“My lady,” Wendy said, dropping the sheets on the bed. “Here's the fresh set of sheets you requested in the afternoon.”
I swallowed a lump and nodded. Wendy curtsied and briskly headed towards the door.
“Wendy,” I called out, causing her to halt and turn around. “Where's Alpha Alex?”
“The Alpha will be spending the night at the left chambers of the palace,” Wendy replied.
Horror painted my skin white as the words dawned on me. My husband wasn't coming back to our bed tonight, instead, he was spending the night with Linda.
The neatly folded sheets laid on the bed, as though mocking my miserable situation. I had requested that the sheets be soaked up with a lavender scent, because the sweet scent drove Alex crazy in bed. I wanted to please my husband in so many ways to mark our four-year anniversary, but every single thing I'd planned had somehow turned around to hurt and haunt me.
Fresh wave of pain hit me from behind and I flopped onto the bed, releasing a heart wrenching scream into the thick duvet. By the time I'd wrung my eyes from every drop of tears, my eyes were puffy and my nostrils flared. Anger surged over my body as I picked up my sleeping robe from the nightstand. I wasn't going to let Linda waltz in and steal everything that I've worked hard to build. Not my mate. Not my pack. Not my place as Luna of Vandi pack!
I began heading towards the left chambers of the palace, ignoring the stares I got from the maidservants and guards. Approaching the guest room at the end of the hallway, I saw two stoic-looking guards standing at the two sides of the door.
“Open the door, I want to see the Alpha,” I ordered, but the guards didn't flinch. They acted as if I wasn't even standing there. My eyes darted between the guards, before one of them bowed and spoke. “My lady, Alpha Alex had given strict orders not to let anyone into the chambers tonight. Kindly book an appointment if you want to meet the Alpha.”
A scoff escaped my lips followed by a raucous laughter. “Are you kidding me right now? I, the Luna of the Vandi pack, should book an appointment to meet my husband?”
The expression on the guard's faces still remained unreadable and that was when it sank in— they were just following the Alpha's order.
“As the Luna of your pack, I command you to open this door right now!” My voice shrill, cutting through the quiet night.
“I'm sorry, my lady,” the guard responded robotically. My eyes widened at the audacity. Alex is shutting me out to spend the night with Linda.
Fury burned in my bones and I lurched forward, my fist raised to slam against the door, but just as I was about to hit the door, a female animated voice ripped through the air.
“Ughhh. Yes Alex, harder!” Linda moaned pleasurably. Her moans were accompanied by lewd skin claps, and familiar grunts that poured from Alex’s lips.
My body trembled violently as I backed away from the door. A searing pain coursed through my chest as I felt my mate bond with Alex snap in bits. I didn't know which hurt more— the loud erotic sounds or the knowledge that my bond with Alex was slowly ebbing away.
Unable to take in the mind-numbing pain anymore, I turned on my heels and ran through the hallway and out of the palace gates. There was only one way to deal with the pain tonight, and that is by letting my wolf roam free. Tears cascaded my face as I ran deep into the woods.
As I ran, I started to feel the familiar, tingling sensation in my body. It was as if my cells were shifting, my muscles rearranging themselves. I felt my heart rate slow, my senses heighten, and my body begin to contort. My fingers lengthened, my nails sharpened, and my senses grew more acute.
I could smell the wet earth, the ozone in the air, and the scent of my own body as it transformed. I felt my face stretch, my jaw elongate, and my teeth sharpen. My limbs shortened, my torso elongated, and my skin itched as silvery fur burst forth from my pores, covering my entire body. I transformed into my wolf and began to run wild in the forest.
I let out a loud howl as I ran, but suddenly a sizzling pain zapped through my body, throwing my feet off the damp ground. By the time I landed on the ground, my wolf form had given way to my human form, and I came crashing with so much force that stole air from my lungs. Indescribable pain flushed through my entire body and my sight blurred out till darkness enveloped my consciousness.
•••••
I blinked twice as my consciousness seeped into my body again. The intoxicating smell of disinfectant that assaulted my nose, told me that I was in a hospital. I tried to move, but my entire body was as heavy as lead and I slumped back to the bed.
As if on cue, a doctor walked in, flagged with two nurses by his sides. “Good morning, my lady,” Dr. Froebel greeted.
“Good morning?” I winced at the sunlight pouring into the room. “What happened to me last night?”
“You were found unconscious at the Pack's border this morning,” Dr. Froebel explained. “You were surprisingly fine, except for a few broken ribs and minor cuts.”
“A broken rib?”
Dr. Froebel nodded and I couldn't help but feel a knot form in my stomach. As a trained warrior, I've suffered worse injuries than a broken rib, but it only takes a couple of minutes for my wolf, Coral, to heal the injuries. Why was this taking longer than usual?
“Why haven't my injuries healed?” I blurted out, unable to contain my curiosity.
Dr. Froebel adjusted nervously before clearing his throat to speak. “Well, Luna Camille, you were found in a very bad state, and it seems like your wolf has gone dormant.”
My eyes bulged and a gasp tore from my throat. No! There's no way my wolf is going dormant.
“Coral,” I mind-linked my wolf, but I was greeted with an eerie silence. Every attempt I made to link with my wolf turned futile and without knowing, a tear slipped down my face.
Hastily, I blinked the tears away and turned to Dr. Froebel. “What about Alpha Alex? Is the alpha aware of my condition?”
“Yes, my lady, the alpha was notified as soon as you were found and brought to the hospital.”
“And where is he?” I snapped impatiently, my eyes darting around the room.
“Uhmm… well… my lady, the alpha had other important things to attend to at the palace,” Dr. Froebel stammered. I could see a sheen of sweat coat his forehead as he nervously defended Alpha Alex.
“Right,” I snorted. My husband has totally ignored my existence, just because of Linda and the pain I felt was beyond that of betrayal and hurt.
