Chapter 2

Jude's POV

It's already past nine when I pull the car into the driveway. Mireille clings to my coat as she clambers out, dragging her feet and landing on the ground beside me.

We had a pleasant lunch today. I had originally agreed to eat with Moira, but Bella saw the message on my phone and told me she'd been craving the steak at that restaurant for ages. Bella didn't ask me to cancel on Moira, but I figured Moira would always wait for me anyway.

It wasn't until I sat down at the restaurant that I remembered to text Moira and cancel. She didn't reply.

A faint unease stirred in me, but it was quickly smothered by Mireille and Bella's bright smiles.

By the end of lunch, Mireille didn't even want to go home-but Bella talked her into it. "Sweetheart, your mom came all this way. She just wants to spend a little time with you and your dad. If you don't go home, she'll be hurt."

Bella is always that kind. Even though she knows I'm her fated mate, she's never demanded that I break my bond with Moira. I can't keep her waiting forever.

Once we're back in New Jersey, I'll go through with the divorce.

I told Mireille the same thing-that if we didn't go back tonight, Moira would insist on joining our river trip tomorrow. Simple as that. Mireille finally gave in, her stubbornness temporarily reined in.

But she was still worried. She tugged at my sleeve, her green eyes wide. "Dad, what if Mom wants to come with us tomorrow?"

"She won't." I answer, my tone calm and firm. Over the years, Moira has learned where the lines are. She tries all sorts of ways to get more of my time, but as long as I make my position clear, she always backs down. Mireille has seen it herself-her mother never questions my word.

Mireille relaxes and her mood lifts. She skips through the front door, calling, "Mrs. Leah, I'm ready for my bath!"

Loyal as ever, Mrs. Leah appears at once, her silver hair twisted neatly into a bun. "Of course, little Mireille. Let's get you washed up." Then she turns to me, hesitates, and holds out an envelope. "Alpha, Luna asked me to give this to you."

I take it carelessly. "Where is she?"

Something flickers in Mrs. Leah's eyes. "Luna packed her things and went back to New Jersey at noon. You didn't know?"

I stop halfway up the stairs, fingers tightening around the railing. "She left?"

"Yes, Alpha."

I didn't give Moira a chance to explain why she came all of a sudden-and to be honest, I don't care. Her leaving isn't any real loss to me. I'm used to her quiet obedience, her endless patience, her dutiful love. The idea that she might actually be upset? It's almost laughable.

Mireille, however, looks surprised. I catch the brief, sharp flash of disappointment in her. She had hoped Moira would at least help her finish the shell necklace for Bella's birthday. Now she'll have to do it alone.

Mrs. Leah, the ever-sentimental Omega, ventures, "Luna Moira didn't look well, sir. She seemed. upset."

Upset? Moira, the ever-forgiving Luna? That's a new one. She knew the nature of this marriage from the start-it was a scheme carefully planned by her pack. If she hadn't gotten pregnant, I never would have chosen her as my mate. It was nothing more than a way to solidify my position as Alpha of the northern territory.

For years, the pack has whispered that Bella's pure bloodline makes her the obvious choice for Luna, and that Moira is just keeping the seat warm.

I let out a contemptuous little laugh and continue up the stairs, unconcerned.

Back in my room, I toss Moira's envelope onto the bed without bothering to open it. My phone buzzes-Bella's name lights up the screen. I answer without hesitation, leave the letter behind, and head out into the night. The envelope slides from the bed to the floor and is completely forgotten.

I don't come back that night. The next morning, I barely register that Moira isn't at breakfast. If she stops calling, it just means she's finally learned her place. I have more important things to deal with than her feelings.

Moira's POV

The moment my feet touch New Jersey soil, I head straight home-though now it feels like nothing but an empty shell. I climb the stairs, the air thick with the familiar scent of cedar and linen. Six years of marriage, and the house is still crammed with memories, belongings, and the ghosts of the life I tried so hard to hold together.

I've only brought the essentials: a few changes of clothes, two sets of toiletries, a stack of professional books. Jude always put our spending money on two separate cards-one for me, one for Mireille. I've never touched Mireille's card, not once. Mine was almost always used to buy things for them: clothes for Mireille, ties for Jude, little gifts to try to patch up the widening cracks between us. I rarely bought anything for myself. My entire world revolved around them.

Lately, with Mireille spending most of her time with Jude in the Netherlands, my account balance has quietly grown. There are a little over three million dollars left-nothing to Jude, but to me it's a lifeline. I transfer the money out, leave both cards on the desk in the office, and walk out with my suitcase without looking back.

