False Expectations - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Jina's pov:
-"Gina, the Alpha wants to speak to you. He's waiting for you in the guest room," one of the guards informed me as I reclined on a sun lounger by the pool. Sunbathing and swimming are my little luxuries, and since no one dares come here, I indulge in them fully. I wasn't about to change my habits just because Maximus had the poor taste to choose that dullard as his Luna.
-"I thought he had left," I replied lazily, adjusting my sunglasses. "Anyway, tell him I'll be there in ten minutes." The guard gave a curt nod and left.
I smirked to myself. I knew it. He couldn't resist me in the end. That pathetic excuse for a Luna could never give him what he truly needs. She's stiff, cold, and utterly dull. Pretending to be so proper doesn't earn you a place in a man's bed, especially a man like Maximus. Poor girl—I almost feel sorry for her. Almost. Ha! Not in a million years!
But then, a flicker of curiosity crossed my mind. Why send a guard to fetch me instead of mind-linking? And why the guest room of all places? Could it be... one of his usual games? My smirk grew wider. Oh, how I've missed those games—and him. If I play my cards right, I'll be the one by his side as the rightful Luna, and that social-climbing little nobody will be out in the cold where she belongs.
I wrapped my pareo around me and headed toward the guest room, my revealing swimsuit barely concealed. I knew why he had called me, and I was ready to deliver my most seductive performance yet. Tonight, Maximus would remember why no one else could compare to me.
I knocked on the door but was met with silence. Confused but undeterred, I decided to step inside. The room was dark, the heavy curtains drawn. I flipped on the lights, scanning the space, my excitement waning slightly when I saw no one.
-"Maybe he's in the bathroom," I murmured to myself, running a hand through my hair. Or perhaps he was lying in wait, ready to surprise me once I stepped in. My pulse quickened at the thought, anticipation bubbling beneath my skin.
But as the seconds passed, reality began to set in. There was no sound, no movement, no sign of Maximus. "Maybe he hasn't arrived yet," I reasoned, unwilling to let my disappointment take hold.
Letting my pareo fall to the floor, I draped myself across the plush bed, striking a pose that would leave him breathless the moment he walked in. The minutes dragged on in silence, each one chipping away at my confidence.
Ten minutes passed. Still, no sign of him. The spark of excitement I'd felt earlier was now dimming, replaced by an uneasy feeling I couldn't quite place.
"Maybe this is just a joke the guards came up with to make fun of me," I muttered under my breath, my frustration rising. "When I find that idiot, he'll pay for this insolence." Just as I was about to storm out of the room, footsteps echoed from the hallway, and my heart skipped a beat. A flicker of hope ignited within me. It wasn't a scam after all—he was finally here! He wanted to be with me. He couldn't stay away any longer.
I straightened up, striking a sensual pose, and faced the door, anticipation building. "Maybe he was just busy and running late," I whispered to myself, excitement rushing through me. I was ready to show him exactly why he'd been foolish to let me go.
The door creaked open, and my breath hitched. Instead of Maximus, however, a stranger stepped into the room. My heart sank, but my mind scrambled to place him. He was of medium height with dark hair and piercing brown eyes. I didn't know him, but there was something familiar about his presence—had I seen him before?
He moved toward the bed, his gaze intense, making no attempt to hide the lust in his eyes. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he took in the sight of me. He was handsome, dressed in black pants and a crisp white shirt, the kind of man who knew how to turn heads.
-"You're a very sexy woman," he said with a cocky grin, his voice low and confident.
I rolled my eyes, unimpressed. "This isn't the first time I've heard that," I replied smoothly, my confidence unwavering.
He chuckled, his gaze never leaving me. "I bet it isn't. Beauty like yours deserves to be admired and recognized. Maximus was an idiot to let you go."
His words hit harder than I expected. I wasn't sure whether to feel flattered or enraged by his implication. But there was something about this encounter that felt different—like it was leading somewhere I wasn't quite ready for.
Thanks, I guess," I said coldly. "But now you must go. I'm expecting someone, and he can't see you here with me. I'm sure you understand."
He smirked, unfazed. "Relax. Nothing's going to happen."
-"How are you so sure?" I raised an eyebrow. "You don't know him. He can be very aggressive when he gets angry."
His gaze darkened, and with a self-assured tone, he replied, "I'm sure, because the man you're waiting for... is no other than me."
I blinked in shock. "You?!! You have to be kidding me. How is this possible?"
He leaned back, giving me a knowing look. "I was the one who sent the guard to tell you that I was waiting for you."
