Chapter 10

Loretta's POV

When I got back to the villa, I didn't see the two Omega maids who were always slacking off.

I walked straight into my bedroom, unzipped my suitcase, and started packing my stuff.

Having lived here for over six months, there was no way I could move everything out in one go.

I decided to just take my essentials and everyday clothes for now.

Once Zane and I officially severed our mating bond, I'd come back to grab the rest of my things all at once.

Just as I zipped up the suitcase and tried to haul it out, Susie suddenly showed up at the doorway.

Seeing the suitcase in my hand, she snapped with irritation, "What the hell are you doing? Alpha Zane is coming back tonight. Shouldn't you be in the kitchen making dinner?"

My heart lurched at the news.

He must be coming back to put me in my place after I'd gotten into that fight with Josephine at the office.

Great. I didn't want to drag this out any longer anyway. I'd just clear the air with him tonight.

I stopped in my tracks and gave Susie an icy glare.

"Who's the servant here—you or me? How about I call Margaret right now and tell her you can't wait to take my place as Luna?"

"Y-you bitch..." Susie's face twisted with rage.

She clearly couldn't believe the usually timid, submissive me would dare talk down to her like this.

"You're completely out of your mind! You crazy skank!" she huffed in a fit of rage, turning on her high heels and storming off.

I slammed the bedroom door shut with everything I had.

Outside, Susie was already on the phone, complaining to whoever would listen.

I leaned against the cold wooden door, completely drained, tilting my head back as I gasped for air.

All the frustration and helplessness I'd been bottling up for so long came crashing over me like a tidal wave. Feeling the pain, my wolf whimpered inside me. Tears finally spilled over, running unchecked down my pale cheeks.

Later that evening, I lay on my side in bed with one hand resting over my lower belly. Feeling the subtle movements of my pup, I gradually calmed down.

But Luca's words kept replaying in my head. Zane really hated this child growing inside me.

Even if Margaret cared about her, how much love or respect would she actually get once Pandora became Zane's Luna and gave him an heir?

I couldn't bear to think further.

I couldn't leave my pup behind to face a pack that didn't want her.

I'd made up my mind—I was taking her with me.

Just then, a hurried knock sounded at the door.

I snapped back to reality, slowly got off the bed, and opened the door, only to be met with Susie's perpetually snarky face.

"Alpha Zane wants to see you," she said.

When I reached the living room, I saw him sitting on the sofa, his face grim.

My chest tightened instantly. Even though I'd mentally prepared myself, the moment I saw his expression and felt that crushing, suffocating Alpha aura radiating from him, instinctive fear still rose inside me, and my wolf couldn't help trembling.

My steps stiffened, and I didn't even dare look him in the eye.

After what felt like forever, I stopped in front of him.

I expected him to start yelling at me. Instead, his voice rang out, colder than ever. "Finish these, then you can go to bed."

With that, he stood up and strode toward the dining room without sparing me another glance.

I stared at the thick stack of files on the coffee table—he clearly had no intention of letting me sleep tonight.

He never saw me as the mother of his child. Worse, he wasn't even willing to give me the basic treatment of a regular employee.

Did he really hate me this much?

I clenched my fists so tight my nails dug deep into my palms. Turning around, I yelled, "I already handed in my resignation! I'm done!"

Zane stopped in his tracks.

He slowly turned around, looking daggers at me.

I summoned every ounce of courage I had. My wolf was shivering under his overwhelming aura, but I still forced my back to stay straight.

"I don't like repeating myself," he said.

Then he turned to Susie beside him and ordered flatly, "Go lock her bedroom door."

The moment Susie heard that, a smug smile spread across her nasty face.

"Right away!" she replied, then hurried toward my bedroom.

I stood there, frozen in place. Endless despair swallowed me whole like a rushing tide, making it almost impossible to breathe.

A dull, tearing pain shot through our mating bond once again, and tears slipped down my face uncontrollably.

He didn't care about how I felt at all.

Staring at his cold, indifferent back, I felt like the biggest joke in the world.

Suddenly, a wave of rage surged through me.

I grabbed the thick stack of files off the coffee table and shoved them straight into the trash can without a second thought.

Then, holding my swollen belly with one hand, I turned on my heel and marched straight for the front door.

Zane froze again. The air around him turned to ice, his face clouding over.