I own a small apartment near the office-less than a hundred square meters, bought on a whim back then just to help a friend hit a sales quota. I've never lived there before. Now it's my only refuge.

The place is spotless. I unpack my luggage, wipe down the kitchen counters, and collapse onto the bed before ten, exhaustion seeping into my bones.

At one in the morning, the alarm shrieks, yanking me out of sleep. I lie there, momentarily disoriented, until I remember: seven a.m. in the Netherlands. Breakfast time for Jude and Mireille. I set this alarm months ago so I could keep in touch with my daughter overseas. At first, Mireille would cling to me through the phone, sobbing with homesickness. But as time went on, her voice grew distant, impatient, eager to hang up.

Now, the alarm is pointless. I stare at the blinking numbers, then delete it. Pain stabs through my chest, but I force myself to turn off the phone and close my eyes.

After marrying Jude, I took a job at Winters Corporation. It was never my dream, but it was the right choice for his career. Now, with divorce looming, I have no reason to stay.

The next morning after coming back, I submit my resignation. My hand is steady as stone, and inside I feel an eerie calm.

As I walk out of the office, it feels like the last traces of my old life fade away with each step. The marriage, the pack, the endless chase for a love that would never be returned. I'm done with all of it.

Mireille's POV

The next morning, sunlight spills into the kitchen as Dad and I finish breakfast. I keep glancing at my phone, waiting for it to ring at seven o'clock sharp like it always does. Mom never misses a call-even when she's sick or traveling, she always finds a way to check on me.

Seven fifteen comes and goes and the phone still doesn't ring. I feel oddly relieved. No more awkward small talk, no more pretending to care about how her day went, no more guilt for rushing to hang up. Bella never forces me to talk when I don't want to. She just understands me, the way a real mom is supposed to.

I grab my backpack and slip out before Mrs. Leah can stop me. But as my hand closes around the doorknob, a strange anxiety washes over me. Mom has never missed a call before. Never.

"Mireille! It's still early! You've got plenty of time before school!" Mrs. Leah calls after me. I can hear the worry in her voice, and it starts gnawing at me too.

But I'm already halfway to the car. Freedom, I tell myself. This is freedom. No more listening to her morning nagging, no more being forced to say "I love you," no more trying to live up to her expectations.

Yet when Dad starts the engine, I can't help checking my phone again. Still no missed calls. No texts. Nothing. The silence is unsettling, like you're expecting the next step on the staircase and your foot finds only air.

"Dad?" I try to sound casual. "Did Mom ever say. she was going to stop calling?"

"Don't worry," he says. But there's something in his voice that makes something flutter uneasily deep inside me. I push the feeling down and think about Bella and our river trip instead. Bella would never skip her daily calls. Bella would never make me feel guilty or uneasy. Bella is perfect.

And yet, as we drive away, I can't shake the hollow feeling in my chest. I'm finally free of Mom's attention-so why does it feel like I've lost something important?

Moira's POV

I stepped into a room that wasn't particularly grand, but comfortable enough to live in. At first, I wanted to bring Mirielle with me if she agreed to come. However, she refused. She was pretty firm, and I didn't expect a child as young as her to do and say something like that.

"Mirielle. Pack your things. We're leaving," I said at the time.

"What? Where? Are we going with Dad and Aunt Bella?" I didn't answer her question, but I packed everything and waited for her to do the same. "Mom, is Aunt Bella coming with us? I don't want to go if Aunt Bella isn't coming because-"

I instinctively grabbed her arm and shook her slightly to stop her from talking. My gaze was fixed straight into her eyes, and she looked frightened.

"It's just the two of us, Elle. Do you hear me? Pack your things now, and we'll leave immediately!" Mirielle let go of my hand and took a few steps back. She looked unhappy and clearly had no intention of going with me. I should have understood from the first time she mentioned Jude and his whore. Mirielle seemed so excited about something that was so painful for me.

Seven years of marriage and living together that existed just for the sake of it. I always hoped that by being nice to him, he would eventually soften up and love me. However, it seemed like that would never happen.

"Elle, what do you like most about me? And... if I ask you to choose, would you choose me or Dad?"

She looked at me, still clenching her hands together. Her face was pale, and I couldn't bear to see her like that. I sighed, trying to control my tone so my voice wouldn't be too loud and push Mirielle further away from me.

"I choose Dad." I almost spoke again, but Mirielle had already made her decision, and it felt like my heart was breaking. "Especially with Aunt Bella around. Dad always plays with me more. Usually, I'm always alone because you and Dad are always busy at the office."

She was right, and my heart ached deeply hearing her words. Mirielle had never complained about anything before, but today she said it all with such innocent words.

"I want Aunt Bella to be my mother. That's why I'll stay here with Dad."

