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?!

Elena

What does he mean by that?

Before I could open my mouth and ask for further clarification regarding about what he said, he had already ended the call, leaving me with no choice but to change my decision.

I took a deep breath and glanced at the two guards who were standing straight and couldn't even look at me.

"Help me with my luggage. I have to go back to the mansion and talk things out with the Elder."

"Yes, Luna!" This time, I didn't bother to correct the way they called me as I hurriedly went back to the mansion.

Didn't the bond severance already been processed? Did the Alpha know about this? Or is it only Grandpa's decision to revoke the bond severance?

How could Grandpa do this? How could he just made such a huge decision of revoking my bond severance with the Alpha when Alaric had already announced to everyone that he will be severing our bond?

Does this mean I am still his Luna? After bearing all those humiliation, I still have to bear the title of being his Luna?

I took a deep breath, slowly turning around and walked my way back to the Ashbourne mansion. I could feel the heated gazes coming from the servants, looking at me from time to time as if they were afraid that I might change my mind and escape.

However, it's not like I could escape either. It was Grandpa Rowan who wanted me to come back.and I couldn't just defy him-not because I am afraid of him, but because I respected him who was always protecting me from behind aside from Grandma.

I pressed my lips together, watching as the servants closed the door the moment I had set my foot inside, and I doubt they were guarding from outside by now.

"You want to leave the pack?"

I met his eyes.

He was rubbing his temples, looking more tired than usual. But when his gaze landed on me, it turned sharp, anger, guilt, worry-all those emotions I couldn't name.and I don't want to name.

"Are you implying," he asked slowly, his voice firm but controlled, "that once your bond severance with Alaric is finalized.the two of you will become strangers?"

My throat tightened.

My fingers curled slightly at my side.

"I heard you refused the villa too? What's next?" His eyes rested on me, heavy with something that looked too close to hurt. "To never return in this pack and cut off every of your relations to the Ashbourne including me?"

My breath caught.

I opened my mouth to answer-but no words came out.

Yet, he waited for me to organize my thoughts.

I pressed my lips together, fidgeting with my fingers as I avoided his gaze.

"The Alpha and I are no longer bonded. In the first place, this shouldn't have happened," I said quietly. "We were only tied by a contract. Without it. we're nothing but strangers."

I paused, forcing down the ache rising in my chest.

"I. I'm not planning to cut you off too, Grandpa," I added softly. "It's just. it's no longer appropriate for me to stay here."

His gaze sharpened as he straightened in his chair, his cane gripping tightly in his hand. His face had gone pale-whether from anger or something deeper, I couldn't tell.

"What inappropriate?" he snapped. "You are still the Luna of Ashbourne-and you will always be."

His voice hardened, leaving no room for argument. "As long as I exist, the contract between you still stands. I will not allow your bond to be revoked."

I bit my lips and shook my head.

"This isn't right, Grandpa. You can't do this," I said softly. "I don't belong here anymore. The Alpha already made it clear to everyone that I am no longer his Luna. no longer part of the Ashbourne."

Saying it out loud still hurt.

His eyes darkened. The veins on his forehead twitched.

"For what?" he snapped. "So he can be with that venomous woman? Like hell I would allow her to step into this mansion!"

My fingers tightened at his words.

Then he looked at me again.

This time, his anger faded, replaced by a helpless sigh. His gaze softened as he stepped closer, taking my hands gently into his own.

"Elena," his voice lowered, "you will always be Ashbourne's Luna. No one will replace you."

My chest tightened.

If only the Alpha felt the same.

But I know, I was only deceiving myself.

I already knew how those three years with him felt.

And because I knew. that was exactly why I didn't want to hope for more.

Didn't want to long for something that would only break me again.

I gently raised my head and gave Grandpa a bitter smile.

"But the Alpha doesn't think that way, Grandpa," I said softly. "It's really fine. Even if I end my bond with him, that doesn't mean I'll cut you off too."

His eyes shimmered with guilt and sadness, the emotions flashing like shadows before he slowly shook his head.

"Can't you just compromise again this time and stay with him?"

Compromise?

I almost laughed.

For three years, I had been the one compromising.

How much more of myself do I still have to give?

How much more do I have to lose myself for this so-called compromise?

I shook my head, forcing my heart to stay firm this time.

"Grandpa. you should be able to see that Alaric and I were never compatible," I said softly. "If we were. he wouldn't have treated me like I didn't exist for three years."

And he wouldn't have humiliated me that way, breaking off our bond in front of everyone-in front of his other woman.

My chest tightened, but I continued.

"I developed feelings for him," I admitted. "I stayed. I adjusted. I kept hoping."

I lowered my gaze.

"But he never once chose me."

I drew in a slow breath.

"Forcing us to stay together will only hurt more." I looked up at him with a soft smile. "And I won't stay in a place where someone else has already claimed it as their home."

In the first place. there was never meant to be an us.

I looked at Grandpa with hopeful eyes, maybe if I would properly explain it to him this time, he would also agree with me-that Alaric and I were not compatible to be together.

That we're not fated to be mates.

And it would be better for us to remain strangers rather than chain each other to a so-called bond. A so-called contract.

I already accepted it.

Accepted that there would never be a chance for the two of us-that's why it hurt.

Every part of me still called for him.

And that only made it worse.

Three years were already enough.it's already enough.

Otherwise. I might truly lose myself.

However, his ended up disappointing me.

"I cannot do that, Elena."

My eyes burned.

"Why not?" I asked, I could barely hold onto myself together. "It's easy for you to submit my bond severance with the Alpha to the Pack Council and stop revoking it."

Grandpa didn't even answer.

Instead, he turned away slightly, avoiding my gaze.

"Peter."

The Beta, who had been standing quietly at the corner of the room-minimizing his presence yet alert-stepped forward at once.

"You called, Elder?" His voice was polite yet distant.

"See the Luna back to her room," Grandpa commanded.

My chest tightened.

"Grandpa," I tried again, my voice trembling despite my effort to steady it. "You didn't give me an answer yet."

This time, his gaze fell on me, stubborn resolve burning in his eyes. "I already made it clear to you. You will remain the Alpha's Luna-and that's final."

He shifted his attention to Peter. "Take her back to her room."

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, tears spilling down my cheeks despite my effort to hold them back. "And what about the Alpha?" My voice trembled. "Will he accept this?"

He turned his back on me, his expression unreadable. "I'll take care of him."

Before I could open my mouth to argue again, Peter stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

"Let's go, Luna."

I pressed my lips together, gritting my teeth as I turned my back on him. Every step felt heavy as I followed Peter-his Beta-out of the room, forcing myself not to look back.

"Are you okay, Luna?" Peter suddenly asked, his eyes searching my face. "You look pale."

I shook my head, unable to trust my voice. My chest felt tight, as if invisible hands were squeezing the air out of my lungs. A sharp ache twisted in my stomach, spreading slowly, painfully-like something inside me was breaking apart.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself, but the hurt refused to fade.

I snapped from my thoughts when my pocket vibrates.

Thinking it was the Director, I hurriedly accepted the call without even glancing at the name.

Before I could say a word, a familiar voice filled the line-smooth, laced with arrogance and unmistakable superiority from the other line.

"Let's meet, Elena."

My hand trembled around the phone, my breath hitching in my throat.

"Hydra."