Chapter 3.

{Seraphina's POV}

That night, I found it seriously difficult to sleep.

Memories of everything I had done in this life just so I could be accepted by the Alpha came crashing back into my head.

One year into our marriage, Alexander had gone on a border mission and didn't return for two days.

The day he finally came back, he was bleeding profusely.

I happened to be outside when he stepped out of the car, and the instant I saw him, the tray in my hands fell to the ground.

“Alpha? What happened to the Alpha?”

One of the men Alexander had gone on the mission with immediately approached me.

“You don't have to worry about the Alpha. I will take him to the study!”

But I declined.

I insisted on getting him a medicinal herb instead.

Anything that had to do with Alexander's safety was always my priority. That was exactly why I couldn't stand the thought of anything dangerous happening to him.

I quickly got the dried herbs, cooked them and squeezed their medicinal extract into a teacup before heading straight to the study to hand it over to Alexander.

When I got there, I was about to twist the doorknob when I heard voices from inside.

“Alpha, I just want to ask why Luna Seraphina doesn't carry out any Luna responsibilities at all in the Pack? I mean, you have restricted her from your personal affairs and don't even let her come close to you. If I may ask, why is this arrangement like that, Alpha?”

I froze.

I could overhear the conversation Alexander was having with his mission executive.

I wanted to hear Alexander's answer so I remained outside until the answer ufinally came.

“It's for my safety, Francis.”

His safety? I asked myself silently.

“Yes, Francis. I am doing all of this for everyone's safety, including mine. Besides, our current arrangement is already enough. I don't think I want to put other people's lives at risk because of Seraphina's presence in this house.”

Back then, I thought Alexander meant that I wasn't strong enough to handle the Alpha's dangerous affairs. That was why he never wanted me in the Alpha's main house. I believed I needed to become stronger.

Rather than entering his study that day, I handed the medicine to one of the servants and walked away.

From that day onward, I began learning so many etiquettes, skills and practices that I believed would help me become a better Luna.

I thought I needed to be strong enough for Alex to finally consider me worthy.

But I was wrong.

When Alex said “safe,” he wasn't talking about protecting me.

He was keeping his GUARD up against me.

He was probably trying to make sure I never discovered that he was having an affair with another woman.

“Miss? Miss, are you okay?”

A voice suddenly jolted me out of my deep thoughts.

I blinked and looked up.

It was one of the student attendants.

I had booked a hotel near the hospital because it was close to the Royal Medical Academy.

She handed me some documents.

“Please take note that the qualification examination will begin at 7 AM. You are advised to arrive early.”

I smiled at her.

“Thanks.”

When she left, I glanced through the examination number she had given me.

I had a life before marrying Alexander. A medical life.

I had completed my basic medical studies before marrying Alexander.

Back then, I had been preparing to enter a combat doctor training program. It was an opportunity any she-wolf would have fought hard to get.

But I withdrew before completing the final qualification because I believed I needed to put my marriage and the pack first.

But that didn't mean I had completely given up on my dream of becoming a medical doctor and healer one day.

I still held on to that dream.

So, I continued studying behind closed doors. A few months ago, I quietly submitted a new application to the Royal Medical Academy.

The conditional offer in my bag proved that the years I had spent away from the classroom had not ended my dream. I only needed to pass the qualification examination for the admission to become final.

I did all of that because I was in love with a man who never loved me.

Now that this marriage was clearly heading nowhere, I had to return to the field I had abandoned.

---

The Next Day

I took the qualification examination at the Royal Medical Academy.

And guess what? I passed.

This victory confirmed that I hadn't completely lost the ability I once had.

It showed me that I wasn't as hopeless as I thought. Maybe I really could start afresh.

I was so focused on the examination results in my hands that I didn't realize when I bumped into someone.

I looked up to see whom I had just hit, and right then— My eyes widened.

Alexander.

What was he doing outside the Academy?

I didn't bother asking. I quickly bent down and picked up my examination results.

Then I stood up, intending to simply ignore him and walk away.

