Reborn: fated to my ex mate's brother, the Alpha king

Astrid

I looked behind me, the undoubtedly black gown of my ex mother in law showed and the usual scowl on her face had etched deeper on her skin.

“Ahh.” I mouthed. Realizing what Laila just did. Epic performance. She just made me look like the bad guy.

Too bad. I don't give a damn anymore.

“What is going on?” Mrs Knightdale repeated, her eagle-like eyes moving between me and Laila who was still on her knees, a sorrowful look plastered on her face.

“Help me beg Astrid. She's mad at me.” Laila choked out through sobs and I couldn't help but marvel at her ever ending performance.

Mrs Knightdale faced me, she looked really pissed. Definitely from me rejecting her son. I knew she would use that opportunity to lash out at me now.

“What happened,” She asked icily.

“I can't even say it out loud,” Laila cries. “I'm sure Astrid is still traumatized by the reason she rejected Derek. Don't mind me, Mrs Knightdale. I'll just be as supportive as I can.”

Mrs Knightdale's expression softened a fraction.

“Stop crying, Laila. And enough with Mrs Knightdale. Call me Margaret.”

She turned to face me, her scowl slipping back to its rightful place.

“What happened?”

“Nothing. She's just being dramatic.” I replied.

Margaret doesn't seem to believe me. Her eyes scanned me suspiciously.

“I don't want to spoil the rest of my day by speaking to you after what you just did back there. So I'll…”

“She accused me of sleeping with Derek.” Laila interrupted and Margaret's eyes widened.

“What!”

“She said I was having an affair with your son.” She repeated shaking her head frantically as fresh tears ran down her cheeks. I wonder how she's able to achieve that in multiple successions.

“I swear to the moon goddess, I didn't do it, Margaret.”

By then Margaret looked extra livid while I just stared at her unbothered.

“Haven't you done enough? Disgracing my son and the pack today in front of all those people. And now you accuse your own best friend?”

“There's a reason for that, mother.”

“Who's your mother? The last time I checked you rejected my son.”

“I'll do it again in a heartbeat.” I replied calmly.

“How dare you? My son is loyal.”

Even if someone told her Derek had been killed , she would still defend him to the end. There's no point talking to them at all.

“Okay, Margaret.” I gave her a smile and she glared at me.

“I won't want to wash Derek's dirty linen in your presence out of respect for you and the unbreakable trust you have in him.” I turned to Laila who was still on the floor but she had stopped the fake charade.

“Right Laila?”

She scowled at me before giving a stiff nod back.

“Okay. Derek cheated, so?” Margaret said, patting her long red nails down her black clothing.

“Excuse me?”

“He's a man. He won't be the first nor the last to do that in this world. Men are polygamous in nature. If you were truly meant to be a Luna you would understand this.” She sneered.

“You are wolfless, so you definitely won't understand what it takes to be a perfect Luna.” Her face creased up in disgust and Laila looked on like she just won a lottery.

“You accuse my son of infidelity after all we have done for your pack. You stopped the mating ceremony because of your own insecurity and you accused your best friend of having affairs with my son.” She stepped closer, her back dress sweeping the floor. “ You are the vile one here, Astrid.”

I clenched my hands as she wanted to about my inability to get my wolf and how she's doing our pack a favour by allowing Derek to mate me till her voice faded in the back of my mind.

“You don't even have any evidence to prove what you just said.”

That caught my attention and a brilliant idea crossed my mind.

“Don't jump to conclusions, Margaret. Do you think I'll accuse Derek and not have evidence to back it up?”

Laila looked up surprised, her face paling even more from fear.

“Don’t test me. Moon goddess be damned if I don't let the world know of what he has done.” I stepped forward, looking at her squarely. “I bet he would be more humiliated, no? In fact it would be the least of his problems.”

If a scandalous video surfaces. It would be hard for Derek to be made an Alpha because he would be considered incompetent. I definitely know that he wouldn't want that, since that had been his whole goal of even being with me in the first place.

Margaret stared at me nervously and I could tell she wasn't prepared to allow that to happen to her precious son.

“You've changed.” Laila said and I scoffed. “Damn right I have.”

“Be careful, Astrid.” Margaret glared at me before she walked away, the sole of her heels making a click click sound.

Laila stood up finally, her face stained and dark from mascara running down her face and the whole ruin make up.

She didn't say a word but I could sense her anger as she also left.

“That was intense.” Someone said behind me and alas, it was the maid from earlier. I had completely forgotten she was there.

I sighed and leaned against the wall.

“They were scared when you mentioned the evidence.”

“Right.” I replied dismissively.

"Or… was it a bluff?" she raised an eyebrow, and something in the way she asked it felt like she already knew the answer before I gave it.

I didn't reply as I stared at her, wondering deep in my thoughts whether I could trust her. The expression on her face and look in her eyes agreed.

“What's your name?” I asked instead.

“Grace.”

“Of course it was a bluff, Grace.” I chuckled.

“Thank goodness they didn't catch on.” Grace said, also smiling.

It worked.

She actually believed I had the evidence. They are quite easy to manipulate after all.

Thank my stars they were too stupid to catch on.

My lips widen with a smile.

I just started.

They are all in for a treat.