Moonlight Betrayal-Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Astrid’s POV

After yesterday, I wasn’t ready to go out again not with the numerous amount of clothes I had gotten. God knew I wouldn’t use half of those clothes but Kaeleen had been adamant. I woke up this morning and sought him out. I had been introduced to an assistant yesterday, one to help me with pack related issues. She was a cute girl but Kaeleen swore she was efficient an I believed him.

I found him in his study, poring over documents, his brow furrowed in concentration. He looked up as I entered, his face softening into a smile.

"Good morning," he said, his voice warm and inviting. "Sleep well?"

"Like a baby," I replied, returning his smile. "Thank you, Kaeleen. For everything."

He stood up, rounding the desk to pull me into his arms. "Anything for you, Astrid," he murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "So, what are you up to today? Ready to take on the world, Luna?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not quite. But I was thinking... maybe I should start familiarizing myself with the pack’s territory. I’ve barely seen anything outside of the pack building."

Kaeleen’s eyes lit up. "That’s a great idea!" he exclaimed. "I’d love to show you around. How about a tour of Los Angeles? It’s quite different from New York, you know."

"Really?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "How so?"

"Well," he said, his voice thoughtful, I wouldn’t say very different but it is different from the Moonshade pack that was surrounded by trees and bushes."

"Hmm...I’m intrigued." I said to him.

While I had gotten a tour of the pack compound, I had still not gotten on of the city. Thinking now, perhaps I should have done this yesterday.

"Then it’s settled," he said, grinning. "Let’s grab some breakfast, and we’ll hit the road."

A few hours later, we were cruising down Sunset Boulevard in Kaeleen’s sleek black SUV, two burly bodyguards flanking us in the back. The California sun was shining, the palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the air was filled with a sense of possibility.

As we drove, I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between Los Angeles and New York. Where New York was all skyscrapers and bustling streets, Los Angeles was all sprawling suburbs and wide-open spaces. The architecture was different, the people were different, even the air seemed to smell different.

"It’s so... different," I said, voicing my thoughts aloud.

Kaeleen chuckled, nodding in agreement. "I told you," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "But you haven’t seen anything yet."

As we continued our tour, I began to notice something else: Rebecca’s face plastered on some boards.

"Wow," I said, my voice filled with surprise. "Rebecca is really famous, isn’t she?"

"She’s a superstar," Kaeleen said, his voice filled with pride. "She’s one of the most successful politicians in the state."

Just then, my gaze fell upon a massive billboard advertising a new line of automobiles. And there, larger than life, was Kaeleen’s face.

I gasped, turning to him in shock. "Kaeleen!" I exclaimed. "Is that you?"

He chuckled, shrugging sheepishly. "Yeah, that’s me," he said, his voice self-deprecating.

"But... you’re an actor?" I asked, my mind reeling. "Is that why Rebecca said it was weird that I knew her but not you and Alex?"

Kaeleen burst out laughing, shaking his head. "No, no, I’m definitely not an actor," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "I don’t even have the talent for it."

"Then what...?" I asked, my confusion growing. freēwēbnovel.com

"Alex and I own the automobile company," he explained. "And the marketing team thought it would be a good idea to put my face on the billboards. Something about a ’handsome face’ attracting customers."

I laughed, playfully punching him on the arm. "Well, they weren’t wrong," I said, my eyes sparkling with admiration. "Your face is quite handsome."

Even Damien, the driver, chuckled. "Tell her about the traffic jams, boss," he said, his voice teasing.

Kaeleen groaned, rolling his eyes. "Don’t even get me started," he said, his voice exasperated.

Damien laughed. "Because of his face, sometimes I have to keep driving for hours because girls, and some men alike, wouldn’t let Kaeleen be."

I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief. "You’re kidding," I said, my voice amused.

"I wish I was." Damien said to me.

I turned to Kaeleen. "You are not an actor and you are that famous?"

