Malia’s POV
I headed straight towards my bathroom when I got inside my room. I didn’t want to wash Ryder’s scent off me yet but I knew I had to because Ronan might decide to pay me a visit at any time.
After bathing, I went into my closet to pick out something comfortable to wear.
I had already donned a pair of shorts and a tank top when I saw the swelling on my neck where Ryder had bitten me through my reflection in the mirror.
I sighed as I took off the top and looked for a blouse that would cover my neck. I thanked the Goddess when I found a turtle neck blouse and put it on. It did the trick.
Ronan was comfortably lying on my bed when I got out of my closet and I had to quell the urge to ask him to leave immediately.
He smiled when he noticed me and then his eyes narrowed slightly.
“You look different,” he commented.
My heart skipped a beat but I tried not to look bothered. My lips weren’t too swollen or were they? I wondered.
The only thing I had noticed in the mirror was the hickey.
“It’s probably my top. You’ve never seen me in a turtleneck blouse before,” I said.
He nodded slowly. “I guess so.”
I forced my lips into a smile and hoped that it reached my eyes.
I wanted to scream at him or talk some sense into him but Ryder had warned me to stay quiet.
“Is something bothering you?” He queried and I mentally groaned. I wasn’t much of an actor. In fact, I hated pretending.
My mind raced as I thought of how to answer him.
“I would have said you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I always need to know what’s up with you because I love you, Malia. I know you know that.”
I mentally rolled my eyes and sat beside him.
“Well, I guess I’m just kind of jealous,” I replied, looking at my hands.
“About what?” He asked. I could hear the amusement in his voice.
I sighed deeply. “Penelope now has a mate and you know how mates can be very attached. She’s not going to have time for me anymore,” I murmured. It was actually partly true.
He chuckled and took my hands in his. “Don’t look so sad. You know I can make you not miss her that much. All you have to do is agree to be mine. I’ll make you forget you even have a best friend,” he said and I mentally groaned.
“Ronan, I really do not want to hurt you. We’re friends and I want us to remain that way.”
I mentally shook my head at the fact that I was even starting to doubt our friendship.
Had he always been this bad or did something happen to make him go crazy and make him think about killing his own brother? I wondered.
His eyes briefly clouded with disappointment and then were replaced by optimism.
“It’s okay, Malia. But I know you’re still going to be mine. It’s just a matter of time.”
He had a secret smile on his face and I wondered if it had anything to do with him luring me with the position of Luna if he became Alpha.
I shrugged. “Whatever, Ronan.”
My belly growled at that moment and I remembered that I hadn’t eaten anything apart from the fruits and tea I had had that morning.
Ronan arched an eyebrow. “I guess that’s my cue to make you some food. Let’s go to my chamber, shall we?” He asked, getting to his feet.
Hell no, was what I wanted to say but instead, I gave him a small smile.
“Thank you, but Penelope and I had already planned to have lunch together,” I lied.
He arched an eyebrow. “Are you sure she’s going to be willing to leave Damien’s side?” He asked.
“I made her swear an oath that she wasn’t going to change her mind,” I replied and his lips curled in amusement.
“Alright then. I guess I’ll be having lunch alone,” he said and with one last grin, he walked out the door.
I sighed in relief. I didn’t know what I would have done if he had insisted on me having lunch with him and called Damien to keep Pen occupied.
It was time to head to the kitchen. My stomach wasn’t playing with me this time.
I stepped out of my room and to my surprise, saw Penelope walking towards my room with a tray of food.
She smiled when she saw me and I cocked my head to one side.
She got within a feet of me and raised an eyebrow when I didn’t immediately open the door.
“Aren’t you supposed to be with Damien?” I queried.
She rolled her eyes. “Do you plan on eating in the hallway?” She returned.
I gave her a look but held the door open for her.
I shut the door behind me and headed straight for my bed.
“I knew you were going to miss me,” I said as I grabbed the silverware.
She snorted. “The only reason I’m here is because Damien had something to attend to and I didn’t just want to stay in his chambers missing him and sniffing his clothes. It’s just going to drive me crazy.”
I tried giggling through a mouthful of food and nearly choked.
Penelope gave me a look. “You should know better by now.”
I took a sip of my water. “It’s your fault,” I said.
Her eyes suddenly narrowed. “Why are you wearing a turtleneck blouse when it’s hot?” She queried.
I mentally groaned. Trust Penelope to ask the right questions. I tried thinking of the most believable lie to tell her.
“Don’t you dare lie to me,” she warned and I let out a sigh of resignation and took off my blouse.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not asking for a strip tease, I…”
She gasped when I showed her my neck.
“Which one?” She whispered.
I didn’t need to ask her what she meant.
“Ryder,” I replied and I felt my cheeks heat up.
Her forehead creased in puzzlement. “But just yesterday, he wasn’t speaking to you. He was quite mad at you so when did this happen?” She queried.
“Today,” I answered.
“Wow. You two are…. How did it happen? Was it a makeup sex?”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop making it sound like a big deal,” I said.
“But it is a big deal. Have you seen the size of this hickey?” She asked and I cringed, putting on my blouse.
“Let’s just hope Ronan doesn’t see it. He’s going to be so heartbroken,” she said.
“He was here earlier. I’m just grateful that I had noticed it and that I had found a top to hide it.”
She nodded. “So when is he going to make you Luna?” She queried.
I rolled my eyes.
“What? It’s a legitimate question. This pack is in desperate need of a Luna,” she pointed out.
I took a spoonful of my meal and chewed thoughtfully. Ryder hadn’t brought up the issue of making me Luna. Not that I was crazy about it anyway.
“Well, we have to focus on keeping him alive first,” I said.
Her eyes narrowed in confusion. “I don’t get what you mean. The Alpha is not in any danger.”
I sighed. “You have no idea how much of a danger he’s in, Pen, even though he has decided to take this lightly.”
She gave me a suspicious look. “Malia, is there something I should know?” She asked.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
“Ronan is trying to murder his brother so that he can become Alpha,” I replied.
She gasped in shock. “Who told you that? The beta wouldn’t do something like that,” she murmured.
“Trust me, I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I hadn’t heard him discussing it with some of Ryder’s guards, Derek, Scott…hell, even Lila is working with him,” I revealed.
She shook her head still in doubt. I didn’t blame her. I wouldn’t have thought that Ronan was capable of planning something like that either. It was just so unlike the Ronan I knew. I guess I didn’t know him that well after all.
We fell silent for a moment and I focused on finishing the rest of my meal wondering what Lucien and Ryder were up to. I couldn’t wait to be in his arms again.
“You’ve told the Alpha about it right?” She asked.
I nodded.
She sighed. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t kill his brother for treason,” she said with sadness in her eyes.
“Ryder wouldn’t do that. He loves his brother. And I don’t know what has entered into Ronan but I’m sure that deep down, he also loves Ryder,” I replied.
“But why?” Penelope wondered aloud.
“I rolled my eyes. “Why would anyone want to be Alpha? Power of course,” I replied.
“I just wonder why Lila is risking her life, supporting Ronan,” I murmured.
Penelope was thoughtful for a moment then her eyes widened.
“Maybe he has promised to make her Luna if she helps him become Alpha,” she reasoned.
I arched my eyebrows sceptically.
“Malia, Ronan was crazy about Lila before Ryder made her his fiancee.”