He reached out, placing his palm gently against my forehead. “You’re still a little warm,” he murmured softly. “Nothing serious. Try to sleep. I’ll keep watch over you.”
I lay back down, closing my eyes, but my body remained stiff, tense, refusing to relax despite my outward surrender.
An hour later, I controlled my breathing to mimic sleep, ears straining as Xavien quietly retrieved his phone. His footsteps were soft as he slipped toward the balcony, the faint beep of his phone powering on cutting through the silence.
“Are you okay? Don’t worry, don’t be scared. I’m coming right over…” His voice was barely a whisper, yet it sounded piercingly sharp in my ears.
He returned to the bedroom, grabbed his jacket, and slipped out the door.
The instant it clicked shut behind him, my eyes snapped open. I had never truly fallen asleep.
What was I still hoping for? A man who changes his mind is like fruit rotting from the inside-the decay only spreads with time.
At half past four in the morning, Xavien came back.
Seeing me apparently asleep, he exhaled in relief. He approached, touched my forehead gently, satisfied that the fever had broken.
He headed toward the bathroom. I listened to the steady sound of the shower running, water splashing against the tiles blending with the bitterness swirling in my mind. When he emerged in his robe, he slid into bed beside me, his arm curling possessively around my waist as if nothing had shifted between us.
After his breathing deepened into sleep, I carefully slipped his arm away and sat up. I studied his sleeping form with cold detachment-the striking features I once cherished, the thin lips, the sensual curve of his Adam’s apple, and then…
My gaze fixed on the row of small, unmistakable bite marks along his collarbone.
In that moment, the darkest impulse overtook me: to plunge a sterling silver dagger through his heart, so this proud Alpha would finally understand what real pain feels like.
…
When Xavien woke, I was already downstairs. Wearing an apron, I had prepared breakfast for both of us, calling him to join as if it were any ordinary morning.
“Your fever just broke. Why didn’t you sleep longer?” Xavien asked, approaching and reaching out to check my temperature.
I subtly shifted away from his touch. “It was just a mild cold. Nothing serious.”
Removing my apron, I sat at the table. Xavien glanced at his empty hand, momentarily awkward, but seemed reassured by my calm demeanor. He sat down beside me.
“There’s something I want to talk about,” I began, keeping my tone deliberately light.
“What is it?” he asked, taking a sip of juice.
“I want to resign from my position at the company.”
The words stunned him. Before he could respond, I continued, “I’ve been consumed by work for years. I’m tired. I want to know what it’s like to live the pampered life of a wealthy alpha’s mate for once.”
Xavien studied me carefully, trying to gauge if I was serious.
“Are you sure you’re not joking?” he asked.
“I’m not,” I said, smiling faintly without warmth. “What, do you think I’m some kind of masochist who doesn’t know how to enjoy life?”
After a moment’s thought, he nodded. “Not working might be good for you. You could stay home. Maybe we can use this time to try for a pup.”
I smiled without commitment. Inside, I was boiling. Right, that’s your plan, isn’t it? Turn me into your breeding machine while you continue your nightly escapades with your ‘Sugar Baby.’ Keep dreaming, Xavien.
“I’ll handle my resignation in the next few days. I’m planning to travel to Europe-Harlow and I have made arrangements. It’s been ages since I’ve taken a proper trip.”
“Her law firm isn’t keeping her busy? She has time to travel with you?” His tone was tinged with suspicion.
“Oh, she’s very busy,” I said, my smile bright but hollow. “She’s making special time for me.”
Xavien fell silent, something clearly turning over in his mind.
After a pause, he spoke again. “A trip would be good for you. I’ll arrange everything beforehand. You won’t have to worry about a thing. Just enjoy yourself.”
I kept my smile, neither accepting nor rejecting his offer. By then, I would be saying goodbye to him forever.
The wound on my forehead was too noticeable-I didn’t want to appear at the office looking like a victim when I resigned. So, I took a few extra days off.
With time on my hands, I began packing my clothes, shoes, and personal belongings slowly, moving them little by little to my new home.
A bit today, a bit tomorrow. The closets visibly emptied-anyone paying attention would notice.
But Xavien remained oblivious.
I even took our wedding photo outside to the yard to burn it while he was home. He was too absorbed in his phone, alternating between quiet laughter and typing responses to whoever held his attention.
If only he had spared a single glance through the floor-to-ceiling windows at his mate…
I stood in the fading light of the sunset, watching him smile at his phone, studying him for a long time.
When the lighter finally burned my fingertips, I let it go, as if finally letting go of hope.
