Anika's P.O.V
At some point, my pace quickened, my footsteps echoing against the stone floors of my chamber.
"He will learn the weight of his arrogance," I declared, my voice filled with conviction. "I will not allow him to undermine everything I have built."
I will take my time and figure out the best way to go about this situation.
As the flames of my anger intensified, a flicker of curiosity pierced through the rage.
Silas's words echoed in my mind — his declaration that he would never accept me as his true mate.
"But make no mistake. You are only my Luna in name; I will never accept you as my true mate. So never even dream that I will let you have my pups."
The revelation sent a shockwave through my thoughts, jolting me with a newfound intrigue.
I was not at all hurt by this. I had already known that he saw this relationship as a transactional one. I knew he had no feelings for me.
We hadn't shared the same bed, let alone the same room since the night we consummated our relationship. I had expected that, since he had been so unwilling at the beginning. However, I didn’t believe his resolve would be this strong, this…unyielding.
But… it was strange, what he said, about not accepting me as a true Luna.
And it angered me, because I hated how he said it straight to my face — cold, arrogant, and patronizing.
It was a slap in my face, a blow to my pride. He basically humiliated me, albeit it wasn't in front of everyone else.
However, deep down I was hurt. I was hurt all over again.
“It’s like…history is repeating itself.” My voice was barely above a whisper as I almost collapsed onto my bed, as the full force of the situation finally hit me.
Three years ago…I was tossed out of my previous pack…kicked aside like trash by the man I had given my all to. And all because he had found his true mate and had no longer needed me by his side.
That betrayal still stung. The scars still fresh in my heart even through the wounds didn’t show. But it had been the worst kind of humiliation, to be cast aside in front of the whole pack while everyone watched with pity, some with unbidden glee.
For a moment there, Silas made me feel like I was back in that pack again, walking out the same path that I had frequented so many times...and I absolutely hated that feeling.
Needless to say, something in me snapped when he said that.
"Why would he say such a thing?" I murmured, anger and curiosity dancing in my eyes. I tried to think of a reason, but all the ones that I came up with didn’t sit well with me.
“Was he going to do the same thing to me that the wretched Alpha had done?” I asked more to myself as I sat alone in my empty room. “Was he going to use my pack, train them and then take over his old pack…and then throw me out?”
Were all my efforts going to be in vain? Would I lose my beloved pack just because I made a wrong decision?
How could I have been so wrong about Silas? My intuitions were never wrong when it came to people. My grandmother used to tell me that it was probably because I had witch blood in my veins.
I always considered them the nonsensical mumblings of an old woman who was about to perish. However, it did give me some form of satisfaction to know that I never misjudged people.
Then how could I have judged Silas so wrong?
“No!” I shook my head. “I refuse to believe it. I would never let it happen! This pack…I built it! My men will always have a soft spot for me! I will always be their rescuer, the person who gave them a home!”
I missed it…I missed the way my pack used to gather in the evening and celebrate each day together. Some days, we would have a bonfire and talk about our past, get the burdens off of our chest. Some days it would be music and dancing.
My packmates used to praise me as their goddess. As their savior. But now they hardly even have time to converse with me after their grueling training.
Shaking my head once more, I snapped myself out of these depression thoughts.
No! I couldn’t think like this! I couldn’t think about what hasn’t happened and worry myself sick. There must be another reason why Silas didn’t want me to be his true mate…something that was way more logical th-
Wait a minute…
Could it be?
"Could it be that he already found his true mate?"
The force of the realization knocked the air right out of my lungs…
It was possible…right? It was very much possible that Silas had found his mate already and that was the only reason why he couldn’t accept me as his true mate.
The idea gnawed at me, a puzzle begging to be solved. My mind raced.
However…if that was truly the case, if he had already found his mate…
Why did he sleep with me, then? Why consummate the relationship between us? Why not tell me the truth right from the start?
Thoughts plagued my mind and I now had a real mission at hand…a mission that, if successful, will give me the key to gaining back control over my pack, and over Silas.
I needed to know the truth now…and I won’t stop until I did.