The offer

Xena

I wake up in my chambers and find Xael staring at me. The gentleness in his voice and the love reflected in his eyes reminds me of what we once were. It was just two weeks ago when he went for that regional meeting and returned with her. It feels like it was ages ago. For a moment, I feel like we can go back to our fairytale love. His tone breaks my heart when I refuse for him to feed me. Maybe I am reading too much into this. Maybe he truly has chosen me and just wants the Epsilon to give him confirmation that it is safe for him to reject her. He is my childhood best friend and has never lied to me before. Maybe I should give him the benefit of the doubt.

I feel like such a fool when his mate walks into our chambers. He has let her into our home. She sounds so apologetic and pitiful, but I can see through her. I don’t waste my words to respond to her.

He pulls her out and returns an hour later.

“I am so sorry about that, Love. She was here for the court,” Xael tries to explain, but nothing will change what is glaring at me. Everyone who came for the court is long gone, except her. He might be in denial but my time as his Luna has reached its expiry date. I know him too well. He will not sign divorce papers willingly because us being mates was both our parents’ wishes. I need to find a way around this. He will also have to accept my rejection after that. I don’t know how, but I need a proper exit plan.

I block him out and try to think of a way forward. I obviously can’t stay in the pack after we are divorced. Where exactly will I go? Finding a job won’t be hard, but I might want to lay low for a while and get Xaden used to the new reality.

It is past midnight when he gets up and leaves, exactly like the night before. I guess his mate is not okay again. I should not care since I have decided to leave, but it hurts like hell. Diana whimpers inside. She is heartbroken and I have no consolation for her.

Unlike the night before, he is back by four in the morning. Maybe he does not want people seeing him and talking about it. I flinch when he slips into bed and pulls me to him. Her scent is all over him and he has the audacity to get closer to me. I am fuming by the time I get up, put on my gown and march out of our chambers.

“Xena, Babe,” he calls to me.

“Leave me alone!” I snap, my rage threatening to explode. I swear I will punch him or kick his balls if he comes near me. That might just be my death sentence. I have to leave here before this gets out of hand.

I march to my old bedroom and lock it. That’s when my stupid tears flow down. I sink on the floor and cry my lungs out. I knew that this would happen. I should have never curved in and married him. I don’ know exactly when I fell asleep, but the sun is up by the time I wake up.

The maids exchange looks when they see me come out of my old room. They are shocked when I instruct them to move all my stuff there.

“I want divorce. It’s for the best for all of us,” I tell Xael when he joins me in the dining hall.

“Over my dead body!” he roars and glares at me. He looks terrible. His eyes are blood shot like someone who has not slept. Maybe his mate was not okay as usual, and he went to see her again after I left. I shut that out of my mind. It does not matter.

“You clearly love your mate, and I don’t blame you. What I hate is you making me a fool. Let’s end this before we end up hating each other,” I say as calmy as I can. Surely, we can be civil with each other. I know that he can’t fight the mate bond forever. Maybe one day we will be friends again.

“Never happening. Who gave you permission to move out of our chambers?”

His cold, authoritative tone immediately tests my resolve. Now Diana is mad.

“I used my common sense, Xael. Feel free to bring your mate along. It will save you the midnight trips. You don’t even have to give her directions, she already knows where your chambers are.”

“You are overreacting,” he grits his teeth.

I don’t justify that with and answer but continue eating my apple.

“I already told you why Gwen was here. Why can’t you just trust me?”

I can hear the irritation in his voice. The audacity!

“Trust you? You leave in the middle of the night and return with her scent all over you and you want me to trust you?”

He lets out a sigh before his expression warms up and he starts apologizing.

“I am sorry, Babe. I know that this is hard on you. She is really struggling to settle in here. I swear to you that…”

“I don’t care, Xael. Just stay away from me. You disgust me.”

“I can’t stay away from you, Xena. You are my Luna and the love of my life. I can’t live without you.”

It’s a crazy utterance from a man who can’t reject his mate and runs to her at midnight. How stupid does he think I am? I can’t believe that those words once melted my heart.

I take sip of the juice and ignore him. I am not very good at arguing. It won’t change anything anyway.

He continues to explain himself, while I completely ignore him. He peeps on my phone when it rings and clench his jaw.

“Why is Damilion calling you?”

The question is almost a growl. He is usually on top of his emotions. His fuse seems to be very short this morning.

“I am treating his son.”

He grabs my phone, accepts the call and puts it on loudspeaker.

“Luna Xena,” Alpha Damilion greets.

“Alpha Damilion.”

“You scared us when you collapsed. How are you doing?”

“I am well, thank you for asking.”

He clears his throat as if deciding if he should say something. I try not to glance at Xael as I guess what is coming.

“I was informed that you are not working today. I was hoping we could talk.”

“I took a few days off. My team tells me that the prince is doing well,” I try to channel the discussion to his son while Xael gives me deadly stares.

“All thanks to you.”

“It is my job, Alpha,” I tell him, and he laughs, clearly not sharing my sentiments.

“I have seen multitudes of doctors, who were doing their jobs. You do not give yourself enough credit, Doctor Luna.”

His honeyed voice is unmistakable. He is flirting with me. I can see Xael’s whole body tenses and veins bulge on his neck.

“I will take that as a complement,” I respond with a lively voice and ignore my fuming husband.

“I need to see you, Doc.”

I don’t know how to respond to this without Xael exploding. I can push him to a certain extent before he goes nuts.

“I am aware that Xael found his mate. I am also aware of your love for him. If anything, ever changes, if you ever feel unappreciated, I need you to know that D-pack will always be grateful to have you. We have a special place for you,” he proceeds.

“Thank you, Alpha. I might just take you up on that offer.”

He chuckles. “Looking forward to that day. Rest well, My Luna.”

Xael completely loses it when the call ends. I am surprised that he did not cut Alpha Damilion off. Seeing Xael go crazy is somewhat satisfying.

“You have a special place in D-pack? You might just take him up on that offer? What are you trying to do, Xena?” he fires questions at me.

I flash him an innocent smile and inspect my nails.

“You found your mate. Alpha Damilion has lost his. An exchange would not be such a bad ide..”

I don’t complete my provocative words. He has whisked me from my chair and taking huge strides to our chambers.