Chapter 5

{Seraphina's POV}

When I got to the restroom, it felt as though my body was about to explode.

I quickly turned on the tap and splashed cold water over my face, hoping it would stop the betrayal surging through my veins. But it was too much to bear.

I couldn't help but recall the conversation that had taken place between Alexander and me.

After asking him for a divorce and hearing him say that he couldn't let it happen, I had been completely taken aback.

He was the one who had always wanted us to stay apart. Wasn't that the exact reason he had kept me confined to the Luna's Wing?

So why, now that I was finally willing to give him the freedom he wanted, was he turning me down?

"I'm sure what you need is time. You just have to settle down and relax. After that, you definitely won't feel the same way."

These were Alexander's words. But I had already made up my mind.

Alexander's refusal would not stop me from leaving the Star Moon Pack. After all, the mate mark between us wasn't real to begin with. So, I didn't need his permission before leaving this fake bond called marriage.

I was still locked up in this betrayal when a voice suddenly broke through the silence of the restroom.

“Madam, are you going to keep the tap running, or have you forgotten that you left it on?”

A man's voice immediately caught my attention.

Hurriedly, I wiped away the tears that were beginning to form at the corners of my eyes before turning off the tap.

“I'm sorry, Mister...” I paused, realizing that I barely recognized the man. “But I thought this was the female restroom. I didn't know it was for males—”

My words had barely left my lips when the man's tone suddenly changed

“Seraphina? Seraphina Fisher?!” He called out my name.

I blinked repeatedly at the middle-aged man standing before me.

It had been over three years since anyone had called me by the name ‘Fisher’, especially after I married Alexander.

But this man had just referred to me by my formal name.

My eyes immediately focused on his face.

Wait… I know this man. Isn't he...?

“Teacher Franklin?!”

I didn't even realize when the words left my mouth.

The man standing before me was my lecturer back at the Academy when I was still studying to become a Healer, long before I discovered that Alexander was my mate.

Back then, I had been his top-performing student. I was almost like his favorite.

But after my marriage to Alexander, everything changed.

“Miss Fisher, how have you been doing?” His intonation hadn't changed at all.

“You see, you left the Academy without even giving us a heads-up. And we shouldn't even talk about the fact that you were almost selected for the Battlefield Doctor Training Program. If only you hadn't given up and left the Academy, you could have become a top medical doctor by now!”

Teacher Franklin was right. I had given up everything I cherished for my marriage to Alexander.

I never wanted anything to stand in the way of my responsibilities as a Luna, so I didn't even bother telling him about my medical career.

But I never knew that I had sacrificed my dream just to please a man who was already happy with another woman.

I sniffed and forced a smile at Teacher Franklin, pretending that I was perfectly fine.

“Teacher Franklin, everything happened so quickly!” I said, a smile tugging at my lips. “I got married three years ago, so I withdrew from the Academy.”

Franklin shook his head in obvious astonishment.

I didn't bother telling him that I had already started returning to my profession. I also didn't tell him about my re-enrollment at the Royal Medical Academy.

He nodded continuously before speaking.

“I didn't know you were married, Miss Fisher. But I hope you're aware that marriage doesn't have to be a barrier to your choice of occupation, right?”

His voice was filled with genuine emotional support.

“Remember, Seraphina? You used to tell me back then that you wanted to become the greatest medical She-wolf the world had ever produced! Even though you're married, you can still pursue your medical dream. It isn't too late to start over again!”

I rubbed my eyes, trying to stop the tears from falling.

“You're right, Teacher.” I forced another smile to cover the pain burning inside my heart. “I know my dreams, and I haven't given up on them. It's just that I'm learning to put myself first now. My family and my dream.”

I'm sure Teacher Franklin didn't understand what I meant by putting myself and my family first.

He simply smiled at me and gently patted my shoulder.

“I'm sure you haven't met my mate yet, Seraphina. She also happens to be here having a business discussion with one of her partners. Would you like to meet her?”

I naturally couldn't say no.

It had been so long since I had seen Teacher Franklin.

I simply shrugged.

“Sure.”

We both left the restroom and returned to the main restaurant.

Franklin took the lead while I followed behind him.

But instead of heading toward his mate, as he had said, Franklin began walking toward the table where I had previously been sitting with Alexander.

I wouldn't even have realized where he was heading if I hadn't noticed Alexander's face and two other women sitting with him.

Franklin and I hadn't even fully reached the table when the woman sitting opposite Alexander stood up proudly.

“Oh, Alpha Alexander. Meet my mate!”

Instantly, Alexander's eyes met mine.

The first thing my eyes landed on was the prenatal test in his hand.

Then I looked at Barbara, who was sitting right beside him.

She couldn't even wait for me to leave before taking over my position.

And Alexander couldn't stop her?

“By the way, Alpha Alexander, meet my mate, Franklin. He is a lecturer at the Royal Medical Academy!” the woman continued.

She then extended her hand toward Alexander.

“Franklin, I would love to introduce you to my business partner I was telling you about. He is Alpha Alexander of the Star Moon Pack!”

She paused before continuing.

“And standing beside him is His Luna, Miss Barbara Thompson!” Her gaze shifted toward Barbara.

“Alpha Alexander and Luna Barbara are both expecting a child who will soon become the heir to the pack. Isn't that exciting?”

A disbelieving scoff escaped my lips at the sound of the woman's words.

Alexander immediately looked at me, his cat-like eyes meeting mine.

Seriously?

He couldn't even wait for the divorce to be finalized before dishonoring my title and giving it to Barbara?

“Yes, Mr. Franklin! Your wife is right!” Barbara quickly took the spotlight.

She rubbed Alexander's hand affectionately as though they were already a couple.

“Alpha Alexander and I have been keeping this child a secret from the world for quite some time now. We just needed to make sure everything was stable before announcing it to everyone. And as the Luna of Star Moon Pack, Alexy couldn't say no!”

‘As the Luna of Star Moon Pack’?

Had her DESPERATION really reached this extent?

“Congratulations on your first child, my Luna!” Teacher Franklin said to her. “The Star Moon Pack now has an heir! That's such wonderful news!”

The expression on Alexander's face suggested that he wasn't comfortable with what Barbara was doing.

But she simply stroked his hand softly and smiled it off.

Then Franklin formally turned toward me.

“Maria, my dear. I would love to also introduce you to one of my students!” Franklin said excitedly. “Remember my top-performing medical student from three years ago? The one I always told you about?”

Maria barely nodded.

“Well, here she is!”

Franklin made the introduction.

“Meet Seraphina Fisher. She used to be my top medical student back then!”

Alexander's eyes immediately moved toward me, scanning me from head to toe.

The shock on his face was obvious.

I could even read his lips as he muttered to himself.

“Seraphina has a past medical life?”

His question seemed to settle in his mind as Franklin's voice came again.

“Miss Fisher!” This time, his tone was more curious. “You said you got married already. Is your husband here? I mean your mate. Does he happen to be here today?”

Instantly, my eyes met Barbara's.

Then I nodded at Franklin's question.

“Yes, Teacher. You're right. I am married. And to make things even more interesting, my husband is right here with us in this restaurant.”

“Oh, really?” Maria's curiosity immediately took over. “Well, I would love to meet him! Can you call on him?”

“Yes, of course I can do that” I smiled before turning toward the table.

“Teacher Franklin, Miss Maria, I want you both to meet my mate. Alpha Ale—”