4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Orion

I held Luna’s hands, as they kept on shaking uncontrollably.

“Luna … what’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? Is something wrong?”

“Uh … yeah … you can go to your meeting,” she said, clearing her throat.

“You look pale … I’m definitely not leaving you like this. Come with me.”

I led her to the couch in my office and stroked her palms, hoping she’d feel better.

“You really don’t have to this for me … I’m fine … I guess it’s because I haven’t eaten all day.”

“Then let’s get you something to eat -”

“Oh no, don’t worry, I can just get something to eat on my way out,” she interrupted.

“Nonsense! I’ll have them prepare something for you.”

“Really. I’m fine. You’ll be late for your meeting”

“Okay. If you say so.” I kissed her on the forehead and left.

While in the meeting, my thoughts were with Luna.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper connected us. It wasn’t just an attraction. It was something more. I had never felt anything like it before. Not even with Miranda’s mother.

The first time I touched her, when our hands brushed in the hallway, it was like a bolt of electricity shot through my entire body. It was undeniable. Sparks that only happened when fated mates met.

But how could that be possible? Could Luna really be my mate? I thought.

The thought haunted me, and no matter how much I tried to push it away, it kept coming back. It was very obvious that I wasn’t concentrating in the meeting.

“The meeting is over!” I said abruptly

“But Orion … this is …” Robert tried countering.

“This is my company, and when I say the meeting is over … it is over … don’t ever interrupt me.”

I was just a few years older than Robert, but I always considered him my close friend.

Everyone exited the conference room except Robert.

“What’s wrong? Is it the fire incident you are still thinking about? The police are working on it. I’m sure we will get valid information this week.”

“I’m not thinking about that. It’s just that … never mind. I want you to follow up the investigation regarding the fire incident closely. I’m sure the police wouldn’t want me to take laws into my own hands,” I said, and headed straight to my office.

When I arrived, Luna was preparing to leave.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m better, sir,” she said, avoiding my gaze.

I had forgotten that we weren’t inside my office and people were moving around.

“Come with me,” I said, leading her into my office and shutting the door behind us.

“Are you sure?” I enquired again, this time gently stroking her hair.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You wanted to tell me something earlier - what was it?”

She bit her lower lip, her eyes darting around the room, before they finally settled on mine. “I … I overheard something. Something I think you should know about.”

My heart thudded in my chest. “Go on.”

Luna hesitated for a moment, and then leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “I overheard two men talking in one of the conference rooms. They mentioned something about a deal. A secret deal. And … and they said something about ‘the others’ finding out, and there being hell to pay.”

I frowned, leaning forward. “Who were these men? Did you recognize them?”

She shook her head. “No, but the way they were talking … it didn’t sound good, Orion. I think something’s going on. Something dangerous.”

I clenched my jaw, my mind racing. Traitors within the company? Or worse, within the pack? This wasn’t the first time I’d heard whispers of unrest but hearing it from Luna made it feel more real. More immediate.

And then there was the matter of her knowing more than she was letting on. I could feel it in the way she spoke, the way her eyes shifted as if she was hiding something.

“Thank you for bringing this to me, Luna,” I said, my voice calm, despite the storm brewing inside me. “I’ll look into it.”

Immediately after Luna left, I called Jake and told him to investigate the matter, and also added that he should be discreet about it.

After the call with Jake, my mind was still on Luna. I needed to make sure she was okay.

“Luna!” I called out, rushing from my office.

“Sir …” She looked shocked.

“Come with me. I’m taking you home.”

“But—”

“No buts. Get your bag. Let’s go.”

Sitting beside her in the back of my car, I ordered the driver to stop at Luna’s place first. The heat from her skin, the sweet and wild scent of her perfume, filled the air between us.

I stared out the window, trying to focus, but she was too close, too intoxicating. Every ounce of restraint in me was being tested. When she bit her lower lip, I nearly lost control.

The hum of the engine was too loud, the silence too heavy. Our eyes met, and the spark flared again—dangerous, undeniable. She looked away, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her jacket, but I saw the flush on her cheeks. She felt it too.

As she gave the driver directions, her voice sent a shiver down my spine. The air grew hotter. I loosened my tie, unbuttoning my collar.

The car hit a bump, and her knee brushed mine—a jolt of electricity shot through me. I froze, praying she hadn’t noticed, but her breath quickened, lips slightly parted.

“I can walk from here,” she said suddenly, reaching for the door.

“Luna, don’t be ridiculous,” I said, grabbing her wrist gently. “We’re just a few blocks away.”

She didn’t pull away, but she wouldn’t look at me. “Orion … this is dangerous,” she whispered.

She was right. This pull between us could destroy everything—my family, my pack. But I couldn’t let go of her. The warmth of her skin was intoxicating.

“I know,” I admitted, my voice thick with the desire I was trying to suppress. “But that doesn’t change how I feel.”

Her eyes flickered to mine, reflecting the same turmoil, but she pulled her hand away, sinking back into the seat.

“We can’t,” she whispered, more to herself than to me.

The car slowed as we reached her house. The moment was ending, but the tension lingered.

