Chapter 5: The Alpha’s Possible Rejection

There was a lot on my mind regarding what I had witnessed. Although I got some clues, he cried over his dead mate. It made me wonder what happened and how she left him. I almost couldn't sleep that night, overthinking about things I shouldn't have had anything to do with me. And instead of running away, I decided to stay from this damn pack and unlock all the puzzles.

As I woke up, everyone was busy. The maids and slaves prepared the chairs, some decorated the mini-stage, and others cleaned the hallway. I was confused about the event as no one notified me, not even Marga. She was gone from her bed already.

I was about to ask someone, but I happened to walk past a room where the door wasn't that closed. Accidentally, I heard voices from old men, probably the elders, talking.

I was invested in listening, so I halted walking.

"You must understand that Alpha Hadar isn't in his mood. It's the second death anniversary of Hera!"

"I know. That's why I don't make this an issue anymore. I'm aware how Alpha Hadar loved his mate more than he loved this pack ...."

"He's willing to sacrifice everything, even our pack, just for her. Sadly, she died…"

"She's a beautiful warrior, a goddess-like Luna…"

I couldn't help but nod my head. Those words I heard from them gave me a little clarification as to why the Alpha sobbed at the border. It might be the area where she died, or perhaps he just chose to be there so no one could see him crying.

Out of the blue, I returned to my senses when someone tapped my shoulder. I was about to shout, but luckily, I stopped myself. Looking behind me, I found it was my fellow slave.

"Sorry, do you need something?" I asked while staring at her, smiling.

"Yeah, Marga wants you to help me clean in front." She pointed behind her. "I went to your room, but you're no longer there. Luckily, I see you here."

"Okay, yeah. Sorry, I woke up late," I admitted. "What's your name again?"

"Just call me Lori," she retorted, glancing at the door beside the hallway. "And I saw you listening to whoever was talking inside. What did you hear?"

My eyes widened, yet I immediately shook my head. "Nothing serious. Just about Hera's death anniversary? I just found it now… Anyway, let's go and clean before the Alpha sees us doing nothing."

When she nodded, we went there, cleaned the mess, arranged the chairs, and ensured everything was perfect.

Marga, on the other hand, saw me with Lori cleaning. She approached and whispered, "Good thing you didn't escape last night."

"H—how did you know?" I wondered where the hell she got it. "You followed me?"

"Who knows?" Marga shrugged her shoulders and left.

For an instant, Lori, who pretended to be cleaning at the side, approached. She asked, "Wow. Is it true that you're—"

Before she could continue, I covered her mouth. I didn't want anyone to hear I was escaping, especially the guards. Otherwise, they might have imprisoned me, and I wouldn't have been given the freedom to explore.

"Ssh. Yeah, it is, but it doesn't matter anymore."

Minutes passed, and the ceremony started. Many pack members joined, giving the late Luna Hera a tribute and offering prayers. On the stage, Alpha Hadar, including the elders and the Beta, sat in front with a giant portrait of Hera.

Staring at the picture, I couldn't help but admire the simplicity of her beauty. She indeed looked like a goddess anyone desired. No wonder until now, the Alpha was gloomy about her death.

Like what I have heard from the gossip from the pack members, she died from the war, but their conversation halted, so I couldn't verify if it were true.

But Lori reminded me not to ask anyone, even the Alpha, as he didn't want someone to talk about her. One reason everyone went silent and just talked about something else.

Alpha Hadar gave a brief speech, and afterward, the pack members lined up to offer flowers for Hera.

Everyone was grieving, and I could feel it, standing behind them. Even Alpha Hadar tried his best not to cry, but I knew he kept herself strong in front of his pack members.

My heart felt like it had crumbled into pieces, despite I wasn't that sad. It seemed the Alpha's feelings were what I perceived, like an unbreakable string attached within us, like a true damn mate.

****

The night had settled, but the pain I suffered remained. Something that told me the Alpha was surrounded by sadness, and I wanted to comfort him. If I wouldn't, then he and I would suffer. And he wasn't just nothing to me as he was already my suspected mate. His pain was mine, too.

Despite my tiredness, I asked Lori and Marga about the Alpha's whereabouts. Both responded every time he was saddened and remembered his dead mate, he would go to the club to alleviate his sadness. Lori gave me the direction where it was. Luckily, it was just within the vicinity of the pack.

As I reached the club, I didn't hesitate to enter despite it being my first time there. For an instant, I wandered my gaze to look for him. The dance floor was flooded with men, with women trying to seduce men. I rarely saw women going in here; if there were, they were prostitutes and were working in the club.

Finally, I saw Alpha Hadar sitting on a couch, holding a bottle of alcohol. I was about to approach, but I halted when I caught a glimpse of three women seducing Alpha Hadar in his seat. Their hands reached his chest, down to his abs. One of them put his hand on his shirt, and the other kissed him on the neck while the Alpha remained drinking the alcohol.

'Go near them and kick their faces!' Nila roared her furiousness seeing them. 'Didn't the Alpha still be in grief by the death of her mate, right? Look what he's doing!'

'Yeah. I saw it, Nila. But we have no right to intervene. He's the Alpha, and I don't have a relationship with him,' I retorted.

Deep inside, my heart felt like I was being stabbed a thousand times. I didn't want to comfort him, seeing how bastard he was. I wonder what Hera could feel seeing him.

"....really, I'm disappointed with you, Alpha Hadar."

Staying inside would shatter my heart. Sighing, I went out before Hadar glimpsed me, staring at him.

Sitting on the bench near the club, I looked above the starry night.

It was an empty mini park and playground for the pups, but no one could be seen. I couldn't go back to the pack mansion as I would end up couldn't sleep, thinking about him and feeling in pain.

It had been an hour already. I stayed here, hearing the laughs and shouts of the men at the club, seeing couples kissing as they walked past in front of me.

The night was getting late, with a howl heard from the nearby woods. I stood, crossing my arms, and almost couldn't bear the coldness of the night. And as I was about to dash away, I heard a voice behind me.

"Hey, why are you here alone?"

It was Alpha Hadar asking me, and he seemed to be drunk. I faced him. I didn't know what he wanted after letting those women seduce and kiss him.

"Alpha Hadar, is there anything I can do with you?" Despite what I had witnessed, I remained composed and respectful of him. "You can return to the club and have fun with your women."

I couldn't help it and told them to him.

He smirked and went closer to me. He replied, "So you're following me here. What for?"

I cleared my throat, realizing Alpha Hadar was drunk and I shouldn't have engaged with him.

"Alpha, I am not here for you," I lied. "I was here to breathe fresh air."

"Really?" Alpha Hadar questioned while stepping closer to me.

I could no longer move my feet and seemed nailed to the ground. I wanted to push him, but I went numb.

"W—what are you doing, Alpha?" I was jumpy, sensing his breath on my neck.

"Your scent, the birthmark on your neck, and everything in you remind me of someone," he whispered. The smell of alcohol lingered within him. "And what's surprising is that we have our bond…."

"A mate, you mean?" I asked, wanting some clarification.

Surprisingly, he stepped backward, shaking his head. He went serious, scanning his eyes on my whole body, judging every flaw I had.

"It can't be…." He sighed, looking above the sky. "I can't replace Hera over a slave like you. If we are indeed a mate, I must reject you….."