I wanted to immediately turn and escape from this place that had shattered my heart, but something deep inside wouldn't let me.
I'd sacrificed everything for this love and waited years for Alaric, so I deserved at least a chance for him to explain. But I hadn't expected that wait to take four long hours.
The cold rain soaked me through and plastered my clothes to my skin as the freezing chill drilled into my bones. By the time Alaric finally emerged from the council hall, my face had drained all color, and my lips were bloodless.
I stepped toward him to talk, but the unfamiliar wolves beside him blocked my path and scanned me from head to toe. "Who are you?"
My gaze instinctively went to Alaric, who was speaking quietly to Serene. He was so absorbed in their conversation that he didn't even notice me.
Shivering, all I could do was reveal my identity in humiliation. "I'm Alaric's mate, Luna Kyna Lupen."
The group looked shocked.
"The Alpha's mate? Why have we never heard of her?"
"Yeah, I thought Serene's his mate."
"Aren't they the golden couple from the academy? They're so perfect for each other…"
Amidst their debate, Alaric finally looked up and cut them off in a sharp tone. "Serene and I have never dated. She's just my friend."
Then, he proceeded to introduce me. "This is Kyna Lupen, my Luna and fated mate. We've mated for five years."
Realization dawned over the group. Some looked at me with complicated emotions swirling in their eyes, some scanned me as if assessing my worth, while others seemed disappointed that Alaric and Serene weren't the fated pair. Most just seemed awkward and rejected my presence.
I felt like an intruder.
Then, someone suggested. "Let's eat. It's been a long meeting, and I'm sure everyone's starving."
My legs had gone numb from standing for so long and locked me in place as I watched Alaric and Serene walk past. Meanwhile, I was ruthlessly stranded at the back.
Then, whether intentional or not, the only seat left was the passenger seat when I opened the door of the MPV.
Alaric and Serene sat side by side in the very back. The earlier words seemed to have sparked some shared memory, and they were now laughing over childhood stories.
I glanced at them before silently getting into the only empty seat.
On the way, wolves in the MPV tactfully slipped into the ancient Lycan dialect.
"I thought the Alpha marked Serene years ago, after the vow he made to protect both the pack and her for a hundred years. That's still going viral around the academy."
"He was known for his cold indifference, but when that gang of rogues attacked her, he risked everything to save her."
Serene cut them off with a demure little laugh, though her tone carried a glint of pride. "Oh, stop. That's all in the past. Kyna is the Luna now, and saying all that will make her misunderstand."
Listening to the stories I'd never heard got my blood running cold in my veins.
In all the years I'd known Alaric, he'd always been ice-cold and untouchable. I couldn't picture him making such vows for Serene or frantically throwing himself into danger for her.
I was in such deep thought that I didn't realize we'd arrived at the restaurant. After everyone got out of the MPV, I moved to follow, only to be blocked by Alaric.
He glanced at my soaked clothes and bloodless lips, frowning. He didn't even bother to answer Serene calling for him from behind.
"Why didn't you say you were wet? Stay in the car. I'll get you a change of clothes." His tone was brisk and almost scolding.
Then, he turned to the others and said, "Go on inside."
Hearing that, Serene shot me an envious glare and said, "I have spare clothes. She can take mine."
I sat alone in the MPV for what felt like forever. My body was starting to go numb when he finally returned with an elegant gown made of top-grade silk. It was luxuriously beautiful but slightly ill-fitting, just like how Alaric and I were a mistake from the start.
By the time I changed and got out, no one was around, and he had already left.
This was how our daily interactions had always been. He had his pride as an Alpha, so I could wait for him a thousand times, but he wouldn't wait for me once.
Then, my phone buzzed with a message from him. "Today's Serene's birthday, so I'm heading in first. The ballroom is on the left side of the entrance."
After five years of marriage, this was the first time he'd ever taken the initiative to text me and send such a long message.
I entered the restaurant alone. And just as I reached to push the door open, I caught sight of the scene inside through the door gap. It stopped me cold, like I'd just been struck by lightning.
Alaric stood before Serene, offering her a bouquet of Easter lilies and a finely crafted wooden box. Her hands flew to her mouth in surprise, and her eyes welled up with moved tears.
"Oh my god, Alaric! You remembered these are my favorite flowers!"
As she spoke, she eagerly opened the wooden box to reveal a dazzling gemstone necklace.
The ballroom erupted in whispers and cheers.
"Alpha Alaric, how did you find the Easter lilies this time of the year? The season's over, isn't it?"
"Bet you didn't know… Alpha Alaric will bring Serene anything she likes, even if he has to go the extra length to get it."
"I still don't understand why the Alpha married that Omega."
"Exactly. You exiled her abusive father, who sold her off to the enemy pack, as a rogue. Nothing stands between you and Serene now."
They were about to continue when Alaric's voice cut through. "Enough. The past is over."
Through those fragmented words, I finally pieced together Alaric and Serene's past.
They used to be classmates and childhood sweethearts, and they'd never officially dated each other. However, classmates at the wolf academy often paired them up and crowned them future Alpha and Luna.
But because of some misunderstanding, she'd been forced to form a mate bond with a wolf from an enemy pack until he saved her a year ago during a pack war.
It turned out that I was the one who, at his lowest, stole his Luna's place with the Moon Goddess' fated mate bond.