But when I tried to move to the left, he moved to the left too, blocking my path.

I tried the right. He moved to the right.

He was deliberately blocking me.

Before I could say a word, his eyes landed on the folder in my hands.

I calmly placed it inside my bag before he could read the documents.

“What is it with you, Seraphina?” he asked. “You didn't sleep in the Luna Wing yesterday and you haven't been answering any of my calls. You even refused to let the guards or driver follow you.”

“Is that why you're here?”

“The guards told me where you stayed. I came to take you back.” His eyes moved toward the Academy building behind me. “What were you doing here?”

“Handling a personal matter.”

He looked like he didn't believe me, but I gave him no further explanation.

“You see, Seraphina, if this is about what happened yesterday, then you definitely don't have to—”

Alexander still didn't know about the offer or the qualification examination.

I had no intention of telling him. He could know that I was unhappy with our marriage. What he could not know was that I already had a place to go and a date on which I intended to leave.

Faking courage, I looked straight at him.

“I don't think I can watch another second of your friends disrespecting me. I needed some space, Alexander.”

“I knew it, Seraphina!”

His voice sounded rude.

“I knew this was about last night. You're still annoyed about what happened. But you have to understand that I already warned my friends. They will never disrespect you like that again. Besides, they already apologized.”

Once again, I said nothing.

I acted as though I wasn't even the person he was talking to.

Alexander angrily ran a hand through his fluffy hair before leaning closer to me.

“You're acting out of emotion, Seraphina, and this is all because Barbara moved into the Alpha's main house while you remained in the Luna's wing. Barbara is only staying temporarily. Do you really have to dwell on that?”

I clicked my tongue. “If you came here just to make me feel bad about my actions and defend Barbara, then I'm out of here.”

I turned and started walking away.

But before I could take three steps, Alexander grabbed my hand.

“Hold on!”

I stopped. Then I turned to him.

“You haven't eaten,” he said. “Get in the car. We will finish this conversation over brunch, and then I will take you home.”

My mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

When was the last time we had eaten together as a couple?

But this was not a date. Alexander was only trying to end the argument in the way that was easiest for him and return me to the Luna Wing.

“Don't accept it, Seraphina!”

My wolf, Alissa, spoke through our shared mind.

I could almost see her pacing back and forth as she continued.

“Our mate made you cry. He got another she-wolf pregnant, right? And you still want to go out with a man who cheated on you?”

For a second, I wanted to listen to my wolf and walk away. Then I remembered the conversation I still needed to have with him.

I had already made my private decision. Now I needed to know whether Alexander would release me without a fight.

Alexander suddenly let out a deep breath.

“Earth to Seraphina!”

My attention snapped back to him.

“So, what do you say, Seraphina? I'll get you your favourites.”

“Fine,” I replied.

I would go with him. But not because I believed one meal could repair our marriage.

---

GOODIE KITCHEN

SCREEEECHHHHH!

Alexander's car came to a halt in front of Goodie Kitchen, one of the most famous restaurants in the country.

He stepped out and began walking inside without even checking to see if I was following him.

I opened the door and stepped down from the car before heading toward where Alexander was sitting.

But before I could even reach the table, Alexander had already placed all the orders.

When the food arrived, I couldn't stop the internal scoff that escaped me.

‘Potato pastries, salad and vegetarian sauce’.

These were what Alexander ordered. Not just for himself. But For me too.

I stared at the food in front of me.

Those were all Alexander's favourite foods. Not mine..

I didn't touch any of it.

I watched him eat and drink, but I couldn't bring myself to take a bite of the food he had ordered.

He didn't even know that I was partially non-vegetarian.

After a while, Alexander stopped chewing as his eyes fell on my untouched plate.

“What happened? Why aren't you touching your meal?”

I didn't reply.

He asked me again. Still, I said nothing.

He finally dropped the fork in his hand and maintained full eye contact with me.

“It seems like you don't want any of these foods. What else would you like to have? I'll have them ordered for you.”

“I don't want anything else to eat,” I said. “I want you to end our marriage and release me from the position of Luna.”