**Elena**

The silent whispers from the crowd was enough to humiliate me. I stared intently at Xavier, searching for something..anything, that would indicate it was all a joke.

“It’s no secret that my wife, Helena, hides her face behind a mask, and I want it to stay that way”.

Why did he have to mention the mask again?. I could feel sweat dripping down my temple.

“There are certain things I do not wish to discuss in my marriage, so I made this choice”. He continued speaking, his voice echoing through the crowd.

I wanted to speak up, to remove the mask and run into his arms, to tell him I was his Elena and that his words were hurting me.

But I couldn’t. A lot was at stake at that moment.

“As I mentioned earlier, I do not yet accept my wife Helena as my mate, so she is not my Luna. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t my wife.”

What did he even mean by that? It’s either I’m your Luna, your mate, and your wife. Why is he separating them? Was this his plan all along? He had disappeared to avoid the ceremony just so he could achieve this.

I knew Xavier had doubted everything from the beginning, but why humiliate me?

“I’m your Luna, Alpha Xavier. You can’t just say I’m ‘just a wife.’ Why are you trying to embarrass us in public?” I said as I stepped closer to him.

He scoffed. “If I needed a suggestion or any input from you, Helena, I would have discussed it privately. Do not try to cross me and act defiant.”

He turned his gaze back to the crowd. “As the Alpha, I have the authority to make decisions that affect my relationship, as well as the future of this pack.”

“The coronation will be held another time. For now, I do not accept her as my Luna.”

“And please, there is no room for questioning my decisions. You all may now continue with the celebrations and enjoy yourselves.”

And with that, he was out of sight. The flickering lights and sounds from the cameras seemed to mock me even more.

I felt something forming at the back of my throat. I guessed my pup didn’t like the way his father treated me.

I sensed Nick’s palm on my shoulder as he tried to guide me past the crowd. But instead, my stepmother pulled me from his embrace and led me into my room.

I knew this act of kindness was merely an attempt to scold me.

“What did you do, Elena?” she asked in the calmest tone. I stared at her, wondering if she was just pretending to be nice because of the people gathered at the door.

She turned to the crowd. “Please, my daughter needs rest. Thank you for your concern, but please leave.” One by one, they filed out.

“Did you use the scent?” she said, trying to sniff me as if she could actually perceive her daughter’s scent.

“Can you stop?” I said, yanking her arms away from my body. “I told you before that deceiving Xavier won’t work, and now he’s gone as far as to embarrass me.”

“It’s your fault you couldn’t charm him, Elena. I warned you. If anything goes wrong, it’s all on you. I don’t understand why you keep acting so foolishly and can’t do anything right.”

“Oh, so now it’s my fault? Xavier isn’t dumb. I suppose it's also my fault Helena ran away.”

“You know what? I think it’s better if I go out there and tell him the whole truth. Maybe he’ll forgive me. I can’t keep playing along with your lies, Mortina,” I shot back.

“I’ve always known you were foolish. And the audacity you have to talk back to me! Do whatever you want. Just know that you and your father will regret it, and I’ll kill you before you drag me out.” She said, slamming the door behind her.

I covered my mouth, trying to hold back whatever was coming as I sat in the restroom.

“How long do I have to keep this up?” I whispered to myself while rubbing my belly.

It seems my growing belly would reveal everything soon enough before I could get Xavier to be intimate with me.

Unfortunately, getting close to him has become more difficult than I thought, as he just rejected me and wants nothing to do with me.

But I can't just sit here and do nothing. I have no other option but to tell Xavier everything. I'll plead with him, and he'll have no other choice than to hear me out.

I made my way to the third floor of the mansion where his room was located. Something twisted inside me, maybe fear, maybe desperation,but I couldn't turn back now.

Xavier had clearly warned me to stay away from his room, but I couldn’t ignore the ache in my chest anymore.

“Our mate’s in there!” Lira pleaded again, her voice echoing in my mind.

I pushed the door open.

His scent hit me first—warm, masculine, painfully familiar. The golden paint on the walls glowed faintly in the dim light.

I had chosen that color, hoping we would be in here together after he chose me instead. But things don't go the way we plan.

Maybe I just missed him too much.

But my thoughts scattered when I heard his voice.

“What are you doing here?” Stern. Cold. No softness left.

I froze.. He switched on the light and I was able to see his face, but his expression was unreadable.

“I’m not going to repeat myself.” His voice stern. “What are you doing in here?”.

**Elena**

"Xavier.. Please don't chase me out. I beg of you," I said, as tears streamed down my face.

I could hear my heart pounding in my chest. What would he do to me?.

