Kyra’s POV 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

I was lying on the bed, naked under the white sheets. I stared at Nathan’s handsome face. His eyes were deep brown. His eyebrows were thick and black, complementing his beautiful eyes. His nose was proud and pointed, and his lips were red and thin. He literally looked like a sexy bad boy.

He was looking at me with care, with admiration. My heart fluttered. He was my best friend, but I felt like we could be more than that. I was in love with him. So in love that I felt like I would die if I lost him.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

I swallowed hard, the discomfort between my legs a reminder of last night—the night I gave myself to him. After we got married.

"What if I get pregnant?"

He didn’t love me the way I loved him. He only married me because of his grandparents. His grandmother was sick, and our families were allies. A political union, nothing more. I never expected him to agree.

His fingers brushed my cheek, his expression softening. "Kyra, you know I’m not ready to be a father. I’m not even ready for this marriage. I only did this for my grandparents. I know you have the same reason?"

I felt my heart breaking apart at what he said. I gave him a smile even though I was breaking inside. He moved closer to me, hugged me, and gently placed a kiss on my forehead. I sucked in my breath and squeezed my eyes closed. This was insane! Really insane! Why did I even fall in love with my best friend?

"Kyra..."

"Kyra, wake up..."

A hand shook my shoulder. "Kyra, come on! Why did you sleep here?"

I slowly opened my eyes and lifted my face. I realized I had fallen asleep on my office table, and now my neck and back were sore.

"Nathan?" I stared at the man beside me.

"You look exhausted. Have you been working overtime these past few days?"

I stared at his face. He was here. Why was he here? From what I remembered, he went out with his first love. I felt a pang in my chest at that thought.

"What time is it?"

He smiled. "Almost 4 PM. I came with someone."

"Someone?" My forehead creased as I glanced around, and my mood instantly changed when I saw Sophia sitting comfortably on the couch, watching me. There was disgust in her eyes, but the moment Nathan looked her way, she immediately flashed a sweet smile.

"I brought Sophia here to talk about our contract with her. She will be our new model."

I looked at Nathan again with a blank face. Bummer!

"Come here, Sophia. Kyra will talk to you about the contract."

"Contract? She’s supposed to undergo an interview and pass it, Nathan."

He looked at me and scratched his cheek. "About that, Kyra. Can we let her pass without it? You know, for old time’s sake."

"You’d bend the rules for anyone for old times’ sake?"

Nathan’s expression immediately changed. He clenched his jaw and glanced at Sophia while my eyes remained on him, watching his reaction.

"I-It’s okay if I have to undergo an interview, Nathan."

Sylvia snarled in my mind. "That she-wolf reeks of hypocrite."

I know, I thought back. But he can’t smell it through her scent.

Sophia caught my attention because of what she said. I looked at her with a stoic expression on my face.

"You must like cutting corners," I said nonchalantly.

"Kyra!" Nathan grabbed my arm and looked at Sophia apologetically. The air grew thick with oppressive energy—Nathan was exerting his Alpha dominance. As a member of his pack, I had no choice but to submit to his command.

I clenched my jaw and looked him in the eyes. "You’re the Alpha, Nathan. You can do whatever you want."

His forehead creased as he slowly shook his head. "What’s wrong with you?"

"Nothing." I shook my head, grabbed my bag, and pulled my arm back from him, forcing a smile. "Break a leg."

The cruelest irony? He didn’t even understand why I was like this. His instinct to protect his mate drove him to act this way—except the mate he was determined to protect wasn’t me.

"Kyra!"

I walked out of my own office with a heavy heart. I kept clenching my jaw and gritting my teeth. He was dumb. He was just handsome, but he was dumb! He dared to bring his fated mate to me? Insensitive bastard.

"Kyra!"

I ignored him and continued walking. The employees around me were watching us, but I didn’t give a damn. I went straight to the elevator and pressed the button for the basement parking lot. The elevator doors slid shut between us, his frustrated face the last thing I saw.

I didn’t want to argue with him about Sophia. So I better leave now and let them do what they want. I just couldn’t accept the fact that Sophia was so shameless as to show her face to me after she came back like nothing had happened and began treating my gullible mate like a dog.

Luke was already waiting for me in the car when I reached the parking lot. He was puffing on a cigarette again, but he immediately threw it down and stomped it out when he saw me coming.

"Drive home," I said coldly as I got into the car.

I pressed my lips together and took a deep breath, putting a hand to my belly. Stay calm. For my pup.

"Luke..."

"Yes, Luna Kyra?"

I sighed and shook my head. "Never mind."

When I got home, I immediately cleaned myself up. I took a shower and started cooking dinner for myself. I bet Nathan was already eating with the bitch who was his fated mate. It made me bitter.

"KYRA!"

Nathan’s roar echoed through the house. He stormed in, neck flushed with rage.

"What did you do?"

I arched a brow. "I cooked."

He gripped my shoulders. "You told my father about Sophia! Why did you do that?"

"You recklessly go out with your fated mate, and now you’re putting the blame on me? News really does travel fast. Fascinating, isn’t it?"

"Don’t get sarcastic with me, Kyra! You know what I truly feel about her. Why are you doing this to me? All I ask is your understanding, Kyra! You don’t have to do this!"

I pushed him away angrily. "Why are you taking it out on me? Are you sure that it was me?"

"No one would do this except you, Kyra! Now I know why something was off. You’re angry with me and now you’re dragging our family into this!"

I laughed sarcastically and pushed the chair away. It fell on the tiled floor, creating a loud thud, but I didn’t care. I looked him in the eye as I fought the rage inside me. He was acting like this because of his fated mate. He was unbelievable.

"If dumb people could swim, you would be a fish."

"Don’t turn your back on me—"

"Oh, I will!" I growled angrily as I glared at him. "I would turn my back on you whenever I want, Nathan. But you know what? I can’t. I want to, but I can’t! Do you understand that? I badly want to leave you now because you’re treating me like trash. You said I’m important to you. You said I’m one of the people you treasure, but this? Is this how you treat your treasure?"

His lips parted as he stared into my eyes. I shook my head with trembling lips.

"You know what? If I were to get rid of her, I would go straight to her and smash her face with a freaking silver baseball bat rather than play the stupid housewife. You’re barking up the wrong tree, Nathan."