Amid my post-abortion checkup, Dane, my mate and also the powerful Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, once again found a reason to leave. It had become a familiar pattern, one I had grown accustomed to. Initially, his absence stung, as if I had been abandoned, but over time, that sting dulled into a numb acceptance.
Taking my medication after the checkup, my face contorted, tasting its bitter taste scattered in my mouth. It was not the pack's clinic, so the pack members would not have a chance to talk about the situation. Instead, it was a clinic referred to by my mate saying someone vouched for this place.
After that, I returned to the pack house alone, a lingering sense of loneliness trailing me.
Opening my social media account upon my return, I noticed a post where someone tagged Dane.
[Just had a bruise on my cheek, but this one insisted on dragging me to the wolf healer's clinic! He has been accompanying me since. You're still the best!]
I didn't bother confronting Dane about his continued deception. The anger and hurt I might have felt before now seemed like too much effort in a relationship that felt increasingly burdensome.
Later, as I scrolled more, I saw intimate photos of Dane and this one woman, one I was familiar with, at an Alpha banquet. Then again, I wasn't angry.
Was it because things had not been doing well with me and my wolf? My emotions were rather numb than usual. Cassia, my wolf, had been quiet and it was not normal.
And when I unexpectedly encountered my mate with that woman together in the vicinity of the pack, she was holding a child as if they were a family. However, my reaction surprised even me. Calmly, I remarked, "The child needs a father figure. You should spend more time with them, Alpha Dane."
Startled, he grabbed me anxiously and asked, "Celeste, why don't you care at all?"
--
Today marked two months since my abortion surgery, and I had a miscarriage due to an accident on my way home from the pack's clinic where I was working. The impact that my body had was too much, but the amount of blood I lost was rather abnormal.
I was a wolf healer, and I was born with the character to heal others. That, alone, was a reason for my Alpha to agree to hone my skills by working at the pack's clinic.
However, I chose not to undergo surgery in the same clinic. I didn't want my work to get tangled with my personal life.
My Alpha accompanied me to my checkup, and as usual, he made an excuse and left in a hurry afterward. Unlike before, I didn't plead for his company. Watching him walk away, a strange detachment washed over me. His presence or absence no longer dictated my emotions.
As if the weaker Cassia became inside me, the more I could not connect to my emotions anymore.
When he mind linked me while I was deeply thinking, I was a bit startled. "Celeste, go home on your own. I'm quite busy today."
I simply replied, "Alright." In the past, I would have desperately needed him to pick me up. But things had changed. Not just me, but my affection towards him.
On my way home, I noticed my mate's car back at the clinic—contradicting his earlier claim that he could not pick me up. Upon returning to the pack house, I saw another post on Twitter, echoing the same words she had shared in another post. There, in the corner of the image, was Dane's shirt—a gift from me on his birthday. This user was none other than Felicity Valentin, my mate's childhood sweetheart who had returned from another pack after mating with someone there. For years, Felicity stayed in a mysterious town.
In Alpha Dane's eyes, I was merely a substitute for his first love, Felicity. Yet, foolishly in love, I had mated with him. I had even wanted to have his pups, but my miscarriage now seemed like a fateful warning against it.
God, the Moon Goddess must have hated me this much, huh?
After taking the medicinal herbs that were given to me, I drifted off to sleep.
During the night, I was stirred awake by the creak of the door. "What did the healer say today?" Dane asked softly, stroking my head. Caught in the air was a trace of another scent, one that I knew was not his, which I silently acknowledged by avoiding his touch.
"Nothing important," I forced a smile, "Everything's fine."
Dane nodded hurriedly, "There's a lot of meetings lately." Instead of challenging his lie, I rolled over and closed my eyes. "Maybe you should take a shower before bed."
He hesitated for a moment before silently heading to the bathroom, where I heard the water start to flow.
And there, I settled on the bed again, my back against the empty side.
