The Luna of My Lover's Brother

Perfect Act

MADELINE'S POV

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Walking up to the manor with Atlas right behind me feels like a death sentence. It feels like the world is about to implode around me, and I'm the one who's going to be trapped underneath the rumage of it all. "Madeline," Maverick steps out from behind a tree, eyes looking tired, his hair a mess. "Mav," I nod, and when he finally notices Atlas behind me, his hand darts to his sword, not pulling it out, but keeping his fingers wrapped around the hilt to be cautious.

"It's fine," I murmur, my voice hallow. Maverick glances down at me, glancing down at my attire, seeming confused as to why I'm dressed in pajamas when I left in leather pants and a loose blouse.

"Where have you been?" His concern is touching, but I yet again remind myself that it's just his job to know where I am, and he's clearly losing his mind because he didn't know where I was, only where I went. "With me, obviously," Atlas steps forward, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, claiming me like Maverick is some type of threat. "Maverick, this is Alpha Atlas, from the Vihar pack. Atlas, this is Maverick, my personal guard." I can feel Atlas' grip lessen at the word guard.

Atlas, to my surprise, sticks out his hand, "So it's you who I should thank for looking out for my Luna all these years." His words has a chill wrapping around my spine, twisting into the marrow uncomfortably. Maverick shakes his hand, nodding, "Just doing my job," The man who has been my guard all my life glances at me, eyes narrowing as if asking if I'm really okay. I force a tight smile, because I'm not okay. I'm not in the slightest alright. I feel like a fragile ceramic vase with a huge crack down the middle, ready to burst at the slightest feel of pressure.

"We should get going, no need to keep them worried, right?" The way Atlas takes control of a situation makes me worry, and calm at the same time. He thinks fast, fast enough to not get caught, which is concerning for so many things. "Right," Maverick's smile is as tight as mine feels. "Whatever, I'm going in," I shrug out of Atlas' grasp, and head straight for the manor door.

Entering the same old stone walls makes me inwardly flinch.

We were so close.

We could have gotten away if Jaxon just listened to me...but now he's locked up and suspected of trying to murder me.

"Madeline," My mother's voice is a breath of relief, the concern in her eyes vibrant as she struts over with glassy eyes, her arms outstretched. I can't even sidestep her embrace. because in the blink of an eye, she's holding me to her chest, squeezing me with every bit of strength she possesses. I can feel my father step into the foyer, his presence like cold rain on my skin. "Where have you been?" His voice cuts through the warm embrace of my mother, and she steps back, letting his eyes fall on me.

He's always been hard on me, but never cruel, never disappointed, just the tough dad act-- or so I thought, because as he's staring at me now, jaw clenched, eyes burning with rage, it doesn't seem like he's concerned. "My apologies," Atlas steps in, and the flame in my father's eyes are put out when he notices Atlas. "Atlas," My father blinks, the realization hitting him through the face. Atlas rests his hand on my lower back, portraying us as the comfortable couple, "It's my fault she didn't come home." He sighs, really pulling off the apology act as his shoulders slump, his head tilting innocently, "We were talking about the arrangement until the morning hours, and it seems we dozed off." My father's face lights up, relief pouring into his eyes, "Don't tell me you managed to convince her?" Dad's voice is filled with glee. "Oh, I did." Atlas' smugness will get him hurt later on. "Wow," Dad crosses his arms, looking more than impressed with him. "How? I mean-- she was set on not going through with it. I thought she ran off," He snorts without knowing he was right.

I bite my tongue, reminding myself that this is for Jaxon, and it's the only way to save him, but I can feel my muscles trembling with the need to yell at my father, to tell him I did run away.

"She wouldn't do that to you, she loves you," Atlas shrugs, seeming like a kind-hearted man while he's the reason the love of my life is locked up. Dad's eyes fill with pride at the thought of me loving him despite ruining my life. "I told her that we should do it tomorrow, the quicker the better," Atlas smiles, and so does dad. My heart sinks. I don't know why, but I somewhat thought he'd change his mind. "Brilliant, you are brilliant, Atlas." Father claps his hands once, "Do you mind if I stay the night? I feel like we need to bond more," He rubs his chest over his heart for the show of it, and all I truly want to do is clap for him, ridiculous slow and praise him for the perfect act, but I can't, because I can't save Jaxon without him.

"Of course," Mom chimes, "I'll set up the room next to hers," She beams as Aaron comes striding in, wearing swimming shorts. "You found her," My little brother stares at Aaron, "She found me," Atlas retorts, which has Aaron's eyebrows skyrocketing. "She found you?" His eyes land on me, zeroing in like he knows something. My heart starts to race as if I'm in a life or death situation. "You're truly dramatic. Making a scene just to run directly to your problem? Hypocrite." He scoffs, strutting past all of us, announcing that he's going to go swim.

My nails dig into the palm of my hand, "Would you care for a drink?" Father changes the subject, ignoring his heir's verbal abuse. "In a minute, I'd like to talk to my Luna, in private," Atlas draws circles on my lower back, shifting the rage from my brother to him. I want nothing more than to swat his hand away, to yell that he shouldn't be touching me, but my father's standing right there, watching us. "Sure," He nods, looking from Atlas to me, "Madeline, bring him to my study, would you?" My dad walks off, and when he's far enough, I step away from Atlas' touch, glaring up at him.

"What are you doing?" I grit out in a whispered hiss. He stares at me, searching for something in my eyes, and I start to become uncomfortable. "Is there something on my face?" I finally ask, blurting the words out nervously. I don't care that if there is, but it would be humiliating to know I didn't feel it. Atlas blinks, his eyes flicking in any other direction than looking at me. "No," He shrugs, "Just making sure you're alright," His gaze flicks to the walls, where a portrait of my late aunt hangs. "So many portraits," He frowns at them like they've offended him somehow. "So? It's to remember them by." I clarify, something I've been told over and over while growing up. "Interesting." His eyebrows hop. He clearly has more to say, but I let it go because I don't want him inside of my head more than he already is.

He has tainted my mind with anger, and painted my heart a blue so dark and deep that it could be black.

"This way." I turn on my heel, leading him to my father's office. I leave him at the door, and head for my room, where I will happily lock myself fin for the rest of the day-- because there will be no bonding whatsoever.