Elena

The call had interrupted my conversation with Mara who seemed to have something she wants to ask.

"Elena," a familiar, aged voice said the moment I answered. "Come to the mansion tonight. We're having dinner."

I paused. My fingers tightened instinctively.

"Grandpa Rowan," I replied carefully. "I-"

"No excuses," he cut in, though his tone was warm. "You're still part of this family. Come early."

Before I could open my mouth for further refusal, the line had already went dead as if he knows that I would refuse with his invitation.

I mean, why would I, the Luna his grandson had severed his ties with, would further go back to their residence? For what? For further humiliation?

However, knowing Grandpa, I couldn't refuse his invitation. He's the stubborn type where he won't stop until he would get what he wants and if I won't go, he would pester me or even send his men to fetch me right away.

I sighed helplessly as I went directly to my room for a quick change, disregarding Mara's frown. Afterwards, I took my purse and went down.

"Where are you going?" she asked, he brows furrowed while her mouth were chewing the noddles while her gaze never left me.

I sighed helplessly as I put my heels on. "Grandpa wants me to go back to his residence."

"What for?" she frowned. "Didn't the Alpha of the Ashbourne had announced the dissolution of your bond?"

I shrugged my shoulder. "I don't know either."

Before she could further think about it, I stood up, patting her head. "I'll get going."

~

The Ashbourne estate hasn't changed.

Same iron gates. Same towering pines lining the driveway. Same oppressive silence that pressed down on my chest the moment the car passed the boundary stones.

It was still the same in my memory-after all, it hasn't been weeks ever since grandma had died and Alaric had announced to everyone the dissolution of our bond while bringing a woman with him-parading her and as if he was telling everyone that she's more important than the mate he has.

I shook my head, forcing myself to stop thinking about it-forcing those thoughts to hide that even I, couldn't access to those thoughts.

I stepped out of the car just as the driver's seat opened. A servant bowed stiffly, eyes flicking to my face before dropping quickly, as if startled.

"Luna Ashbourne," she greeted.

I paused.

Then corrected calmly, "Elena Frost."

Her lips parted slightly. "Y-yes. Miss Frost."

I nodded my head in satisfaction and walked inside despite the turmoil in my chest.

The familiar scent of aged wood, incense, and Alpha territory wrapped around me. It used to suffocate me but tonight, it feels different. Maybe it was because I no longer part of this place the moment Alaric had dissolve our bond that made the intimidation of this place.lessened a bit.

And the moment I entered the main hall, my eyes fell to the wolf that had called me earlier and invited me here.

Rowan Ashbourne.

The Alpha's grandfather.

The elder Alpha sar upright in his chair, his silver hair neatly combed, eyes keen despite his age. When he saw me, something like relief crossed his stern features.

"You're here, Luna," he said.

"You summoned me," I replied respectfully as I took the seat across from him just as the sound of footsteps echoed behind me.

I didn't need to turn to know who it was.

Alpha Alaric Asbourne entered the hall that made the air shifted instantly.

My heartbeat stuttered, my wolf stirring restlessly beneath my ribs. He wore a dark shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms, as if he'd come straight from a meeting. His eyes landed on me-and stayed there a second too long.

Something unreadable flickered across his face then he looked away.

"Grandfather," he said.

Rowan studied him carefully. "You're late."

"I was delayed."

By what? His mistress?

Oh, not mistress anymore. His new Luna.

Rowan clicked his tongue. "Sit."

Alaric obeyed, taking the seat beside me.

Too close.

Heat radiated from him, familiar and unfamiliar at all once. I hate how my senses betrayed me, tracking every shift of his posture, every controlled breath.

Rowan cleared his throat. "I received a gift today."

His words snapped me from my thoughts as my gaze landed onto the omega who had stepped forward, presenting a carved wooden box etched with lunar symbols that made my brows raised.

"It's from the Elder of the North Ridge Pack," he continued before we could raise questions. "A fertility charm that had been blessed by their Moon Priestess. I assured you that it's effective."

A what?

Fertility charm?

My fingers tightened in my lap, the same as I could feel him stiffened.

"This is unnecessary," I heard him said coolly and I couldn't help but nod my head in agreement.

However, Rowan ignored him. "The bloodline cannot remain unstable."

I inhaled slowly.

"Grandfather," I said carefully. "Alaric and I are no longer-"

Rowan suddenly coughed that his face turned red.