Things have been bugging me these days, not just the miscarriage, and not just my miserable mateship with Dane, but also my weakening connection to my wolf, Cassia.
Her voice... it was becoming faint, and until now, I didn't know why.
Chapter 2The next morning, I had an early shift at the pack’s clinic, so I woke up and prepared myself quickly. As I descended the stairs of the pack house, I couldn't help but overhear the Omegas whispering among themselves.
"I heard Felicity's from some ancient witch lineage," one Omega murmured, her voice filled with excitement.
"Really? That explains a lot," another Omega responded, awe evident in her tone.
Their conversation lingered in my mind, leaving me both curious and uneasy. But, dismissing it as something irrelevant to my routine, I continued with my day.
After the morning meeting at the clinic ended, Dane mind-linked me. His tone carried a hint of irritation. “Why didn’t you wake me up? You even left early without telling me! Now, I'm late.”
I used to take care of every detail of his morning, especially after we mated. Clothes were laid out, breakfast prepared with care, and a gentle wake-up call. It was a ritual I followed every single day. Now, his tone made it clear that he had come to expect these gestures as if they were obligations rather than acts of love.
But I was never meant to be his maid; I was his mate! I was his Luna. I had the right to choose what I would and wouldn't do. “Instead of talking to me, why don't you just get up and ready yourself?"
“What about my clothes?” He asked again, sounding almost helpless.
“Just pick something from the closet. It’s all there,” I replied.
“But I can’t find anything," the Alpha began, but since another healer called me over before he could finish, I spoke, “I have to go. Just find your clothes yourself,” I said, cutting him off and hurrying to help my co-worker.
Moments later, it didn't seem like he had the intention to stop bugging me through our mind link. Goodness, I hear him more often than my wolf!
"The shirts are wrinkled! You haven’t ironed them? I can’t go to the meeting with other Alphas wearing this!"
Then another complaint came, "You didn’t cook breakfast for me too?"
Before I could respond, the head healer of the pack's clinic called me over, his voice brimming with excitement. “Luna, great news! After reviewing your performance, and your knowledge about herbs and modern medicine, the Lotus Tower wants to discuss further training with you."
My eyes widened upon hearing the great news. I had originally turned down this opportunity, believing that the mateship with Alpha Dane and having children with him as we led Silver Moon Pack together was my future. But now, I saw how hopeless those dreams had been. This fated mateship, and building a family with him had lost their appeal. Staying with my mate felt not only pointless but also foolish.
“I’ve thought it over. I’ll go,” I replied, feeling a newfound sense of determination.
“Excellent choice!” The head Wolf Healer exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious. He instructed me to prepare and said he would notify me once the dates were set.
This opportunity was my chance to carve out a future on my own terms, a future no longer tethered to Dane. A future where my gift to heal could be honed.
Time slipped away as I immersed myself in work. When I glanced out the window, the world had already turned dark. Just as I was settling in with another stack of documents about ancient poisons, Dane mind linked me.
“Why aren’t you home yet? What about my dinner?” He demanded.
Until when do I have to act like his servant?
The thought of returning to the pack house, in our suffocating room, filled me with a deep sense of revulsion. That was why I stayed late at pack's clinic, busying myself with preparations for my journey to the Lotus Tower
Lotus Tower was the dream of every Wolf Healer. It was where books about healing, their magical power, and their greatness lie. Not only that, Lotus Tower was founded to train and hone healers of their kind.
“One of the healers had an emergency, so we switched shifts. Just let the Omegas cook your dinner,” I said, fabricating a quick excuse.
“What do you mean?” Dane sounded taken aback.
In the past, the maids' or even the Omega's cooking was never an option. I had always prepared every meal, three times a day, catering to his every need. I did all that, making him this dependent on me. And yet, he still chose to go to that woman even in times of need.
“Is there a problem?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral.
“No,” Dane hesitated before continuing, “Just take care of yourself and don’t overwork.”
