Kyra’s POV
I walked out and went to the bedroom. I grabbed a pillow and blanket. I turned and was about to leave when Nathan entered the bedroom and looked at me.
His Alpha pheromones flooded the room before he even spoke, that minty scent he used to comfort me.
"Where do you think you're going?" Nathan's voice was all Alpha command, the kind that made lesser wolves cower.
I turned slowly, letting him see the fury in my emerald-green eyes,“Why do you care?”
“I care because you are still my Luna, Kyra!”His brown eyes flashed.
A sarcastic laugh came out of my mouth because of what he said. Sylvia snarled in my mind,"Luna? He hasn't treated you as his Luna since that bitch returned."
"We're severing the bond anyway," I looked at him with rage. "Or have you forgotten your precious fated mate already?"
His jaw clenched, "Kyra, you can’t just run away like this. We have to talk about the problem,"
"There's nothing to discuss," I hissed. "You made your choice when you brought Sophia back into our territory."
When I moved to leave, his hand shot out, hie strength pinning me effortlessly. His touch burned through my thin sleep shirt. "My father is angry, Kyra. " he growled. "He’s accusing me of betraying our mating bond," he said.
I tilted my head, letting my blonde hair—usually kept neat for our pack gatherings—fall wildly around my shoulders. "And haven't you?"
"I haven't marked her!" The words exploded from him, raw and ragged. "I haven't so much as slept with her, Kyra. My wolf would never allow it since Sophia rejected me—not while you're still my chosen mate."
Sylvia let out a vicious snarl. "Lies. I guess his wolf has been howling for his fated mate since she came back."
"Your chosen mate?" I laughed coldly. "A half-bond you never completed? Face it, Nathan. We both know who your wolf truly wants."
The hurt in his eyes almost undid me. Almost.
“Kyra!”
“Don’t worry."I'll tell your parents the truth," I interrupted. "That I'm the one dissolving this farce of our mating bond."
He swallowed hard and stared into my eyes. “Y-You’ll do that for me?”
I laughed without humor. "I’ll do that for myself. I won't be the pathetic Luna clinging to an Alpha who's already left her."
His hand shot out again.“Wait, Kyra…”
I pushed his hand away and shot him cold stares. “What?Let me lay it out for you straight.Since we never completed the full mate bond, we don't even need a rejection. I'll have the pack lawyers handle our mate bond dissolution.”
He looked down and licked his lips. In that moment, I saw the man I fell in love with—I saw my best friend and mate beneath the hurt and confusion.My heart soften.
He sighed and walked towards me. He gently grabbed my wrist and wrapped his arms around my tiny body, giving me a warm and apologetic embrace.
I felt him kissing my hair as he whispered… “I’m sorry… I-I was stupid for lashing out at you. I was just…worried about Sophia. You know my father, he would ruin her.”
"And what about what he's doing to us?" Sylvia howled.
I squeezed my eyes closed. You’re afraid that she’d get ruined but you’re not even worried that you’re ruining me. I want to punch him. To hurt him and hit his head with the hope of waking him up
“Stay here, please. Sleep beside me, Kels…”he pleaded softly.
That’s my cue. I pushed him away and hugged the pillow tighter. I looked him in the eyes and shook my head, “There’s no reason for us to sleep together, Nathan. I’ll be sleeping in the guest room.”
“Kels…”he started, reaching out once more.
I turned my back and left him in the master bedroom. The guest bed smelled stale, devoid of his scent. I dropped my exhausted body on the bed. I caressed my cheek, thinking I was crying unknowingly again but there were no tears. I’m in pain but I’m not crying anymore. Was this heartbreak where you get so numb that you accept the pain? Pathetic! I feel like I'm drowning in self-pity.
“Kels…” Nathan’s voice was followed by three knocks. The door swung open before I could respond—typical Alpha, never waiting for permission.
He entered carrying a tray of food. He pressed his lips together and walked towards me. “I brought your dinner. I heated it too. I’m sorry for interrupting your meal.”
My eyes landed on the tray of food. He never let me eat alone before. Even if he was full, he would eat with me especially if I cooked the food.
