He didn’t respond, and I didn’t push the matter further. There was no point. His silence told me everything I needed to know.
When we arrived at the villa where Beta Ark’s celebration was taking place, the warmth and light spilling from the windows did nothing to thaw the chill in my heart. The hall was filled with pack members and elders, all laughing and talking as they awaited our arrival. Leila was among them, her face lighting up in surprise when she saw us enter together.
"Good evening, Alpha Haynes, Luna Aeliana," she greeted us, her voice sugary sweet. "We’ve been waiting for you for a long time."
I forced a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "I’m sorry. I came in a hurry and didn’t bring a gift," I said, turning to Beta Ark.
Meanwhile, Beta Ark, ever the charmer, waved off my apology.
"I’ve given him a gift on your behalf," Haynes interjected smoothly before Ark could respond. "You don’t need to feel sorry."
His hand lightly grasped mine as he led me to the table. The remaining two seats were placed opposite each other, a detail I couldn’t help but notice. It felt like a setup, a subtle jab at my position.
I released his hand and walked straight to the seat opposite him, my movements deliberate. I could feel the eyes of the pack members on me, their judgment heavy in the air.
I knew what the pack members and the elders were thinking.
The elders—they never approved of Alpha Haynes and me being together and were always cold to me. It was because my pack, the Bloodmoon Pack, even though we were mated, never really approved of any alliance with the Shadowveil Pack. The Elders took it by heart while I understood my Alpha father because, for so long, our pack remained unaffiliated with outside packs; not even the Alpha King managed to get us on his side because we remained neutral throughout the years.
Before, I wanted to get along with the Elders, and I would give them gifts I carefully selected for every holiday.
But I've never seen anyone really use the things I gave them. They probably didn't want to accept me from the bottom of their hearts. I was too naive to see such an obvious thing until now.
Alpha Haynes’s expression tightened slightly, but he said nothing, simply taking the seat next to Leila as if it were the most natural thing in the world.