During my post-abortion checkup, a fire broke out in the hospital. I was so frightened that I instinctively reached out for Dominic ——my mate and the Alpha of the Moon pack, only to realize he wasn't there.

It turned out that my mate’s immediate reaction was to rush to the next ward where his childhood friend, Courtney Hamilton, was being treated.

That had become a familiar pattern lately, so I was used to it. Initially, I felt a sting of abandonment, but over time, I stopped caring.

It had happened since a week ago, when Courtney came back to the Moonriver Pack after having a big fight with her husband because he was caught cheating behind her back. 

What was more, she had already had a four years-old son from the marriage, so my husband started caring more about her than I started from that day.

Every time Courtney needed his help, he always wanted to help even though he still had a lot of work to do in the office. After all, he was an Alpha of the Mooriver Pack.

Then that day, once again my husband, Alpha Dominic Callahan, chose his childhood friend more than his own mate.

I thought after getting miscarriage a few days ago, he would care more about my safety, but it turned out my expectation was too high. Fortunately, the doctor and the nurses helped me out of the fire area.

However, my wolf couldn’t help shouting in frustration when she saw his mate carrying Courtney not far beside me without feeling guilty.

“Let’s get divorce!”

But then I came to my senses and urged her to calm down, because there was no point in being angry at that time, after all everything had passed and I was also safe.

“Please don’t misunderstand us, Lucinda. Dom came to me first because I had sprained my ankle yesterday, what’s more I have gastritis,” Courtney said when she saw me coming.

After taking a breath, I answered in a calm tone, “Yeah, I understand. I am fine and healthy so that I can run by myself.”

“Dom, you should apologize too. Even if you are in a hurry, you should prioritize her first,” Courtney said while punching his shoulder lightly.

So, Dominic asked in the end, “Sorry, Lucinda. Are you okay?”

It was actually the first time he apologized first after getting together for three years. But I didn’t know why I felt embarrassed.

Did he really need Courtney to urge him to apologize? Couldn't he do it on his own?

I couldn’t help but answer shortly, “I am good.”

Fortunately, the fire was quickly handled, so only part of the ER area was affected.

Soon, the patients were asked to return to the ward.

Dominic said he would take Courtney back to her room and accompanied her for a while, so I immediately said that I wanted to go back home first.

On the way home, I opened one of social media, X, and saw Courtney posted a photo with the caption that read, “Thank you for saving me. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have you, my Alpha.”

Then, as if not satisfied, she also uploaded a photo on WhatsApp which showed a little of my husband's shoulder.

A week ago, I felt betrayed and confronted him. But then, it seemed like just another exhausting task, another obstacle in a race I no longer wanted to win.

Even when I knew Dominic chose to stay at the hospital, a surprising sense of detachment came over me. I suddenly realized that his presence or absence barely affected my emotions anymore. I didn't feel as sad when he wasn't around.

Perhaps, it happened because I started to know the truth that I was just a replacement. Then the subsequent miscarriage was likely a sign that having a child with Dominic wouldn't be good for either me or the baby.

***

At home, I prepared dinner as always. But even after the sun had set and day turned into night, there was no sign of Dominic returning.

Suddenly, my mobile rang. A message came from my husband.

[Dominic: Sorry, I have to accompany Courtney tonight.]

I did not answer nor questioned him more about it, I only ate the dinner in silence.

On the next day, when I ate my breakfast, I happened to see Courtney X's post again.

It was a photo of her with a candy apple in the familiar front passenger seat of Dominic's car. The caption read, “Thanks for the candy apples, my Alpha.”

My fingers hovered motionless over the screen. 

I didn’t have any appetite anymore and went to my room to continue my part-time work as a graphic designer.

I used to be so busy with my job. But when I knew that I was pregnant, I just accepted one client for a week. 

However, that day, I decided to accept as many as I could to distract my wolf who seemed disturbed by Courtney’s post.

But not long after, the study was opened and my husband kissed my check as if nothing happened, which made my wolf calm for a moment.

“Lucinda, Courtney invited us to dinner. She said she wanted to thank me for saving her and thank you for letting me take care of her last night, would you come?” Dominic asked.

Before I could answer, my wolf had answered in my mind first, “Why did he say her name again? Reject it, Lucinda!”

However, I refused to follow her and answered, “Sure, why not?”

Because of that, my wolf seemed to hate me, but then I had an idea to satisfy her. I continued, “But I haven't taken a shower yet.”

“How about taking a bath together, my Luna?”

I didn’t expect Dominic would respond that way, but it satisfied our wolf really well, so I just followed the rhythm and let my wolf take over.

***

When we got to the restaurant, Lucinda had been waiting inside. But then I noticed the table set for two. Should I not come then?

However, Dominic, without even thinking about it, motioned the waiter to bring an extra set of utensils and pulled out a chair for me as he always did when we dined out.