"I asked you a question, Helena, and I expect an answer," he said sternly, though his voice sounded tipsy.

I moved closer, and I could smell the alcohol on him.

"Are you drunk, Xavier?" I asked as I approached him. He was never himself after drinking too much. But… this felt different.

There was pain in his eyes, something deeper than the burn of whiskey. Had I really hurt him that much?

"Since you have nothing to say, I'll just leave," he staggered.

"Please stay," I pleaded, wrapping my arms around him from behind. My boobs pressed against his firm back, and the fear of rejection made my heart ache.

I felt his grip on my arms as he turned my face to meet his. He removed the mask and looked at me with an unreadable expression.

I couldn’t tell if he was surprised, pleased, or even disgusted.

After a few seconds of silence, I found myself on my knees, pleading for his forgiveness.

“Xavier, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I deceived you; I didn’t know things would go out of control. You were betrothed to Helena from the start, and I didn’t have the courage to tell you because I didn’t want to lose you.

“She just disappeared without a word..and I had to wear this mask to hide my face”.

“Can you ever forgive me, Xavier ? . I didn’t know what to do. The way you acted towards me broke my heart even more’.

“And about the pregnancy report..You never mentioned it. I had waited till the evening of the wedding, but you didn't come. I was terrified you would abandon me.”

His breath caught. Low and husky. “...Elena?”

I took a shaky step forward. “I sent you the pregnancy report. Did you even read it?”

He staggered to his feet. “What report?”.

Wait. He didn't even get the report.

“You can't be serious, Xavier…” I murmured, tears trying so hard not to come out.

“I swear, all I got was your letter… ending things.” His voice cracked.

Tears blurred my vision. “I thought you neglected me. That you’d hate me.”

A ragged laugh escaped from his throat. “Hate you? I searched for you every night. Do you know what it did to me, thinking you’d abandoned us?”

I flinched. Helena's Jasmine Scent had overshadowed my Wild lavender scent and it had confused Xavier.

And If he never saw the report, then who took it?

He closed the distance between us, caressing my face. “I should hate you.. Why can't I?”.

His thumb traced my cheekbone, soft and warm. “You’re a fool, Elena. I’d have burned the world to keep you.”

Then his lips crashed onto mine—not gentle, not kind. A collision of teeth and desperation, his hands tangled in my hair like he feared I’d disappear.

He shouldn’t kiss me. Not after everything. But the way he looked at me. I wanted to resist, to stop this, but all I could do was fall into him.

I clung to his shirt, tasting whiskey and salt. His or mine, I didn’t know.

His hands dug into my hips, it hurt but felt like home.

He broke away first, forehead pressed to mine. “Don’t you dare hide from me again.”

"I'm sorry," I apologized.

Things were a mess, and what did he mean he hadn't received the pregnancy report?

I tried to recall what had happened that day—three months ago, the day of the wedding, a day after I found out I was pregnant.

I had given a maid the reports, I was sure I saw her put it in his room. But how could I have been so sure..

A few minutes later, I was standing next to him as his bride, but I smelled different, as if my stepmother had known what would happen. I wore the perfect wedding dress, infused with Helena's scent.

I didn’t know if luck was on my side or if the Moon Goddess was granting me my wish, but I wanted to be with Xavier.

I had carefully thought out how I would make Xavier have sex with me to validate the pregnancy or even its existence, but now, staring at him, I didn’t have the heart to deceive him.

I hated myself for even thinking about it. He deserved the truth, not seduction.

“Elena,” he whispered, gesturing for me to come to him. The alcohol was clearly affecting him.

Should I just take advantage of this moment and make him mine?

As Xavier continued to gesture to me to come to him, I felt my feet trapped to the floor. Guilt was killing me.

But Xavier wouldn't take no for an answer, he stood up and pulled me to himself. I could feel his need pressing hard against my stomach.

“You don't listen, do you?”. He asked, pinning me to the wall.

He roamed his arms around my body as though he was seeing it for the first time.

“I miss you Elena”.. He said softly as he bit my left ear. The tingling sensation I always get from that was something I couldn't explain.

He went on to tease my lips with his fingers making me crave for more. “Why are you doing this?”...He asked.

I couldn't answer. How could I say it's because of the secret. Something that would tear us apart.

I... I…” I stammered, but the only answer I could give was a kiss.

He responded even more roughly. And as if that wasn't enough. He moved his fingers around my neck as though searching for a good spot.

And he bit down, hard.

I gasped.

It wasn’t just a hickey.

Xavier had marked me.

