Bryce growled at the lady who had a seductive look in her eyes. Marissa, on the other hand, assessed her. She wondered what kind of history the two shared since he seemed repulsed by her presence.
"Why are you here, Eliana?" Bryce asked. His tone was calm, but the tension in the room was palpable, making his displeasure obvious.
"Come on Bryce, I only came to see who your mate is," Eliana replied with a flirtatious smile.
"That is Alpha to you, I have no idea why some people don't know their place," Bethany was the one who spoke.
She had just arrived at the entrance of the dining room with Beta Damien when she heard what Eliana had said. She could not hold it back, so she lashed out as soon as she approached the table.
Marissa grinned when she laid her eyes on Bethany. Even if she didn't speak, she knew that Bethany would always have her back.
"And who are you?" Eliana asked Bethany who had taken her seat beside Marissa, completely disregarding Eliana's question.
Eliana blinked slightly, baffled by the disrespect. She immediately turned to look at Bryce who wasn't paying attention to her, as expected.
Her face turned red due to anger, turning to Damien, clearly expecting an answer.
"She is Bethany, Luna's best friend," Damien informed.
Eliana's smile faltered at Damien's response
'Luna's best friend?' She scoffed internally, completely irritated by the word, Luna. But she was able to mask her expression with another sweet, poisonous smile.
"I see," she replied, her eyes drifting back to Marissa. "I didn't know the Luna needed a bodyguard."
Bethany chuckled, her expression unimpressed, "She doesn't, but it's good to keep pests in check."
Marissa fought a laugh, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She leaned slightly toward Bethany. "You're terrible," she whispered, though she didn't mean it. It was a playful joke to which they both shared a laugh over.
Eliana's nails dug into her palm under the table, before schooling her expression into a nonchalant one.
"I only came to welcome our Luna properly, after all, it must be overwhelming stepping into a role you're not prepared for," Eliana stated while playing with her nails.
Marissa finally spoke, calm and composed, "you're right, it is overwhelming — especially when people who have no business here keep showing up uninvited."
The room fell silent. Bryce's eyes met Marissa's briefly, pride flickering in his gaze, before he looked toward Eliana.
"You've said enough," he said firmly, his tone colder now, "you may take your leave now."
She opened her mouth to protest, but the look in Bryce's eyes made her freeze mid-sentence.
She stood up slowly, forcing a polite nod, "of course, Alpha."
As she turned to leave, Bethany called after her sweetly, "better luck in your next life, Eliana." Bethany didn't forget to stick out her tongue playfully to Eliana.
Eliana glared at Bethany before walking off.
After she had left, Marissa turned to look at Bryce.
"Why are you staring at me that way?" Bryce asked, confusedly scratching his hair.
"Isn't it obvious? She wants to know about your relationship with that woman," Bethany was the one who replied, while eyeing Bryce.
"You're mistaken — the Alpha has no relationship with Eliana. She's the one constantly forcing herself on him," Damien clarified.
Marissa narrowed her eyes at Bryce who nodded.
"Damien is right, I have never had any relationship with a woman, you are the first woman I have been in close contact with," Bryce hastily explained.
A sincere laugh escaped from Marissa's lips, "of course I believe you."
She believed his words. She could notice it from the way he and Eliana behaved. He was repulsed by her presence.
________
Meanwhile, Eliana returned to her courtyard, and she met her father who turned out to be Elder Scott.
"What happened to you? You look tense?" Elder Scott asked, noticing that his daughter had a terrible expression on her face.
"I am just returning from Bryce's mansion," Eliana informed him, throwing herself onto the sofa, her fists clenched in frustration, jaw tight with anger
Her words were enough for Scott to understand what had taken place.
"You met the Luna, didn't you?" Elder Scott asked, his voice dripping with disdain.
"She isn't fit for the position of Luna, if there is anyone who is worthy, then it is me," Eliana snapped.
"Of course, you are the only one who is fit to rule alongside our powerful Alpha," Elder Scott praised his daughter.
Eliana knelt by her father's side, "Father, I really want the position of Luna, you are a high ranking Elder, can't you do something about it? There must be something we could use against her, don't you think?" She asked, a subtle hint of pleading in her eyes.
"Everyone has secrets Eliana, we would find hers, and if she doesn't, we can always make up stories," Elder Scott stated, his eyes flashing with mischief.
"Thank you dad, I always knew I could count on you, I will leave everything to you, we need to make Bryce understand that there is no one better than me for him," Eliana stated, her eyes flashing with a fierce determination.
_________
"Damien, arrange for a tour, I want to introduce my mate to our people," Bryce instructed Damien who was happy to fulfill this task.
They were currently in Bryce's office, and he was busy reviewing some documents.
"Alpha, I feel it is best if you let the Luna know more about your identity, apart from being a werewolf, you are also a billionaire, it would be best for you to tell her yourself before she finds out from another person, women can be quite sensitive."
Damien suggested, staring at Bryce who was quite surprised at his display of emotional intelligence.
"Have you ever had a girlfriend?" Bryce asked with a teasing smile.
Damien scratched his head awkwardly, "no Alpha, I am still waiting for my mate, I am being chaste only for my mate."
Bryce raised an eyebrow, pleased with his beta's reply.
"It's commendable that you are loyal, and about telling Marissa about my other identity, I'm waiting for the perfect moment," Bryce replied with a lovesick smile on his face.
Damien shook his head, finding it funny to see such an expression on his face.
"And that reminds me, haven't I told you to always address me as Bryce, especially when we are alone? Disobeying my commands, aren't we now?" Bryce asked, glaring at Damien who chuckled.
"I thought you had forgotten, who knew that you recalled," Damien chuckled.
Bryce was about to reply when he got an urgent message through the mindlink.
'Alpha, Gray is at it again.'
Bryce looked at Damien who clearly received the message, and he sighed.
"Let's go check it out," Bryce said, and they both left the office.