The next morning, I had an early shift at the pack’s clinic, so I woke up and prepared myself quickly. As I descended the stairs of the pack house, I couldn't help but overhear the Omegas whispering among themselves.

"I heard Felicity's from some ancient witch lineage," one Omega murmured, her voice filled with excitement.

"Really? That explains a lot," another Omega responded, awe evident in her tone.

Their conversation lingered in my mind, leaving me both curious and uneasy. But, dismissing it as something irrelevant to my routine, I continued with my day.

After the morning meeting at the clinic ended, Dane mind-linked me. His tone carried a hint of irritation. “Why didn’t you wake me up? You even left early without telling me! Now, I'm late.”

I used to take care of every detail of his morning, especially after we mated. Clothes were laid out, breakfast prepared with care, and a gentle wake-up call. It was a ritual I followed every single day. Now, his tone made it clear that he had come to expect these gestures as if they were obligations rather than acts of love.

But I was never meant to be his maid; I was his mate! I was his Luna. I had the right to choose what I would and wouldn't do. “Instead of talking to me, why don't you just get up and ready yourself?"

“What about my clothes?” He asked again, sounding almost helpless.

“Just pick something from the closet. It’s all there,” I replied.

“But I can’t find anything," the Alpha began, but since another healer called me over before he could finish, I spoke, “I have to go. Just find your clothes yourself,” I said, cutting him off and hurrying to help my co-worker.

Moments later, it didn't seem like he had the intention to stop bugging me through our mind link. Goodness, I hear him more often than my wolf!

"The shirts are wrinkled! You haven’t ironed them? I can’t go to the meeting with other Alphas wearing this!"

Then another complaint came, "You didn’t cook breakfast for me too?"

Before I could respond, the head healer of the pack's clinic called me over, his voice brimming with excitement. “Luna, great news! After reviewing your performance, and your knowledge about herbs and modern medicine, the Lotus Tower wants to discuss further training with you."

My eyes widened upon hearing the great news. I had originally turned down this opportunity, believing that the mateship with Alpha Dane and having children with him as we led Silver Moon Pack together was my future. But now, I saw how hopeless those dreams had been. This fated mateship, and building a family with him had lost their appeal. Staying with my mate felt not only pointless but also foolish.

“I’ve thought it over. I’ll go,” I replied, feeling a newfound sense of determination.

“Excellent choice!” The head Wolf Healer exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious. He instructed me to prepare and said he would notify me once the dates were set.

This opportunity was my chance to carve out a future on my own terms, a future no longer tethered to Dane. A future where my gift to heal could be honed.

Time slipped away as I immersed myself in work. When I glanced out the window, the world had already turned dark. Just as I was settling in with another stack of documents about ancient poisons, Dane mind linked me.

“Why aren’t you home yet? What about my dinner?” He demanded.

Until when do I have to act like his servant?

The thought of returning to the pack house, in our suffocating room, filled me with a deep sense of revulsion. That was why I stayed late at pack's clinic, busying myself with preparations for my journey to the Lotus Tower

Lotus Tower was the dream of every Wolf Healer. It was where books about healing, their magical power, and their greatness lie. Not only that, Lotus Tower was founded to train and hone healers of their kind.

“One of the healers had an emergency, so we switched shifts. Just let the Omegas cook your dinner,” I said, fabricating a quick excuse.

“What do you mean?” Dane sounded taken aback.

In the past, the maids' or even the Omega's cooking was never an option. I had always prepared every meal, three times a day, catering to his every need. I did all that, making him this dependent on me. And yet, he still chose to go to that woman even in times of need.

“Is there a problem?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral.

“No,” Dane hesitated before continuing, “Just take care of yourself and don’t overwork.”

“Thank you,” I replied, my tone flat and unenthusiastic.

After a pause, Dane asked, “Celeste, are you mad?”

The question ignited a small flicker of anger within me, but mostly, it was disappointment. Could he really be so oblivious, or did he simply not care about my feelings? Either way, it didn’t matter anymore. I was done being angry.

Dane's voice, soft and laden with apology, broke the silence. “Celeste, you have to understand. Felicity's struggling to raise her child alone. You know that, right? Her mate cut their ties. She only has me now.”

His words struck me hard, like a hard slap. It seemed he forgot that I, too, only had him. Yet again, why would he care about me when his eyes were set on his first love from the very beginning?

“Of course, I understand,” I replied, striving to keep my tone even. “She must’ve been through a lot.”

But my mate's patience seemed to snap. “What’s that supposed to mean? What’s with your attitude?”

“I said I understand,” I repeated, my voice now tinged with an edge. “Is that a problem?”

“Do you have to talk to me like that?” he retorted, his frustration spilling over.

“What do you want me to say?” I shot back, feeling the tension escalated.

A heavy, suffocating silence settled between us. Finally, he muttered, “Do as you wish,” before abruptly ending the mind link.