“Thank you,” I replied, my tone flat and unenthusiastic.
After a pause, Dane asked, “Celeste, are you mad?”
The question ignited a small flicker of anger within me, but mostly, it was disappointment. Could he really be so oblivious, or did he simply not care about my feelings? Either way, it didn’t matter anymore. I was done being angry.
Chapter 3Dane's voice, soft and laden with apology, broke the silence. “Celeste, you have to understand. Felicity's struggling to raise her child alone. You know that, right? Her mate cut their ties. She only has me now.”
His words struck me hard, like a hard slap. It seemed he forgot that I, too, only had him. Yet again, why would he care about me when his eyes were set on his first love from the very beginning?
“Of course, I understand,” I replied, striving to keep my tone even. “She must’ve been through a lot.”
But my mate's patience seemed to snap. “What’s that supposed to mean? What’s with your attitude?”
“I said I understand,” I repeated, my voice now tinged with an edge. “Is that a problem?”
“Do you have to talk to me like that?” he retorted, his frustration spilling over.
“What do you want me to say?” I shot back, feeling the tension escalated.
A heavy, suffocating silence settled between us. Finally, he muttered, “Do as you wish,” before abruptly ending the mind link.
It was funny, and it was ironic. Once, I was the “annoying” one for questioning his visits to Felicity. When I’d called to ask when he’d be back from her place, I was bothersome. Now, even trying to be understanding provoked his irritation.
With a sigh, I stared back at the book before me. Dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything. I had more important matters to focus on, like the things I needed before going to Lotus Tower.
The days at the Silver Moon Pack's clinic had blurred together into an exhausting routine. But for me, each one grew heavier, like a weight I couldn’t shrug off. My body had started to betray me. What began as slight discomfort soon spiraled into frequent spells of dizziness, relentless nausea, and fatigue that seeped into my bones. Even the simplest tasks felt like climbing a mountain.
But not only the physician pain but my connection with Cassia... it became weaker.
"Cassia, please, talk to me," I begged.
Then, it came. While descending the stairs of the pack's clinic, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. I reached out, gripping the banister tightly, but my vision began to blur. The sounds around me became muffled as if I were submerged underwater. I clung to the railing, my breaths coming in shallow, trying desperately to steady myself.
“Are you okay, Luna?” Lily, a young Omega, noticed my struggle and hurried over, her eyes wide with concern.
“I’m fine, just a bit dizzy,” I forced a smile, though every fiber of my being felt far from fine. I waved Lily off gently, not wanting to alarm anyone else.
Thankfully, one medicinal herb was enough to ease my headache. As the night shift came to an end, I found myself lingering at the clinic. The thought of returning home held no appeal.
However, when I finally arrived at the pack house, my mate had already left for work.
That was when I decided to take a long, hot shower, seeking solace in the warm water, and then collapsed into bed. But just as sleep began to claim me, the persistent sensation of mind link jolted me awake. It was Dane.
“Celeste,” he murmured, sounding pained. “My… my stomach hurts.”
Yet, I was too sleepy. I recalled mumbling something in response, but exhaustion quickly pulled me back into sleep. In my dreams, I thought I heard the Alpha calling my name, but the sound was distant and easy to ignore.
After what seemed like only moments, I was startled awake by the sound of the door opening. And there he was, Dane stood by the bed, his face contorted with pain.
“You didn't care anymore, did you? You used to worry when I was sick. You're the one who heals me every time! What happened now?"
His words stirred memories of a time when I would drop everything to take care of him. Once, when he had a stomachache, I left work early to use my still unstable ability to heal him.
There was also a time when I had gotten caught in the rain, arriving drenched and disheveled just to make sure I could ease his pain. Instead of gratitude, I was met with ridicule from the elders for showing up drenched, and my mate, the ever-prideful Alpha, had just stood there, doing nothing to stop them. Worse still, he told me afterward never to come to his office again, calling me an embarrassment.
