Chapter 2

Alex was crouching on the ground, tying up Mabel's shoelaces for her.

She lowered her hand with a beaming smile and stroked his hair, and his ears turned bright red in an instant.

Once he was sure her shoelaces were tied tight, he stood up and sheepishly ruffled his own hair.

"You brushed against my ear just now."

What the hell? I'd never seen him look so bashful before.

Aunt Esther happened to push open the stairwell door just then, and the moment she saw the scene, her brows furrowed.

I quickly held her back.

"Aunt Esther! I've brought some medicinal herbs for Timmy. You mentioned yesterday that he wasn't feeling well, so I thought I'd come by to check on him."

Hearing the commotion, Alex turned around, pausing for a moment when he saw me. He waited until I finished my brief exchange with Aunt Esther, then stepped closer. He took my hand habitually and rubbed it against his cheek.

"What brought you here? Mabel was harassed by some rogues yesterday, and she was so shaken that she nearly fainted. We just moved her to a new place closer to the hospital. I didn't know your Aunt Esther lived here too. Are you here to visit her?"

I pulled my hand away and signaled for the warrior to carry the herbs upstairs. "Yeah, Aunt Esther mentioned that Timmy wasn't feeling well."

"Hmm, starting to adapt to your duties as the Luna ahead of schedule? You're certainly eager to take on the role, aren't you?" Alex teased.

A wave of nausea washed over me. He used to say things like that all the time, which was why I'd scramble to take on every task in the pack, even to the point of total exhaustion.

"Who's that? A pup? There's a pup here? I wanna meet him too!" Mabel suddenly exclaimed, popping out from behind him, her face full of curiosity.

Hearing this, Alex spoke up immediately. "Alright! Why don't you take us upstairs to see your pup, Aunt Esther?"

I frowned and held out my arms to block their way. "Maybe next time. Timmy isn't feeling well. It wouldn't be good if he passed on some virus to Mabel."

Alex paused, then nodded, looking surprised. "That's very thoughtful of you, Jasna.

"Mabel, Jasna's right. You're so frail right now that a strong breeze could probably knock you over."

Just watching his hypocritical display of tenderness made my stomach churn. I simply looked away and headed upstairs with Aunt Esther.

In the elevator, Aunt Esther hesitated before asking, "Don't you want to try a bit harder with Alex? Maybe the two of you could just talk? Is it possible he's only being extra attentive because Mabel is dying?"

I gave a self-deprecating laugh and wiped my eyes dry. "There's a world of difference between asking for something and having it offered voluntarily to me, Aunt Esther. Forget it. I'm too tired to keep fighting."

Once upstairs, I glanced out the window, but the two of them were already gone.

Timmy was full of energy when he saw me, but he kept whimpering, wanting to meet the Alpha of the pack. I knew it was just an instinctual, deep-seated reverence instilled in every pup the moment they were born.

Thinking that I'd be leaving soon anyway, I decided to grant Timmy's wish. So I pulled out my phone and messaged Alex, asking if he could come up.

A second later, a reply came through.

That was fast.

Puzzled, I tapped to play the voice message. Mabel's weak, delicate voice drifted out.

"Jasna, I'm feeling a bit unwell again after catching a draft, and Alex is currently helping me steady my breathing and soothe my wolf. He really can't step away right now."

I scoffed coldly. Just as I was about to explain things to Timmy, another message popped up.

"Please don't take it the wrong way, Jasna! It's all my fault. My wretched body is failing me. Alex says you've always been perfectly healthy, so you don't need his healing touch…"

I nearly laughed out of sheer indignation.

Did she just say that I didn't need him?

That allergic reaction back then nearly cost me my life, yet Alex spent those entire few days by Mabel's side, not even bothering to check on me even once.

If Mom hadn't sent me a special remedy, I'd be dead and buried by now!

By the time he finally remembered I existed, I was already well enough to get out of bed. And yet, he accused me of faking it, suspecting that I'd made up the whole thing just to garner sympathy from him.

Annoyed, I switched off my phone. It took quite a bit of coaxing to calm Timmy down before I could finally slip away.

I hadn't gone far when Alex called, his tone accusatory.

"Jasna! Why have you become such a drama queen? Don't you know Mabel is practically dying? How could you tell her that none of the pups like her? She's already struggling to fit in as it is, and she's absolutely devastated! What's happened to you? Do you even still want to be the Luna?"

Listening to his threatening tone, I let out a weary, deep breath and replied calmly, "Fine, I shouldn't have said that. She's the purest, kindest soul, and all the little wolf pups adore her. There, are you happy now? I'm hanging up."