Chapter 5: Let Me Go

I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on my hotel room. 

Last night, when I reached my room, I spent half of my night drowning my sorrows in the bathtub, chugging down a bottle of red wine as I cry. It was only three in the morning when I realized I made the bathtub as my temporary bed.

As my footsteps neared the door, I realized it’s the last day of the Feast of the Rose Moon.

“Who is it?” 

“Room service for breakfast from Alpha Lucien!”

I gasped—no, I groaned and massaged my forehead as I opened the door.

Lucien didn’t run after me last night. Why would he?

He got the love of his life across him and his best friend beside him, what am I to him?

Well, I’m just a second choice and second priority—a backup for him in case one woman leaves him, he has an extra woman behind.

But now, he’s winning me back through some breakfast delivery.

The hotel’s butler brought me a table full of food and the meals were piping hot. There were scrambled eggs, pancakes, egg benedicts, fried rice, Italian sausages, and other meals that I barely recognize save for their delicious smell.

“Why? Why did the Alpha give me this?”

The  butler reached into his pocket and handed me a card. “He left a letter for you, miss.”

Oh wow, a morning letter and breakfast. How many times have I dreamed and asked Lucien to do this for me for the past five years?

I gently picked up a red rose from a transparent glass vase and brought it to my nose.

Why is that now we’re broken up, he’s now doing this to me?

I sighed and I turned to my hotel room’s door where the butler had vanished. It seems he was instructed to leave immediately so that there will be no room for arguing and turning down the breakfast.

Well, it’s six in the morning and I’m hungry—but I’m not going to start it with a drama.

I dialed the housekeeping and said with a gentle voice, “Hello, please take this room service breakfast that your butler casually dropped in my room. I don’t want them and I don’t want you to be involved in me and Alpha Lucien’s breakup. Please tell Alpha Lucien that too.”

I didn’t wait for them to reply as I put down the telephone.

***

Seven in the morning and I’m already packed, ready to leave. I told the front desk that I’ll be not finishing the Feast of the Rose Moon because I have some pending work I left in the hospital.

As an Omega training in the pack’s hospital as one of the pack healers, it’s crucial for me to double time and work at the same time learn. Good thing that Francis, the Head of the Healers, gave me that opportunity.

I spent my breakfast in a noodle shop near my apartment, my medicine book on the table. My eyes were busy reading and jotting down notes when several  message notifications sounded as soon as I turned off my airplane off. 

Leaning my back on the chair as I willed my fingers to relax, I tapped on the first message.

“How’s the breakfast, Ves? The steak is medium-rare and the scrambled eggs are topped with caviar.”

I read his second message without so much as frowning. “Vesta, I apologize last night for our behavior. We were so engaged with each other that I forgot to entertain you further. You left even before the fireworks finished. I hope you’re not mad.”

I rolled my eyes when I opened the third message. “Vesta, why did you turn down the breakfast? The housekeeper told me you sent the butler away and told the maids to eat the breakfast themselves. Why?!”

I was about to click on the fourth message when an incoming call suddenly popped up on my screen.

I exhaled and swiped right. “I told you to leave me alone.”

“Vesta, I’m trying to mend our relationship. Why are you like this?”

“Well for one, we’ve already broken up a month ago. Second, you clearly showed me yesterday who is still your priority. Third, I’m just returning the favor of your breakfast on what you used to do to me.”

“What?” His voice rose to a shout, and I leaned the side of my head on the wall.

“Remember that time you had a car accident and the doctor told you to eat regularly to regain your strength? I’ve been cooking for you for all those days. Waking up before the sun rises just to prepare your meals and then I’ve found out you’ve been feeding Charmaine all those meals I’ve prepared for you! That’s how ungrateful and disgusted you are to me!”

Indeed, I tried to lift his spirits up by preparing him delicious meals. One day, I tried to surprisingly visit him in the hospital to check on how he’s doing and I found out he’s simply just working on his laptop while Charm was munching the meal I’ve prepared.

“You’re a good cook, Vesta! No wonder Lucien fell in love with you,” she muttered to me more like in a mocking tone while side-glancing Lucien who merely just shrugged a shoulder.

“Vesta, that’s nothing,” Lucien groaned. “Charm just wants to eat your meals because she’s hungry at that time.”

“Oh, so she’s always hungry when she visits you that’s why you always handed her the meals I prepared with all my heart?” I chuckled anxiously, “Yeah, right. That’s believable, Lu.”

In a reflex action, I slammed my fists on the table, rattling the plates and utensils. The staff and other customers gaped.

I blink, shame staining my cheeks with red. I bowed in apology to them, “I’m sorry.”

Lucien voiced on the other side. “Vesta? Are you alright?” 

“I’m tired, Lucien. Please, I’m trying to move on from you.” I put a hand on my heart. “Please, let’s part ways from now on. You—you spend time with Charmaine and Thomas while I focus on my career and perhaps find new love along the way. Please,” I begged him, letting my voice shake.

He was silent for long. I was about to put down my phone when my tears broke free from my hold.

I barely healed myself from the past month to what he did on our anniversary date. And now...

“Alpha Lucien, as my mate...” I addressed him intimately. “Please let me go. Let me go from this endless cycle of hurt and let me heal from the pain. Please.”