Chapter 34
I gave him a small nod, and only then did he release Arman, stepping back with an air of calm authority.
Arman, his pride in tatters, shot me a venomous look before storming out.
As they left, the tension in the room slowly began to fade, but I knew the events of tonight would be the talk of the Pack for days, if not weeks.
The party slowly returned to its lively rhythm, though the occasional glance in my direction reminded me that I was still the center of attention.
Ethan, ever the host, moved off to greet and entertain the remaining guests, leaving me standing with Lirian.
That’s when I noticed something odd.
Despite the crowded room, no one was standing close to us. It was as if we were surrounded by an invisible barrier, the other wolves keeping their distance, consciously or unconsciously.
“Every so often, I would catch a curious glance or a fearful look, but no one dared to approach.
Lirian stood beside me, quiet and composed. He didn’t seem fazed by the scrutiny, his eyes fixed solely on me. His unwavering stare made me a bit self–conscious, and I shifted awkwardly before I heard him say, “I’m sorry.”
I blinked in surprise. “Why are you apologizing?” I asked, genuinely confused.
He hesitated, his eyes softening. “I thought… I thought you’d be mad at me for what I did to Arman,” he admitted, his voice quiet. There was a hint of unease in his tone, as if he was worried he had overstepped.
I stared at him, taken aback.
He looked like he was bracing for my anger, as if expecting me to scold him.
My mind raced back to my previous life, to the moment when I had first brought Lirian out of the slums. He had been so different then–wild, wary, and fiercely protective of me, almost like a feral wolf guarding his territory.
I distinctly remember a time when Ryan and I got into a verbal altercation and he cursed me while
The Alpha’s Substitute Luna: A Heart Claimed, A Soul Reborn
he kept pushing and shoving me one at a time and was about to push me to the ground.
Without hesitation, Lirian had shifted into his wolf form and attacked Ryan, pinning him to the ground in a vicious rage.
The fight had been brutal. Ryan had transformed as well, and the two of them tore into each other with an intensity that left them both bloodied and battered.
I had been horrified.
At the time, I was too focused on Ryan, rushing to his side to tend to his wounds. I didn’t even notice that Lirian had been just as badly injured. He had stood there, blood dripping onto the floor, his eyes never leaving me as I cared for Ryan. There was a strange sadness in his gaze, as though he felt he had failed me.
After that, I had reprimanded him. I told him that our pack had rules and order, that he couldn’t just attack people, especially not those close to me. I had thought I was teaching him, guiding him. But now, looking back, I realized I had been blind to his loyalty, to his need to protect me at any cost.
And then I remembered what he had said earlier tonight: “Miss Sophia is my benefactor. I won’t allow anyone to speak to her like that.”
That phrase echoed in my mind. I had never helped Lirian in this life. We were strangers. So how “eould I be his benefactor?
A strange thought crept into my mind, making my heart race. Could it be… could Lirian have been
reborn as well?
I smiled, my earlier confusion temporarily forgotten. “Of course, I’m not angry. And thank you for helping me earlier.”
Lirian’s posture visibly relaxed, and he exhaled a quiet breath of relief.
“You’re welcome,” he replied, but there was something off about the way he said it. Something, guarded. His calm response only deepened my suspicions.
I glanced around to make sure no one was listening in, then stepped closer to him, lowering my
voice.
Lirian, why did you help me? I mean, this is the first time we’ve officially met, and yet…”
He cut me off gently, “Like I said before, you’re my benefactor. You’ve helped me before.”
My heart quickened. The way he said it was so certain, as if he had known me for years.
Saderinus Luna & Heart Claimed. A Soul Reborn
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Chapter 37
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stared at him, trying to piece things together, but my memories didn’t line up with his words. When?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
“A long time ago. You probably don’t even remember,” Lirian replied, his eyes flickering with something between amusement and nostalgia. “I used to live in the black streets…”
I held my breath, listening intently.
My mind raced back to the past, trying to recall any encounter with him.
Lirian continued, “One day, I tried to escape from that place, but I was broke, thirsty, and starving. I fainted by the roadside, and it was you who saved me. You bought me food and helped me survive.”
Ifroze. My heart thudded in my chest, confusion flooding my thoughts.
I had no memory of this.
It didn’t match the story I had in my head, the one I was sure was supposed to happen.
