Ariana

By 8 p.m., I arrived at the restaurant to see that Damian was already waiting. As always, he stood the moment he saw me, pulling out my chair with that same quiet elegance he was known for.

I couldn't deny the fact that he looked extraordinarily handsome tonight and his aura was commanding but calm. He was the kind of Alpha who didn't need to raise his voice to remind others who led the pack.

I mean he was born to lead and control and was raised as the heir to the Blood Moon Pack, trained in diplomacy and strength from childhood. I had never once heard him curse, or lose his temper. Even when he was angry, his tone stayed calm and measured, as if emotion was something beneath him.

"He's perfect in every way, except for the fact that he doesn't love us." My wolf whispered to me bitterly, as we watched him order for us. 

When the waiter left to get our food, I watched as he reached into his jacket and set a small box beside my plate. "For our third anniversary," he said.

I froze for a moment, my hand tightening around the glass of water. I gave a small nod, staring at the box without opening it.

Three years as his Luna, more than a decade of loving him.

And yet, I still couldn't reach his heart.

When I was younger, I used to beg him for gifts, any small thing just to see him look my way. He'd sometimes give in, and I'd cherish it for days. But after my pack fell, and my family lost everything, my mother told me something I never forgot:

"You're not his equal anymore, Ariana. You're just a girl from a fallen pack. You're not worthy of him."

From that day, I stopped asking, I stopped expecting anything.

Even so, Damian always kept up appearances. Birthdays, anniversaries, pack ceremonies, every occasion came with a gift, perfectly chosen and wrapped with care. 

He had this image of a perfect and devoted mate to the other members of the pack but only I knew better. 

When I didn't reach for the box, he opened it himself, showing me the sparkling diamond bracelet in his hand and just by merely looking at it I could tell it cost millions. 

He took my hand so he could clasp the bracelet around my wrist and when I tried to pull away, his grip on my hand tightened.

"Don't you like it?" He asked. 

"It's fine," I said quietly, not daring to say another word. 

He fastened the bracelet and looked at it with faint satisfaction. "It looks beautiful on you."

"Thank you," I replied politely.

He frowned and I knew he was probably wondering why I wasn't acting like my old self, the girl who used to chase after him, laugh too loud, and fill every silence.

He must think I was sulking, maybe he even believed this was about his distance and him missing our anniversary dinner. 

"Your favorite steak," he said, cutting a slice and placing it on my plate.

"If I said I wanted one cooked by you, would you ever try to make it for me?" I asked, smiling faintly. 

"Everyone has their strengths, Ariana, you know I'm not a good cook but don't worry you can order anything you like and I'll pay for it immediately." He replied, still eating his food gracefully. 

I lowered my gaze so he wouldn't see the tears burning behind my eyes.

Everyone has their strengths, sure, but he once made a blueberry pie himself for Lily, and their pup, and even posted it proudly on Instagram. Yet he couldn't lift a finger to do something for me. Not once.

The difference between love and indifference had never been clearer.

I took a bite of the steak into my mouth and chewed on it but it only tasted bitter. My wolf whimpered quietly inside me, restless and suffocated by the tension between us. 

Damian rarely spoke during meals, but tonight, the silence was more intense than usual. He kept looking at me in a way that suggested he was trying to study me, as if trying to figure out what had changed.

When I was a child, I couldn't sit still. I'd talk through every meal, laugh too loudly, or find some excuse to touch him. Even when we fought, I'd cry or yell and never go silent like this so I could understand why he looked so unsettled. 

We continued eating his silence until his phone lit up with a notification. He glanced at it briefly before turning the screen face down and tried distracting himself by refilling my wine, but the phone buzzed again. Once, twice, and a third time.

I didn't have to ask who it was, because his whole demeanor shifted, first, there was a flicker of hesitation but it was quickly followed by urgency and I knew without needing to look that the only one who could get such a reaction from him was Lily.