The sound echoed through the all, sharp, and alarming. I was on my feet instantly, moving to his side.

"Get water," I ordered to the omegas standby.

They hurriedly rushed forward but Rowan waved them away weakly.

Seeing that his face had returned its color, I breathe a sigh in relief and was about to went back to my seat when he gripped my wrist.

"Stay," he rasped.

Before I could ask him what he meant by that, he leaned back, exhaustion etched into his face as his gaze landed on us.

"Tonight," he said firmly, "you will stay."

Alari frowned. "Grandfather-"

"You will both stay," Rowan snapped. "In the east wing together and test whether the gift I received really works."

I paused.

Before I could retort, Alaric beats me to it.

"That's inappropriate," he said, his jaw tightened.

Rowan's gaze sharpened. "What's inappropriate is severing your bond with your Luna at your grandmother's funeral."

Seeing that Alaric went silent, Rowan turned to me.

"Elena, I won't force you to reconcile. But tonight, I want you both to remain under this roof whether you like it or not."

I hesitated.

When I looked at his eyes, I let out a heavy sigh before nodding my head. "Very well."

Patriarch Rowan was more stubborn than Alaric.

I ignored Alaric's gaze, feigning ignorance and monitored Grandpa's well-being especially that despite he had faked his cough earlier, the exhaustion in his eyes couldn't be faked which made me worry.

"Let's go to the kitchen and eat. I'm hungry," he said, waving his hands as the servants followed him, ready to assist if something goes wrong.

In the end, both Alaric and I were currently in the kitchen, same with grandfather who were watching every of our movements.

I ate little, while Alaric barely touched his food.

I could hear Grandpa sighed as he clapped his hands once.

"Elena," he said, "would you prepare the soup?"

My head lifted. "Soup?"

"The pigeon soup," he said. "The one you used to make."

My chest tightened.

"Yes," I answered.

In the kitchen, I worked automatically-washing, chopping, simmering. The rhythm steadied my breathing, and I was too focused on preparing the food to notice that someone had already appeared behind my back.

After I finished preparing the soup and was about to bring it to grandpa, when a towering figure suddenly appeared behind me, souping the soup using the spoon as I watched him bring it to his mouth and taste it.

I nearly dropped the soup, if it weren't for him who hurriedly put his hand below my hand to support the bowl of soup.

"So, this is how you made it," he said quietly. "I remembered this taste-the same scent of the lunchbox I used to receive at the company every day."

He paused; his eyes gaze fell on me. "You sent it?"

How long had he been watching me prepare the soup?

Was he here all the time? I didn't even scent him nor feel his presence.

And what did he say?

Did he eat what I brought to him back then? Otherwise, he won't say those words-the words that made my heart falter. The words that I was eager to hear back then.

Is he playing with me? I could clearly remember how he tossed the food I brought to him on the trashcan.

Every. Single. Day.

The hammering sensation of my heart instantly died down as soon as I remembered the past-especially when he had humiliated me in front of everyone and announced the dissolution of our bond at grandma's funeral while bringing his mistress.

"It didn't matter," I said coldly, taking the bowl from his hand as I sat back down, unbothered-while the silence between us grew sharp enough to cut.

Elena

"As expected, your soup tastes good." Grandpa said while scooping the soup and afterwards, he raises his head, looking up at Alaric. "Don't you think so too?"

I watched as Alaric just hummed, clearly admitting defeat at Grandpa's antics and would just go along with whatever Grandpa would say between us.

Rowan ignored his indifference as his gaze fell on me.

"By the way, I already ask the servants to put the fertility charm in your room. Be sure to use it."

The corner of my lips twitched upon hearing this.

As if we would use that thing nor do what he wanted us to do.

To conceive a heir.

"Grandpa, you know already that Alaric and I were no longer-"

Before I could finish my words, he coughed all of sudden that his face turned red.

I hurriedly brought him a cup of water which he hurriedly drank.

Seeing the color of his face regained, I sighed in relief. "So, grandpa, about the matters with Alaric and I-"

However, as expected, he coughed again and this time, he waved his hands as the servants hurriedly went to his side to guide him as he stood up.

With a handkerchief pressed to his mouth, he glanced at me, guilt shadowing his eyes. "It seems my old issues have flared up. I'll rest for now-enjoy the feast without me."

