Chapter 3

3

Vera thanked the nurse once she was done. She drowned in her thoughts back when the nurse stopped, and came back to her.

"Luna Vera," the nurse called out to her gently. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I'm." Vera smiled, but the instant she saw worry in the old woman's eyes, her smile faded.

She had questions and uncertainty dancing in her gaze. It's like she had something to say. She chose to keep quiet and began to leave again. 

Vera quickly called after her and asked, "What is it, ma'am? You seemed to have doubts lingering in your mind? Ask away."

The nurse whirled around with an unhinged jaw. It was clear that being called with respect was rare with her. But despite being Luna herself, Vera was treating her with such respect made her break into a small smile. Then without hesitation the woman said what she had on her mind.

"You've been here for five days, Luna. Unconscious and burning in high fever. Which I think is pretty normal given you're a human." Vera lowered her head.

It wasn't done in embarrassment because she was a human Luna to an Alpha who was becoming stronger everyday, but because she needed to hide her smile. The truth was that— Vera was the Alpha king's daughter, Verena Ellington. She had an alpha king's blood and power. 

She was her father's chosen heiress for the throne, but for the sake of living a life of freedom and not one tied down by responsibility of hundreds of pack, Vera chose to walk out of her house and pack— The Silver-blood empire that ruled over and provided protection to Two-fifty packs. 

Vera didn't want to be known as an Alpha king's daughter, or the queen sitting on the Alpha king's throne and maintaining peace between all the packs. She wanted to do something different. She wanted to be known for being herself. That's why she respectfully refused the throne and left the kingdom in quest of making her identity. 

It's just been two months since her living alone with a new identity— Vera Ellen, an orphan— when she met her mate, Fred. They instantly fell in love due to the mate bond and decided to get married.

However, Vera hid her powers because her husband was an average Alpha ruling over a not so strong pack. She was afraid he might feel inferior to her if he realized that she was much stronger and more skilled than him. 

So for her mate's happiness, she willingly drank 'Elixir of death' that put her wolf (Verity) to a long induced sleep and banned her from interacting with her or making her presence known. 

Vera happily embraced the life of a human for her mate. 

"You don't have a wolf and with your mortal body, healing is slow and painful. But the thing that bothered me alot... is your family." The nurse said with a hiss, making Vera's eyes jump back to her face. "They're careless. They don't deserve you. Don't get me wrong, Luna, but you've been here all alone since you're brought. I mean, I get it your husband is an Alpha and he has a developing pack to look after, it's still no excuse to not come here. And then your son... What about him? I heard other nurses talking in the changing room that your son was seen going to a mall with your husband's secretary happily like she was his mother and not you. That's not the first time! Since your admission here, he has been seen in various places with her like the kids playzone, Mcdonalds, ice-cream parlour and more."

"Luna," The old nurse heaved a nervous sigh. "Something is not right."

"I-it's nothing. I'm sure you're misunderstanding my husband and son." Vera tried to cover up even if she felt a hot pang of pain in her chest. 

The old nurse's lips curled up in a mock smile, "You see my white hair here, Luna? They didn't turn white from old age... But from experience. I've seen enough home wreckers to know when one is working her way up to take someone else's place. And this cute-looking young woman... I have a feeling she doesn't have good intentions!"

The nurse covered Vera's hand on the bed beside her body. Giving it a light squeeze she resumed, "You're like a daughter to me, Luna. And you're kind. You've done things the Alpha couldn't have done alone. We've seen the pack rise like never before since you joined us. You've contributed to this pack's success and fame. It's because of your efforts and hard work that we're recognized as a rising pack. It's because of you Alpha Fred is respected by the other Alphas. Your research and development plans worked for the best of the pack. I don't like how it's paying you back." With infidelity— The nurse didn't add them but Vera heard those two words in her voice too. 

She lowered her eyes and clenched her jaw tight to keep from crying. She recalled the state of the pack when she joined. It was mostly dust and bricks. She worked on it to build it into a prosperous pack. She gave the people of the pack houses, protection, assurance and what not. 

It was her who motivated Fred to go and meet other Alphas to make alliances. She encouraged him to invest in agriculture and grew crops that brought insane money to their pack, with which they further developed the pack. Fred was nothing without her. She cemented the title of Alpha permanently before his name with her hard work. 

Not to mention the attacks some greedy packs did on their pack to expand their territory and to instill their fear on other packs. 

Fred always gave up during an attack. The strength of their army was lesser in the beginning. Who helped him? Who commanded the small army, fought with them on the war grounds, and returned victorious but still gave the credits to the Alpha? Who made strategies and strengthened his army? Who fought at the last minute during an unexpected attack and created an example for others to not try to target them ever again? 

Vera. It was Vera all along. 

Although disoriented and feeling heartbroken, Vera faked a smile again and tried to distract the nurse into believing that she was being paranoid. 

"Luna, my own husband cheated on me with a younger girl." Vera's breathing faltered. 

Tbc…