The Luna Queen - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

_Leah's POV_
My heart pounded as I moved back to the closet. I felt like I was playing with fire, but I needed answers. I took a breath, sliding the closet door open and carefully moving the shelf that hid the secret entrance. Darkness met me again, and I flicked on my phone flashlight and slipped inside the hidden room.
Once inside, I turned to shut the closet door. I pushed the shelf back into place. If anyone opened the closet from outside, they would see nothing unusual. The hidden room was small and still, with a silence that felt almost heavy. My hands shook slightly as I located the light switch, filling the space with a dim and pale glow. My gaze quickly found the chest on the table. It was the very thing I had come back for.
The chest was even more intricate up close, covered in dark wood carvings that felt both beautiful and ominous. I reached out, fingers grazing the cool surface as my eyes caught a symbol in the center of the lid. It was a triangle with three circles inside. I blinked, recognizing it instantly. I had seen that symbol before. But where?
Then it clicked. The tattoo on Tariq’s back. It was the same triangle, the same three circles. I felt a chill wash over me. This wasn’t a coincidence. The chest was connected to Tariq’s secrets, something he was hiding at all costs. I could feel it.
I tried to lift the lid, but it wouldn’t budge. It was locked. I bit my lip, my frustration building. I needed to get inside that chest, but the lock held firm, mocking me with its silence. I tugged harder but it was useless. I paused and took a deep breath. I looked around the small room. A key had to be somewhere close by, didn’t it?
I moved to the table, pulling open its drawers one by one, hoping to find the key. But they were empty. Each drawer was barren of anything useful. I sighed, feeling the weight of disappointment settle over me. Where would the key be? I searched again, but it was clear that there was nothing else in the room. Just the table, chair, and that chest which was locked and impenetrable.
My frustration simmered as I switched off the light, stepping carefully out of the hidden space. I pushed the shelf back into place, making sure everything looked exactly as it had before. My mind raced. If Tariq found out I had been snooping around, it could ruin any chance I had of discovering his secrets. I had to stay calm, to keep up the act of the dutiful mate. But inside, my fear and desperation were growing.
I couldn’t sit still. My chest felt tight and the walls of the room felt as though they were closing in. I needed air. I needed a moment to clear my head and gather my thoughts. Slipping out of the room, I made my way toward the garden, my feet carrying me quickly down the hallway and out into the fresh air.
The garden was bathed in morning light, the sky clear and bright. A few pack members were scattered around. They were chatting quietly. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself as the cool air filled my lungs. I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders, but the questions in my mind still swirled with an intensity I couldn’t ignore.
“Luna,” a voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see a young woman, one of the pack members, bowing respectfully. “Is there anything we can do for you?”
I forced a small smile, shaking my head. “Thank you, but I am fine. Just needed a bit of fresh air.”
The woman nodded, giving me a warm smile before returning to her tasks. I watched her go, my mind racing with thoughts of Tariq and his plans. I was supposed to be this pack’s queen, their Luna. But in reality, I was just a pawn in Tariq’s game. The thought made me feel sick.
Another pack member approached, bowing slightly as he greeted me. “Good morning, Queen Leah,” he said, his tone reverent. The words made me feel uneasy.
I gave him a polite nod, forcing myself to keep up appearances. “Good morning.”
I walked farther into the garden, my hands clasped tightly as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. Tariq had chosen me, elevated me in the pack, given me this title, but for what? Why would he go to all this effort just to betray me?
The image of the chest, with its locked lid and the symbol that matched his tattoo, flashed through my mind again. It was a puzzle, one I felt I had to solve if I had any hope of understanding Tariq’s true intentions. But without the key, I was stuck.
“Why?” I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible over the gentle rustling of leaves. “Why would he do this?”
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. I turned to see another pack member, a tall, older man who offered me a respectful nod. “Your Majesty,” he said, “it’s an honor to see you here.”
I forced another small smile, hiding the storm of emotions inside. “Thank you. I’m just… taking a moment.”
The man nodded. “If there’s anything you need, you only have to ask. Alpha Tariq has given us all strict instructions to ensure that you’re well taken care of.”
My jaw tightened. “Of course. He is very… attentive,” I said, choosing my words carefully. The man smiled and walked away, leaving me alone once again.
I wandered farther down the garden path. My mind was whirling with questions. Tariq wanted me here, wanted me as his mate, his queen, but only to use me. The chest in the hidden room held something vital, I was certain of it. Something that would finally explain why he needed me, and why he had lied to me.
But the question of the key gnawed at me. Where would he keep it? If it was as important as I thought, he wouldn’t leave it out in the open. And if it was related to his tattoo… my mind spun as I considered the possibilities. Maybe it was something he carried with him or something hidden away in his study.
I clenched my fists. I would find a way to open that chest. I had to. My survival depended on it.
For now, though, I had to keep playing my part. I had to be careful, to stay quiet and obedient until the right moment. I had to act like I knew nothing, like I was still the same devoted mate I had always been.
But deep down, I knew I wasn’t the same. Not anymore. I would find the truth, and when I did, I would be ready.
Taking one last breath of fresh air, I straightened, my gaze hardening as I looked toward the pack house. I was done being Tariq’s pawn. I would play his game for now, but I was determined to make my own moves, to find the truth hidden in that chest and to uncover the real reason Tariq had chosen me.