And here I was, deliberately renting a simple, comfortable, quiet apartment. I wanted to immerse myself and calm my chaotic emotions right now. I hoped that everything would get better after this, even if not with my marriage to Jude and my relationship with Mirielle. I had let them go.

***

"Are you sure you want to do this, Moira? You're resigning, and it's usually difficult to find a better job after that. Wouldn't it be better to think it over? Especially since Kevin has just contacted you," said Ziri, my wolf.

She was always my best friend, and I felt lucky to have her. Even if the world was against me, it wouldn't matter as long as Ziri was with me.

"I've thought everything through carefully. Kevin eventually stopped trying to change my mind because Jude didn't want me. He's sick of seeing me wherever he goes. So, enough. The sacrifices of love and my foolishness all this time have been enough. I can accept that Jude can't accept me as his wife and Luna, but not his betrayal."

Ziri was right. Kevin, Jude's beta, had questioned my reasons for stepping down. He knew exactly what my position in the pack was-just a mean of merging two large packs. I was only a tool, but Jude's charm ensnared me and made me fall in love. Unfortunately, he didn't feel the same.

For so long, the pack members had regarded me as a temporary Luna until Jude found his mate, who would become their Luna forever. Sad, but that was what I had to accept.

Even though I never asked for an exception, I still came as a she-wolf searching for my fated mate at the annual event held by the pack, where she-wolves and male wolves would attend a dance party to find their perfect match and mate. Jude stood there as the alpha being sought after. He seemed not to have found his mate yet, so he reluctantly returned with me.

Now, he has Bella, and I didn't know when their relationship had started. Right now, I just wanted to live my life well.

"Do you know about the annual event for alumni of Pack's Academy?" I asked Ziri, who just shrugged.

"They won't accept you again after what happened, Moira. You'd better not waste your time on that."

Hearing Ziri's words, I became even more determined to return to the academy meeting for the whole pack. The strongest packs from all over would come, and that brought back memories of my struggles in the past.

The rigorous training, fierce competition, and strong bonds formed between the Luna candidates and other pack leaders-I would never forget them. I graduated with the highest grades and had the opportunity to form an alliance-of course, after that, especially when my marriage to Jude was arranged, everything fell apart.

I took my phone, ignoring Ziri's opinion. I immediately contacted the academy's administration, which reserved a place for me at the meeting.

"Have you forgotten how you left the academy last time? Now you have many rivals, Moira. You have to start from the bottom again, and your opponents are young warriors. Are you sure you're ready to compete with them?"

"Come on... You know why I gave up my position back then."

"Of course. And that was the dumbest choice you ever made. I really regret it all, even though I tried to talk you out of it, you still insisted on choosing... Ah, never mind!"

"You're right. I was foolish. But I won't make that mistake again. Please..."

The other side did not respond, which, though I was sure that meant that she had granted my request and added my name to the list.

I smiled in relief and glanced at Ziri, who merely raised an eyebrow.

"Let's hope everything goes as planned," she said, and I silently agreed. Now, all I could think about was making all my dreams come true, even if I had to start over from scratch.

I wouldn't give up. I would rise to become the Moira I was meant to be. That was my promise to myself, and I would make it happen.

Moira's POV

I began organizing my belongings and arranging my room in the apartment that would now become my comfortable home, where I would spend my days without my husband and daughter. I deliberately kept myself busy to avoid constantly thinking about them and how heartbroken I was because of them.

This freedom had to be enjoyed and celebrated, as it was never something I had experienced before-especially when I was still Jude's wife and a Luna in the Night Hunter Pack. I had to be perfect in front of everyone, but no one gave me special respect just because their alpha had never wanted me as his mate.

In the end, everyone was aware of the origins of our marriage. Instead of blaming my father for the scheme he had orchestrated, almost all the members blamed me.

The alpha was unhappy; his wife and mate was not whom he wanted. That was what they said. For them, the responsibility of a leader was crucial; Jude should have been rewarded for his hard work with a woman who soothed the soul, not someone they considered a temptress like me.

Temptress... I chuckled at how some people called me that. "Scheming Luna," "Restrictive Luna," and other derogatory nicknames for me. Well, they didn't need to bother finding new nicknames because I was no longer their Luna.

I sipped the wine in my hand while reading one of my favorite novels in front of the fireplace. The seasons had changed. Autumn had arrived, and it reminded me of my beautiful teenage years when my mother was still with me. I always missed her apple cider more than sipping wine alone.

My mother had been gone because of my father's betrayal, but I refused to let myself become weak because of the same thing.

