The Luna Queen - Chapter 44: Chapter 44

_Leah's POV_
My heart raced as the door clicked shut behind the young pack member. I let out a shaky breath. I knew that I couldn’t waste time. Tariq had left in a hurry, and he wouldn’t expect me to do anything but wait for his return. But I had other plans.
I began pacing the room. How had I not seen the signs before? Tariq had kept his secrets well hidden, always wearing that charming smile. His touch was always so gentle. But now, every touch felt tainted, every smile was a lie. I couldn’t keep pretending to be the devoted mate; I needed answers.
My gaze flickered around the room, landing on Tariq’s bedside table. Maybe he had been careless. Maybe, just maybe, he had left something behind, some clue about his plans. I stepped toward the table, holding my breath as I opened the top drawer. Nothing but a few pens, some loose change, and a small notepad. There was nothing.
I sighed in frustration and moved to the other drawer, sifting through its contents. There were some spare keys, a leather-bound book that was just an old journal from his teenage years, and nothing else. I shut it quietly, my eyes scanning the room.
Then, I noticed the closet. My heart hammered. Maybe he had hidden something there. I crossed the room, pulling the closet door open and sifting through his clothes, which hung in neat rows. The scent of his cologne lingered on the fabric, but it only made me feel more repulsed. There was a sick feeling settling in my stomach.
After a few minutes of searching, I almost gave up. But then something odd caught my eye. At the back of the closet, I noticed a slight gap between the wall and the bottom shelf. It was small, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. I leaned closer, squinting as I inspected the space.
My heart jumped as I realized the shelf could be moved. Taking a deep breath, I carefully tugged at the edge. Slowly, it slid forward, revealing a narrow opening behind it. My pulse raced with both fear and excitement. I had found something. There was a hidden room.
The room was pitch dark. The shadows stretched into the unknown. I hesitated for a moment before reaching into my pocket and pulling out my phone. I switched on the flashlight. The beam cut through the darkness, illuminating a small and windowless space.
Inside, there was a small table with a chair beside it. On the table lay a small chest. It was old and worn, with intricate carvings on its lid. My breath quickened. This was it, I could feel it. Whatever secrets Tariq was hiding, they might be in that chest. I took a step forward, my hand stretching toward the chest when....
“Leah!”
I froze, my heart leaping into my throat as I heard Tariq’s voice from somewhere outside the closet. My body went cold. Without thinking, I quickly switched off my phone light, backing out of the small room as quietly as I could. I pushed the shelf back into place, closing the closet door and scrambled back to the bed.
I threw myself onto the mattress, arranging myself to look as if I were in a deep sleep. My heart was pounding so loudly that I was sure he would hear it. I kept my eyes closed, breathing slowly and evenly, willing myself to stay calm.
The door creaked open, and I felt his presence as he stepped inside. I stayed perfectly still, my heart racing beneath the facade of calmness.
“Leah…” Tariq’s voice was soft, almost tender, as he moved closer to the bed. I felt the mattress dip as he sat down beside me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. I kept my breathing steady, my eyelids not daring to flicker.
He leaned over me, his lips brushing against my forehead. “Wake up, my love. You have slept long enough,” he murmured, his voice a sickly mixture of sweetness and command.
I opened my eyes, feigning drowsiness. “Oh… I must have drifted off,” I said softly while forcing a weak smile.
“You have been looking pale,” Tariq said, studying my face. “Are you feeling alright?”
I hesitated, then nodded. “Yes… I just feel a little tired,” I replied, keeping my voice soft.
He frowned and brushed a strand of hair from my face. “Do you want me to call the pack doctor?” he asked. His gaze was intense, his eyes narrowing slightly as if studying my reaction.
“No, I just need to rest,” I said quickly, trying not to show the panic that bubbled beneath my words. “A little sleep will help.”
Tariq studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. I fought the urge to shrink away from his gaze, to escape his touch. Finally, he nodded and gave me a small smile.
“Alright,” he said, though his eyes held a flicker of suspicion. “But if you’re still unwell later, I’ll insist on calling the doctor, even if you don’t want me to.”
“Of course,” I whispered, forcing myself to smile back.
He leaned down, his lips pressing another soft kiss on my forehead. I gritted my teeth, suppressing the shiver that threatened to betray me. I kept up the act, letting my face relax as though I were drifting back to sleep.
After a few moments, I felt the bed shift as Tariq stood up, his footsteps heading toward the door. I kept my breathing even, waiting as he lingered there, his gaze still on me.
“Get some rest,” he said finally. “I’ll check on you later.”
I waited until I heard the door click shut behind him. I held my breath as his footsteps faded down the hallway. I stayed still, listening carefully, my heart thundering in my chest. Only when the silence stretched on did I finally sit up, letting out a long and shaky breath.
My mind was racing. I knew I had little time. Tariq was bound to come back sooner rather than later, and I couldn’t afford to waste a second. I glanced around the room, then stood up, my legs trembling slightly as I crossed the floor to the door.
I slowly opened the door a crack, peeking into the hallway. My pulse quickened when I saw that the coast was clear. I waited, straining to listen for any sign of approaching footsteps, but there was only silence.
I closed the door again, taking a deep breath to steady myself. There was no time to lose. I had to get back to that hidden room, to the chest that held Tariq’s secrets. My hands clenched with determination as I stepped toward the closet, my gaze fixed on the spot I had uncovered.
This time, I would be quick. This time, I would find the answers I needed.