Begging me to Come Back? No Way!

I turned on my heel, my face a mask of indifference as I prepared to walk away. But before I could leave, Beta Ark and Leila stepped out from the shadows of the hallway, their expressions unreadable. They exchanged a brief glance before Leila spoke, her voice sweet but with an edge that didn’t escape me.

"Luna Aeliana, since you're already here, please greet the delegations from our neighboring packs, and have some dinner before you leave," Leila said with a practiced smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

I met her gaze with a cold stare. "No, I can't eat with you guys around," I replied flatly, feeling the ice in my veins harden with every word.

Their faces faltered, Leila's smile nearly slipping as she tried to maintain her composure. "Luna Aeliana, what do you mean by that?"

I didn't bother answering her. Instead, I focused my attention on Alpha Haynes, who stood silently beside her, his jaw clenched. "She calls you every time she has an issue," I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing within me. "And you always rush to her side without hesitation. I didn’t understand why before, but now I do. Do you find it amusing to put on this act in front of me?"

His face darkened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something—guilt, perhaps, or anger? "What nonsense are you talking about?" He snapped. "I've said it before. I see Leila as my sister."

Leila's face turned pale, her hands trembling ever so slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure. I swept my gaze over the both of them, suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of disgust.

How could I have been so blind? How could I have been so in love with Alpha Haynes when, to them, it might just be a joke?

"It doesn’t matter what your relationship with Leila is," I said, my voice sharp and unyielding. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again—we're over. Don't ever try looking for me again."

Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked away, not sparing a single glance back. My steps were brisk and determined. I headed straight for the pack house, no longer caring where my body would lead me, as long as it wasn't here.

I had no intention of showing up at my parents' pack looking pitiful, so I needed to find somewhere else to go.

This time, I would erase Alpha Haynes completely from my life.

The next day dawned quietly, the morning light filtering through the windows of my room as I packed my belongings. It seemed the feast and gathering with the delegations had kept them all occupied, and Alpha Haynes had yet to return. His absence didn’t bother me; in fact, I welcomed it. It gave me the time I needed to prepare.

As I folded the last of my clothes, a document on the edge of the bed caught my eye. It was a proposal for an alliance with a group of wolves I hadn’t bothered to review. Something about them seemed suspicious, and I hadn’t wanted to waste my time on it. But now, as I held it in my hands, unease stirred in my chest. This report said that Leila trusted them, but from my knowledge, I knew she was not affiliated with any pack. No, it was not a pack... just a group of wolves whose aim, as per this document, was to gather powerful packs for the peace of the continent.

It was... too good to be true. But then, some were idealistic, were they?

Pushing the thought aside, I decided to head to the building where my office was, where Alpha Haynes, the elders, and Beta Ark also had their offices. If I could catch Beta Ark, perhaps I could at least lend this to him since I would leave this pack already.

When I reached his office, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. I was about to push it open when I heard voices from within. Instinctively, I stepped back and masked my presence, my heart pounding in my chest. It was a gift for a Lycan like me, the ability to hide not just my scent but also my very presence. I pressed myself against the wall, listening intently.

"Are you sure the Alpha of Bloodmoon Pack knows that his daughter is suffering here? Then why isn’t he making a move? He should be here right now, demanding to have his daughter back!" Leila’s voice was sharp, tinged with frustration.

I froze, my mind racing. What did they mean? Why would my father…?

Leila's voice continued, her tone lowering into something more sinister. "Wolves with Lycan lineage are very protective of their kind. If her father knew that Aeliana was suffering, he would make everyone suffer. But he's still not doing anything! The plan—"

This time, another voice interrupted, "Calm down, Leila. We can't rush this. I know you're already losing patience but think about it... if we fail, it will be harder for us. Making her suffer here within our touch and pushing the Alpha of Bloodmoon Pack to go out of his lair is easier than ambushing them in their territory. Pushing him to step out is the only way the organization can ambush him and get his precious Lycan heart— you know it's crucial to making our leader stronger."

I stifled a gasp, my blood running cold. What were they talking about? What organization? And what did they mean by my father’s heart?