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“Before I say anything,”Luna started.“First, I have to know, what does Victor mean to you?”
“He’s one of my most trusted advisors.”
A chill slid down her spine.“And how long have you known him?”She kept herself from running from the spot, determined to better understand.
“He came into my village several months back and has proved invaluable to us.”
That explained a lot. Luna took a deep breath.
This was going to be difficult. But as she stared at him, she couldn’t believe that the Adrian she knew would ally himself with a traitor or a tyrant.
“Then I want you to keep an open mind to what I’m about to tell you,”Luna said.“Because your thoughts on Victor might change.”
Adrian’s eyebrows furrowed, but he nodded. There was something brave about the way he carried himself, even in human form. Regarding him, she sensed a hint of intimidation. This was a man who would die defending what he loved.
Which made it all the harder to say what she had to say.
“In my previous pack, I was betrothed to be married,”Luna said.
Adrian nodded. “I could sense the hurt in your heart.”
“His name was Darius, and he was an exceptional man and an even fiercer wolf,”she added.“I thought we’d be together. He was the alpha of my pack, and even though we weren’t fated to be together, he loved me with everything in me, promising to make me his alpha mate.”
Adrian’s undivided attention was upon her, even as the other beasts of the forest rustled the leaves and branches around them. Luna closed her eyes, trying to fight the pain that came from recounting this part of the story.
“But my father was envious of me. He didn’t believe a woman, much less his own daughter, should have a say in the pack’s future where he had none.”
Adrian shook his head. “That must have been terrible,” he said.
“It was really hard.”
A harsh wind blew, and she could see Adrian's naked form shiver in the cold.
“Anyway, things grew really hard in my house. He tried to assert his dominance over me once he knew he wasn’t going to change my mind.”
“Luna,” Adrian said gravely, “did he hurt you?”
Luna closed her eyes again.“I tried to keep as much distance between us as possible, but I felt like a child.”
She hoped the implication would be clear and that Adrian would understand without having his question answered.
“Soon, he brought a man into our house … A strange elderly man who I could never, as long as I lived, bring myself to trust. Everybody else was charmed by him, worshiping the ground he walked, but I wasn’t fooled.”
“This man,” Adrian said suddenly, “describe him.”
Knowing what he was really asking, Luna was unflinching.
“He had a grim, jagged face, his features marred by age. His eyes were cold, glassy, and gray, and he spoke with arrogance, always claiming to know more than the people around him.”
Adrian’s features trembled at hearing the summary, a perfect description of Victor.
“But he always claimed to be listening to everybody around him and carried himself with a charisma that masked his selfishness and lack of empathy.”
Adrian gulped.
“Go on,” he said.
“My father trusted the man and met with him in secret, all while Victor won the hearts of everybody around me. I knew what he was doing behind the scenes, but I had no proof. And then, when the alpha of my pack…and my lover…died, I was the one they blamed. Victor had poisoned their minds against me so much, there was no arguing with them.”
