Chapter 3: The Feast of the Rose Moon

The Feast of the Rose Moon was one of my favorite pack gatherings. Not only because it marks the beginning of spring, but also because it’s a huge part of our pack traditions of giving thanks to the Moon Goddess and strengthening our relationship with one another as a pack.

It’s been a month since Alpha Lucien and I broke up. And though I’m crying less and less each night, I can definitely say that there is still an ember of my love for him that remains ignited in my heart.

The Feast of the Rose Moon was held at the Rose Moon Hotel itself. The celebration lasts for three days and all of the packmembers are given a free stay at the hotel. A fresh scent of roses found its way towards me, filling the air with its bold sweetness and soft aroma.

The concierge and I reached our room and it was the most expensive room I’ve ever seen—close to the grandiose of the penthouse that Lucien and I once shared.

“Thank you,” I said to the concierge and he gave me a soft smile before vanishing in the hallway.

It was almost sunset and the Brightheart Pack’s event coordinator said that the second night of the Feast’s dinner will be held on the seaside so now we’re free to do whatever we want.  

I changed into my swimming attire, eager to dive into the hotel’s infinity pool on my first night of stay. I may not have a couple of friends here but I sure will enjoy the festivities.

The sun was just beginning its descent when I plunged myself into the pool’s cool waters. I made myself swim from one end to the other until I found myself needing a drink.

I sat on one of the chairs to the east of the pool when I felt someone standing behind me. I put down my glass of pomegranate juice and looked up.

 “Vesta.” The two syllables of my name from the lips of my once-doting boyfriend were nothing more than a whisper.

“Leave me alone,” was all I mumbled and I leaned back on the chair.

Five years of living with him wasted away. Five years of a relationship built upon lies and broken promises and crying.

I regretted saying yes to him when he asked me if I’d be his girlfriend. Maybe I should never have loved him at all.

“Vesta,” he calledagain. This time it was louder as if ordering me to get up and face him.

“For the love of the Moon Goddess, walk away.” I didn’t lower my voice and I made sure the staff heard us.

“No.”

So he wants to play a game of who walks away first? Fine.

 “What was the point, Lucien,” I shot to my feet and rested a hand on my waist, “of us living together when your attention and mind are so far from me?”

Alpha Lucien and I may have been physically close for the past five years but our hearts seemed to be minding their own business with each passing day. 

“So you just broke up with me over jealousy?” He ran a hand through his hair, “I saw Charm’s post on my way to the restaurant. She asked for my help to secure a deal with a big company and it was a last-minute. Don’t you know how big of an impact it is for the Brightheart Pack? Charm needs me for that meeting.”

“And I don’t?” I retorted, “Just because it’s an anniversary dinner date, does it mean I don’t need you?”

He didn’t answer my question. He added instead, “Some sacrifices are to be made to strengthen our ties with other packs and—and stop being childish, Vesta! We’re adults now. Put aside your childish jealousy. Come home when you’ve calmed down and I’ll just tell everyone that we never broke up.”

“Childish?!” My eyes simmered with bright fury at that. “So now I am childish?” I snarled and didn’t bother to correct my posture like I was going to shift and pounce at him.

He’s an Alpha, yes. But he’s an asshole.

If Lucien’s goal is to piss me off on the first day of this Feast, then he successfully did.

“Stand down, Vesta. I have no intention of fighting you.”

“Oh, but you do,” I spat.

Shaking my head, I tried to brush away the anger that he stirred up with his words by inhaling the lulling scent of roses nearby. “As I said, leave me alone.”

He ignored my words, “Come have dinner with me. Their steak and lobster are delicious here.” He removed one hand from his pocket and offered it to me.

The word childish kept echoing in my mind, igniting that surge of anger and turning it into a fiery storm. Was I really that childish?

I scoffed, “I think you’re the one who’s childish, Alpha Lucien.”

Taking my words as my rejection of his offer, he simply pursed his lips and blandly said, “Enjoy your swim.”

And then he walked away.

***

I didn’t enjoy my swim that night. I sprinted straight to my room, locked my door and the windows, and relentlessly cried on my bed with pillows over my mouth to lower my sobs.

The next day, I spend half of the morning deciding what to wear for the formal dinner. I was in the lobby when a familiar scent hit me: the crisp scent of pine and the earthiness of cedarwood punched me in the gut.

There’s only one male who has that smell.

“Lucien.”

His cheerful voice almost made me vomit, “Hi, Ves!”

I didn’t know that our ‘lovely’ conversation last night made him joyful.

“Good thing you didn’t bring your obsessive fans.” Alpha Lucien might be an asshole but he’s drop-dead gorgeous. No wonder a lot of our pack fangirl over him.

He ran a look over my silk dress. It’s a kind of dress that changes colors depending on the light: subtle red when it’s bright and glittering black if it’s dark.

He smiled, “You looked as lovely as always, Vesta.”

I growled but he only laughed as if my constant shoving and brushing him off amuses him.

“I’ll drive you to the beach,” he extended an arm to me—the same way he did yesterday.

I rolled my eyes and walked past him.

True to what Lucien had said, I walked my way to the beach in this dress and heels. I look ridiculous but I don’t care as long as—

A car honked behind me. Lucien’s car. I could have continued walking when I saw what was behind it: a swarm of his obsessive fanatics were running after him.

“Hop in!” I saw the panic in his eyes.

When I opened the door, that sharp female scent tore through my senses that almost made me vomit.

My entire body froze when I realized it was Charmaine’s fucking scent that lingered and I was just about to plop down on the seat she sat on.