“Are you feeling better now?” I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “We might be out of medicine, though. Maybe you can grab some yourself.”
Upon hearing that, Dane was momentarily speechless. Then, anger flared. He grabbed my arm and exclaimed, “How long are you going to keep fighting with me about Felicity? I’ve told you, there’s nothing between us!”
“Oh, okay,” I replied, my calm demeanor in stark contrast to his rage.
With a final, furious slam of the door, the Alpha stormed out. The ensuing silence was not oppressive but rather liberating, a welcome contrast to the turmoil that had filled the room moments before.
Chapter 4Days bled into each other in a numbing blur. After the Alpha left, he disappeared for several days. I didn’t ask where he went, and he didn’t volunteer the information. On the third day, he finally talked to me through our mind link.
“I will attend a meeting with the neighboring Alphas,” he uttered. "I'm at Acorn Hill Town now." The words felt mechanical, devoid of any warmth or explanation.
“Okay, stay safe,” I mustered back, my lips curling into a bitter smile as I spoke those few words. The absurdity of it all struck me—pretending to care when the truth was unraveling in front of me.
Minutes later, my social media, Twitter, in particular, delivered another blow. Felicity’s tweet popped up on my feed, it was a picture of her at an event.
[First holiday spent in an event. My companion is a little grumpy today, tho!] And what made my eyebrows furrow was Dane’s hand, unmistakable with our mateship ring still on his finger, was in the frame. The location tag on her post matched the one that my mate had just told me—Acorn Hill Town.
A wave of nausea hit me. The ring on my finger burned like it should not be there. Without a second thought, I yanked it off and tossed it somewhere I didn't even look at, the betrayal and anger swirling inside me.
After that, my work at the pack's clinic became my refuge. The relentless pace and constant demands of being one of the healers were a welcome distraction. I lost myself in the whirl of patients, procedures, and paperwork. It was easier to immerse myself in the lives of others than to confront chaos on my own.
My mate's absence became a distant thing I refused to touch. His return was a question I no longer cared to ask.
The pack's clinic was a world of its own, a bustling microcosm where I could lose myself. One morning, I overheard a group of Wolf Healers talking excitedly about Ezekiel Ashborne, the Master of the Lotus Tower. The Lotus Tower was renowned for its elite healers, and Ezekiel was its enigmatic leader, a Wolf Healer known for his extraordinary powers and handsome looks. His visits were rare, but they always caused a stir.
“Did you hear? Ezekiel Ashborne is seen around Amberwood these days. Do you think he's going to visit us here?" One healer whispered, her eyes wide with anticipation.
“Who knows? But I don't care anymore since I already saw him once at a banquet,” another added, her voice tinged with admiration. “He’s even more impressive in person. Tall, with this commanding presence—and those eyes! Like storm clouds.”
“He’s the best Wolf Healer in the region,” a third chimed in. “I heard he can cure almost anything. They say just being near him feels like a healing in itself.”
Their words piqued my curiosity. I had heard of Ezekiel Ashborne, of course—every Wolf Healer had. His reputation was legendary, but I had never seen him in person. The thought of meeting someone so revered, someone who seemed to effortlessly command respect and awe, was strangely alluring. It was a sharp contrast to the misery I felt in my personal life.
Hours stretched into days. Then, unexpectedly, Dane, my Alpha, appeared outside the clinic one evening. It had been an exhausting shift, and I was trudging toward the exit when I saw his familiar car parked across the place.
“Why are you here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, fatigue weighing down my words.
He opened the car door and smiled at me. “Did you forget that today is our mateship anniversary?”
“Oh,” I mumbled, caught off guard. “Sorry. I’ve been really busy and it slipped my mind.”
“Celeste, you used to care about this more than anything. How could you forget?” His eyes searched mine, a mixture of disbelief and hurt.
