The Lunas Second Chance Mate
Chapter 63

Alyson's POV

Michelle called from the front door, "You've received another invitation from the Luna."

I jolted from my chair; all hair raised on my body. Ariana snarled inside me. Jennifer had wanted me to consider her proposal last time we spoke. I had not thought about it at all, my answer was the same firm no as before. Entering the main room, Michelle held a letter folded three times. "She's invited you over again for tea."

I rolled my eyes back in my skull. Tea again? As if we were cordial. The last thing I wanted to pass my time having tea and treats with the sister who betrayed me in my past life.

"I suppose I should go," I said. "At what time?"

"3 o'clock."

"Will you come with me again? I feel much better when you're there." I asked her.

"Absolutely, I will be happy to attend with you." Michelle nodded curtly.

I prepared myself in a long mostly white dress with some blue birds patterning the skirt.

Too soon we arrived back at the Alpha's Lair, guided by servants inside, passing the stairs that led to the hell of my past, and up to the same room with small table arranged beautifully for afternoon tea.

Diana was not there. Jennifer sat alone at the table waiting for me. I suspected that my sister had not been sleeping well due to the hollowness under her eyes and the glazed effect in her gaze. "Please, come in and sit," She welcomed sounding more sincere than last time, which rose my suspicions.

Michelle was already sitting beside her.

I tucked my skirt and seated myself in the chair across the table from the Luna, my eyes burrowing into hers the whole time. While she looked a little weakened from fatigue, Ariana stirred inside me, compelling me to strike now. Obviously, I calmed my wolf, for now was not an appropriate time. There were servants and guards everywhere. Jacob was still Alpha, and this was his Luna in her own home.

Ariana settled down inside me. I smirked, trying to force myself to smile pleasantly. "I assume this meeting is about your proposal from last time." At the same moment, I took a piece of sweet bread from my plate and bit into it.

Her mouth tightened over the pleasantries she probably intended to throw at me first before bringing that up. "Yes," she said.

"You sure didn't give me much time to consider," I accused. "It is not a small ask."

"You would have to test your blood first to know if it's any good. It's possible you're worthless anyway." She retorted.

"Has something happened that is causing such urgency?" I asked, wondering gleefully if it had anything to do with Jacob's deteriorating health.

She glowered and I assumed that she would never admit it. But in the next moment, she surprised me. "Jacob is a powerful wolf and instrumental to the stability of this pack. His health is declining suddenly without warning, but perhaps if we could get a willing additional blood provider, we could prolong his life. Don't you like living in Crowalt?"

"I do enjoy it here."

"You're the perfect she-wolf for an additional blood provider if you have the blood quality." It was a compliment that made my insides cringe. "Again, there are no limits to what we could offer you in money, status, whatever you like." "Is not your blood good enough for him?" I said casually as I poured cream into my tea.

She stared at me. Our nearly identical eyes met for a few seconds. If looks could kill, Jennifer would be dead. Ariana rumbled inside me again.

She responded to the hostility in my gaze with animosity. "You would do well to remember who I am, and who you are here. You're a guest in my home, and with my pack."

I was feeling a little too bold. My terror of her last time had morphed because I felt shielded by my new identity. I realized that I needed to hold my composure better.

"Yes, I know it, and thank you. But again, I do not want to test my blood and become a blood provider. If I am a distant relative of Clan Clark, then I'm happily living outside this oppressive Pact."

She squirmed when I admitted the possibility that I could be a relation when last time I'd only denied it. "Why do I feel like you're lying? I know you're hiding something, and once I replace out what that is, if I can use it against you, I will."

"If you use anything against me, I will leave this territory, and take the Blood's Bane supply with me. Clan Harris is already in control of two thirds of all Blood's Bane in this realm, so I'm not sure if you want to lose my presence." "We're good business. You would lose a fortune if you took the supply," She spat at me.

I shrugged one shoulder. "Better that than trade with a Pack who cannot respect a neutral trade associate."

She huffed angrily. Her wide eyes darted back and forth between Michelle and I, clearly unsure how to react to my threats, and very unhappy that I had not bowed down to hers.

"If I can recommend it," I said. "Jacob would do well to take more Blood's Bane than normal if his health isn't well. It is not the same as the blood, but it does help with healing. You could take some more as well."

Her tone softened finally, "We might have to." Even behind the edge of agitation, she seemed really worried about her mate. Her entire status and life could evaporate around her once he died. He must be very unwell, I speculated. Her agreement to offer him more of the poisoned herb thrilled me.

Pretending to be more friendly, I said, "We have a chance to get along yet. But please no more of this offer."

She glared back at me. "I know you're hiding something. I still suspect you're already providing blood to Ryan Alexander. Especially after he's denying poor Diana now. How could he if he didn't have someone already." She eyed me up and down.

Chills of anticipation ran up my spine. Soon, when the time was right, I would confess my relationship with Ryan to the world, and she would know that I'd been lying. I hoped at that point, Jacob was so ill, he would be powerless. I hoped that in that moment, Jennifer would be at her lowest point, and without status. I would love to confess who I was right before ending her.

Remaining composed, I countered, "I'm not the blood provider to Ryan Alexander."

She snorted again. "I will replace out if you are. Do not think that lying to the Luna goes over well in Crowalt."

"We already discussed all this," I said.

"Fine, have it your way for now. I see there is no agreement between us, and I'm too tired to argue with you," Jennifer said taking a long sip of her tea. Her hand was shaking in rage.

"You're worried for your mate," I offered more compassionately, trying to ease her hostility, I asked, "Is someone helping take care of him?"

"Yes, my mother is a great help to us."

If I had expected anything, it was not that. Suddenly my whole face went numb, and I knew I probably looked like a ghost with shock frozen over every part of my body.

She squinted at my reaction.

"I thought you said your mother was dead?" I said, my breaths were short.

"No, I never said anything like that. When did I say that?" She looked utterly perplexed and suspicious at my concern.

"I asked about her purple eyes and you said she did have purple eyes."

"Yes, well, she's blind now, and they're cloudy and gray." She said flatly, "What is your strange concern with my mother?"

Blind? I thought, my mind whirling. I wondered if Jennifer had done something to her to cause that. My mother was not dead, she might even be in this lair right now and blind. I wondered what she knew or didn't know? Had Jennifer tricked her somehow, or had she betrayed me too.

Either way, I was acting strangely, and I needed to control my mood.

I waved it off, "Oh never mind. I guess I felt bad for you when I thought your mother had died. But it's nice she can help you take care of your mate. She must be a good mother."

"The best," Jennifer said, although she clearly did not buy my answer, her distrusts were evident on her expression. She was staring at me as if she saw me differently than before.

I was getting anxious as if she might start recognizing me. "Don't be shy to ask for additional Blood's Bane for Jacob. I would be happy to supply you with more if it helps him feel better."

"Yes, I might," Her transfixed gaze never left mine. She seemed to been some kind of deep stupor or introspection that made me nervous.

"I think this meeting is over," I said suddenly. "We will leave you. Goodbye, Luna." With that, we left her. Oddly, she did not object, nor did she say goodbye.

At least now I knew that my mother still lived. But I think I might have been too interested in her, and Jennifer was rightly perplexed by it. I was uncomfortable by the way that she was looking at me at the end.

I hoped that her lowest point would come sooner rather than later, because my sister had always been cruel and jealous yes, but she was also sharp and cunning. I was afraid she might figure out my identity before I was ready, and jeopardize my revenge.