He didn't wait for my response before hurriedly-urging his servants to help him drag him back to his room and guiltily running away from me.

I paused, letting out a helpless sigh and glanced at the table-especially onto the Alpha who seemed to not care about the small episode earlier.

"Not eating?" As if sensing my gaze, he raised his eyes.

I shook my head and excused myself, leaving him alone on the table and decided to wander around the mansion instead of staying in the same table which I know that it would only make us both feel uncomfortable.

Being with him alone made my stomach churn.

~

Night fell quickly.

As much as I wanted to stretch out the hours, I still ended up being dragged to the east wing where Grandpa had prepared a room for the both of us.

But before that, I even wandered around to the other rooms to check if it was vacant-just to not share with the same room of this Alpha who severed his bonds with me-only to notice Grandpa's scheme.

To make sure that both of us would stay in the same room, he had locked all the other rooms and even went as far as removing the sofas or anything that could be use as a temporary bed.

I helplessly rubbed my temples, watching as the servants keeping their distance with me but at the same time, they were watching me closely-probably it was Grandpa who had commanded them to watch me and make sure that I would enter the room he had prepared for me and his grandson.

"Please do not make this hard for us, Luna." One of the servant calmly said. "Please go inside."

In the end, I left with no other choice but to entered the room.

My gaze fell onto Alaric who had just changed his clothes and newly bathe.

The moment I appeared, he paused. "I thought you left."

I pointed the servants who tacitly closed the doors. "Monitored."

"Did you ask Grandpa about this?" Alaric asked flatly. "This setup is ridiculous."

I let out a bitter laugh, couldn't be more agree with his words as I was roaming around the room.

"If you found this ridiculous, why didn't you disagree and rebel with grandpa's setup?"

"I'm giving you face for the sake of our three years bond," he calmly answered as if he was just telling what was the weather today.

I paused.

Face?

What face?

I let out a cold chuckle, turning my gaze at him. "The moment you had announced the bond severance, we were already over and fuck that face you were talking about. Have you forgotten how you humiliate me in front of everyone?"

And the fact that he allowed that mistress of his continued staying by his side under the guise that her mate had died, seeking comfort from her mate's friend-Alaric, letting everyone's thoughts confirmed that he valued her more than he valued his own mate.

Seeing that he was silence, I rolled my eyes and bend my knees down, grabbing something under the bed.

Taking it out, without examining the wooden box nor daring to open it for fear that the charm would really charmed us, I tossed it on the trash.

"What was that?" his brows furrowed.

I didn't answer and went to the bed, fully occupying all the space before he could do so. The bed weren't a king bed size as what I had expected-it was a normal size that could fit two person which could clearly tell that this was all part of the plan.

"That's my bed," he coldly said.

I raised my brows at him, pulling the blanket on me, preparing to sleep. "There's no name of yours here."

After standing for a few minutes, he exhaled sharply.

"Fine, I'll take the floor."

I just closed my eyes and drifted to my dreamland-forgetting all the defenses I had raised earlier, for fear that something would happen to the both of us again.

The next morning, I found myself laying on the bed.

I sat up abruptly and hurriedly touched my body-feeling that my clothes were intact and there were no suspicious sores on my body, I breath a sigh in relief.

My gaze fell on the floor and couldn't help but imagined him, an Alpha, sleeping on the floor-which I doubt he won't.

Seeing that there was only me around, I breath a sigh in relief and tried to calm the pulsating sensation on my chest as I head to the bathroom.

After I washed myself, and dressed what the servants had prepared for me, my phone happened to rang.

While drying my hair with a towel, I answered the phone the moment I saw who it was.

Director Elliot.

"Luna Elena," he said briskly, excitement threading his voice. "I wanted to confirm with you about the new drama project."

"What is it?"

"We're finalizing casting for the female lead. However, majority of your fellow investors voted this new actress very much."

My brows furrowed. "Who?"

There was a brief pause on the other line.

"Hydra Vale."

My hand that was drying my hair, paused. "And who are the other investors?"

Before I could receive his answer, my gaze fell onto a familiar phone that caught my attention when it lit up.

A notification pop out instantly and before the screen died down, I happened to read the contents coming from Hydra.

'The doctor confirmed it, Alpha. The baby is healthy!'

My breath caught.

My knuckles whitened, tightly gripping the phone that was on hold.