I had known him for years and for me a single call was enough, I only had to keep texting him if it was too urgent because that was the boundary he had set for me claiming he was an Alpha often locked in on tense meetings with elders or out handling rogue business and he didn't have time to respond to calls all the time and I had respected it as I never wanted to come off as needy or as a distraction. 

The fourth ring came, and he finally sighed, setting his utensils down. "I'll leave the car for you. Go home and rest early and please don't wait for me."

My heart twisted painfully, but I kept my face calm. "Don't worry, I'll take a cab home". I replied, standing up immediately to pick up my bag and phone. 

He turned to leave, not bothering to explain and I didn't bother to ask, not like I cared any longer either.

As I turned to leave, I bumped into a passing waiter and my bag opened, its contents scattering across the floor.

My blood ran cold. The rejection papers I had drafted earlier in the day were among the scattered contents on the floor.

Damian bent down to help me pick up my things from the floor, but I quickly gathered the papers before he could touch them. My pulse raced. It wasn't time yet, I couldn't tell him to reject me or give him the rejection notice yet, not until my mother recovered.

"What's that?" He asked as his eyes caught hold of the document I was trying to hide. 

"Just... some instructions from the healer," I said lightly.

I knew he didn't buy it from the way his gaze hardened so I turned to leave immediately but his hand caught mine and he tried snatching the paper but I held onto it strongly, not letting go. 

Thankfully his phone rang again almost immediately and he shot me one last glance before releasing my hand and walking away. 

I smiled bitterly as realization dawned on me of the power another woman had over my mate, and Alpha. 

I touched the bracelet still on my wrist. It sparkled beautifully under the restaurant's light while I stood frozen in the middle of the restaurant, my pulse racing from the tug of the wall over the papers.

"End it now before it ends us,' my wolf whispered in my mind, her voice low and broken. 'Let him feel what it's like to lose his Luna.'

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and walked out of the restaurant calmly.

Ariana 

After Damian left, I ditched the car he'd left behind and flagged a taxi down. I initially thought of following him, but I knew doing that would be stupid.

Moreover, I didn't want to be known as the "foolish jealous Luna, who was shadowing her faithless Alpha" so I changed my mind.

"Take me to the pack's infirmary," I said to the driver and turned to face the window.

I stayed silent throughout the ride just thinking of everything and the pitiable condition I was in. 

Would it have been easier to leave if my pack hadn't fallen? I thought to myself.

"We're here." The driver announced and I nodded, stepping down to pay him.

I stood there watching as he drove off contemplating if I was in the best state to go see my mother like this. 

After taking a moment to compose myself I brought out a mirror, dabbed some powder on my face and when I was sure that I had successfully concealed every trace of tears, I headed towards my mother's ward.

"Ariana," my mother screamed happily. Her face lit up immediately when she saw me.

"Come my child", she said and I reached to hug her.

"Are you okay? You look a bit pale, tell me honestly is everything okay between you and your mate?" She asked with a concerned look.

Hmmmphh, so despite all my efforts she still managed to see beyond the facade.

I sat beside her wearing the best smile on my face. "Mom we're fine, you don't need to worry about us." The lie made my mouth bitter but I couldn't help it, it needed to be told. 

"Ariana, you and Damian make such a lovely couple. These past 3 years he's been so helpful to our family, honestly I have no idea what we would have done if he hadn't helped us. Maybe we'd be rogues by now." He paused to drink water.

"What you should be more concerned about now is stability and how you can produce an heir for him soon so you can secure your future." My father said and I smiled faintly. 

"I'll try my best, Father," I said and he nodded curtly.

The mere thought of having Damian's pup made my skin crawl. Once it had been a lifelong dream of mine but ever since I found out about his infidelity and his pup with Lily I was only disgusted by the thought of it.

"Or have you not been performing your duties as his mate and Luna?" My father asked with questioning eyes.

"I have, I have father," I quickly replied so he wouldn't suspect anything. 