His words stung, dredging up memories of past anniversaries and birthdays when I had poured my heart into celebrating him. Dinners planned, decorations chosen with care—all my efforts to show him how much he meant to me. I remembered the surprise party I’d organized, only for him to pull me aside, embarrassed by the attention. “You’re making such a big deal out of this, Celeste. Everyone’s looking at us. I'm getting uncomfortable, you know?” His words had turned what was meant to be a joyous occasion into a painful one.
Now, there was nothing left to celebrate. The spark that once ignited our relationship had long since extinguished.
“Come on, let’s go have dinner and celebrate,” he urged, ushering me into the car.
As he drove, silence filled the space between us, thick and oppressive. He kept glancing at me, searching for a flicker of the old enthusiasm that used to light up my face on such occasions.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you upset?” he finally asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
“No,” I replied, shaking my head. My voice was flat, and emotionless, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me.
“No?” he echoed, his tone rising. “Then why the attitude? Here I am, putting in the effort, picking you up for dinner. Can’t you at least pretend to appreciate it?”
“I’m not angry, Alpha.”
“Fine!” He exclaimed, exasperation etched across his features. “I promise, no more contact with Felicity again, okay?”
I stared at him. It was ridiculously funny. Did he really believe that a simple promise could erase months of lies and betrayal?
He really should not have triggered my anger! I was already preoccupied because Cassia had been ignoring my voice as if she could no longer hear me, and now this!
“Are you happy now?” he pressed, his voice edged with impatience.
I remained silent, unwilling or unable to engage in the charade any longer. The car ride continued in heavy, unbroken quiet, finally ending at a lavish restaurant. Dane had spared no expense, reserving a table and arranging flowers and a gift.
The scene was a perfect picture of romantic bliss, complete with envious glances from other diners. But as I reached for the gift he prepared for me, the Alpha's phone rang.
“Fever? Do you have any medicine?” he asked, answering the call. My eyebrows furrowed. “I can’t take you to the clinic today; I have something to do. What? That high? Okay, wait for me. I'll be right over.”
He hung up and turned to me, his eyes filled with awkwardness and an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher. “It's... It's Felicity. Her child has a fever. I need to…”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak. “It’s fine,” I said, my voice eerily calm. “You should go. The child is more important.”
He stood up, hesitating for a moment before grabbing his coat. “Wait for me, okay? I'll pick you up. I’ll be back soon,” he promised, then hurriedly left.
I was left alone, staring at the half-eaten cake. The rain outside lashed against the windowpanes, mirroring the tears I refused to shed. Sighing deeply, I finished the cake and got up to leave.
Outside, I hailed a cab and told the driver to drop me at Silver Moon Pack. The drizzle had turned into a steady downpour, and by the time I reached the entrance of our apartment building, I was soaked and shivering. The cold rain on my face felt almost purifying, washing away the remnants of the evening’s farce.
Once home, I took a long, hot shower, trying to scrub away the lingering sense of betrayal.
Wrapped in a towel, I scrolled through my phone and saw Felicity’s latest tweet. It showed Dane sitting by her child’s bed, a warm yellow light casting a cozy glow over the scene. The image was the complete opposite of the cold, lonely rain outside.
Chapter 5The next morning, the Alpha stumbled through the door, looking disheveled and exhausted. His eyes were heavy with the weight of a sleepless night.
“Diana had a high fever all night. It wouldn’t go down,” he said, his voice strained. Diana was Felicity’s child, and hearing her name felt like a reminder that he would put everyone else before me.
“Is everything okay now? Why didn’t you stay longer? It must be hard for Felicity to handle a sick child alone,” I replied, my words laced with a bitterness I didn’t bother to hide.
Upon hearing that, Dane paused, halfway through shrugging off his coat. A flicker of annoyance crossed his features. “Are you being sarcastic again?” he sighed, the sound heavy with weariness. Whether it was real or just another act, I couldn’t tell. “Look, I didn’t sleep all night. I’m very tired.”
