Chapter 5: Wear something nice

Tori’s POV

The next day, the sun glaringly pierced through the curtains. I couldn't remember when I had fallen asleep the night before, but as far as I recalled, I dozed off in the woods after crying the entire night.

But now...

I looked around and saw that I was back in the Alpha suite. I was baffled, but I picked up a familiar scent.

Lemon and honey. I instantly knew who had brought me back.

"Gamma Sylas."

A smile spread on my lips, but my eyes looked dull and lifeless. It wasn't the first time Gamma Sylas brought me back to my room. I often fell asleep in my Luna office when I was too busy to come back to my room to rest and would sometimes pass out out of exhaustion.

Although I knew that Gamma Sylas was looking out for me, I felt more pain in my heart, because it shouldn't be his responsibility to care for me. It should be my mate's...

Sadness spread through my heart.

Giggles…

A distinct giggle coming from outside the ajar window caught my attention as I slowly stood up from my bed.

"Carlisle! This place is amazingly beautiful!" Raquel giggled as she held onto Carlisle's arms playfully.

Carlisle too looked worried but indulgent as he guided her to walk slowly on the stone path, coming from the side where my flower garden was built. The garden I built and shaped with my own hands throughout the years.

"As long as you are happy, I'll always accompany you as much as you like."

Carlisle's magnetic and deep chuckle tickled my ears; it was gentle and warm.

I stared blankly out the window at Carlisle and Raquel. He looked dashingly handsome, tall and strong with his healthy honey-colored skin, midnight black hair, and striking emerald eyes. His chiseled features made his handsome face look rugged yet regal.

Beside him, Raquel was like a breath of spring full of life, radiant and captivating. Her golden locks fluttered in the gentle breeze, and her honey-brown eyes sparkled as she smiled under the sun.

Together, they looked effortlessly perfect.

I didn't know how long I'd been watching them, but suddenly, Carlisle seemed to sense my gaze and looked up toward the fourth floor's alpha suite.

His cold, piercing eyes met mine, and the warmth he'd shown moments before was gone, replaced by a searing hatred and even disgust. He made no attempt to hide his emotions, his lips curling into a snarl as he continued to glare at me.

"Carlisle, is everything alright?" Raquel asked gently, placing her hand on his chest in an attempt to calm him.

Carlisle held her hand, his fingers tightening around hers, but his gaze never wavered from me.

With one last look of disdain, his voice slipped menacingly into my mind through our mind link, dripping with contempt.

"Don't even think about trying anything while I'm here. Just stay silent and act like you don't exist."

His voice growled menacingly through the mind link, his tone laced with warning.

With a final glare, he snapped his head away, the dark aura that had seeped out of him at the sight of me vanishing as quickly as it came.

Turning back to Raquel, his expression softened, his gaze now filled with an apologetic whimper.

"I'm sorry, Raquel. I lost my temper I didn't mean to scare you or the pup," he said gently, still holding her hand as his fingers brushed soothingly over her hair.

His touch softened her startled expression, his focus entirely on her, unbothered by my lingering gaze from the window above.

I only realized my cheeks were wet when tears dripped onto my hand resting on the window sill.

The sharp contrast in his treatment of me compared to Raquel stung too deeply to hide; it felt as if my heart had been ripped from my chest and torn apart before my eyes.

I kept my sobs silent, forcing myself to remain quiet, afraid to further provoke my mate's anger.

Just as he had demanded, I stayed silent, immersing myself in my work, too afraid to leave my office, fearing I'd overhear or see something that would break me even further.

The pain of my heart being shattered repeatedly by my own mate was nearly unbearable.

I considered leaving, but even though our bond felt incomplete, the mate pull was still there a powerful force I couldn't simply ignore or turn off.

I couldn't understand how he seemed unaffected by me, while I struggled to resist the pull of our bond.

It was like a bee drawn irresistibly to a flower.

If I let my guard down, I feared I'd find myself gazing at him like a love-struck fool, only to annoy him further.

It had been a week since Carlisle and the warriors returned, but not once had he come to find me.

Not a single day had he left Raquel's side, tending to her with unwavering care.

Every attempt I made to approach him was met with harsh criticism, even in front of the pack—no mercy was given.

To prevent myself from succumbing to the pull of the mate bond, I retreated into my office, hiding like a coward, trying to protect myself from the pain.

'Maybe his hatred for me, his disgust, is strong enough to make him override his feelings. Even the mate bond... can't reach him.'

I thought, a weak whimper escaping my lips as a sharp pang of sadness pierced my heart at the very thought of it.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in."

"Luna Tori, the Alpha invites you to join him for dinner in the dining hall."

The omega who entered bowed respectfully, though she kept her gaze averted.

I barely noticed, too caught up in the fact that my mate had actually invited me to eat with him.

"Did he say anything else?"

"H-he said... you should wear something nice."

My heart skipped a beat, almost bursting out of my chest at the implication.

I had heard that no matter how much mates tried to stay apart, they would always be drawn together.

'Is this his way of making peace with me?'

I wondered, a glimmer of hope rising in my chest.

But as the evening wore on, I would come to wish that I had paid closer attention to the way I was informed.

If only I had, I thought, maybe I wouldn't have suffered as much.