The flames consumed the gasoline, illuminating the wedding photo in the metal barrel. In the picture, I looked sweet, happy, and his eyes were full of nothing but me… Then slowly, our faces distorted, melted, and finally turned into a pile of black ashes…
A sudden tightness squeezed my chest. I stared at those ashes, my vision blurring with unshed tears.
“What are you burning?” Xavien’s voice finally broke the silence as he noticed the fire outside.
I tilted my head back, swallowing the emotions threatening to spill over. “Nothing important, just some…” I turned to face him, my slightly reddened eyes contradicting the gentle smile on my lips. “Useless garbage.”
Xavien glanced at the barrel, thick black smoke rising, and looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. “If it’s garbage, why not just throw it away?”
“Burning is more thorough,” I answered simply.
His brow furrowed in confusion.
We stood there in the yard without another word, as the last light on the horizon vanished into darkness-just like the last flicker of my hope being swallowed by bitter truth.
Celina
On that Friday morning, the auto shop finally called to let me know that my car was ready. Relief washed over me as I imagined driving it again. After picking up the vehicle, I almost reached for my phone to call Lian, the older gentleman who had been so kind to me. But then I remembered the suit he had lent me. I had promised to clean it and return it properly.
After a moment of thought, I decided to call him. I started by telling him my car was fixed, then I sent over the repair details along with the cost. At the end of the message, I added a somewhat hesitant question: “Would it be too forward if I asked for your employer’s height, weight, and measurements?”
My reasoning was practical-I wanted to replace the entire suit set with something matching, rather than returning mismatched pieces. Lian had shown me generosity by lending me his clothes, and the least I could do was avoid causing any trouble for him.
There was silence on the other end.
I waited longer than expected but received no reply.
Maybe the older gentleman didn’t know the specifics and needed to check with his boss? I chose not to dwell on it.
As I neared the next intersection, my phone rang again. It was the financial manager, needing to verify some details with me. The wound on my forehead had nearly healed, and I felt well enough to turn my car around and head back to the office.
After being away for so many days, my return to the project department sparked a wave of concern from my team. They hurried over, offering worried greetings and asking if I was okay. I hadn’t yet told them about my resignation, and the thought of leaving them to adjust to a new supervisor filled me with genuine regret.
Following my meeting with the financial manager, I returned to my office and spent the afternoon catching up on all the work that had piled up. By late afternoon, I had finished drafting my resignation letter, planning to hand it to Xavien before leaving for the day.
But before the workday ended, as I went to get water in the break room, I overheard a conversation that made my stomach churn.
“Did you hear? The secretary’s department is buzzing-Shadow Pack Alpha’s fourth daughter, Cira Wynn, started working here today. The Alpha even placed her in his own office.”
“Is the Shadow Pack trying to form a mating alliance with the Blood Moon Pack?”
“Wait, isn’t Manager Celina the Alpha’s mate? What happens if they bond with Cira?”
A hush fell over the group as they exchanged uneasy glances, then sighed in unison. They sipped their coffee quietly, whispering about Cira’s shamelessness, my unfortunate position, and Xavien’s cold-heartedness.
I stood just outside, listening silently, my heart heavy.
Eventually, I returned to my office with my empty cup. I sat down and stared blankly ahead for a few moments before grabbing my printed resignation letter. Without hesitation, I headed upstairs.
Better to sever ties sooner rather than prolong the inevitable.
As I stepped onto the executive floor, Beta Henric hurried over, his face pale with nervousness. “Luna Celina, the Alpha is in a meeting right now. It’s not a good time.”
I nodded, pretending to understand, then turned as if to leave. The moment Beta Henric relaxed, I swiftly pivoted and strode toward the door with a graceful but determined pace.
I grasped the handle, twisted it, and pushed the door open firmly.
“Ah-!” A startled cry echoed from inside.
There, wrapped only in a towel, Cira was pressed against Xavien’s back, clearly caught off guard by the sudden intrusion.
Xavien’s smile froze instantly.
Beta Henric looked horrified, covering his eyes as if to block the scene. “M-Manager Celina, you see… Miss Ward was just moving some files and got sweaty, so she… she took a quick shower. I was worried you’d misunderstand, which is why I said he was in a meeting…”
I cast a cool glance at Beta Henric, a mixture of pity and disappointment in my eyes. “Beta Henric, you graduated from a prestigious university. It’s a shame you’re almost acting like a pimp.”
With that, I turned from him and stepped fully into the office.
“Celina, what are you implying?” Cira straightened her posture, her voice sharp and commanding. “You’re only a department manager, yet you dare barge into the Alpha’s office! You’re fired-don’t bother coming in tomorrow!”
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