I didn’t waste another second in Caden’s study. Without looking back, I walked out, only to bump right into Mira.
She wasn’t wearing her usual bright smile this time. Instead, her face was tight, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might say something, but she didn’t.
I didn’t linger either, brushing past her and continuing on my way.
But as I walked, a memory from last night crept back into my mind—the ceremony. When Caden gave me the Moonstone Pendant and declared his loyalty to me as his Luna, the room had been filled with smiles and cheers. Everyone seemed so genuinely happy for us.
Everyone except Mira.
She had stood there, motionless, her expression uneasy, like she wasn’t sure she should even be there. It had caught my eye then, but I hadn’t thought too much of it. It was my special night, and I didn’t want anything to ruin it.
Later, though, when I ran into her again, I asked if she was okay. She just gave me this weak smile and said she wasn’t feeling well before slipping out early.
It had raised a few questions in my mind, but I’d pushed them aside, determined to savor my happiness. Now, though, that happiness felt miles away.
With my mood thoroughly ruined, I decided I needed a break—a real one. I headed to my parents’ house near the pack’s border.
It was the one place where I could always find some peace. Something about my mom’s cooking and my dad’s jokes had a way of making everything feel a little less overwhelming.
As soon as I reached the door, Terry Jane, the maid who had practically raised me, greeted me with her warm, familiar smile. “Miss Everett, it’s so good to see you again!”
“Yeah, I missed the quiet life here,” I said, managing a small smile of my own.
My parents’ house was nestled on a large plot of land near the mountains. The air always smelled fresher there, with tall trees surrounding the property. It felt like another world compared to the bustle of pack life.
Terry led me inside, where I found my mom and dad sitting in the living room, deep in conversation. Their faces lit up when they saw me, and before I knew it, I was wrapped in their hugs.
“Sweetheart! What a surprise,” my dad said, holding me tight. “Not that I’m complaining, of course.”
I laughed softly. “I just missed Mom’s cooking.”
At that, my mom’s face brightened even more. “Say no more!” she said, standing up. “I’ll make your favorite pasta for dinner. You’re staying the night, right?”
I nodded, my heart warming just a little. “Of course.”
I followed her into the kitchen, eager to help out. Even though there were maids around, my mom had always insisted on cooking for me whenever I came home.
It was her way of showing love, and her food always tasted like comfort itself.
As we worked, my mom’s eyes flicked to the pendant around my neck, then back to my face. She smiled, her expression soft and knowing.
“I can’t believe my little princess is all grown up now,” she said, her voice gentle. “It’s just the two of us here—you can tell me what’s bothering you.”
For a moment, I was taken aback, but then again, my mom had always been good at reading me, even when I was little. It was like she could see straight through me.
So, I told her everything—about Caden, Mira, and the Moonstone Pendant. Every worry, every frustration, I laid it all out while she worked her magic in the kitchen.
She didn’t interrupt, just nodded occasionally, her hands busy chopping herbs or stirring something on the stove. After a pause, she let out a soft sigh and said, “Aria, it’s good to be kind to others, but the most important thing is to be kind to yourself.”
Her words hit me like a warm wave. It was exactly what I needed to hear, and for a moment, my throat tightened. My eyes began to sting, but I quickly blinked up at the ceiling, willing the tears to stay put.
Then, as if she knew I needed reassurance, she added, “I noticed Caden seemed a little distant lately. It worried me, honestly. But when he proposed to you with the Moonstone Pendant, I felt relieved. I could tell he was finally stepping up.”
My mom always had a knack for understanding people, and as much as I hated to admit it, she was usually right.
After spending two days at my parents’ house, I finally felt like myself again. Between my mom’s cooking, my dad’s banters, and the peaceful quiet of their home, it was the reset I desperately needed. But it was time to go back.
Caden and I had been living in the pack’s main house for years. It was a large, elegant place, and in the beginning, it felt like home because it was just the two of us and a few omega maids who kept to themselves.
Then Mira moved in.
At first, I didn’t mind. I even thought it was nice, having another woman around. But after everything that had happened, my trust was hanging by a thread. Leaving Caden and Mira alone under the same roof felt like handing over a loaded weapon.
By the time I reached the house, I was already on edge. As I walked past Caden’s study, faint voices caught my attention. I slowed down, straining to hear through the thick wooden door.
It was a man and a woman.
“Come on,” the woman said, her tone almost playful but laced with something sharper. “Isn’t this what we’ve always wanted? A space of our own… doing whatever we want. Without her.”
Mira.
I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening as I processed her words. What was she scheming now?
Then, a man replied, his voice lower and more cautious. “Yeah, but we can’t be reckless. I’ll think about it.”
My stomach churned as my mind raced through every worst-case scenario. Before I could piece anything together, the sound of footsteps snapped me back to the present. They were coming toward the door.
Heart pounding, I darted to the nearest corner, pressing myself into the shadows. From my hiding spot, I had a clear view of the entrance to the study.
The door opened, and just as I feared, Caden and Mira stepped out—hand in hand.
My breath hitched. They didn’t even look around, too wrapped up in each other to notice anything amiss.
They must’ve thought I was still at my parents’ house. That was why they were bold enough to pull something like this.
My heart felt like it was shattering into a thousand pieces, but anger quickly replaced the pain. Whatever game they were playing, I wasn’t about to stand by and let it happen.
