Chapter 6

Clara’s POV

When I woke up the next morning, Caleb was already gone.

I washed up and started doing what I’d been doing for days—walking laps around my room, holding on to the bed and the walls, inch by inch. Caleb kept using “you need rest” as the excuse to keep me away from my children. He kept them hidden downstairs. So I had to get better. Fast.

Thank goddess the practice was working. I could almost walk on my own now.

Caleb didn’t come back for lunch. He mindlinked me around noon, told me he had a meeting with the ranked members and couldn’t eat with me. But I knew exactly where he was. Frost wasn’t even trying to hide her laugh in the background.

I pushed her sharp, sugary voice out of my head and opened my computer. I searched for rental listings in other packs, flipping through page after page, imagining a future far away from this place.

Then I called the maids and asked them to find gardeners to remove every single yellow tulip in this pack and replace them with roses—my flowers. I didn’t need those tulips reminding me how stupid I used to be.

“Should we ask Alpha for permission first?” one of the maids asked carefully. I knew she was one of Caleb’s eyes and ears. But challenging me was stupid, stupid mistake.

Caleb, the perfect Alpha husband—how could he possibly refuse such a small request from his Luna?

“Pull them out,” I said, letting my Luna voice roll through the room. “Or you can pack your things and leave. Your choice.”

She bowed so fast she nearly tripped, then ran off.

By the time the maid came back to report the flowers were gone, the sky outside had already dimmed. I lay on my bed, resting my legs, when a message from Lora lit up my phone.

I found something about Caleb and Frost. It’s… not great. Let’s talk in person. Meet me in an hour at your favorite restaurant.

I stared at the screen until it dimmed, then exhaled and typed back.

Okay. See you soon.

I grabbed the first red dress on the hanger, changed, and left. Lora had sent her driver to pick me up. By the time I reached the restaurant, a hostess was already waiting at the entrance.

“Are you Luna Clara?” she asked. “Ms. Lora asked me to bring you in. This way, please.”

I nodded and followed her down a long, dim hallway. The food of the place was perfect, but I’d always thought the restaurant was too big—too many rooms, too many confusing turns. I used to get lost here all the time.

I quickened my pace to keep up, but that’s when I heard a familiar voice coming from one of the rooms.

I turned and spotted Caleb immediately.

My “hardworking Alpha,” the man who was “working late in a meeting” was sitting at a round table surrounded by old friends. I recognized them immediately. They are all ranked members of the neighbour packs, and they’d all known each other since the Werewolf Academy years. I’d bagged Claeb took me to some of their gatherings before, but it never ended well. I always felt like an outsider.

I kept telling myself it was normal. Of course Caleb had friends I didn’t fully get along with. Of course they had their own stories and inside jokes I wasn’t part of.

But then I looked at Frost.

She was sitting right next to Caleb, laughing with everyone at the table like she had known them for years. Like she belonged there. Like she was already one of them. And the way her body leaned so close to him… too close. Too familiar.

“So your Luna finally woke up?” one of the guys burst into loud laughter as he slapped Caleb’s shoulder. “Man, I can’t believe it. I thought you were ready to marry Frost already. She’s the perfect second-chance mate! Well, you two do have a lot of history together after all.”

He nodded toward her. Right on cue, Frost let out this sweet little laugh and leaned back even closer into Caleb’s space—almost into Caleb's chest.

My stomach twisted. History？Frost was just a maid who joined the pack when I was pregnant. Caleb said that. How the hell did she get history with him?

“Yeah, you two look way better together anyway,” another beta said. “Clara’s strong but she’s… boring. Even if they’re mates, he’s probably tired of her.”

Frost glanced at Caleb before throwing on her sweet, innocent-looking act, “Don’t! Luna Clara would be sad.”

“Yeah but who cares?” the beta shrugged, “You two are meant to get back together.”

A beat of silence. And then soft, knowing laughter.

I glanced at Caleb. I don’t even know what I was hoping for. Denial? Some kind of stop sign? An explanation to everyone—myself included—that it was just some Alpha-and-servant nonsense?

I guess it’s time to stop lying to myself.

I always thought my coma gave Frost the opening, that Caleb only betrayed me because I was gone, because my wolf and I weren’t there and he was lonely. But the truth… the truth is, long before I even realized it, I was already drifting away from my mate.

I let out a long, shaky breath.

