belongs to me." I said to her.
Mary closed the distance between us. "Your insolence knows no bounds does it?" She asked me.