It was funny, and it was ironic. Once, I was the “annoying” one for questioning his visits to Felicity. When I’d called to ask when he’d be back from her place, I was bothersome. Now, even trying to be understanding provoked his irritation.

With a sigh, I stared back at the book before me. Dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything. I had more important matters to focus on, like the things I needed before going to Lotus Tower.

The days at the Silver Moon Pack's clinic had blurred together into an exhausting routine. But for me, each one grew heavier, like a weight I couldn’t shrug off. My body had started to betray me. What began as slight discomfort soon spiraled into frequent spells of dizziness, relentless nausea, and fatigue that seeped into my bones. Even the simplest tasks felt like climbing a mountain.

But not only the physician pain but my connection with Cassia... it became weaker.

"Cassia, please, talk to me," I begged.

Then, it came. While descending the stairs of the pack's clinic, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. I reached out, gripping the banister tightly, but my vision began to blur. The sounds around me became muffled as if I were submerged underwater. I clung to the railing, my breaths coming in shallow, trying desperately to steady myself.

“Are you okay, Luna?” Lily, a young Omega, noticed my struggle and hurried over, her eyes wide with concern.

“I’m fine, just a bit dizzy,” I forced a smile, though every fiber of my being felt far from fine. I waved Lily off gently, not wanting to alarm anyone else.

Thankfully, one medicinal herb was enough to ease my headache. As the night shift came to an end, I found myself lingering at the clinic. The thought of returning home held no appeal.

However, when I finally arrived at the pack house, my mate had already left for work.

That was when I decided to take a long, hot shower, seeking solace in the warm water, and then collapsed into bed. But just as sleep began to claim me, the persistent sensation of mind link jolted me awake. It was Dane.

“Celeste,” he murmured, sounding pained. “My… my stomach hurts.”

Yet, I was too sleepy. I recalled mumbling something in response, but exhaustion quickly pulled me back into sleep. In my dreams, I thought I heard the Alpha calling my name, but the sound was distant and easy to ignore.

After what seemed like only moments, I was startled awake by the sound of the door opening. And there he was, Dane stood by the bed, his face contorted with pain.

“You didn't care anymore, did you? You used to worry when I was sick. You're the one who heals me every time! What happened now?"

His words stirred memories of a time when I would drop everything to take care of him. Once, when he had a stomachache, I left work early to use my still unstable ability to heal him.

There was also a time when I had gotten caught in the rain, arriving drenched and disheveled just to make sure I could ease his pain. Instead of gratitude, I was met with ridicule from the elders for showing up drenched, and my mate, the ever-prideful Alpha, had just stood there, doing nothing to stop them. Worse still, he told me afterward never to come to his office again, calling me an embarrassment.

“Are you feeling better now?” I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “We might be out of medicine, though. Maybe you can grab some yourself.”

Upon hearing that, Dane was momentarily speechless. Then, anger flared. He grabbed my arm and exclaimed, “How long are you going to keep fighting with me about Felicity? I’ve told you, there’s nothing between us!”

“Oh, okay,” I replied, my calm demeanor in stark contrast to his rage.

With a final, furious slam of the door, the Alpha stormed out. The ensuing silence was not oppressive but rather liberating, a welcome contrast to the turmoil that had filled the room moments before.

Days bled into each other in a numbing blur. After the Alpha left, he disappeared for several days. I didn’t ask where he went, and he didn’t volunteer the information. On the third day, he finally talked to me through our mind link.

“I will attend a meeting with the neighboring Alphas,” he uttered. "I'm at Acorn Hill Town now." The words felt mechanical, devoid of any warmth or explanation.

“Okay, stay safe,” I mustered back, my lips curling into a bitter smile as I spoke those few words. The absurdity of it all struck me—pretending to care when the truth was unraveling in front of me.

Minutes later, my social media, Twitter, in particular, delivered another blow. Felicity’s tweet popped up on my feed, it was a picture of her at an event.

[First holiday spent in an event. My companion is a little grumpy today, tho!] And what made my eyebrows furrow was Dane’s hand, unmistakable with our mateship ring still on his finger, was in the frame. The location tag on her post matched the one that my mate had just told me—Acorn Hill Town.

A wave of nausea hit me. The ring on my finger burned like it should not be there. Without a second thought, I yanked it off and tossed it somewhere I didn't even look at, the betrayal and anger swirling inside me.

After that, my work at the pack's clinic became my refuge. The relentless pace and constant demands of being one of the healers were a welcome distraction. I lost myself in the whirl of patients, procedures, and paperwork. It was easier to immerse myself in the lives of others than to confront chaos on my own.

My mate's absence became a distant thing I refused to touch. His return was a question I no longer cared to ask.

