True Alpha’s Chosen Mate - Chapter 178

I flicked my fingertips, reaching for the actress, praying to the god I was portraying. I lifted her chin up and then danced around her before embracing her from behind. I carefully stroked her back as the music receded.

Once again, there was a moment of silence as soon as the lights went out. A moment of silence I was already used to, followed by loud applause and cheers.

“Luna.” The actress looked up at me while I smiled.

“I’ll go now,” I whispered in her ear, patting her shoulder before running backstage. My dance was the last act before every actor end the show with unity and peace, forgiveness, and enlightenment. The main highlight of the show.

That one must have true faith, and they would face salvation.

It was presumptuous of me to play as a god, but that was all about it. I didn’t believe in this story we performed, but that was what the people demanded. Our personal views had nothing to do with our performance.

“Great act!” Bowie showed me a thumbs up as soon as I returned backstage while everyone was still performing on the stage. I grinned behind the mask as I waved.

“Luna, wear this.” I caught the shawl Edge tossed to me. “Are you going back to your tent?”

“Mhmm…” I hummed, hiding inside the shawl. “The show is about to end. It’s better to change first and head to the inn.”

“Then I will fetch you later.”

“Alright.” I smiled and nodded, knowing Edge would come to my tent later like usual. He had become my personal guard at this point, but it was better to have some company since I needed a hand to carry my stuff.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

“Mhm.” Edge just rocked his head, casting me a look while I exited the theater to the tents behind it.

Since everyone was busy performing and perfecting the show until the end, I didn’t question why I didn’t see anyone on my way to the tent. Instead, I hastened my steps. The night breeze was especially cold tonight.

When I reached my tent, I stopped by the entrance. The scent of tobacco was coming from inside. Someone was already there.

‘These people…’ I ground my teeth, glaring at the entrance. ‘… just how did they manage to sneak in?’

At this point, I was already used to receiving guests and admirers right after the show. Mostly, they would be waiting for me outside. But since the attendees were nobles, I was certain they somehow found a way to intrude in here.

A shallow breath slipped past my lips. ‘I’ll just chase him away like usual,’ I thought, mustering my courage to face a pest.

With that thought in mind, I huffed and entered the tent. But alas, as soon as I stepped inside, I froze instantly. My eyes landed on the person inside, sitting on my folding chair, feet up on the other stool.

He was reclining leisurely, holding an accessory in one hand. When he noticed me, he cocked his head back lazily and his golden eyes held my gaze.

Hugo.

A sense of dread instantly crawled up in my spine, covering my body with the shawl Edge handed me. I took a careful step back, heart hammering against my ribcage until it was painful.

‘What was he doing here? How did he…’ I studied his attire, and it seemed he also attended the show. My breath hitched and my thoughts were cut off when he spoke.

“Luna! That’s you, right?” the side of his lips stretched into a cocky smirk, retracting his feet from the stool. He clipped the cigar in between his lips, returning the jewelry of mine back to where he got it.

“What a nice alias.”

I kept quiet, clutching the shawl tightly. He doesn’t know yet? I wondered, studying his calm demeanor.

“You must be surprised why I am in your tent.” He cast me an indifferent look. “Well, you can say your dance captivated me and… your body.”

A sense of shame suddenly swelled up in my chest as he looked at me from head to toe. He wasn’t even concealing the lust in his eyes, with that aggravating smirk on his lips.

‘He changed,’ I told myself, noticing the difference in his demeanor and facial expression. ‘Just don’t speak and deny him. He won’t force himself into me, right?’

“How about a night with me?” he casually suggested, tilting his head to the side. “Would you indulge with me?”

I remained silent, calming my racing heart. My silence was enough of an answer as he nodded in understanding.

“So you’re a mute?” he asked, assisting himself up. I fought the urge to run away from him. That would raise suspicion. So I hung my head low until I saw a pair of boots that stopped in front of me.

“Hey.” I looked up only to see his pair of brooding eyes. “Are you mute? If so, that means you cannot scream if I did something to you, right?”

This time, I took a step back once again. He wasn’t joking. He came here for a reason and he wouldn’t leave without satisfying that reason. But just as I was about to take another step back, he sprawled his arms and circled it around my waist.

I shuddered at the cold hands against my bare skin. And yet, his smirk remained as he looked at me.

“Come on,” he said under his breath, pulling me until my body was against his solid physique. His smirk stretched broader as he bent over, eyes staring at the eyes behind my mask.

I held his sleeve to stop him from taking off my mask. Hugo quirked a brow, pausing at my action.

“It’s just one night,” he remarked, laced with mockery. “For old time’s sake…”

And that… made me freeze entirely. My grip around his sleeve loosened while he continued to take off the mask concealing my face.

“… you were able to dance in that clothes with everyone looking.. What is there to be ashamed of? It’s not like we hadn’t done it before…” The mask came off, letting him see me up close. “… did you really think I won’t recognize that body of yours, Rinnie?”