I had been performing my marital duties religiously up until our 3rd anniversary night. 

It wasn't me who didn't want to have a child, it was Damian.

I closed my eyes thinking about the time he'd force me to drink a herb some months back because he'd forgotten to pull out and he didn't want to have a child anytime soon.

I had taken the herb at the time thinking I was doing it for us but now it was clear to me, it was not that he didn't want a child, he just didn't want a child with me. 

"Ariana, I just ran into Alpha Damian outside. Did you guys come together?" My brother Liam asked, jolting me out of my reverie.

"No, maybe he came to see a friend or he's here on his own." I scratched my nape, avoiding their piercing gaze. 

I needed to go find Damian to get him to at least come greet my parents. Why was he here? Did he follow me here or had he come to see the healer about my mom?

"Excuse me please, I need to go find Damian," I said not waiting to hear their response.

This was the VIP floor so if Liam said he saw him outside he should still be around here.

I began strolling around the walkway trying to find him through his scent, then I got a whiff of it and I trailed it.

It led me to the front of another ward. Why was Damian here? Was Riley sick or did something bad happen?

I was about to knock on the door when I heard his voice. "How are you feeling now?" He asked softly.

Who was he talking to in such a soft manner? I knew this wasn't right but I still peeped inside the room since the door was partially open and then I saw him with a she wolf I was guessing was his precious Lily.

She was clinging to his waist and she rested her head on his stomach, dangerously close to his V line.

"Damian, will you stay with me tonight?" She asked, her soft voice quivering.

"Sshhhhh ... .you don't have to be like this, of course I'll stay with you." He cooed, stroking her hair softly.

The scene in front of me made me want to puke as bile rose to my chest. When was the last time he was this soft to me or looked at me with such tenderness?

"Confront him now," Nara growled in my head and I wanted to, not until I saw the familiar bracelet.

It was the same one he'd just given me at the dinner and I still had it around my wrist, he'd worn it on me himself.

I smiled bitterly, my mind numb. So not only was he cheating, he was giving the same gifts to his Luna and his mistress. Was I really worth nothing to him?

So when he said it looked beautiful on me earlier it was a lie? It must have been. Maybe he was even thinking about Lily when he said that.

Rage washed over and in a burst of fury, I ripped the replica bracelet from my own wrist and flung it away. 

I couldn't stay here, I couldn't let them notice me in such a pathetic state, so I ran.

I kept running till I was outside the infirmary, I didn't even bother to say goodbye to my family, I couldn't let them see me like this.

I whimpered when the cool air touched my skin. I didn't even want to order a ride home. So I shifted, I let the rage consume me and Nara began running all the way back home.

I could feel her breaking too, she was right when she said we should leave before he kills us because if I didn't get a rejection from him or get to reject him soon, I'd be as good as dead.

"I do not want him anymore, one more day, and I'll tell him about the rejection papers I sought from the high council." I concluded racing into the night .

Damian 

After I made sure Lily was calm and asleep, I stepped out of the room as quietly as possible. 

It's been a hectic week for me, dealing with Lily and her pup and also dealing with Ariana's troubles.

I felt like there was something different about her, she seems more stiff now and not like the mate I knew who wanted to run into my arms all the time.

She might just still be angry about me missing the anniversary dinner she'd prepared, after all she was nothing but a spoiled Luna.

I'd make it up to her when I got home, maybe she was being cranky because we haven't had sex of recently, after all she couldn't stay without me. I thought to myself and smirked.

I just stepped out of the ward and immediately I caught a whiff of her scent. She was here... Ariana was here but why??

Oh, she must have come to see her mother. I forgot for a brief moment that her mom was still yet to be discharged by the healer. 

I was about to proceed walking my eyes caught sight of the bracelet on the floor. 

How come it was here? I bent down to pick the bracelet and my jaw tightened. This belonged to Ariana. It was the gift I just gave to her at the dinner. Why was it here?

I decided to go look for her, maybe she was still around and was now in her mother's ward.

