Chapter 5

After dinner, I come into my bedroom to fold the laundry from last night. My body is listless but I know I won’t be able to sleep which is why I busy myself with chores. I plan to mop the entire house after this so I would black out as soon as I touch the bed.

I know my thoughts would run too far if I decide to think about what occured today. Jonathan’s words, Jayden’s behaviour and the Luna’s self-righteousness. Everything was too overwhelming to take in.

“Maya.” Jonathan walks into the bedroom and I close my eyes, missing the days when his voice was all I needed to feel safe and comforted. “I know you’re not happy with the way Jayden spoke to you today but don’t take it to heart. He’s just a child.” 

Turning around, I see Jonathan looking at me softly and I know he’s trying to make peace. And he’s right; emotions were high this afternoon and the tension escalated matters. But something just wasn’t right to me. 

“I know.” I mutter, wishing for him to just leave me to my thoughts. 

“Come on, don’t be like that, Maya. Smile a little.” He steps closer and grabs my hand. “You look a lot more beautiful when you smile.” His hand cups my face and I can feel him leaning down.

“I just need time to think things through.” I move away, taking the laundry to our closet.

“Fine, you do that. I’m heading out for my night shift anyway.” He says awkwardly before leaving the room..

I don’t remember him mentioning anything about a night shift but I don’t say anything, grateful for the private space. After working around the house, I retire to bed by 1am to get some sleep but it doesn’t come as easily as I hoped.

After a few tosses and turns, I turn on the lap and rest my back on the head of the bed. “This is futile.” To distract myself from thinking, I reach towards the drawer and take out an old photo album of Jayden.

The album contains pictures of him from birth till he was four years old and we had to use another album to add our memories there. I stare at every picture, reliving those moments where I had been hopeful and youthful.

The more I go through, the more tired I start to look in the photos. The years had clearly drained me. All this time, everything I ever had–my energy, time and even my dreams–I gave it up for Jayden and this family. 

I never regretted it because I thought I was giving my child the best that I could. 

“You’re not even fit to be his mother!”

Wincing, my tears drop to my cheek as I replay Jonathan’s words over and over again. But why? Why would he even think of such a thing?

Every single thing, from the three meals of the day, seasonal changes, early education to sleepless nights–I handled everything alone simply because I was Jayden’s mother. And now, my husband who was supposed to support me thought I wasn’t good enough? How much more did he want me to do for me to be enough?

The tears don’t go away as I pass one photo after another. So many happy moments flicker before my eyes. Our small family of three smiling in parks, blowing candles and celebrating life with happiness no matter how little we had.

I pause in my favourite picture, wanting to savour it longer than others. It was Jayden’s one year birthday and Jonathan had the idea that we go on a picnic outside the city to celebrate the day with cakes and gifts.

It was one of my best days after getting married to Jonathan. The image is warm and peaceful and despite my tears, I can’t help but smile at how chubby Jayden was as a baby. But then, I freeze.

In the corner close to a tree, there was a shadow figure–a woman–barely noticeable but still there. I narrow my eyes and lean closer, my heart racing. That outfit. That necklace. 

They looked exactly like the type of clothes Luna Samira wore. But how possible was it that she was in the pack years ago and just happened to appear in our photo?

Panicking, I flip through the other pictures and cold sweat envelopes me when I confirm my suspicion. The Luna’s figure appeared repeatedly in the background of our photos. Always blurred and close to the edge but undoubtedly still there. 

There is no mistaking it. The posture, the silhouette, the clothes, her necklace–that darn pendant she gifted my son!

Was this why Luna Samira felt familiar on the day of the coronation? I simply thought it was because she had a resemblance to her sister but I was wrong. She had been in our lives since day one. Appearing in all our photos like a constant. Over and over again.

The more I think about it, the more chills run down my entire body. This woman has infiltrated our lives for years now. What is her mission? Is she targeting our family? My son?

I can’t take this anymore. I have to speak to Jonathan right now!

I jump up from the bed and quickly throw on a quick outfit. Jonathan doesn’t respond to my call through the mindlink so I use the bond to track his location. I lock the door behind me so Jayden doesn’t leave the house when he wakes up and finds no one at home.

Strangely, the bond gets stronger as I arrive at a hotel just a few blocks away from our house. Parking my car, I get out to search for my husband, not knowing why he is in a  hotel when it has nothing to do with his job.

Before I step into the building, I see a couple standing by the side of the building. My heart drops when I recognize both the man and the lady. Quietly, I move to hide behind a tree and their voices drift to my ears.

“I’m so tired of sneaking around like this.” Luna Samira pouts, her voice low and sulky. She’s putting on a cap to cover her face but I’m certain it’s her.

“What do you expect me to do? You wanna die? If Alpha finds out, we’re both dead.” My husband whispers as he stands too close to Samira.

I feel the blood drain from my face as I watch my husband hold the Luna in his arms. His touch is all too familiar and intimate. I grip the trunk of the tree to stop my knees from giving in.

“But I’m really fed up. Alpha married me but never even touches me…” The Luna huffs, leaning into Jonathan’s chest. Then, he kisses her. Not just the subtle kiss of a cheat but a bold crude kiss that claimed he wasn’t guilty for his affairs.

I want to leap out, scream, and slap him across the face for this betrayal but I find it hard to move. My entire body is numb.

Jonathan pulls away and Samira sighs, blushing as she looks down. “I can wait. But I feel bad for Jayden. It’s too hard for him to lie. Ever since he found out I’m his real mom, he keeps asking me when I’m taking him home.”

My head spins as the whole world crashes down on me. A loud ring explodes in my ear and I forget where I am for a second. “Ever since he found out I’m his real mom…”

Her words shoot me like a thousand bullets driven into my chest. Shaking my head, I deny her words numbly. It’s a lie. It can’t be true. It can not!

The ground tilts underneath me and I stagger from the shock, accidently stepping on a dry branch and the snap is like pin drop in the quiet night. Jonathan whips his head around, sharp and alert.

In the blink of an eye, he shifts into his wolf form to capture whoever was spying on them. Panicking, I try to flee but I don’t know where to run to.

Suddenly, a strong hand reaches out from the darkness and yanks me into the shadows, pulling me behind a car. I’m unable to scream because of the warm palm clamped over my mouth. 

“Don’t make a sound.” A deep voice whispers close to my ears and a shiver rolls down my spine.

 My entire body goes rigid when I recognize the voice. I can’t be mistaken. What is Alpha Conan doing here?!