Forget it. I was leaving anyway. I shouldn’t care.

I turned and started walking without thinking about my destination, each step loud in my own ears, heart hammering.

“Ma’am?” The waitress whispered carefully beside me. “Your hand…”

I looked down. My fingers were curled tight, nails cutting into the skin. Somehow, I hadn’t even noticed.

I shook my head to let her leave. And picked up the pace, moving toward the elevator like I was running away, desperate to get out of here.

My hands were still trembling. I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message to Lora.

“Emergency. Can’t meet today.”

I hit send, but my heart was still racing. Today, I couldn’t deal with more about them—not Caleb, not Frost, not any of it.

The elevator arrived quickly. I lowered my head to hide my face, and saw a pair of black polished shoes. Then black suit pants, long legs, and strong chest.

I brushed past him. But then my sleeping wolf suddenly moved. 

Her instincts twitched. Like something strong and dangerous nearby sparking her curiosity.

I didn’t know why I felt it. But I didn’t like it. It unsettled me more.

I stepped out of the elevator as soon as it opened, chest heavings, hands gripping tight around my cane. My phone buzzed relentlessly—Lora, probably panicking.

“I’m fine, just a little emergency. Will call you.” I typed quickly, hitting send. I took a step forward, not paying attention to the corner… and slammed into a solid wall of muscle.

“You blind, or what?!” The man cursed.

I smelled it immediately—the rotting, rancid stench of a rogue wolf.

Come on! It's already too much for today!

I adjusted my sunglasses, lifted my head, and saw him properly. He was lean, his cheekbones sharp, wearing a torn tank top that barely contained his tattoos. The booze and wolf stink hit me in waves.

I cannot connect with my wolf now. If he recognized me… it’d be bad. So bad.

I kept my voice steady, “Sorry… I can’t see.”

He grinned like I’d handed him a golden ticket. “Oh, really? A little blind girl, huh?”

He leaned closer, sniffing me like a predator. “Heh… cute face. Smells familiar… smells good. Wonder if you feel as good as you smell.”

I took a step back. “I'm sorry. Leave me alone please.”

He laughed and stepped forward, closing the distance. My back hit the wall. My stomach dropped when his nose almost touched my neck. He sniffed, then his eyes went wide.

“You… Luna Clara?! You’re back!”

Shit!

I spun and tried to run away, but before I could react, he lunged, knocking me to the ground. Pain shot through my shoulder as I hit the tile. My head spun. Darkness licked at the corners of my vision.

I rolled, trying to stay light on my feet, but he was relentless. I swung my cane blindly, striking him in the ribs, but his wolf was stronger than I expected. He snapped, teeth grazing my arm. I hissed, pain flaring hot.

But suddenly a massive wolf barreled between us, slamming into him. I tumbled, barely keeping my balance, as the intruder crashed into the wall.

The new wolf shifted back into human form with terrifying speed. Muscles coiled, eyes burning as he cornered the rogue. With a roar, he slammed him to the floor repeatedly, each strike precise, leaving no doubt who was in charge.

I scrambled back against the wall, heart hammering. My arm throbbed, my legs shook, but I was alive.

“Miss.” A deep, calm voice cut through the chaos.

I froze. My head snapped up. A man was standing right behind me. Tall. Broad shoulders. A strong jawline, eyes so deep they made my heart skip a beat. Alpha King Xavier.

My hands tightened on my cane.

He didn’t move closer. Instead, he pulled a crisp, white handkerchief from his pocket and held it out. “You're bleeding.”

I hesitated, then took it. The fabric was cool, but the faint, lingering scent of him clung to it—wood, musk, a hint of danger. My throat went dry.

I dabbed at the blood on my forehead, trying not to breathe in too deeply.

Xavier’s piercing gaze lingered a moment longer, unreadable. Then, as if satisfied, he stepped back. "Escort the miss out." he ordered.

He didn't recognize me!

His man nodded, walked toward me, and said. “Follow me, Miss."

I let myself be guided, keeping my head down. Every step I took away from the corridor, away from him, I felt the tension in my chest ease slightly. But the handkerchief clutched tight in my hands carried that undeniable scent.

I glanced back one last time before getting out. Xavier didn’t move.

I tightly wrapped in my coat, handkerchief pressed to my forehead, and that lingering scent… it swirled in my senses, unsettled and impossible to shake.