I barged in forgetting to knock and they all turned around to look at me with a stunned expression on their face.

"Ohh Alpha Damian, pleasure to have you here." Seth Volkstane, Ariana's father stretched his hands out to shake me.

"No need to be so formal Mr Volkstane, we're all family," I said, collecting his hands.

"Where's Ariana?" I asked and for a moment I could see the confusion in their eyes.

"She left about 30 minutes ago stating she was going to find you," Liam said and I immediately tensed. 

She left to look for me about 30 minutes ago. Does that mean she found out about Lily and me?

I hope not because with her temper she was bound to cause problems for Lily and I didn't want anything happening to Lily.

She was hurt badly and was still yet to recover her wolf, she was no match for someone like Ariana. I needed to find her immediately.

"Maybe something came up and she left already." Her mother said and I nodded and left immediately.

Maybe she didn't find out, I could be wrong because with her temperament there was no way Ariana wouldn't cause a scene if she truly found out. Maybe her bracelet ending up there was just a coincidence.

Still, I wasn't settled so I pulled out my phone to call Riley, she was the closest person to Ariana, and if Ariana indeed found out anything it would be because Riley couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"Hello," I said coldly into the phone.

"Hello, brother, why did you call me at this time of the night? Have you finally agreed that I could go abroad to visit my friend in her pack? You know I could......" 

I palmed my face as I listened to her ramble, this was the kind of person Riley was. Always talking without pausing to listen.

"Hello, brother are you there??" She asked once she realized I'd been silent for a while.

"Yes, just waiting for you to finish your nonsense. Did you say anything to Ariana?" I asked.

"Anything like what? I tell her a lot of things." She replied.

"Anything about me or anything that could make her angry at all," I answered. 

She paused for a moment before she responded. "Nothing at all. Is she upset? Did you cause any problems for her? I hope you didn't do anything to make my friend mad." She fired back.

"Did she mention anything to you lately? Anything strange or suspicious?" I inquired.

"No" she responded and I cut the call before she got the chance to keep on rambling.

"Pheeww" I sighed in relief.

That means I was wrong and Ariana's bracelet being here was only a coincidence. 

Thank God, this means my cover with Lily was not blown and we could keep up with our little arrangement.

I still needed to go home to give this to Ariana before she starts looking for it. I knew the bracelet was going to look so good on her so I decided to get one for her when buying one for Lily and true to my words it looked beautiful on her.

I went back to Lily's room to see if she was already awake.

"Hey, I thought you were asleep already," I said rushing to her side.

"I was but I woke up when I couldn't feel you by my side. Where did you go?" She asked.

"To settle some things, you seem okay on your own so I have to go back home tonight," I said.

She looked clearly displeased. "But you promised to stay by my side tonight. What if something happens? You know I don't have my wolf and powers for now... I'm scared." 

"Don't worry, nothing will happen to you, I'd also get someone to stay with you but for now I need to rush back home to take care of something," I said.

"It's your mate isn't it? You've been neglecting her because of my pup and I. I hope she didn't misunderstand anything and won't cause problems for us?" She asked her voice breaking.

"There's no need to cry Lily, she won't cause any problems, and besides she doesn't know about you both okay?" I cooed and she nodded. 

"I'll take my leave now but I'll be back in the morning," I said and left before she could say anything to change my mind.

I rushed back home to find the place in total darkness. That was weird because Ariana loved the lights being on. I was the total opposite though.

I switched on the lights and made my way to the room, since she wasn't waiting for me in the living room she was obviously asleep by now.

I approached the room and heard the sound of running water and soft music, and I smiled to myself.

She couldn't have found anything out if she was here at home taking a bath with music playing.

I quickly removed my clothes and stripped naked so I could join her in the shower.

I quietly entered the bathroom but she was so lost in the music and singing that she didn't notice my presence.

"Hey" I greeted kissing her neck and hugging her from the back and she tensed in my arms immediately.