Chapter 2

{Seraphina's POV}

Within twenty-four hours, Barbara was already living in the Alpha's Main Dom.

I wouldn't even have known about it if Clara hadn't told me.

Clara was my personal servant, but she was much more like a sister to me.

“Luna Seraphina, did you know that the Beta's daughter didn't even take a full day before moving all her things into the Alpha's house?” Clara asked as I concentrated on stirring the meal I was preparing.

“She had just arrived, and she's already—”

“Can I have a word with Seraphina?”

A deep, authoritative voice suddenly echoed from behind us.

It was Alexander.

The moment my eyes landed on his tall, poised figure, his charming black eyes, blonde hair, and broad, muscular shoulders, memories of the man I had once fallen deeply in love with came crashing back..

But I quickly pushed them thoughts away and turned my eyes back to the meal in front of me..

It was rare to see Alexander in the Luna's Wing.

Whenever he wanted to speak to me, he usually ordered me to come to him.

Yesterday, I would have wondered whether he had finally come because he cared about me.

Today, I knew better.

“Barbara has already moved into the Alpha's Main Dom,” Alexander announced. “She'll be staying there from today onward.”

I knew it.

He had never come here for me. It was always about Barbara.

“I specifically came here to deliver the message to you myself, Seraphina, rather than having one of the other officials do it.”

His cat-like eyes remained fixed on me.

“A few of my friends are planning a celebration for Barbara's arrival, so she won't have enough time to unpack and settle in. She came with a lot of luggage, goodies, and other packages. I want you to help her arrange her things and prepare a room for her.”

My wolf, Alissa, wagged her tail in my mind, but her eyes flashed with disgust.

“Reject it, Seraphina. Say no!” She had prompted me but I wouldn't stop blinking.

“No,” I said.

Alexander stared at me as though he had not heard correctly.

“What did you say?”

“The Alpha's Main Dom has its own servants. They can arrange Barbara's luggage and prepare her room. I will not do it.”

“And no one is taking your position away from you, Seraphina.”

Alexander rolled his eyes in obvious annoyance.

“Barbara is pregnant and tired. She needs someone to assist her with everything. Do you really think I would ask you to help her if she weren't pregnant? Just Drop this act, Seraphina. There's nothing to be jealous about here.”

In the past, I would have swallowed my humiliation and done as he asked.

But I was no longer preparing to spend the rest of my life here.

“Call it jealousy if you want,” I replied. “My answer is still no.”

His brows drew together. For a moment, he only stared at me.

Then his voice became colder.

“Fine. The servants will handle her room. But you will attend the celebration tonight as Luna. I will not allow you to create more rumors by staying away.”

He turned and left before I could answer.

I watched him go, realizing that he had noticed my refusal but still had not asked why I had changed.

---

The banquet hall looked magnificent.

Elegant decorations covered every corner, while sparkling chandeliers illuminated the entire room.

Normally, I wouldn't have attended.

But Alexander had ordered me to come, and Barbara, with her usual fake gesture of kindness, had also insisted that I attend her welcome party.

So I came.

The hall was already filled with wolves from the pack.

I could see beautiful she-wolves standing beside their fated mates, or should I say, their boyfriends.

I looked down at myself.

I had no mate standing beside me.

Alexander stood with his group of friends alongside Barbara.

They were talking, laughing, and enjoying themselves as though I didn't exist.

I didn't think I had any reason to stay.

Maybe I would leave and grab something to drink on my way out.

I hadn't even gotten far when I heard their conversation.

“At times, I wonder if Seraphina is even the Luna of the Star Moon Pack,” one of the men said.

His voice was clearly filled with mockery.

“Look at Alpha Alexander. He does everything alone. She doesn't get involved in any pack politics or even perform any real Luna duties. All she knows how to do is stay in that special wing designed for her. Is that how a true Luna behaves?”

Another man scoffed.

“I think she's only a Luna because she's good at cooking and washing the Alpha's clothes… and she would speak like ababy. ‘Alpha, I washed your clothes. ALPHA, I made you a breakfast. Alpha are you leaving already? Alpha….”

They imitated the way I act Around Alexander.

“May the Moon Goddess forbid that I ever marry a weakling like her with such a weak wolf.”