-"But the guard was clear," I protested. "He said the Alpha was waiting for me. The Alpha. Not you."
He shrugged with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Maximus is not the only Alpha in the world. In case you didn't notice, I'm an Alpha too."
I stared at him, disbelief still flooding my mind. "Oh... I didn't know. So, why did you invite me here? What do you want from me?"
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "I want to make you a proposal. A very advantageous one."
-"A proposal?" My curiosity was piqued, but I wasn't ready to fall into whatever trap he was setting. "What kind of proposal?"
-"I want you to help me separate Maximus from Adelina," he said, his voice low and menacing. "And eventually, I want you to help me destroy him."
I narrowed my eyes. "If I help you, what's in it for me?"
He laughed, a dark and sardonic sound that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "It's obvious, isn't it? Maximus will be all yours."
I couldn't suppress the flicker of interest at his words, but I pushed it aside. "And what do you gain from this? Are you trying to take Maximus' place?"
He leaned back in the chair, his confidence unwavering. "I will watch Maximus fall. And then I'll take his place. That's all I want—and I'll have it, if you help me."
I considered his offer for a moment, but I wasn't one to jump into schemes without understanding the full picture. "But if Maximus falls, I won't be able to be Luna.Then why help you? I don't care about Maximus. I was with him because I wanted to be Luna. He's an arrogant, selfish, phallocentric pig. I don't care about him. ."
-"If the only thing you want is to be Luna," he said with a sly smile, "then I'll make you my Luna. You're beautiful, sexy, and frankly, I'd be a fool if I didn't see that."
My eyes narrowed. "And who guarantees me that you'll actually make me Luna once you take Maximus' place?"
His gaze never wavered. "If you want, I can make that promise right now. I'm already an Alpha."
I raised an eyebrow. "Which pack is yours?"
-"The Crescent Moon pack," he said, his voice dripping with confidence.
Crescent Moon. The name echoed in my mind. "Crescent Moon pack... I've heard of it before... Oh! Isn't it the bitch's old pack?" I blurted out in surprise.
He glared at me, his expression turning colder, a menacing edge to his voice. "Beautiful, but with a poor choice of words." He took a step closer, his presence heavy and intimidating.
I quickly backpedaled. "I meant... isn't it Adelina's old pack?" I corrected myself.
-"That's better," he replied with a tight smile. "Yes, it is."
The tension in the room thickened, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being swept into something far darker than I had imagined.
-"And why do you want to separate them? Are you in love with her too?" I asked, my voice tinged with anger. "I don't get it—what is it that everyone sees in her? Why does everyone get so excited?"
He shook his head, disgust evident on his face. "No. How could I? I'm her brother, after all."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Her brother? That doesn't make any sense. If you're her brother, then why do you want to destroy her life?"
He clenched his jaw, his eyes cold. "Who said I want to destroy Adelina? I want to destroy Maximus and get her away from that monster."
-"Why?" I asked, my frustration rising. "Next to Maximus, your sister will become the Queen of all werewolves."
He scoffed bitterly. "Maximus would never be king as long as I'm alive. And besides, I know they're not a real couple, despite their public display. I know what he's done to her. The rejection. The imprisonment. The abuse. The only thing I can't figure out is why he made her his Luna and how he convinced her to go along with it."
-"I can't help you with this," I said, my voice softening with regret. "All I know is that one day, he came to me and told me he wanted to break things off with me so he could present Adelina as his Luna. And, as you can see, he eventually did."
He leaned in, his voice lower now, more insistent. "All I want from you is your help. You know Maximus better than anyone. You know his weaknesses, his secrets. Help me, and you'll be paid as we agreed. Unless, of course, you change your mind and decide you want to take money instead of becoming my Luna. I can offer you a fortune."
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "How are you going to do that? Your pack is small. From what I know, you can't even afford my tastes."
He chuckled darkly, his smile confident. "All I can tell you right now is that I'm not alone. There are powerful people behind me, people who despise Maximus as much as I do. You'll only benefit if you agree to work with us. But if you betray us... the consequences for you will be unbearable."
His stern tone sent a shiver down my spine. I knew he wasn't lying.
-"I see," I said, my voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling in my chest.
-"So, what's your answer?" he pressed.
I thought for a moment. What did I really have to lose? My future was uncertain, and I felt more and more like a pawn in a game I didn't choose. But this... this was something different. The opportunity to take control. To be more than just a discarded lover.
-"My answer is yes," I said, my voice unwavering. "I don't have anything to lose after all."
He smiled, a triumphant glint in his eyes. "Good. We'll make sure you get everything you deserve."