“Goodnight, Luna,” I said softly, as she stepped out.

She paused, her hand on the door. “Goodnight, Orion,” she whispered, then disappeared into the night.

As we drove away, I watched her until she was out of sight. Luna was right—this was dangerous. But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far from over.

The vast hall of my mansion was steeped in silence, the only sound the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth. I sat in my favorite leather chair, the one facing the bay windows that overlooked the sprawling estate.

The bottle of Chateau Margaux, a 1982 vintage, sat open on the table beside me. I lifted the crystal glass to my lips, savoring the rich taste of the wine, but tonight, it did little to calm my nerves.

The fire’s flickering light danced on the dark wood paneling of the room, casting long shadows that matched the weight in my chest. Luna . Her name echoed in my mind, like a haunting refrain, impossible to shake. She was everywhere—in my thoughts, in my dreams, even in the air I breathed. And that terrified me.

A soft knock at the door pulled me from my reverie.

“Come in,” I called, though I didn’t need to. Jake never needed permission to enter. He was more than just my right-hand man. He was my confidant. The one person who had stood by me through every trial, every success, and every failure.

The door opened, and Jake stepped inside, his expression as neutral as always. His dark suit was immaculate, as if he’d just stepped out of a board meeting, rather than endured the chaos that often consumed our lives.

“You okay, boss?” he asked, his tone casual, but with a hint of concern beneath the surface.

I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I took another sip of wine, letting the liquid linger on my tongue before swallowing. I could feel Jake’s eyes on me, waiting patiently, as always.

Finally, I spoke. “You ever wonder if you’re making the right choices, Jake?”

He didn’t respond immediately. He knew better than to offer an opinion unless asked. Instead, he moved to the sideboard, pouring himself a glass of water. I knew he never touched alcohol on duty, another testament to his unwavering discipline.

When he finally turned back to me, his expression was calm, open, and ready to listen.

“Every day, boss,” he said simply, taking a seat in the chair opposite mine.

I let out a humorless laugh, swirling the wine in my glass.

“It’s funny, isn’t it? All this power, all this control, and yet … I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall. For the first time in a long time, I am struggling to think logically.”

Jake remained silent, his gaze steady, waiting for me to continue. He was good at that—letting me talk, letting me get it all out, without judgment or interruption. That’s why I valued him so much.

“It’s Luna,” I confessed, the words feeling heavier than I expected. “She’s … she’s all I think about. She’s beautiful, Jake. Smart. Strong. She makes me feel things I haven’t felt in years. But she’s young … too young. And then there’s Miranda.”

Jake didn’t flinch, didn’t show any surprise. He knew everything that went on in my life, but always remained discreet.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ornate ceiling.

“How would Miranda take it if I … if I pursued something with Luna? Luna is her best friend. She’d never forgive me, Jake. I could lose her.”

Jake took a sip of water, his eyes never leaving mine. He didn’t offer advice, didn’t try to fix the problem. He was just there, letting me work through it. It was one of the things I appreciated most about him. He never pretended to have all the answers, but he was always willing to listen.

“How do I explain that to Miranda? How do I look her in the eye and tell her that I’m in love with her best friend?”

Jake set his glass down on the table, leaning forward slightly.

“You’ll figure it out, boss,” he said softly.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough. The way he said it, the certainty in his voice, made me believe that maybe, just maybe, I could.

I nodded, finishing the last of my wine before setting the glass down.

“I hope so, Jake,” I said, more to myself than to him. “Because if I don’t … this could destroy everything.”

While we were talking, Jake got a phone call and excused himself, and I was left alone with my thoughts, the fire still burning low in the hearth, and the taste of Luna lingering on my mind, like the last drop of wine on my tongue.

“Sir, we need to talk,” he said, walking closer.

I nodded, gesturing for him to sit, but Jake remained standing. That only made me more uneasy.

“What is it?” I asked, leaning forward. “More bad news?”

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We’ve identified a few of the traitors. But it’s worse than we thought. They’re using your lack of a male heir to rally support against you. They think you’re weak because you don’t have a successor.”

I clenched my jaw, the fury boiling just beneath the surface. “Who are they, Jake? Give me names.”

Jake hesitated, his eyes flickering with a mixture of anger and regret. “Thomas. Martin. And … and there’s a rumor that Marcosias might be involved, too.”

“Marcosias?” I growled, slamming my fist onto the desk. “Being the leader of the rival pack, I should have suspected him from the very beginning.”

Jake lowered his gaze, his voice softening. “He’s been meeting with some of the rogues. We’ve had eyes on him for days now. The two men Luna overheard talking were Castro and Kilon. They work with the logistics department. It’s only a matter of time before we have proof.”

“Find the proof Jake! Find it! And as for Castro and Kilon, keep watching them and don’t let them suspect that we know anything. I want them to continue working here. It’s best to have your enemies close.”

“Okay sir,” Jake said, and left.

Immediately after Jake left, an excruciating pain pierced through my chest, sharp and relentless, as if something vital had been torn away. I clutched at my heart, trying to steady my breath, but it only worsened.

“Ahh!” I screamed and fell to the ground.