SIX

Rowena’s Pov

I woke up with a throbbing headache, my head banging like it would split open anytime soon, but my body felt warm because of my arm that was wrapped around the sleeping form of my little twins, Aiden and Lily.

I gently shifted my arm, trying not to disturb them, and winced as a sharp pain shot through my head.

I must have had one too many glasses of wine last night. It couldn’t be helped— yet again, I had performed the sacred Moonlit Blessing, a ritual that ensured the pack's prosperity and good fortune for the coming year.

The pack had thrown a grand celebration in my honor, and as the Luna, I couldn't refuse the festivities.

I now have a hangover and I’m now paying the price but I don’t regret it. It’s been four years and I still don’t.

I don’t think I ever will. After all, it was nothing compared to how the pack had given me a home among them four years ago when I thought all hope was lost.

Despite the risk of harboring a rogue, they welcomed me with open hearts and arms. It’s been a dream come true, one that I’ve feared would shatter any moment. But as the days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, I began to believe that the moon goddess had finally smiled upon me, granting me the life and acceptance I’d been searching for all my life.

I gently crawled out of bed and slipped into the bathroom for a quick bath— it's the weekend and I don’t have to go through the stress of preparing the kids for school. The past week has been strenuous, I want to make the best use of this weekend to regain the lost energy.

By the time I finished and stepped out of the bathroom, the twins weren’t in bed. I smiled in blissful relief, their personal maid must have come in to get them out of bed for school.

I finished getting dressed in a t-shirt and pencil skirt. Facing the vanity mirror, I styled my hair in a neat ponytail and applied some makeup to conceal the dark circles under my eyes, hiding the stress I'd been feeling.

Once I was satisfied with my look, I headed to the kitchen to check on the kids. They were already there, enthusiastically devouring their favorite cereals, while their driver waited patiently to take them to school.

"Hey, kiddies!" The smile on my face was huge as I walked towards them, announcing my presence. Their eyes sparkled as they turned to face me, and they eagerly ran into my open arms. I scooped them up one by one, showering them with gentle pecks on the cheeks.

Their giggles filled the air as I set them back on their feet.

“How was your night, my little munchkins?” I asked, crouching down to their level, “Did you sleep well and have sweet dreams?”

Aiden nodded delightfully, but Lilly’s face scrunched up in a pout, “It was awful! I had a really bad dream about scary monsters because you weren’t there to tuck us in.” Despite her upset, the sweetness in her still peeked out of her voice.

As I looked into her big, round eyes, guilt swelled up in my chest and I wrapped my hand around her, pulling her into a warm hug.

“I’m so sorry, baby. I know I wasn’t there to put you to bed, but Mommy had a lot of work to do. I promise to make it up to you tonight, okay?”

“Is that a promise?” She immediately smiled, sticking her pinky finger out to my face. I nodded, interlocking our fingers and sealing the promise, “Yes, it is. Now, let Andre drive you to school.”

I walked alongside my kids to the waiting car, securing their seatbelts as they planted farewell kisses on my cheeks. Andre slipped behind the wheel, and I stepped back, waving goodbye as the car drove out of the gate. Once they were gone, I got into my own car, ready to head to the office.

The ride to the office was brief, a blessing since I never felt the need for a driver. Once I settled in behind my desk, I dove headfirst into work. To clock out early and make good on my promise to tuck the kids in, not to mention get some rest myself, I knew I had to work through the documents quickly.

As the Alpha’s right-hand woman, his Luna, and office manager, I have a lot on my plate and a huge responsibility on my shoulders to run everything smoothly.

After all, without Alpha Alexander, I wouldn’t be here right now. He’s my helper, the one who made me what I am today. If I hadn’t left my former pack when I did, I might not have survived.

Pregnant, alone and with nowhere to go, he took me under his wings when I thought all was lost and for that, I’ve been working hard to not let him down.

It wasn't an overnight success, but bit by bit, I proved myself worthy of the position Alexander had entrusted me with. As a single mother to twins, I faced countless sleepless nights and endless juggling between motherhood and leadership. It wasn't easy, but I knew giving up wasn't an option.

I'd risen too high, and I was determined to continue proving to the werewolf race that an Omega can also soar and rise into power.

The hours flew by, and before I knew it, it was time to clock out. As I began packing up, the telephone rang and I quickly picked it up, expecting to hear the kids' nanny on the other end, needing to speak with me urgently. But instead, the voice that greeted me was that of the Beta.

“Yes, Ethan?” I relaxed against my seat.

"Luna, I do hope I’m not disturbing but there’s a strange delivery for you. A parcel from an address I don't recognize. The delivery person tried to get in, but I told them you weren't available, so they left it with me. He insisted it was urgent and that you should open it as soon as possible."

My face scrunched up in curiosity but a glance at the clock reminded me I was running late.

"Alright, thanks, Ethan. I'll be home soon."

The call ended and I wrapped up my tasks, my tired hands aching to rest, but I knew I had to drive home.

As I arrived, all my stress melted away at the sight of my sleeping kids. They were tucked into their beds having their beauty sleeps. Although, I was relieved, I felt guilty for missing our bedtime routine again, especially since I had promised Lily I had put her to bed tonight. I knew I had face an earful from her in the morning, but for now, I just smiled, feeling relaxed now that I was back home to them.

I left for my bedroom, yawning and stretching and wishing I could just collapse on the bed but I resisted the temptation. Instead, I went for a refreshing bath and changed into my nightwear. Once I was done, I headed to the kitchen for a light dinner, and as I finished eating, I can’t help but wonder why the Alpha hadn't returned yet.

My thoughts were interrupted when I entered my bedroom and spotted the said parcel on my nightstand.

I went for it and was taken aback by the multiple layers of wrapping, but my curiosity got the better of me so I didn’t stop. And soon, I was staring back at a letter.

“What could it be…?” I wondered, but my words trailed off when I straightened the piece of paper and my eyes landed on the scribbled words, one after the other.

“What?!”

My breath caught in my throat.

There, in the letter was a message from Sèbastien, my ex-mate. The man who had broken my heart into a million pieces and abandoned me when I needed him the most.