My chest rose and fell in short, uneven bursts-I couldn't tell if I was breathing too fast or not enough at all. My mind rejected the words I had just seen, pushing them away like they couldn't possibly belong to me.

"...Elena?"

"Luna Elena?" A voice snapped me back from my thoughts. "You still there?"

I swallowed hard, forcing air into my lungs. For a second, I couldn't remember how to speak-only the roar of blood rushing in my ears answered.

".Are you okay?" he pried again, making me let out a heavy breath as I tried to calm the violent thudding in my chest and stop myself from shaking.

I didn't answer to his question, instead, I pried another one. "Who was the investor who keeps insisting to have Hydra be part of the crew?"

There was a brief pause on the other line that made me chuckle-confirming my guess.

"Alpha Alaric huh?"

Aside from him, who else would spoil his other woman?

"I." Sensing his intentions to explain, I cut him off.

"No need to explain," I said. "I'll invest more if you won't cast her."

I didn't give him the chance to ask.

I hardened my tone. "Her temperament doesn't suit the project. Choose another actress to act."

It took him a few seconds before he agreed. "I will."

After hanging the call, I took a brief gaze on Alaric's phone before I turned my back and left the room.

As I walked downstairs, I happened to hear a loud bang coming from Grandpa's study, making me panic, thinking that something happened to him.

Just when my hand was about to push the door, I stopped mid-step.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Grandpa Rowan roared. "You're telling me you want to bring that woman into this house-and she's pregnant?!"

I staggered back, my heart pounding.

He. was going to bring her into this home?

Elena

"Her husband is dead," Alaric replied coldly. "He was my lifelong brother. How could I turn blind eye to his final requests?"

"Are you saying that you would take his mate as yours too for the sake of his final requests?!" Grandpa Rowan shouted.

"I owed him, Grandpa. If that's what would make him at ease-I'll do it-" before the Alpha could finish his words, a sharp crash echoed through the hall.

"Get out!" Grandpa Rowan bellowed. "Get out before I disown you!"

I could hear another sound of ceramic shattering the same as Grandpa's heavy breathing-clearly from anger.

As much as I wanted to go in and help Grandpa, I couldn't move. I stood frozen, my chest rising and falling as emotions I had thought long dead slowly suffocated me.

I rounded the corner, just in time to see another teacup hit Alaric's chest and fall to the floor, shattering at his feet.

Tea stained his white shirt, spreading slowly. Despite that he could easily dodge all of those attacks-he chooses not to.

Or more like, if he does dodge, it will only make Grandpa angrier than he already is that their pheremones could suffocate an omega if they would barge the door.

"Their child," he said evenly. "I will help her raise it."

Grandpa Roan staggered back as if struck.

"You-"

"I won't abandon it," Alaric continued. "That's decision."

"What about your Luna?! Have you gone mad, Alaric Ashbourne?!" I heard Grandpa yelled. "It seemed I have been going easily on you, huh! Is this how a proper Alpha acts to his Luna?!"

Honestly, I couldn't hear what Grandpa said next, nor Alaric's response. I was already running away, scrambling as if something were chasing me from behind.

The foot that had stuck on the ground earlier, had mysteriously gained strength to run away, to hide, to turn deaf and blind from what I heard and see.

Even if I would stay there and listen to what Alaric might respond. I know already what he would say.

And I know who he would choose.

After all, I am not his Luna anymore.

He had already abandoned me.

He chooses Hydra-his deceased friend's mate.

And she's pregnant.

Is she pregnant with her mate's child or his.?

I don't know anymore.

I don't want to know either.

I.I want to leave.

The pain was too heavy for me to bear. The emotions that I choose to hide and lock in a box just so I could stay composed and be like a proper Luna that Grandma had trained me to-was creeping in me, making it harder for me to breath.

"Luna?" A voice filled with concern and confusion suddenly went towards me as a warm hand gently patted my back. "Luna, what's wrong? Do you want me to call the physician?"

I paused, taking a deep breath and it took me a few minutes before I managed to take my breath back.

I raised my head to see who it was talking to me with patience.

It was none other than Housekeeper Kathy.

Her ancestors had been serving the Ashbourne Pack, generations to generations and they remained loyal to the pack.

They were the Ashbourne's trusted right hand and despite being a Housekeeper, she had a high status here compared to the others.

After all, to Ashbourne-Kathy was one of their family.

