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.

Elena

"Close your eyes," I blurted. "Alaric, close your eyes right now!"

His jaw clenched and when I saw him slowly closed his eyes, I let out a soft sigh.

"Boring," I heard him.

The moment he closed his eyes, I twisted free, lunged for the towel, and hurriedly wrapped it around myself with shaking hands. I backed away like a cornered animal, my chest were heaving.

"What are you doing here?" I said breathlessly.

"I live here, you forgot?" he said flatly.

Oh.

You live here? I almost forgot about that since you never spend your day or even hours staying at this house that almost made me forget that I have an Alpha.

But now, I don't have an Alpha anymore.

It made me feel like there was no difference from before when I was still bonded with him.

Still the same feeling where he would make it feel to me that he's not my Alpha.

"Oh, so you live here. I thought you live with your woman."

Those words slipped out carelessly before I could stop them.

I paused.

Both of us froze as he slowly open his eyes.

His gaze fell on me-the look in them made my heart stutter.

I thought he would get angry like he usually do, instead, he let out a sigh.

"Get dressed first," he said finally, pushing himself up. "We'll talk."

For what?

I hurriedly snapped back from the illusion that he still want me as his Luna.

Since when did he want me?

I let out a mocking chuckle. Right, it was all just my delusion-a delusion I believed he would value me as his Luna, but look at us now.

Did he value me? No.

Did he respect me as his Luna? No.

I know everything between us is just contractual, that's why I won't assume things anymore unless stated.

And he already stated that he rejects me as his Luna so why would I continue to stay in this house nor chitchat with him as if nothing happens?

I stopped my nausea while clenching the towel that wrapped around myself as I looked at him.

"I believe there's nothing for us to discuss anymore," I calmly answered, retreating into the bedroom. "Don't worry, you can let anyone use this house."

Although I said that, there was a pain clenched in my heart yet I didn't dare to let those emotions show-especially to some like him who won't care.

I turned my back from him and got dressed immediately before packing all my things in a luggage.

My skin where he had touched, still burned and my heart were racing uncontrollably along with the uncomfortable feeling it gave me-yet, I ignored it.

After packing my things, I was about to go downstairs, when I noticed his presence behind me.

"You're really leaving?" he asked.

"Happy?"

"You didn't tell me."

"'I didn't think I needed permission, do I?"

I turned my back, facing him.

His eyes flicked to my luggage, then back to my face. "According to our contractual bond, since I was the one who initiate to severe and broke the agreement, this villa belongs to you."

I blinked.

"What?"

He repeated it. "This villa. It's in your name-it's already been proceed by the councils."

I stared at him, disbelief crashing into anger. "Right, this is mine. A compensation of our three year bond, so why did you even come back here?"

He humiliated me at his grandmother's funeral, announced the severance of our bond like a board meeting, and now you're telling me he handed me a hundred-and-fifty-million villa like a consolation prize?

For what? To ease the disrespect he gave me?

"I know, I'll pack my things and stay elsewhere," he said evenly and was about to go upstairs and probably gather his things, I changed my mind.

"No need. It's better for me to leave instead." I paused, and added with a calm tone. "This villa is yours and from the start, I had already told your grandma that I won't accept any compensation since I was willing to take you as my Alpha."

Before he could open his mouth, I already turned my back, bringing two lugages with me as I head out of the villa.

Once I was outside, I couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh. A bitter chuckle left from my mouth as I turned my back, watching the villa for the last time.

I never thought that I would leave this place. If I would say it to my past self who had just got bonded to the Alpha that we left this place, she would surely deny it.

After all, in her mind, she would remain as the Luna of the Alpha and would be with him until her hair turn white.

Ugh.

I hurriedly put my palm on my mouth and stopped myself from retching while my other hand was massaging my stomach.

Is this the price for being greedy? Wanting to achieve weight loss in a short period of time, forcing myself to not eat and would just consume a block of ice to ease hunger, forcing myself to vomit what I have eaten to achieve the figure I want.

Was all of this all worth it?

I have a body constitution where it easily gains weight even for drinking water. Back then, I never really cared about how I look nor about my weight. I eat what I want to eat and do what I want to do. Despite being mocked by my appearance, I wasn't really hurt by it especially that my mother once back then said to me that my appearance will change and go back to normal once my wolf is awakened.

However, I was greedy.

The moment I met the Alpha and was bonded to him, I realized that I wasn't good enough.

My appearance wasn't good enough, my temperament wasn't good enough-I was simply not suited to be his Luna.

He might forget me, but I would never forget someone like him.

Someone who had saved me and stayed with me when I encountered a bunch of rogues.

In those two days of staying in the den of rogues with him, I become closer to him and. I stayed to his words where he proposed to have me as his Luna once we will be an adult.

And hearing that his grandma wanted to have me as the Alpha's Luna, I agreed immediately, thinking that it was him who suggest it and might have remembered the promise he uttered to me when we were kids.

Who would have thought.

I was really a fool.

A foolish of all.

I took a deep breath, calming myself. After my nausea was subsided, I dragged my two luggage and walked my way out of the Ashbourne Estate.

Yet, before I could fully leave through the gates, two gentlemen-a watchman who guards the gate, stopped me.

"Luna," they called, politely bowing their head as their eyes fell on my luggage. "Were you planning to leave?"

I nodded my head, didn't plan to hide it from them. "Yes."

The two of them looked at each other, filled with hesitation before they looked at me, clearing their throats.

"We deeply apologize, Luna. The Elder had just give us a word that you are not allowed to leave."

Hearing this, I frowned.

I was about to open my mouth to argue, but seeing the hesitation and guilt in their eyes, I stopped.

I rubbed my forehead, letting out a heavy sigh.

Forget it. They were just following orders, and it's not like they can easily defy the order of the Elder.

I took out my phone from my underarm bag and was about to dial Grandpa's number when he already beats me to it.

Without hesitation, I answered the call.

"Granpa-"

"Elena Ashbourne! Where do you think you're going?!" His voice exploded through the line.

How did he know? Did Alpha told him I was going to leave?

I was about to answer when I saw the two guards who were giving me a guilty smiles, making me sigh helplessly.

So it was them.

"I-" I swallowed. "I'm leaving, Grandpa. Also, my surname is no longer Ashbourne but Frost. Alpha Alaric had already decided to end things with me-I'm no longer part of the Ashbourne."

"Says who?" he snapped. "Turn around. Now!"

"Grandpa-"

"Elena," he cut in sharply, his Alpga authority bleeding through despite his age. "If you step one foot out that door, don't ever call me Grandpa again."

My heart clenched.

"Come back to the mansion. You remain part of the Ashbourne pack. The bond severance submitted to the Pack Council has been dissolved."

What?

How could.how could that happen?!