"Well we do own some businesses." He said to me.

Damien scoffed but didn’t say a word.

As we continued our tour, Kaeleen pointed out various landmarks, sharing stories and anecdotes about the city. He was a knowledgeable and engaging guide, and I found myself falling more and more in love with him, and with Los Angeles.

After a few hours of sightseeing, my stomach began to rumble. "I’m starving," I said, my voice filled with hunger.

"Me too," Kaeleen said, grinning. "How about we grab some lunch?"

He instructed Damien to stop at a restaurant, a charming little bistro tucked away on a quiet side street. The exterior was painted a cheerful yellow, and the windows were adorned with flower boxes overflowing with colorful blooms. It wasn’t ostentatious or trendy, but warm and inviting, exactly the kind of place I loved.

As we entered, the aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering herbs filled the air. The interior was cozy and intimate, with exposed brick walls, wooden tables, and soft, ambient lighting.

We were seated at a table near the window, and a waitress soon appeared, offering us menus. The menu featured a variety of classic Italian dishes, from pasta and pizza to salads and sandwiches.

"What are you in the mood for?" Kaeleen asked, his eyes scanning the menu.

"Pasta sounds good," I said, my mouth watering at the thought of a steaming plate of spaghetti.

We ha just ordered our food when the kitchen door swung open, and a woman emerged, wiping her hands on her apron. She spotted Kaeleen and her face lit up with a warm smile.

"Kaeleen!" she exclaimed, rushing over to our table. "What a pleasant surprise!"

She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, her eyes sparkling with affection. A pang of jealousy shot through me, catching me off guard. I reminded myself that I had no right to feel that way, that Kaeleen and I weren’t really together.

Kaeleen turned to me, his face breaking into a grin. "Astrid, this is Sofia," he said, introducing us. "She’s the owner and head chef of this place. And she makes the best pasta in Los Angeles."

Sofia turned to me, her smile widening. "It’s so nice to finally meet you, Astrid," she said, her voice warm and sincere. "I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it to your welcome party. Things have been crazy busy here."

"It’s nice to meet you too, Sofia," I replied, returning her smile. "And don’t worry about the party. I understand."

"Are you enjoying Los Angeles?" Sofia asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"I am," I said, nodding enthusiastically. "It’s different from what I’m use to."

"I’m sure you mean that in a good way?" She sskee me.

"I do," I said, my eyes sparkling with sincerity.

Just then, a realization dawned on me. "Wait a minute," I said, turning to Kaeleen. "Are you telling me that Sofia is part of the pack?"

"Yep," he said, his voice amused. "Sofia is one of our most valuable members. She keeps us all fed and happy."

Sofia chuckled, shaking her head. "Don’t listen to him," she said, her voice teasing. "He’s just trying to butter me up so I’ll give him extra-large portions."

"Is it working?" Kaeleen asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Maybe," Sofia said, shrugging playfully. "But only because you’re such a good customer."

"I try my best," Kaeleen said, winking at me.

A comfortable silence settled over us, broken only by the clinking of silverware and the murmur of conversation from the other diners. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of belonging, a sense of connection to this pack, to this community.

"Well, I should get back to the kitchen," Sofia said, breaking the silence. "Your food will be ready in no time."

She turned to leave and gave me a wink. I could not understand why but it made me chuckle. Some minutes later, our good arrived and just the aroma had me digging in like I was famished. Kaeleen did not lie. She really was a good cook. Her pasta was one of the best I’ve ever eaten.

As we left the restaurant, I couldn’t help but ask one more question. "Kaeleen," I said, my voice curious, "i have a question."

"Okay, shoot. What is it?" He asked me.

I leveled him with a gaze , looking deep into his eyes to know just how serious I was about this. It’s been bugging me for a while now.

"Does your pack own the whole fucking city?" I asked him.

He stared at me then burst out laughing, like I had done the best joke ever.