3

In the Mooncrest Pack Infirmary room Ryan was still excitedly telling Marina how chilly and harsh Declan had always been to Zara while years Marina had been gone.

“At some time, Zara even said to Declan by slicing her wrist,” Ryan said with a laugh. “She sent him a photo of the blood. Can you think of what he did?”

Declan did not even blink. He went right back to the pack land and told her to get out. He said if she wanted to die, she should do it outside, don’t mess up the Alpha’s area.

Ryan didn't hear the tale straight from Declan. It was said among group folks. That night, the chill had gone below zero. Zara was left out by the gates, bleeding, till the blood from her cut almost thickened.

It was absurd. And yet unbearably tragic.

“Declan has always been very cold to her,” Ryan went on. “But look at how he acts with you. Even when you're overseas and only have a light fever he...”

“That’s enough.”

Declan’s quick break in spoke stopped Ryan in the middle of his sentence.

“Oh? Are you feeling strange now?” Ryan smiled. “Marina’s here. Aren’t you going to stand up for yourself, Alpha Declan”

Marina raised her hand to her mouth and laughed a little, picking not to say.

A weird tightness sat in Declan’s chest. The feeling was odd, uneasy and he didn’t know why it bothered him.

Ryan is done setting up the VIP room for Marina. Without any more words, Declan grabbed the papers and went out to take care of the formalities.

Ryan laid his chin on his hand, looking at Declan’s going away shape. He leaned in closer to Marina and said with a playful wink, “You see? He gets serious when it’s about you.”

His voice was so soft that Declan couldn't hear it.

Declan finished the sign-up, paid the costs, and picked the safest and quietest place for Marina.

But after all was done, his mind wandered to Zara.

Frowning, he pulled out his phone.

Only then he saw the missed calls and unread texts.

This is the Mooncrest P͏ack place for sick. We have tried to reach you many times but failed. Luna Zara had a bad accident and needs the Alpha's mark for quick surgery,, Please come right away.

Mooncrest Pack Infirmary.

The same Pack Infirmary he was standing in.

Declan froze.

Ryan’s old words bounced in his head. After the wrist cutting event, Zara had changed. She quit calling him all the time. As days passed, her being in his life went quiet almost completely.

Sometimes when he got back to the pack home late at night, she wouldn't even come down to wait for him.

Strange.

Without more thought, Declan called her number.

Zara was resting on a bed in the Pack’s infirmary, she just talked with the legal person from the Pack Council about mate reject rules.

When Declan's name popped up on the screen, she froze.

She had already assumed that Declan would never get in touch with her today.

And yet he was calling.

Each time Marina came back to Rodrigo Pack land, Declan gave all his time to her, vanishing for a whole day without thinking of Zara at all.

After a pause, Zara answered.

Declan frowned. Irritation rose within him.

Was this a different try to catch his notice? Had he been fooled once more?

But it was too late to hang up.

He held back his annoyance and asked calmly, "Where are you at?"

“At the Pack Infirmary,” Zara replied calmly.

Declan made a quiet, teasing laugh. Her voice was calm, too calm for a person who had been in a mishap. 

“They told me you got hurt,” he said. “How do you feel?”

His tone remained distant and cold.

Zara paused.

Was this concern?

He had not ever called to see how she was before. Never asked if she was hurt or not. Never cared if she was alive, or not.

Her eyes hurt. She put a hand on her belly, her chest getting tight.

Did he still care even a little?

“I’m better now,” Zara said softly.

She hesitated. Should she tell him about the pup?

Before she could continue, Declan interrupted.

“If it’s not a big deal then come back to the ͏pack house. Marina had a crash. The healer said her wolf body is weak. She needs tender care. Go home and make good meals to help her get better quicker.”

The weak heat that had started in Zara's heart broke right away, switched with a sharp chill.

So this was it.

Not concern.

A command.

When Declan got badly hurt in a fight near the border, Zara made him soup to help him feel better each night for a whole month. She didn’t think he would say thank you but she also didn't think he would one day ask her to do the same thing for another lady.

Zara smiled faintly.

Their mate bond had always been hollow.

Declan watched over Marina all the time. The second she sneezed, he saw it. If Marina got sick while abroad, he would drop everything and take the next plane.

Yet Zara was hurt in the same Pack Hospital and to him, it was just a bother.

“Handle it yourself,” Zara said coldly.

“Marina is choosy,” Declan said quickly. “She does not eat food made by no one else.”

Zara stared ahead, then let out a quiet laugh.

“Declan,” she said softly, “I’m your mate. Not an omega.”

“What did you say?” Declan frowned.

“I said I won’t prepare anything.”

It was the first time Zara had ever said no to him so plain.

Declan's brows scrunched as he felt anger rise.

“Zara, are you being jealous again?”

“I am Marina’s top wolf” he kept on in a chill tone. “If I don’t look after her, who will? Keep in mind your place once was hers. If it wasn’t for you, she would be my real Luna now.”

Those words.

He had said them countless times.

A long time ago, Declan’s dad, the old Alpha, got very sick. Zara’s mom was a special wolf with the right blood. She said yes to help but had one rule: Zara must be Declan's mate!

Before her death Zara mother made the mating ceremony be told to everyone.

Once, Declan was close to Marina. The elders of the pack pushed him hard, and then Marina went away from the land sad.

Later, papers were found in Zara's mom's things showing that she had thought of all this, aware her time was short.

Zara became the laughingstock of the pack.

She tried to say no to the bond. But if she did, her mom's giving up would have been for nothing.

So she endured. Silently. For years.

But now there was nothing left to endure.

If her mom was here to see her now, she would be very sad.

"Then," Zara said smoothly, "I will give this part back to her."

She squeezed her hold on the Mate Rejection Scroll she already signed, her voice cold and firm.

"Declan Jordan," she said "I reject you as my Alpha Mate."