CHAPTER 3: That Is My Dress

“L—LET’S go eat.” I mumbled gripping the other pair of the earring before going out as they were still trying to console Raine.

My mind was blank as I walked out with a mix of feelings swirling around my head.

“She's not even the Alpha’s mate. How can she be so proud of being the Luna.” one of the Omegas behind me said.

The martyrdom in my expression was probably obvious enough for them to spout something that could have their heads cut if I heard it, but they’re fairly aware that I can’t say anything with my heads up in the clouds.

When I was finally outside, that was when I felt all the oxygen entering my lungs and my head working properly. Just as I thought, everyone is on her side.

It felt suffocating to have the people you thought you could trust turn their backs from you.

That is excruciating.

Gnawing the insides of my cheeks to prevent the distress and the heavy thoughts cloud my external appearance, I walk down the dining room. Everyone in the pack house was already on their seats and the dining area was packed.

There’s almost a hundred pack members living in the pack house and each one owns their own seats which some even mark as their own, labeling their names and the kids' drawings.

The Alpha and the Luna dines on another table, that is the main custom that every pack follows.

The two pack warriors guarding the door bowed down in greetings of my presence before pushing the door open for me.

“You guys should shift and eat.” I formally smile at the two and they pout as if they would even burst to tears in appreciation.

My heart instantly warmed at the sight. Well, at least I’ve still got the knights with me.

When I entered, the loud sounds of utensils and voices met my ears, yet other than that, my senses were all directed to Calvin sitting on our seats.

She was already looking at the door and I instantly waved at him. He seemed to have saw.me waving and smiled lightly.

he’s smiling yet his eyes are telling me the opposite thing.

Disappointment.

Perhaps because I was the one who entered and not Raine.

it’s the mating bond . . . it’s the mating bond . . . it’s the mating bond . . .

I repeat to myself.

Yes. of course, it’s just the mating bond and his wolf yearning for close contact with his mate.

I sat at the only chair situated in front of him and smiled. The Omegas instantly placed the dishes right in front of us and I silently thanked them before glancing back at Calvin who seemed to be restless.

We normally eat quietly, yet this one seems odd.

It feels dull.

Okay, let's try to break the ice.

“Hey, do you remember—”

“Did you tell her to come down?” I was instantly cut off by his question. He doesn’t seem too happy as he slices apart his steak.

he’s not even looking at me as he asks his question.

I opened my mouth to say ‘yes’ but closed it again. My fist unconsciously clenched my dress. I gave a hearty laugh, trying to lighten up the mood.

“That's not even my job.” I said and plastered a forced smile on my face when he looked up at me with a face which clearly says he’s not satisfied with my answer.

“you’re the Luna,” he starts off.

I instantly released a breath of relief from what he said. Of course, I am the Luna. I am who he stays with until the end. Love fades. Love doesn’t last.

Even if the Moon Goddess destined it.

“you’re supposed to welcome her, the guest! Why are you sitting here, as she might have been lost or worse, not eaten?” he suddenly outbursts.

What?

I looked around for anyone to have seen but thankfully, we were far enough for no one to have heard.

“I—what are you saying, Calvin?” I loudly whisper to him, my voice laced with an angry tone. I use that when he misbehaves in front of other people that might ruin his reputation.

Probably because it sounded like the former Luna.

“she’s a guest! How can she even know when to even eat? The Omegas probàbly forgot to tell her dinner’s ready!” he replied. I was taken aback by the fact that he wasn’t anymore affected by the tone I’m using.

When I use the method her mother uses to scold him, it usually works like a charm, but now all it does is simply annoy him more.

“the Omegas?” I ask, laying back on my seat as I erase any emotions off my face. I don’t like where this is going.

“I’m certain they’ve been too busy tending to you to have forgotten the basic etiquette of calling and guiding guests to dinner.” he mumbles, placing his spoon loudly on the side of his plate, pausing to eat.

I . . .

I can’t believe him.

That's exactly what the opposite happened.

I want to shout everything. I want to tell him that I was the one left out—forgotten by those I loved and protected so much.

But I swallowed my pride to keep my integrity and elegance. No one would side with a Luna so threatened by the mere presence of the Alpha’s mate.

I take my utensils and I nonchalantly push away such heavy thoughts. I slice through my steak and without looking at him, I said;

“Yes. I called her.” I say with clenched teeth. I lowered my gaze to the steak which seems to be telling me how awful everything is turning out right now.

