Astraea sat by the riverbank, her legs dipped in the water, swinging back and forth, cutting against the current. Her head rested on Gray’s shoulder, who sat beside her.A couple of omegas watched them from behind, planting more aconite and harvesting its purple flowers for processing.“I remember my Little One used to love playing at the river. Your Mom used to scold you all the time,” said Gray.“I can’t remember what she looks like,” she admitted. “Tell me.”“All you have to do is look in the mirror, Little One. You’re the spitting image of her,” he said. “You and your sister.”“Do you think they’re happy now? Being with the Goddess? I hope Nana’s with them,” she said, raising her head to gaze at the clear blue sk

 “Astraea,” he said, calling her name like a lover, petting her hair as she sat on the floor with her legs folded beneath her thighs, her head bowed, eyes shut tight and lips quivering.“I’m so happy you’re alive. I was devastated when I had to leave you behind that night.” His voice lacked of a joyful tone, and it sent shivers down her spine. He slowly paced beside her, circling her, and though she couldn’t see his face, she could feel his watchful eye on her.The last thing she remembered was following the directions she was given, and arriving at the borders of the pack’s territory, before someone from behind her put her to sleep. Nevertheless, she was familiar with where she was taken. The floor was of wood unlike the usual cold tiles, the room smaller, dimly lit from a lamp that sat atop the bedside table. As usual, al

Desire burned within him, the sparks she ignited now blazing, as he succumbed to the heat. His breathing uncontrolled, his heart racing, as he saw her pupils dilate in need of the same craving he wanted to satiate for so long. And he was more than ready to finally claim her as his – his mate, his Luna, his everything.After patiently waiting for months, she had finally given him her consent, and yet despite the growing need in him that demanded his every attention, he couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling that there was something wrong with her sudden willingness. Perhaps it wasn’t sudden, after all, she had been acting differently since the day he returned from aiding the Silent Moon pack.Her closeness with him, snuggling up to him in bed, shyly hugging from behind like the day she confessed her thoughts and resting her head on his chest on what seemed to him was

 Caelum stared at her, unable to convince himself that he was merely making things up. If she regretted getting marked, he would – what would he do?“I…” he began, thinking of what to say. “… thought it was alright to…”He let the sentence hang, for he couldn’t make himself apologize for marking her. It wasn’t because of his ego, but because marking her felt right and he would never regret marking her, even if she would hate him for it. His mate bore his mark now, and more than a claim, it was a symbol of his undying love for her.Astraea’s lips quivered as she took deep breaths to calm herself down. Then she spoke, her voice cracking, snapping him out of his thoughts. “Th-Thank… you.”“Thank you?” he repeated, doubting

 Her pained expression stared back at her. It was time.She forced herself to smile, and the tears that welled up in her eyes spilled and crept down her cheeks. “I hate you,” she mouthed to the person reflected back at her.Closing the bathroom door, she drew a breath to calm herself. Then, opened the top drawer of the nightstand and took out a pad and pen. Hastily, before Caelum comes back from his office, she sat on the bed and began to write the last pieces she ever will.Tearing the topmost page from the pad, she left it atop the bed with the pen holding it down, and returned the pad on the drawer before closing it. Her mind screamed at her, with every step she took to get to the door, to run and tell Caelum, to trust in him and keep safe what they have, but the thought of losing her was too much to risk.