"Don't you want to contact Mirielle? I miss her. Don't you?" said Ziri, to which I only replied with a pout without taking my eyes off the novel in my hands.

"Moira, are you seriously going to ignore your daughter?"

"Enough, Ziri. She's already made her choice."

"Moira."

"Come on..." I put down the novel and fixed Ziri with a sharp gaze as she appeared before me, clearly waiting for the answer she expected. I wasn't surprised by her persistence because she was a loving wolf. "Do you want me to beg for their love? Should I force Elle to stay with me so she'll feel I'm restricting and tormenting her? Is that it?"

"No, Moira. At least ask how she is." I shook my head. "She's just a child. She's only seven years old."

"I know. However, she seemed to understand everything and dared to contradict me," I replied, the pain in my chest still lingering. "I may have overreacted because I felt hurt by the child's attitude, but I could do nothing. I'm still hurting. At least you should took my side and let me heal first before telling me to make peace with everyone."

"Alright, I understand. I'm sorry. I should have understood your condition better and the trauma of being abandoned and betrayed a long time ago. So what are you going to do now? What's your plan?"

I grabbed the TV remote and switched on one of the channels, showing Ziri what was on the screen. The Werewolf Channel was already covering the Pack Academy anniversary celebration, which included a gathering and training session.

"Get ready to attend the alumni reunion at the Pack Academy, I guess. I don't want to miss this opportunity. Since I'm no longer a Luna or an employee , I don't have any responsibilities, especially at the company-in other words, I'm unemployed-so I have to fill my life and days with something positive."

"And start over from the beginning."

"Yes, start over from the beginning. It won't hurt me, though." Ziri was lying comfortably while smiling. I knew it must be tough for her to start a new life where we had to begin everything from scratch. But... "Tell me we can do all this, Ziri. Tell me everything will be okay."

"Well, even though I'm a bit unfamiliar with this new life, yeah... everything will be amazing from now on, Moira. We can do it. I'm sure of it."

***

The gathering had already begun, though it was still in its early stages, with only a handful of alumni arriving to greet one another. I didn't miss it either. I arrived early, hoping to meet someone who would reignite the passion I had lost since marrying Jude.

I met several people who had been close to me while working on various projects during college. They were living good lives, and most had decided not to rush into marriage.

Well, that hit me pretty hard. However, at least there was some enlightenment: most men do end up making life difficult for women after marriage.

They made demands, and when women tried their best to fulfill them, the men found faults to justify their own wrongdoings.

I sighed heavily. Though I always reassured myself that everything was fine and I could manage without Jude, it wasn't that simple. But I had to do it, no matter what.

My steps halted when I saw someone with a familiar smile standing in front of a design house I recognized. He spread his arms, and I immediately ran toward to greet him. He hugged me tightly and warmly before asking how I was.

"Moira... I didn't expect you to come because you've been hard to find since..."

"I know, Dillan. I've felt lost since I decided to get married. There have been many surprises in marriage."

"At least you're here now. By the way, are you still interested in design?"

I couldn't help myself-whenever someone mentioned design, I responded enthusiastically. This time, I just nodded.

"I guess that means yes. I'm glad to see that passion still in you. Of course. Who else could replace the master, the best idea generator and designer-the design genius-on campus? We still talk about you sometimes."

"Yeah, no problem. As long as it's something good," I chuckled. He pointed his index finger at me and laughed.

"How about we talk about this in the cafeteria? Since it's such a treat to see you, I'll buy you food," he said excitedly. I thought briefly while looking around, but Dillan gave me a hopeful look, so I finally nodded.

We walked side by side and arrived at the cafeteria to order a cold latte and some snacks as "conversation companions." We started by talking about life after I decided to quit the academy. Dillan regretted my choice, especially when he heard that my decision hadn't turned out well. However, I tried to change the subject and focused on what he was currently busy with.

He answered and seriously explained what he'd been working on, and then said something unexpected.

"Now that I met you, I no longer need to post job openings on job search sites. How about joining my company? I would be pleased to have a genius designer like you."

It was a great offer. However, it made my stomach churn with excitement and doubt.

"I left that field a long time ago-for seven years, since I got married. I'm not sure I can do that as well as before."

"But you still worked at your husband's company, right?"

"Yes, in sales." Dillan's eyes widened in surprise.

"I know. I hated it. But at the time, only the marketing was willing to hire me. They felt they had a much better designer. So... it was yes or never."

"That's... you must miss the passion you once had. So do I. It would be so much fun to work together again. And... hearing your story about how your life and marriage went until you decided to divorce, this is your chance to shine again, Moira. You'll be the brightest star like you used to be." Dillan smiled with confidence shining in his eyes. "So? What's your answer?"