Because I believed there was a future worth waiting for.
But after that night, I no longer wished to wait.
At dawn, Lucian’s parents arrived with several elders from his bloodline.
The omegas had just finished laying out breakfast when they entered. His mother glanced around and immediately asked, “Has Lucian returned?”
I smiled faintly.
“He never came back last night.”
Her face paled.
One of the elder aunts caught her sleeve. “Sheena, call him back at once. This is unacceptable.”
Then she turned to me, patting my hand awkwardly.
“Selene, don’t be angry. Have you eaten? Sit with us.”
I looked at them quietly.
They were embarrassed. Ashamed for him. Sorry for me.
But none of that changed where he had spent the night.
I sat with them and ate breakfast as though it were an ordinary morning.
When Lucian finally answered his mother’s mindlink, his voice was low and impatient. He said he could not leave yet. Rosalie had not awakened, and he needed to remain by her side.
The room fell silent.
One aunt lowered her cup. Another looked away. Sheena’s fingers tightened against the table.
Everyone looked at me.
I only smiled.
“I’m due at the Alpha Hall,” I said as I rose. “You may wait for him here.”
I picked up my cloak and left.
The day passed in a blur of Luna duties—reports, patrol records, disputes among pack members. I buried myself in work until sunset stretched long shadows across the hall.
Lucian never returned.
Strangely, I felt no anger.
No disappointment.
Only relief.
Because this… was exactly what I had expected.
His family waited until nearly midnight before finally leaving.
By then, the Alpha house had gone still. The fire in the front room had burned low, leaving only a faint red glow beneath the ash, and the moonstone lamps along the walls shone dimly, their pale light washed thin against the stone. The evening meal prepared for Lucian sat untouched on the table, long gone cold. His mother and aunts lingered far longer than they should have, as though their presence alone might soften the humiliation he had left behind.
But some things could not be softened.
Not when the Alpha who should have returned never did.