Sensing my refusal to allow him close, frustration flickered across his face, but he knew better than to push me tonight.
“I’ll wait outside. Call if you need anything.”
“Sure,” I answered with a hollow smile.
Don’t worry, I thought bitterly. I’d rather endure the pain than ask for your help.
When I came out in my nightgown, Xavien still stood by the door. The steam from my shower carried my scent to him-fresh, clean, and unmistakably mine. His eyes darkened as they roamed over my bare shoulders and collarbone, his wolf stirred instinctively by its mate.
I moved toward the bed, preparing to sleep, but caught the hungry look in his eyes.
“My back is killing me,” I said flatly. “If you’re hoping for anything physical tonight, you’ll be disappointed.”
Xavien slid his arms around me from behind, his lips brushing my shoulder, blocking any chance of escape. “I can be gentle,” he murmured, breath hot against my skin.
“I’m exhausted and in pain. I’m not in the mood!” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t bear his touch now.
He studied my total disinterest, frustration tightening every muscle in his body. An Alpha werewolf wasn’t used to rejection, especially from his mate.
He released me, his expression unreadable. “Get some rest, then.”
Without another word, he turned and left the room.
***
The next day, at the most elegant western restaurant near Blood Moon…
“Celina, you really decided to leave?” Jasmine asked, her eyes red from crying. In the private dining room, the core members of the project department sat around the table, the air heavy with unspoken sorrow.
The usual sparkle of champagne was absent, the red wine untouched. What was once a lively department gathering now felt more like a somber farewell.
“Yes,” Celina lifted her wine glass with a forced smile, though fatigue weighed heavily in her gaze. “I’m sorry to leave everyone like this.”
“But you’ve given so much to Blood Moon,” another team leader, Tom, interrupted eagerly. “We all remember how hard you worked, step by step. At first, some said you relied on connections, but every project you led broke new records. Even competitors admit Blood Moon’s market share is because of you.”
“Exactly,” Linda from marketing chimed in, holding Celina’s hand and sighing. “I remember the day last quarter when the project succeeded-you were so excited, like a child. More invested in the company’s future than in Alpha. We all thought… you’d soon become the official Luna.”
Before she could finish, an awkward silence fell over the table. Everyone knew about the woman from the Ward family, and that topic was especially sensitive.
“Let’s not talk about that,” Celina shook her head gently, relief softening her voice. “I have my reasons. If you ever need anything in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
Jasmine could no longer hold back her sobs, her eyes blurring with tears. “What will I do if you leave? The lady from the Ward family can’t even use Excel…”
“Speaking of that,” Alex from Human Resources suddenly spoke up, his tone serious, “have you ever thought about the Silver Peak Pack?”
The atmosphere shifted instantly; even Jasmine’s sobs ceased.
“I heard their Alpha’s son just returned from Wall Street and is actively recruiting talent, especially for the chief secretary position. The salary is said to be twice what Blood Moon offers.”
“You mean Sebastian Black?” Linda exclaimed, letting go of Celina’s hand. “The business prodigy, known for being cold and strict with his subordinates? The Wall Street Journal reported he quadrupled his family’s assets in just three years!”
Celina’s eyes flickered with a new spark of hope. Silver Peak Pack-the most prestigious wolf pack in the region… Perhaps fate was opening another door for her.
Celina
The line on the other end was swallowed by a suffocating silence, thick and unyielding.
After what felt like an eternity, Xavien finally broke the quiet, his voice softening into that familiar, coaxing tone he always used when trying to bend me to his will. “It was just the heat of the moment,” he murmured. “I never meant to hurt you.”
His insincere affection made my skin crawl.
“Don’t bother,” I snapped, cutting him off sharply. Each word he uttered twisted my stomach into knots. “Whether you meant it or not doesn’t erase the fact that you raised your hand against me. The Alpha who vowed to protect me became the one who inflicted pain.”
“Fine, fine, it’s all my fault,” he growled, the raw edge of his Alpha nature slipping through beneath his feigned remorse. “Just tell me where you are! I need to know right now!”
“I’ve already told you-I’ll come back.”
“You will come home tonight,” he commanded, his voice dropping into that menacing tone that made even the strongest pack members shrink away. “Or I swear, I’ll tear this city apart until I find you.”
I could feel the storm of his rage brewing, his control unraveling. My body instinctively stiffened, memories flooding back of how an Alpha’s fury could consume a room like wildfire.
After a long, tense pause, I finally gave in, agreeing to return within the hour.
When Xavien got like this-territorial, frantic-he was unpredictable and dangerous. I couldn’t risk him discovering my new apartment, my sanctuary once the divorce papers were finalized.
As Harlow drove me back to what had once been my home, her knuckles whitened as she gripped the steering wheel with fierce determination.
