Chapter 6

“This is stupid.” I begrudgingly followed behind my husband as we walked out of the pack house and into the woods. We passed by the training area where pack warriors were having duels and improvising their combat skills.

They all waved at me and the sour emotions plastered on my face instantly vanished at the sight of them. They respected me and they’re eager to show it.

“Be good!” I yelled which they returned with a wide grin, nodding. I flashed them a smile before moving along. “Logan!” I shouted at him. His steps were fast and his height didn’t help.

“Where are you going? We need to talk.” I demanded. Grumbling behind him as we walked deeper into the woods. Autumn leaves crushed under my steps, the only sound heard between us. Logan stays silent while I try to gather my thoughts.

Why did he even agree? I was already the Luna, I have gone through that game before. I just can’t find another acceptable reason to go through that again just so I could prove my worth.

“Logan!” I called. He went behind a tree, casually hanging his clothes in the oak’s branches.

“We have nothing more to talk about, Morana.” He calmly replied. I look down at my fingers. It took all within me to not yell at him but my patience had enough of this.

I marched towards him behind the tree. He was about to take his pants off to go and shift. I pushed his shoulder, the hurt seeping through me. He turned to me, eyes gleaming with numbness.

How is he hurt by this?

I can’t fucking believe him.

“Damn right we have something to talk about, Logan!” I exclaimed, my heart beating wildly inside my chest. Perhaps it was a good idea that we headed into the woods. Silence was our much needed company.

“I-I just can’t believe you accepted this! I . . .”

“I went through that game once, why must I have to prove myself every single time to you?” My voice was rising with each passing second. My breathing was labored and yet I can’t seem to control my emotions right now.

How could he prioritize this challenge over me? Doesn’t he see the damage he’s causing? Doesn’t he care about how this makes me feel?

These questions lingered in my head, yet I can’t seem to voice them all out. His Teal eyes stared back at me. His brow furrows slightly, perhaps a subtle indication that he knows he has crossed the line, that his actions are wounding me, are wounding the both of us.

But beneath that guilt, there’s still a hint of defiance, as if, he too, was struggling with his choices.

“Morana, it’s not about doubting you . . . I—”

“Then what the fuck is this about, Logan?!” I yelled, my voice hoarse. He seemed taken aback by how I just raised my voice. I glare back at him, my vision blurring with unshed tears.

“I can’t believe you.” I mutter with spite.

His face, once so familiar and comforting l, now seems cold and distant. Each line etched on his expression wore the weight of his betrayal.

“Fuck! It’s about securing our pack’s safety and preventing a potential war. Why aren’t you even seeing the bigger picture?!” Logan yelled back, anger fumes in me. The air crackled with even more tension.

I scoffed at his face. “The bigger picture? Really? So it’s just a coincidence that this challenge conveniently provides an opportunity for that Jane to step in as Luna? I’m not fucking blind, Logan!”

His jaw tightened. Frustration danced in his eyes, as though a silent plea for me to understand his reasoning, and yet it seems to be doing the exact opposite — it only fuels my own resentment towards him.

“That’s not fair, Morana.” He held both of my hands, kissing them. Confusion rose inside, silencing me. My eyes widened when they placed them on top of my head on the tree.

“All these problems aren’t in my hands. I can’t deny the matebond, yes. I can’t. But it has never meant that I’m abandoning you.” I can’t think straight when he’s this close.

Perhaps that’s what he wants, for me to forget all this and cave in to what he wants.

I raised my gaze up to him “You really can’t deny it, can you? You’ve always had a fascination with the idea of your true mate, someone who’s destined to be with you.” I smirk. His eyes wavered, and his grip on both of my hands loosened.

I instantly pulled them away, pushing his chest off of me.

“Well congratulations, you got what you wanted.” I glared, loath seeping out. I turned around and headed for the exit.

I can’t think straight. All I feel is anger, a burning rage coursing through my veins. How dare he put me through this emotional turmoil? I deserve better than this.

“Morana, please! This is not about what I want, it’s about what needs to be done for the pack. I never wanted to hurt you.” I turn to him. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

I stared at him. He never wanted to hurt me, huh?

My trembling hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms, seeking some physical release for the storm raging inside me. The fabric of my dress feels constricting — suffocating, as if it’s a physical representation of the tight knot twisting in my stomach.

“Hurting me seems to be an inevitable consequence of your actions, Logan.” My voice trembled as I tried my best to say those out loud without breaking into tears.

A shadow passes over his eyes at what I said, a brief flicker of pain that mirrors the hurt in my own heart. as if he’s grappling with conflicting emotions, torn between duty and his desires.

“Morana, I . . . please try to understand. It’s not as simple as you make it sound—”

“Yes, it is!” I cut his pleading voice off, marching towards him. I glare at him straight in the eyes as we’re inches away from each other.

“You goddamn fully know so well it’s simple as I deem it to be. You could have just fucking rejected her, Logan!” I shake his shoulders, a lone tear escaping from my eyes.

His hand made its way to my cheek, wiping the tears that slid down.

“I have responsibilities as an Alpha, Morana. I can’t disregard them . . .” he lowered himself to kiss me and for once, I let my emotions get the best of me. I close my eyes as our tears mixed in with our breaths.

Silence engulfed the woods, our breath created a fog between us. The taste of bitterness lingers in my tongue, a reminder of the loge that once flourished but now sour in my mouth.

I pulled away from him, erasing all emotions within me.

“What about us? What about your responsibilities for us, Logan?” I slowly mutter as I try to search for assurance in his eyes. He looked down at me before stepping back.

“I can’t ignore this opportunity for the peace between two packs, Morana.” He sighed, looking away.

“You know full well that Jane’s father wouldn’t dare launch a war! You—you just want to give her a chance, don’t you?!” My eyes widened in realization.

My breathing was ragged in anger, but it was also due to it that I was able to smell the air that hung in the atmosphere, electrifying and oppressive.

“You just want to fuck her, don’t you? Ha, I fucking knew it! You two were simply whores!” My mouth moved on its own as my own loathing blinded me out of control.

Logan stared at me as I yelled out these words, his eyes flashed a hint of disappointment in them. An utter disappointment to the girl in front of him.

My mouth instantly shuts off when a lone tear slid down out of the corner of his eyes.

We were both engulfed by silence. My pounding heart echoes in ng ears, drowning out my attempt at reasoning.

The faint trace of his cologne that was once comforting, now feels suffocating, reminding me of the love that’s now turned bitter.

“Lo . . . Logan.” I mumbled, about to reach out to him. He took a step back, and the last thing I saw was the sadness in his Teal eyes before it turned to red as he shifted, dashing off into the woods.

Away from the words he heard, away from me.