The Rightful Luna

Chapter 8 Morning After

Carina POV

Stupid, stupid girl, I berate myself, lying beside Mason. I know he does not love me. I know he has a mate. But I never, ever thought that he would confuse me with her.

I need to get out of here before I lose my grip on reality and start weeping like a child.

With utmost care, I lift Mason’s arm from my waist and slide out of his bed. Quickly, I gather my clothes, praying that he is drunk enough not to remember when he wakes up. But when I see the blood stain on the linen, I know it is futile.

Think, Carina, think! I rake my fingers through my hair. I must find a way out of this. Technically, I took advantage of him. I knew what I was doing, he was impaired. For goddess’ sake, he thought he was with his mate. He will be furious and embarrassed once he learns the truth. And if he takes after his mother … I shiver just thinking about it.

Quietly, I go to my room, wrecking my mind for a way to get out of this. I cannot convince Mason it did not happen. Maybe I can convince him that it was not me …

With renewed hope, I grab my phone and search for an escort agency. It does not take me long to find one who can help me.

I take a refreshing shower and wait. Ten minutes later, there is a knock on my door, and I eagerly open it. I stare at the woman in front of me. Red, curly hair and the same height as me. It does not matter that her eyes are brown and that her face has a completely different shape from mine. We are similar enough to convince a hungover Mason.

“Perfect,” I smile, opening the door for her to enter.

“What do you like?” Her voice is seductive, and she reaches for my hand.

“Nope,” I lift my hands defensively. “Nothing like that. All you need to do is to get naked and sleep beside a … uhm, naked man.”

“Excuse me?” She frowns.

“That’s it, I promise,” I say quickly. “Just sleep next to him and pretend you had s*x when he wakes up.”

“Are you serious?” She laughs, looking at me in disbelief.

“Yes,” I confirm.

“Okay,” she shrugs, unbuttoning her blouse.

“Do not wake him,” I turn my back towards her while she undresses.

“I understand,” she replies.

“Come on,” I avoid looking at her while I sneak her into Mason’s room.

“Damn, he’s hot,” she whispers, and I motion her to be quiet.

She drops her clothes on the floor and climbs into bed. Mason stirs as she nestles closer to him, and she smiles at me when he throws his arm around her waist.

“Thank you,” I mouth before returning to my room.

I get into bed and cry myself to sleep.

Mason POV

The shrieking sound of my alarm pierces my skull, worsening my headache. I reach over and kill the alarm before laying back into the pillows.

What a night. I found Erica in the hotel’s bar. She was surrounded by bodyguards and eager fans. We made eye contact, and she smiled before looking away. Her dismissal was a dagger in my heart.

I took a seat at the bar and ordered a whiskey. I waited for her for years. I begged her to come home and stop my wedding. She did not. When her contract expired a year later, I waited for her but had to read in the tabloids that she signed up for another tour. She did not even bother to inform me. She just did it. When I finally got hold of her, she said it was too painful to come home while I was married to another woman. I was fed up with waiting for her and told her so. I told her we should reject each other and go our separate ways. She agreed to come home so we can do it. That was a year ago.

Then I saw her yesterday. I felt the mate bond, but it was jaded. It was not as strong and exhilarating as I remember. I knew our time was up. I wanted to find and reject her, but she was surrounded by others. I spent the night at the bar, waiting my turn but she slipped away while I was not looking.

The night was a disaster, but I had the most erotic dream about Carina. Sweet, innocent Carina.

With a sigh, I sit up … and freeze. Beside me, red curls are spread over the pillows. My heart starts beating faster. My dream was not a dream, it was real.

I reach out, gently touching her shoulder. She stirs and turns towards me.

“Holy s**t!” I shout, jumping out of my bed. “Who are you?”

The woman looks bewildered at me, pulling the cover over her breasts.

“Get out!” I shout, yanking the covers from her grasp. “Now!”

Hastily, she gets up, grabs her clothes, and runs naked out of the room.

“Dear goddess,” I mumble, looking at the blood stain on the bed. What the f**k have I done?

“Mason,” Carina knocks urgently on the door. “Are you okay? I heard screaming.”

Furious with myself and the universe, I yank open the door.

“I’m sorry,” she blushes, turning around.

“Oh, for f**k’s sake,” I mumble, realising I am still naked.

“What do you want?” I bark, reaching for my pants on the floor.

“You were shouting, and … uhm, I’m sorry.”

“Carina, wait,” I stop her when she starts walking away.

“I’m sorry,” I rest my hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eye. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just … damn, this morning is confusing.”

“It’s okay,” she smiles shyly. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”

Intensely, I look at her. Images of her melting under my touch and screaming my name in ecstasy bombard my mind.

“Where were you last night?” I frown.

“Right here,” she replies. “I haven’t left my room.”

I look over her shoulder at her bed, which she clearly slept in.

“Mason, are you all right?” She asks softly, and I look at her.

She is wearing a green pantsuit, which compliments her eyes and skin tone. Her hair and makeup are perfect. She is not the woman I chased away.

“I’m losing my f*****g mind,” I mumble as I turn around and leave.