The pack's clinic was a world of its own, a bustling microcosm where I could lose myself. One morning, I overheard a group of Wolf Healers talking excitedly about Ezekiel Ashborne, the Master of the Lotus Tower. The Lotus Tower was renowned for its elite healers, and Ezekiel was its enigmatic leader, a Wolf Healer known for his extraordinary powers and handsome looks. His visits were rare, but they always caused a stir.

“Did you hear? Ezekiel Ashborne is seen around Amberwood these days. Do you think he's going to visit us here?" One healer whispered, her eyes wide with anticipation.

“Who knows? But I don't care anymore since I already saw him once at a banquet,” another added, her voice tinged with admiration. “He’s even more impressive in person. Tall, with this commanding presence—and those eyes! Like storm clouds.”

“He’s the best Wolf Healer in the region,” a third chimed in. “I heard he can cure almost anything. They say just being near him feels like a healing in itself.”

Their words piqued my curiosity. I had heard of Ezekiel Ashborne, of course—every Wolf Healer had. His reputation was legendary, but I had never seen him in person. The thought of meeting someone so revered, someone who seemed to effortlessly command respect and awe, was strangely alluring. It was a sharp contrast to the misery I felt in my personal life.

Hours stretched into days. Then, unexpectedly, Dane, my Alpha, appeared outside the clinic one evening. It had been an exhausting shift, and I was trudging toward the exit when I saw his familiar car parked across the place.

“Why are you here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, fatigue weighing down my words.

He opened the car door and smiled at me. “Did you forget that today is our mateship anniversary?”

“Oh,” I mumbled, caught off guard. “Sorry. I’ve been really busy and it slipped my mind.”

“Celeste, you used to care about this more than anything. How could you forget?” His eyes searched mine, a mixture of disbelief and hurt.

His words stung, dredging up memories of past anniversaries and birthdays when I had poured my heart into celebrating him. Dinners planned, decorations chosen with care—all my efforts to show him how much he meant to me. I remembered the surprise party I’d organized, only for him to pull me aside, embarrassed by the attention. “You’re making such a big deal out of this, Celeste. Everyone’s looking at us. I'm getting uncomfortable, you know?” His words had turned what was meant to be a joyous occasion into a painful one.

Now, there was nothing left to celebrate. The spark that once ignited our relationship had long since extinguished.

“Come on, let’s go have dinner and celebrate,” he urged, ushering me into the car.

As he drove, silence filled the space between us, thick and oppressive. He kept glancing at me, searching for a flicker of the old enthusiasm that used to light up my face on such occasions.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you upset?” he finally asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. My voice was flat, and emotionless, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me.

“No?” he echoed, his tone rising. “Then why the attitude? Here I am, putting in the effort, picking you up for dinner. Can’t you at least pretend to appreciate it?”

“I’m not angry, Alpha.”

“Fine!” He exclaimed, exasperation etched across his features. “I promise, no more contact with Felicity again, okay?”

I stared at him. It was ridiculously funny. Did he really believe that a simple promise could erase months of lies and betrayal?

He really should not have triggered my anger! I was already preoccupied because Cassia had been ignoring my voice as if she could no longer hear me, and now this!

“Are you happy now?” he pressed, his voice edged with impatience.

I remained silent, unwilling or unable to engage in the charade any longer. The car ride continued in heavy, unbroken quiet, finally ending at a lavish restaurant. Dane had spared no expense, reserving a table and arranging flowers and a gift.

The scene was a perfect picture of romantic bliss, complete with envious glances from other diners. But as I reached for the gift he prepared for me, the Alpha's phone rang.

“Fever? Do you have any medicine?” he asked, answering the call. My eyebrows furrowed. “I can’t take you to the clinic today; I have something to do. What? That high? Okay, wait for me. I'll be right over.”

He hung up and turned to me, his eyes filled with awkwardness and an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher. “It's... It's Felicity. Her child has a fever. I need to…”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak. “It’s fine,” I said, my voice eerily calm. “You should go. The child is more important.”

He stood up, hesitating for a moment before grabbing his coat. “Wait for me, okay? I'll pick you up. I’ll be back soon,” he promised, then hurriedly left.

I was left alone, staring at the half-eaten cake. The rain outside lashed against the windowpanes, mirroring the tears I refused to shed. Sighing deeply, I finished the cake and got up to leave.

Outside, I hailed a cab and told the driver to drop me at Silver Moon Pack. The drizzle had turned into a steady downpour, and by the time I reached the entrance of our apartment building, I was soaked and shivering. The cold rain on my face felt almost purifying, washing away the remnants of the evening’s farce.

Once home, I took a long, hot shower, trying to scrub away the lingering sense of betrayal.

Wrapped in a towel, I scrolled through my phone and saw Felicity’s latest tweet. It showed Dane sitting by her child’s bed, a warm yellow light casting a cozy glow over the scene. The image was the complete opposite of the cold, lonely rain outside.