5

-ANNA-

In the early ages, Alphas didn't have the right to dismiss their Lunas. The moon goddess had made it a rule, for she never made mistakes. At some point some sides didn't believe in the moon goddess's rule and decided to be promiscuous, adding another wolf to their mating circle.

They were to be punished really badly, but after numerous pleas, the rules were adjusted. A divorce or rejection could enable you to cut off your mate, but there was a disadvantage beneath it. If one of the partners is forced off and he or she seeks revenge, a rite of passage known as the kiss of vengeance must be held.

The kiss of vengeance acts as a guilt trigger. Every layer of memory that could have been hidden or forgotten comes back to haunt you, and you find yourself regretting ever leaving. These memories haunt him till he kills himself or leaves the throne. But a strong Alpha would need one on the lips or ten on the hand to bring him down.

With Jake giving me one, I knew he would be able to remember the days so faintly after I left. The probability of getting ten kisses on my hand was low, but getting him to suffer and wither till I could get the final kiss would make it all worth it.

… Nicholas and Jake moved into the meeting chamber, leaving me all alone with Linda. She kept staring at me, observing my curves like she was amazed by them. After a while she moved closer, probably to seek out my scent.

"How can I help you?" I stopped her before she could close the gap between us.

She giggled a bit. "Just thought you had a familiar scent, but I must have been mistaken."

I motioned towards her slowly and gently. Just as expected, she couldn't keep eye contact, her hands trembling like never before. Was she frightened? Did she already realize the difference in strength between us both?

"Mommy." A child's voice filled the atmosphere.

A small darling walked in, with feeble legs and hands, a cute face, and that face that I recognized in my dreams. She was James's exact copy, and she also had that attitude of folding her hands and looking so stern when she was pissed.

So it's been that long.

Linda took the little girl in her hands, cuddling the girl whose stern expression turned soft and joy-filled in an instant. After cuddling the girl for some minutes, she brought her daughter close to me. "Would you mind helping me?" She held out her daughter.

For a minute those cute eyes got to me, but when I tried to lift my arm, it went numb. The silence was enough to tell her that I couldn't, so she handed the child over to the maid and flashed me a fake smile.

"Noelle." Nicholas appeared before me, his hands grabbing mine as he closed in for a hug. I opened my arm, letting his mouthpiece fall next to my ears. "I hope you didn't get caught?"

I nodded, and he relaxed a bit. Even though I had changed my facials, he warned about my lingering scent, as the bloodline of Alphas reeked the most when they were out of their territory or raging. We laughed it all off so it would look like we were all in love.

Jake was staring at us, a smirk on his face and his thoughts well hidden. He had severed the kind link between us a year after we mated, and I have been wondering ever since. Even though I knew him like the back of my hand, I wanted him to look at Noelle and watch his life crumble to smithereens.

"How about a meal to enjoy this meeting?" He led us to the dining hall.

I tried my best not to get ahead so I wouldn't have to be found out, and unconsciously I held onto Nicholas, whose aura kept suppressing mine. Both of them had a silent but intense conversation with their eyes before the maids saved the day with meals.

"Where are your wife and child, Alpha Jake?" Nicholas asked.

Jake chuckled a bit before searching the room with his eyes. "My child, Lydia, should be with her mother. They'll join us soon." He snapped his hand, indicating to the maid before us to go call her out.

"So, Alpha Jake, what's the story behind your ex-mate?" I said unconsciously.

He adjusted into his chair, his arms folded with a smirk on his face. I kept my eyes fixed on him, awaiting the answer to my question. "My ex-mate had a fragile body, and the doctors advised us not to have a child till she was sure she could handle it. We thought it was a lie at first, but she had several miscarriages, and during our last trial a year ago, she lost her life in the tragedy of miscarriages." His words were filled with melancholy.

So he tells people that I was killed by a miscarriage. So pathetic.

"Is that so?" My voice was soft and unsteady. "From the stories I was told, she seemed to be a very kind Luna. I believe the moon goddess will provide her with a nice abode in the afterlife."

He said nothing, forcing a smile.

Underneath the table, Nicholas's hand was trailing down my lap, with silent whispers in my ears: "Remember our agreement, Noelle." I took a deep breath, adjusting to a more comfortable position.

"My Lord!" The maid rushed in, blood on her hands.

Jake headed out almost immediately. He tried to hide the fear that lingered, but his widened eyes and hushed breath made him lose it. Nicholas and I walked in minutes later, seeing the sight of a bleeding Linda in Jake's hand staring right at us.

I should have felt pity, I should have rushed over to help, but instead, I let out a smile. This was just the beginning of the kiss of vengeance.