**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?.

**Elena**

"There's no need to come out, Helena," he said, his voice low but clear.

What did he mean by "Helena"?

“Xavier, what are you talking about?” I asked, trying to step out of the room to make sure I heard him correctly.

“I won’t repeat myself...” he interrupted, blocking my movement. “If you’re going to come out, you better be in your mask. And I won’t tolerate this newfound closeness towards me.”

I pinched my skin to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Reality struck me, and I realized I wasn’t.

The memories of last night flashed back, and I recalled that Xavier had come in drunk.

But how could he not remember anything? And my voice? Did he not notice it?

At this point, I let myself fall to the floor, my face buried in my arms. Why was the Moon Goddess testing me?.

I stood up slowly, careful not to make a sound. He was still standing just outside the door, his back to me, but I could hear the shift in his breathing, like he was battling something inside himself.

"Why do you keep calling me Helena?" I asked, my voice soft but steady, still hidden behind the half-closed door.

He paused. "Because that’s who you are," he said bitterly. "Don’t play dumb with me."

"I’m not playing anything." My voice cracked before I could stop it. "What happened last night... it wasn’t a game."

There was silence..

"You think I’d forget that easily?" he finally said. "Whatever happened last night..if anything happened, it was a mistake. You crossed a line."

My hand gripped the edge of the door. "I didn’t force you, Xavier. You touched me first."

He inhaled sharply. "I was drunk. You should’ve known better. I don’t need you trying to replace her."

Replace her?.

The words stabbed deeper than they should’ve.

"Do you always confuse women in your bed, or just the ones you claim to hate?" I whispered, voice tight.

He didn’t answer.

And that silence?.

It shattered me more than any insult could.

"Why did you tell the maid I should have the room?"

There was a beat of silence. Then his voice, cold and sharp.

"So you heard that?"

I didn’t respond. Just waited.

He scoffed, low and bitter. "Your presence sickens me."

My heart clenched.

"I could still smell you there," he added, voice laced with disgust. "You rubbed yourself all over my space like you belonged. I just needed it cleared. Needed it rid of you."

I swallowed hard..

So that was it.

Not guilt. Not pity.

Just disgust.

I turned away from the door, the tears already sliding down. My fingers fumbled for the mask and pulled it over my face, tight, suffocating. Hiding everything I didn’t want the world to see.

Maybe… maybe Mortina was right all along.

Maybe I really was the problem.

Unwanted.

A mistake.

I closed the door, locking it behind me. My legs gave way, and I dropped to the floor like a rag doll.

You should’ve known better, Elena.

You were never meant to be seen. You were never meant to be loved.

You were just the fill-in, the shadow of someone else’s life.

The weight on my chest grew heavier until I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood up slowly, my legs trembling beneath me. I made my way to the bathroom, my hand trailing along the cold wall like I needed something to ground me.

The mirror reflected a stranger. Puffy eyes. A cracked smile.

Who are you kidding, Elena?.

I opened the small drawer beneath the sink, pulled it out, one thing I had barely touched for a long time.. I wasn’t even sure why I had kept the pill.

It had been a stupid idea, something Lauren had begged me to throw away after Father’s accident.

But I didn’t.

And now, it felt like it had been waiting for me.

I stared at the tiny capsule in my palm. It was barely the size of a fingernail, but it looked heavier than the world itself.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered into the silence, though I wasn’t sure who I was apologizing to, Father, Xavier, Lauren, or maybe even myself.

I sat on the edge of the bathtub, the pill rolling between my fingers. Just one, I told myself. Just enough to sleep through the ache. Just enough to quiet the noise in my head.

But my hand didn’t stop at one.

Two… then three.

Maybe I didn’t care anymore.

Maybe I was tired of pretending.

I swallowed them dry. The bitterness stuck to my throat, and I leaned back, staring up at the ceiling like it held answers.

Minutes passed, maybe seconds. Time blurred. My limbs felt heavy..

Then—

I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, quick and sudden. My vision blurry, colors bleeding together like spilled ink.

I couldn't breathe. I reached for the sink, knocking over the toothbrush holder as my knees gave out.

I collapsed to the floor.

The cold tiles bit into my skin, but all I could focus on was the burn spreading through my chest, like fire had bloomed in the center of me.

My fingers scraped against the floor, searching for something, anything, to hold on to.

But there was nothing.

Just silence.

And pain.