Something inside me cracked.

It felt as though my heart were slowly melting inside my chest.

But what hurt the most wasn't their words. It was the fact that Alexander was standing right there.

He heard every single thing they said about me. And he said nothing.

Barbara's hand was resting comfortably on his shoulder while she leaned against his arm.

Alexander did not move away.

“Barb…”

One of them turned toward Barbara.

“I still wonder why you aren't Alpha Alexander's real mate.”

“You're strong, and you come from a powerful bloodline. Your father is the Beta, and you grew up alongside the Alpha. Shouldn't the person who knows the Alpha best be the one standing beside him as Luna? How did he end up mating with a weak wolf instead of you?”

At first, Barbara seemed to enjoy every word.

I could see it on her face.

Especially when she slowly moved her hand from Alexander's shoulder down to his muscular arm and rubbed it as though she were his wife.

The smile on her face could have lasted much longer if she hadn't noticed me.

The moment our eyes met, the smile vanished.

She immediately shook her head at Alexander's friends.

“No. You shouldn't say things like that about Luna Seraphina.”

Her fake compassion stung even more than their insults.

“It's just that she's naive when it comes to these things. I'm sure she doesn't understand Alpha Alexander's responsibilities or the struggles he faces every day.”

“And I believe Seraphina will always be satisfied as long as she has a comfortable place to sleep at night.”

Then she turned toward Alexander and gently rubbed his arm again.

“Alexy…”

She reached for the glass of wine in his hand and took a sip.

“Remember to take your medication day and night. It will help heal that old wound of yours, okay?”

Alexander gave her a distracted nod.

“I believe my friends are all drunk and worn out. That's why they're speaking out of line.”

His gaze moved past them and met mine.

The conversation stopped.

He placed his wineglass on the table and walked over without any hurry.

The room became silent before he even spoke.

He turned toward his friends.

“Apologize to your Luna.”

They immediately put on regretful expressions.

“Sorry, Luna Seraphina.”

Their apologies were nothing but empty words.

Alexander looked at me again.

“It has been handled,” he said calmly. “Do not turn a few drunken words into a public scene. This celebration is for Barbara.”

“Do you believe Barbara is the best woman to stand beside you as your Luna?” I cut into Alexander's words. “Your friends said it themselves. They believe Barbara is more suitable for you than I am.”

“Their opinion is irrelevant,” Alexander replied.

His expression remained cold and unreadable.

“You are the Luna because that is my decision. I do not need to argue with every drunk wolf who questions it.”

“But you were standing there.”

I immediately cut him off.

“You watched them speak so badly about me. If you were really so certain that they were wrong, why did you stay silent and watch them insult me?”

“They apologized,” he said. “This matter is over.”

“Alexy…”

Barbara's weak voice cut through his words.

Everyone turned toward her.

She was holding her stomach, and the color had disappeared from her face.

“Something hurts,” she whispered. “I'm worried about the baby.”

Without finishing his conversation with me, Alexander rushed toward her.

He caught her arm and helped her sit down.

“Don't panic, Barb,” he said. “I'll take you to the hospital and make sure the child is safe.”

Then he looked at one of his guards.

“Bring the car around.”

The entire room moved around Barbara at once.

Alexander barely looked at me before speaking again.

“Go back to the Luna Wing, Seraphina. We will finish this conversation later.”

I didn't let him finish.

I turned around and walked away.

Then I ran.

As I hurried out of the hall, I could still hear Alexander behind me.

“Go on, Ricky. Drive Seraphina home to the Luna's Wing.” He ordered his driver but I ignored him.

The moment I stepped outside, I stopped a taxi.

“Where to, ma'am?” the driver asked.

“Take me to the Luna's Wing first. I'll grab a few things, and then we'll drive somewhere else. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

The taxi drove toward the Luna's Wing.

When we arrived, I rushed inside and grabbed some of my examination materials.

I didn't waste any time.

I got back into the taxi and closed the door.

“Take me to Royal's Hotel. “The one close to the Royal Medical Academy.”

“Okay, ma'am.”

The car drove off as I stared out the window.

One thing was certain.

I wasn't going back to that Luna's Wing to wait for Alexander anymore.

My life was about to change.

And this time, I was going to choose myself.