“Then you should get some rest. I’m going to the clinic,” I said, reaching for my bag, already turning away.
“Celeste…” he began, reaching out to stop me.
“What is it?” I asked, my tone flat and devoid of interest.
“I'll make it up to you for the anniversary celebration next time, okay?” He suggested his voice a weak plea for reconciliation.
A ghost of a smile played on my lips, empty and devoid of feeling. “Nah, don't worry about it. I’m not mad,” I replied, the words hollow and meaningless.
He looked at me, searching for a response, and then pulled me into a hug. The gesture felt as empty as his promises. “There’s a gathering of different packs this weekend,” he murmured into my hair. “Let’s go together.”
It was obvious that Dane’s background was far more prestigious than mine. He was the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack after all. Not only that, but he was highly respected as well. I had attended gatherings and banquets with him, but everyone barely acknowledged me, treating me as an outsider.
Yet, they didn’t hesitate to ask for my help with minor health issues, leveraging my position at the pack's clinic. In the past, I had often brought Dane meals or medicine whenever he was sick, but he, whenever we weren't alone, would never acknowledge my presence. It was as if I was a ghost in his life as an Alpha, invisible and unacknowledged.
I snapped back to reality and replied, “No, I might have to work at the clinic overtime next weekend.”
“Suit yourself,” the Alpha hissed through gritted teeth, his frustration evident.
I didn’t attend the gathering, but I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. My phone buzzed incessantly while I was in the clinic, immersed in writing medical records. But before I checked my phone, I was preoccupied with something far more troubling.
For days now, I had been trying to connect with Cassia, my wolf. As a healer and a werewolf, the bond with my wolf was integral to my strength and well-being. Cassia had always been a steady presence in my mind, a source of power and comfort. But recently, I couldn’t feel her at all. It was as if she had vanished, leaving a gaping void where our connection used to be.
I sat at my desk, closing my eyes and focusing inward, trying to reach her. “Cassia, are you there?” I whispered, desperation creeping into my voice. But there was no response, just a suffocating silence.
The strain of our broken connection was taking a toll on me. My body felt heavy and sluggish, my senses dulled. The energy that once flowed effortlessly through me now felt blocked, stifled. It was as if a part of me was missing, and the emptiness was slowly draining my strength.
Just as I was about to try reaching out to Cassia again, my phone buzzed with relentless notifications. Someone had added me to the group chat, it was for the gathering. It seemed like although many wolves were old-fashioned, some still coped with trends. I clicked into the chat, my curiosity and dread mingling.
Photos from the event streamed in, showing various activities and smiling faces. Felicity featured prominently, her bright smile and effortless charm shining through. She fit in perfectly with the Alpha's circle, laughing and engaging with ease. One picture in particular made my breath catch: my mate carrying Felicity in his arms, lifting her off the ground like she was his Luna. She clung to his neck, her cheek resting against his chest. If she tilted her head just slightly, she could kiss his chin.
The group chat erupted with cheers and comments, tagging Dane and Felicity and calling them a “perfect match.” Flattery and eager compliments flowed in, each more effusive than the last, all seeking to ingratiate themselves with Dane.
Since I had been added to the group, I couldn’t ignore it. Maintaining a facade was essential, even if it meant participating in this farce. So, I typed two words, “Perfect match", my fingers trembling slightly as I hit send.
With a click, I exited the group chat and silenced my phone. The digital world buzzed on without me, its superficial praise and false cheerfulness nothing more than background noise. I returned to my work, the medical records providing a brief refuge from the storm raging in my mind. By the time I finished, darkness had settled outside.
While doing all that, I refused to listen to any of my mates' attempts to mind link me.
As I finally checked my phone again, I saw dozens of missed calls from him. There were even messages, but I refused to care anymore.
I stood up after hours of sitting, but suddenly my world felt like it was spinning. I thought it was because my body was shocked by the sudden movement, but when I looked in the mirror, I saw my nose bleeding.