I stretched out a smile for her and shook my head. "It was nothing-I was having a nightmare."

Housekeeper Kathy's brows furrowed, worry etched on her face as she looked at the direction where I just ran to.

Before she could grow suspicious, I forced myself to stand, my knees trembling as I curved my lips into a gentle smile.

"I'm fine," I said softly. "But I noticed Grandpa's been coughing lately. Is he really okay?"

As expected, her attention was diverted as she stoop looking at the hallway I just run off and she looked at me in the eyes with a smile.

"Luna, please be assured," she said softly. "The physician regularly monitors his condition. He is as healthy as he can be."

Upon hearing this, I breath a sigh in relief. It seemed that the cough fit he displayed to me last night was just an act.

I'm glad to hear that.

"Thank you," I nodded numbly. "Please take good care of grandpa."

She paused and chuckled. "You will take care of him too, right Luna?"

Her words made me froze.

I raised my head and met her eyes-those eyes seemed like it can read straight to my thoughts that made me panic for a bit and hurriedly averted my gaze.

"O.Of course, I will."

She was silent for a few seconds before sighing helplessly. "Is there anything I could help you with, Luna?"

I paused and shook my head. "There's nothing else. I'd like to retire to my villa."

After nodding my head at her politely, I turned my back and hurriedly returned to the villa where Alaric had brought for the both of us to live-or more like for me to live since he never come back to that villa anyway.

I let out a bitter chuckle as I went inside the villa.

This was where I had spent three years as Alpha Alaric Ashbourne's Luna, his mate.

And yet, it felt like a hotel room I was finally checking out of.

I set my bag down and went upstairs.

Packing things up should have been simple.

Clothes. Books. Personal items I'd accumulate quietly, without leaving fingerprints on the rest of the house.

But every drawer I opened felt like a reminder.

A dress I'd brought after losing weight-eager to wear, but never worn.

A cufflink box I'd once filled with gifts for him-never been opened, and in fact, it had been tossed to trash by him.

A folded blanket I'd wrapped around me while waiting for his arrival to come home-he never come home.

My stomach twisted by the mere memories.

I pressed a hand to my mouth and staggered into the bathroom, retching until my throat burned. When I finally looked, there was nothing there-just saliva and water, my body convulsing with dry heaves.

My body shook as I braced myself against the sink, my vision were blurring.

I frowned, pressing my fingers to my temples.

"I don't think there's a need for my body to overreact, isn't it?" I hoarsely chuckled at such thought.

When the nausea finally eased, I turned on the shower, desperate to wash away the cold sweat clinging to my skin. Stream filled the room quickly, fogging the mirrors I couldn't bear to look at, and muting the edges of everything.

I stepped under the water, closing my eyes while trying to erase all what I had heard and found out today-letting the cold water slid to my skin and warm me.

After spending my time on the bathroom, reached for the towel I'd left on the rack outside the shower.

However, my fingers brushed air.

My brows furrowed.

I turned off the water and stepped out, droplets trailing down my skin yet I couldn't be bothered by it. The floor drips with water that clungs from my skin as I was about to open the door and took one step forward, when I collided with something solid.

Warm.

Solid.

And it was those familiar scent rushing in my nose again.

A scent I doubt I could forget ever in this life.

Before I could open my mouth, the already slippery floor made my feet slide out from under me. I thought that I would fall on the ground, when a hand caught my arms instinctively-which ended up both of us losing our balance.

Ouch!

It hurts!

My nose hit a solid rock that it made me feel like it's been broken.

I was about to move away when I heard his groan, making the both of us froze.

"Don't move." The growl vibrated through me.

W.What the hell is this?

When I opened my eyes to look at what happened, I found my myself on top of Alaric as his one arm braced against the floor, the other gripping my wrist-not painfully, but firmly. His dark hair was damp, his shirt were nowhere to be seen, his chest were rising nad falling beneath my hands.

We were skin to skin.

And I was naked, while he was only half-dressed.

The towel I had went to get, where still on the rack, waiting for me to get.

Fuck.

"Oh goddess," I breathed.

Heat flooded my face as panic surged. I immediately tried to scramble off him, but his grip tightened.

"I said," he repeated, voice rougher now, "don't move."

My body froze against my will.

Not because I wanted to obey.

But because my wolf did.

She still recognizes him as our Alpha.