"Quit reminiscing, Kyra! Those memories were just an illusion. Those times were borrowed." Sylvia noted bitterly.
He sighed and put the tray on the bedside table before he looked at me again. “Mom sent me a message. She’s inviting us to dinner tomorrow night. I hope you can come with me.”
“Obviously, it’s about us. They would be suspicious if I didn’t come. It’s also time I should tell them about our rejection thing”
He sat on the bed and looked at my face. He did everything so he could catch my eyes. He even used his fingers to lift my chin so our eyes would meet. Even when he’s hurting me, a simple touch, a simple care, a simple stare from him makes me tremble and weak. One soothing word from him and my wound is healing.
“I’m sorry, Kels… Please forgive me. I shouldn’t have agreed to marry you in the first place. I know I’ll just hurt you. I’m sorry…”
I hid my balled fists behind me. “You regret marrying me?”
He shook his head, “I don’t regret marrying you. I’ve been very happy during those three years, Kels. What I regret is I put you in a situation where you’d be the one who’ll get hurt. You are my best friend, I swore to protect you but I was actually the one hurting you.”
I looked away. Good to know that he knows his responsibility. What’s shameful is he doesn’t know what he did to me. He didn’t even realize I had feelings for him. He thought I just saw him as my best friend.
***
Everyone at the long dining table is silent. I’m sitting beside Nathan. At the center of the dining table was Nathan’s father,Alpha Richard, the former Alpha of Nightfall Pack.In front of Nathan sat his mother, and Phoebe, Nathan’s younger sister, was absent today for her training.
“We should eat first,”Luna Marlene cleared her throat and smiled at me.
I gave her the sweetest of my smile. She’s been the perfect mother-in-law. I respect her and will always respect her even after all of these. She’s my dad’s best friend, actually.
We started eating in silence. I looked at Nathan when he started putting food on my plate. If I don’t know him, I would think he’s acting but I know him well. He’s naturally caring. He’s naturally sweet.
I feel like salivating when I see the food I used to hate before. I badly wanted to eat it but I knew Nathan’s parents would notice it and would think it was strange, so I restrained myself.
Alpha Richard's displeasure rolled off him in waves. "I didn't raise a disloyal wolf," he snarled at Nathan.
We were in the middle of dinner when Alpha Richard spoke with a hint of disgust and anger. He lifted his face and glared at Nathan. “Do you want your grandmother to die early? If she heard about your stupidity, she might die.”
“Honey…”Luna Marlene caressed her husband’s arm.
I swallowed hard as I saw Nathan’s balled fists under the table. I know he's been afraid of his father ever since he was a kid. Alpha Richard is a perfectionist. He’s very strict and he dislikes mess.
“Where did your balls go, Nathan? You’re already married and yet you’re seen somewhere with a slut?”
Nathan was about to say something out of anger when I lifted my arm, stopping them. He’s hurting me but I can’t bear to see him hurting. This is stupidity, but I know my heart will always do everything to protect him, not just because he’s my mate but because we’re best friends before he married me.
“He’s not cheating, dad.”
“Don’t defend him, Kyra!” Alpha Richard strictly warned me but I shook my head.
“I want to dissolve the mate bond, dad.”
“Oh my God!”Luna Marlene gasped and sobbed.
“LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE, PIERCE!” Alpha Richard shouted and punched Nathan's face.
“NO!” I shouted and blocked Alpha Richard when he attempted to attack Nathan again.
“Get out of my way, Kyra. I will teach that punk a lesson.”
“I asked for that even before he was seen with Sophia. And Sophia is the company’s new model. They were working when they got spotted together.”
Alpha Richard looked at me with a creased forehead. “What did you say?”
“Kyra…”Luna Marlene sobbed.
I looked at her and smiled. “I love your son, Mom, but not the way you want me to be. He’s my best friend and I’m sorry that I just agreed to marry him for the sake of grandma. I want to correct my mistakes. I was the one who wanted a rejection so don’t blame it on him.”
Everyone went silent after what I said. I was looking at everyone with courage but it slowly faded when I heard someone behind me speak.
"What did you say, Kyra?"