As soon as the dish was beautifully presented, Courtney said with a smile, “Lucinda, you must be very scared at that time. After the miscarriage, a fire happened at the check-up place. I even had a panic attack after that.”

I only smiled to answer her chit chat. But then Dominic asked, as if he just remembered, “Oh my Goddess, I am sorry, I forgot to ask how you are. What were the results of the check up?”

“Nothing important,” I answered briefly.

Then Courtney suddenly interrupted. She asked, “Dom, how could you forget about it? Naughty Alpha.”

Because of that, Dominic and Courtney started to be busy chatting with each other again, while I chose to drink a lot of wine that night.

Dominic suddenly scolded me, “Don’t drink too much.”

I knew that he never liked the smell of alcohol in other’s breath, but I thought I would go insane if I did not drink that night.

“I can handle it.”

“No, we should go home now,” Dominic said, then he asked Courtney, “You come with us?”

“Sure.”

When the three of us were in Dominic’s car, I suddenly brought up Courtney’s Twitter Post.

“Oh! You posted a photo with a candy apple here, right?”

I didn’t know it was because I was drunk or just jealous, but I kept saying, “Dominic has a mild case of germophobia, so he will never let me eat in his car. I envy you, Courtney.”

“No, it’s not like that, Lucinda. I bought a candy apple for a returning gift from the hospital. She didn’t eat here,” Dominic explained.

Then Courtney looked apologetic and said, “Lucinda, Dom and I have known each other since we were kids. We’re like siblings. Please don’t be jealous because of that.”

“Yeah, you know, I only see Courtney as a sister,” Dominic continued.

I just nodded my head and decided to sleep along the road.

***

The next morning, I went to the market to buy daily necessities while looking for soup for my hangover. Well, it actually didn’t hit me that hard since I had a werewolf fast recovery, but I just wanted to clear my mind.

Just when I finished my meal, Dominic sent me a message.

[Dominic: Where are you going without preparing my clothes first? I have an important meeting today.]

I used to prepare everything for Dominic.

At first, I was willing since I thought it was Luna’s duty, but after three years, I increasingly felt like a caretaker, so I became indifferent to it, especially after Courtney came.

[Lucinda: Just choose whatever you want, it’s all in the closet.]

After replying to the message, I decided to go shopping. But when I just chose some, a slight deja vu came to my mind.

Dominic and I were used to buying daily necessities at the market. In fact, the Pack members always called us the most romantic couple in the Moonriver Pack just because we always went out to dinner every night in our first year of marriage.

People also often envied me, saying I was lucky to have won over someone as powerful as Dominic. After all, he was an Alpha, his position was highly respected in the Pack.

But then I snapped back to reality and chose to focus on shopping.

Before I knew it, the sky had turned dark.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Dominic’s call.

“Why aren’t you home yet?” he asked as soon as I received it.

“I’ll come back late, still have many things to do.”

I didn’t lie or deliberately lingered outside so as not to meet him at home, but I was really lost in my own thoughts that day until I forgot several important things that had to be bought.

But Dominic complained, “I haven’t had dinner. How about having dinner together? I’ll go there, just tell me where you are.”

I sighed and answered in the end, “Fine, I’ll wait at the restaurant where we usually have dinner.”

After hanging up our call, I bought some things that were most needed first and used a taxi to go to the restaurant.

However, when I came, it turned out that Dominic didn’t come alone. He had already waited inside with Cortney and her son, Vernon.

I couldn’t help murmuring, “Why asked me to come if you already have your partner?”

Then my wolf answered in my mind, “It’s so annoying to see them like a happy family of three. Should I punch that woman?”

I was stunned to hear that, so I answered her, “No need, let’s go home.”

But before I could step out of the restaurant, Dominic saw me and called, "Lucinda, here."

I couldn't help but walk towards them and show my fake smile.

"When I came out, I met Courtney and Vernon. So, I took them to dinner," he explained.

I nodded, but when I wanted to sit, Vernon asked, “Daddy, who is she?”

Daddy?

I was shocked when Vernon called Dominic his father, as well as my wolf that had been grumbling in my mind.

Suddenly, Courtney interrupted, “Sorry, Lucinda. Vernon is still young and doesn't understand. What’s more, his dad and I often have dinner together, so maybe he thinks it’s like what he always did before.”

With a brief nod toward them, I turned to look at Dominic. My voice, once filled with simmering anger, was then laced with indifference when said, "Yes, you're right. A child needs a father figure. Maybe you should spend more time with them, Dominic."

Then I chose to leave, but then Dominic chased me.

“Lucinda, wait. You’re upset about that, I understand, but he is just a child,” Dominic explained in an apologetic tone.

“Of course, I understand. They must've been through a lot. So, you better have dinner with them instead of me now," I answered calmly.