**Elena**

A broad smile spread across my face as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. It wasn't a dream, and it definitely wasn't a hickey. Xavier had marked me.

But what does this mean? Will it all be over now? What will happen with Father, and what would Mortina do?

I slipped back into my nightwear and lay quietly on the couch where we had done it.. I wondered where Xavier was.

The sheets still smelled like him, Vanilla and salt, but his side of the bed was cold.”

Just then, the doorknob turned, and a maid entered.

"My Queen," the maid whispered, avoiding my eyes. "The King insists this room is yours now… ," she said.

"Really? Where is he?" I asked.

"He left the mansion early this morning."

"Alright, that's fine. Thank you."

I mumbled to myself in awe, "Wow, Xavier has actually forgiven me. Everyone knows how much he loves this room, the previous Alpha's room, and now he’s giving it to me."

But why did the maid avoid my gaze..

I got curious and a part of me wanted us to share the room together. So I took out my phone and dialed his number.

The line rang once. Twice. Three times. My thumb lingered over ‘end call’—had last night meant nothing? Or was he already regretting it?”.

No. I won't think negatively.

An hour later, I stood in front of my old home, I had not visited Father in a while and I needed to tell my step mother that there was no need for the Spray scent anymore.

I planted a soft kiss on his forehead as I tried to hide the tears and smiled.

Father had been like this for three years, bedridden and unable to talk . Sometimes he would write things on paper but other times his written words would be illegible.

“Hey Dad, how have you been? I’m sorry I haven’t been able to come see you; a lot has happened, and I don't even know where to start”.

He made a slight gesture, encouraging me to begin wherever I wanted.

“Well, the good news is that I’m married to Xavier. However, Helena is nowhere to be found, and Mortina had to make me wear her scent. It turns out Xavier never received the pregnancy report I sent.”

I said all this while sitting on the floor, my head resting on his lap. A warm tear hit my arm. Father hadn’t cried in years.”. I turned my gaze to look at him.

“Father, oh my goodness,” I said as I wiped away his tears. He was finally responding to me after a long time.

He gestured with his finger toward the notepad on the mirror dresser, which he always did whenever he had something important to communicate.

I hurriedly grabbed it and placed the pen in his hands, watching carefully as he wrote. I was trying to make out what he was putting down.

Then it became clear: “HELENA IS…”

“Helena is what, Father?” I asked, but he stopped writing. “What are you trying to tell me, Father?”

Our moment was interrupted by Mortina. “Still playing devoted daughter? He can’t even remember your name.’”

“Let the man be, Elena. Why are you disturbing him?”..She continued

“I’m not disturbing him; he’s my father, Mortina,” I replied, rolling my eyes. For some reason, my confidence seemed to rise up.

Mortina crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, eyeing me as if I were something stuck to her shoe.

“I didn’t realize you were back to playing house,” she said coldly. “Or did Xavier throw you out already?”

I stood up and brushed dust off my dress. “I came to visit Father. That’s not a crime, is it?”

Mortina clicked her tongue and walked into the room. “That man barely recognizes you anymore. But if you enjoy talking to walls, who am I to judge?”

She began adjusting the curtains as if she owned the room,which, in a way, she did now.

“I just wanted to ask…” I hesitated, observing her movements and choosing my words carefully. “A while ago, I sent a medical report to Xavier. Did you, by any chance, take it?”

“What report?” she asked.

“Nothing serious,” I replied quickly, forcing a light chuckle..

Why did I even bring up the reports?..

Her eyes narrowed. “You seem very invested in what Xavier sees and doesn’t see. Did something happen between you two?”..

My stomach twisted. “No. Like I said, it's nothing serious.”

And, I won't be needing the Spray scent anymore. I said.

Mortina gave me a thin smile. “Don’t get any ideas, Elena. You’re only standing where Helena was meant to stand. And once she’s back, you’ll fade like smoke.”

I clenched my fists behind my back.. “That would never happen.”

“ Oh please, She said, rolling her eyes. “Besides if you wouldn't be needing it, Xavier would have made the announcement. Just stop being delusional. I'll have the spray scent ready incase you come back crying”. She shot back.

After giving me a suspicious look, she left the room.

I turned back to my father, who now looked exhausted from trying to write. I sat beside him and whispered, “I’ll find out what you were trying to say. I promise.”

I returned to the mansion, but Xavier still wasn’t back. The room felt cold.. His scent had faded slightly, and that scared me more than I expected.

Where had he gone? And why hadn't he called?.

Just then I heard footsteps approaching. His scent followed.

But he made a statement that didn't go down well with me. Or did I hear wrong?.