“This bastard keeps betraying you, over and over, yet still acts like he owns you,” she spat, anger radiating from her every word. “That temper of his, that terrifying need to control everything… Celina, if he finds out you tricked him into signing those divorce papers, I’m scared he might actually kill you.”
I stared out at the city lights flickering in the distance, feeling oddly detached from it all. “Maybe I should keep some wolfsbane close,” I joked darkly. “Poison him before he gets the chance to strangle me.”
The moment I stepped through the door, Xavien surged toward me like a tempest, his face a tangled mess of concern and barely restrained fury. The scent of his anxiety hung thick in the air.
I shot him a cold glance and moved past him to change my shoes, determined to keep my distance.
As I bent down, a sharp stab of pain shot through my injured back, forcing a visible wince.
Xavien instinctively reached out to steady me, his protective instincts flaring.
“Don’t touch me!” I hissed, pulling away as though his touch burned. I’d rather bear the pain than feel his hands on me again-the very same hands that had been all over Cira earlier today.
A flicker of something-hurt, maybe guilt-passed through Xavien’s eyes. Good. Let him feel a sliver of the pain I carried.
He withdrew his hand and followed me into the living room, pulling out his phone as we walked.
“I’ve installed security cameras in the office,” he said, holding the screen up for me to see. “You can check the feed anytime you want. What happened today won’t happen again.”
His words caught me off guard. I expected him to downplay the situation, as he always did when cornered by his own lies.
I studied the screen thoughtfully. “Afraid I might catch you in another one of your ‘intimate moments’ with your little candy girl? Worried about embarrassing her again?”
Xavien’s jaw clenched tightly. “There’s nothing between us.”
When I raised an eyebrow, he pressed on, his voice growing more insistent. “Fine. I admit I find her fun and cute, but I only see her as a little sister. She’s at the company because her father asked me to mentor her.”
He ran a hand through his hair-a gesture I once found charming but now seemed calculated. “We’re signing the contract with Shadow Pack next week. The Whites made this small request-how could I refuse?”
How convenient. He painted the picture perfectly: she was just a sister figure, a business obligation. Nothing that would justify his allowing her to disrespect his mate, indulging her every whim at the expense of my dignity.
When did he become so fake? This wasn’t the man I had bonded with years ago.
Our eyes locked-steady, unflinching. After a moment, I wore a mask of sudden understanding. “Oh, I see. Just a sister, huh? But didn’t she mention all those nights you spent together? A brother sleeping with his sister-isn’t that called incest in human terms?”
“I told you, she’s just an impulsive child who says whatever comes to mind.”
“A child whose impulsiveness you find so fun and cute,” I countered sharply.
Xavien sighed deeply, realizing he was getting nowhere. “Look, there’s nothing between us. In a few days, you can go on that trip we discussed. When you return, we’ll start trying for a pup. After that, you can settle comfortably into your role as Luna of Blood Moon Pack. I promise, that position will always belong to you.”
I stared at him, a slow, bitter smile spreading across my lips as the truth settled cold and hard in my veins.
Now I understood.
The Luna position would always be mine, yes-but I was expected to overlook his increasingly reckless heart and its desires. Why should I accommodate him? He’d betrayed me with Cira-vacations together, secret nights, watching sunrises side by side. He’d shredded my heart to pieces and now expected me to cradle those bloody shards while bearing his children and growing old beside him?
How cruel, how selfish he had become.
“I love you,” Xavien said, misreading my smile as forgiveness. He pulled me into his arms before I could resist, holding me with desperate intensity, as if terrified of losing me.
But my heart remained frozen-a barren landscape where his warmth could no longer reach.
With every secret uncovered, my determination to leave only grew stronger.
Xavien helped me upstairs and called the pack doctor to examine my back. Only when the doctor confirmed there was no bone damage did his tension visibly ease.
When I entered the bathroom, he lingered in the doorway. “Let me help you,” he offered quietly.
“No need,” I replied coldly.
If he dared touch me with those same hands that had caressed another woman, I might seriously consider slipping wolfsbane into his morning coffee.
Xavien sensed my continued resistance, frustration flickering across his features, but he knew better than to push me tonight.
“I’ll wait outside. Call if you need anything.”
“Sure,” I answered with a forced smile.
Don’t worry, I thought bitterly. I’d rather suffer in silence than ask for your help.
When I emerged in my nightgown, Xavien was still by the door. The steam from my shower carried my scent to him-fresh, clean, unmistakably mine. His eyes darkened as they roamed over my bare shoulders and collarbone, his wolf stirring instinctively at the sight of his mate.
I moved toward the bed, preparing to rest, but caught the hungry gleam in his eyes. “My back is killing me,” I said flatly. “If you’re hoping for anything physical tonight, you’ll be disappointed.”
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