His reaction from what I said was expected yet it still made my heart clench. His eyes lit up, and his face glowed, which contrary to mine who darkened a few shades downwards.

“Maryna.” When I said it darkened a few shades, it certainly brightened up to lighter when I heard my name come out of his lips so passionately.

All I want is him and his love. That was all.

Perhaps this is what you can call a foolish love.

I didn’t want to kill.

I didn’t want to leave my hands bloody due to this undying love.

But this is what I need to do. I was just raised by his side as if my body was obligated to love him.

I plaster a wide smile at him yet it widened even more when I saw his hands snaking on the table, reaching out on mine.

He squeezed it before sighing.

“I’ve done a lot of things for you. And you know you have to do this sacrifice for me.”

I dropped one of my utensils, clanking down on the platter. I was left speechless with what he said.

Sacrifice? Does that mean that I’d have to sacrifice for her to have her own place? Her who simply barged in our lives, smiling and crying and now she’s got everyone.

I spent my entire lifetime carving my reputation and all the love thrown at me while she took them away all with a simple smile.

This is unfair!

Why should it be me that has to be set aside for her to shine? it’s supposed to be her! She's new here. She's just an outsider.

‘but she’s still the Alpha’s mate whom you’re inferior to.’ I suck in a breath when I felt the anxiety clawing and whispering at me.

I’m going to be replaced.

Thrown out.

I’m going to be unloved. Unwanted. Loathed.

I gulped the forming bulge in my throat and finally decided to have a say in this. He was still looking at me, waiting for my response, yet I can’t seem to form any as if my lips are stopping me from doing so.

I feel my heart beating healthily yet it was filled with a hole it wasn’t there anymore.

“Maryna? You know I love you, right?” he caresses his soft hands on top of mine, smiling at me as he usually would do.

But his eyes weren't the same anymore. His smile wasn’t as genuine-looking as before. His brows doesn’t perk up at the sight of me like it usually do.

He wasn’t the same Calvin I knew.

Or perhaps it’s just me.

‘that’s right, you’re the problem.’ my inner consciousness whispered back at my burning courage to speak up with the situation.

Something in my soul was rising, rising, ceaselessly, painfully, refusing to be still.

I gulp at the itchy feeling clawing within me before I picked my utensils back up.

“She should be here any mom —”

“The Luna! it’s the Luna!” I was then cut off by the familiar voice of the little kid from the audience earlier in the crowd.

The other kids turned to who their playmate was calling the Luna before glancing back at me with their brows furrowed in confusion.

The door opened and the sweet scented smell of fruit swallowed my senses as the tiny figure of Raine entered the halls.

All eyes — even those who are eating raised their gazes at her alluring features. She was a damsel everyone would all want to protect.

A beautiful maiden that would make you kneel on one knee as she holds her hand out and with a gentle caress, you’ll barely brush your lips on the back of her palm — careful enough to not be too touchy and lewd, but also pressed enough to show respect and chivalry.

Her nearly pink hair was being lit by the chandelier’s bright hues of warm colors, making the pink more yellowish yet so vibrant.

Her icy eyes were fixed in one direction and that is her mate, of course — Calvin.

I turn to the man right in front of me — that very man sitting on a two-seater table and is supposed to focus on his date — the woman in front of him.

As expected, his eyes were gawking at his mate with a passionate look on them. Somehow, a look I have never seen him give me. I grip the utensils and was about to turn around when I heard her steps coming closer.

Her scent was getting more and more fragrant by the minute. It was itching my senses.

Why is she even coming closer? I’m sure she’s not going to actually sit here, right?

“hi!” and yeah, she is definitely sitting here.

“hi . . .” responded Calvin, voice hazy from all the staring. Jis wolf must be clawing to come out by now. The urge to basically bang your mate almost anywhere is something the schools have never failed to drill in our head.

It is the instinct of most males — and even more to Alphas.

Well, fuck. I really don’t want to be in this heated sexual tension. Just thinking about the image o the both of them fucking each other or ‘making love’ — as what most people call it — is already enough to make me puke all the food I ate for breakfast.

Breakfast because I haven’t even taken a single bite due to Calvin’s fretful mood.

I lower my head before gritting my teeth.

“What brings you to our table?” I say, emphasizing the word ‘our’ to let her know that she’s not just interrupting our meal, but our relationship as well.

I raised my head as I was talking. But that’s when I saw it.

No, she did not . . .

“That’s my dress.” I slowly trailed off.

No, that was the only dress I inherited from Calvin’s mother.

that’s mine.