But Dominic seemed dissatisfied with my answer and asked angrily, “What's that supposed to mean? What's your attitude?”

“I said I understand!”

Many people seemed curious about our argument. Somehow, I felt like I was the third person between Dominic and Courtney, so I decided to leave and went back home in a taxi.

After arriving at the Moonriver Pack, my wolf urged me to shapeshift. So, I directly agreed.

Then, she ran and howled through the forest as fast as we could.

She must be in great pain at that moment.

After all the anger, I returned home and decided to lock myself in the study and finish the project that was sent by my clients.

At 11, I heard Dominic got home but he didn’t do anything. So, I thought we started our silent treatment as always.

On the next day, I purposely went out after Dominic went to work.

After breakfast, I decided to go to the park because I felt bored with the situation at home.

But lucky me, I saw Courtney with her friends still chatting there. Then, because of my wolf’s hearing, I could hear all of the conversation clearly.

“Luna Lucinda is just too sensitive. Maybe because she just had miscarriage, so she is psychologically tired.”

“Yes, you should not feel upset about it, Courtney.”

Then, Courtney said in tears, “But you said that she already knew about my relationship with Dominic before I got married, right? I am afraid that she misunderstands that.”

“As far as I know, she is just aware that both of you are childhood friends.”

“Yeah, no one told her that Alpha Callahan used to pursue you before you got married and even came to your husband’s Pack to meet you.”

What?

Dominic used to pursue Courtney before she got married to her mate?

But a month after Courtney’s marriage, he pursued me and proposed to me.

I indeed did not know about their story before moving to the Moonriver Pack, since I came from another Pack. But I did not expect that Dominic and Courtney used to be in love like that.

***

Since I was a Beta’s daughter of the Saturnfest Pack, my family and I were invited to the Alpha's celebration of the coming age.

Usually, we were deliberately introduced to expand connections and also looked for a mate. After all, 16 years old was the mature age for a werewolf when usually they would get their own wolf and start meeting their mate.

I still remembered Dominic’s 16th birthday party banquet. It was a grand event, filled with laughter, dancing, and the excited energy of teenagers.

That night was also a special night for me, because it was the first time my wolf encountered her mate, Dominic’s wolf.

I felt an inexplicable bond, a magnetic pull toward him. However, to my dismay, Dominic seemed oblivious to the connection, ignoring the reaction entirely.

At the time, it did not make sense to me. But not long after, he pursued me and proposed to me, so I never thought about it anymore.

Then, after I moved over to the Moonriver Pack, I got to know if Dominic had a childhood friend who was a Beta’s daughter like me.

Later, I knew that her name was Courtney. But she moved over to the other Pack after marrying her mate.

The thing that I did not know was that Courtney’s decision shattered Dominic's heart. Then, he tried to pursue her and came to the other Pack just to meet her.

Then, I totally believed that he failed to get her back, because a month after Courtney’s wedding, he turned his attention to me.

I was even shocked when I saw him come to my Art School and bring a bouquet of flowers to propose to me.

But I had been in love with him from the moment I saw him at his 16th birthday banquet, so when he began to pursue me, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world and directly said yes.

A year after, Dominic and I got married, then I moved to the Moonriver Pack, leaving behind my home in the Saturnfest Pack.

Actually, since I thought we were in love with each other, I never bothered about Dominic and Courtney’s friendship. After all, she already moved to another Pack.

But starting from that day, when I knew it was actually a love story, my heart broke into pieces.

No wonder when Courtney came back to the Moonriver Pack, Dominic started to give her all of his care.

I took a deep breath and gripped the nearby trees since it dawned on me that I had never been in his heart.

However, when I got home, I did not expect that Dominic would also be there. After all, it was still 11 in the afternoon while he always got home at 5 in the evening.

When he saw me, he suddenly called out my name, "Lucinda."

Then, he sounded like he was in pain when said, "My... my stomach hurts."

I just nodded and wanted to go to the study again, after all we were still in silent treatment and everything was not clear enough.

But suddenly he grabbed my hand and demanded, "Lucinda, why don't you care anymore? You used to be concerned when I was ill. You will even make porridge and give me medicine."

He was right, that was indeed the old me. I would always spoil him since I loved him so much.

But at that time, I did not even feel sad or anxious when he said that his stomach hurt. I thought, everything that I used to do in the past started to lose and gone.

Seeing me did not answer, Dominic was speechless.

His calm tone changed to anger. He shouted, “Lucinda, how long are you going to keep arguing with me about Courtney?

“When you are angry about the fire, I have explained and apologized.

“For that candy, it’s just a misunderstanding. As for last night, I told you that he is just a kid, so he slipped.

“I've told you repeatedly that there's nothing between us. So, if there’s something else on your mind, we need to discuss it instead of ignoring each other.”

"Oh, okay," I said calmly, a stark contrast to his anger.