TRISTINE’S POV My feet were rooted to the spot, as I watched the door slam shut behind her.
Her glare…
The words she spoke…
Everything kept replaying in my mind over and over again.
My heart ached so much like I had just been rejected.
‘Go after her!’ ‘Don’t let her leave!’ ‘Do not dare give up on her!’ Knox growled, his voice laced with urgency, filling me with a desperate urge to run after her.
I shook my head, clenching my fists to keep him under control.
‘We can’t force her!’ I said, but the words felt like a knife twisting into my heart as the sad reality dawned on me.
I dragged myself back to my chair, and sank into it.
I knew I couldn’t convince her, no not yet, the look on her face told me so.
‘Don’t worry, we’re not giving up on her,’ I added, even though I could feel my confidence dwindling.
Knox huffed and retreated into silence, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
A soft knock at the door pulled me back to the present.
Before I could respond, the door clicked open.
Lux poked his head into my study, the rest of his body still hidden behind the door.
“Should I come in?” he asked, peering into the room.
I frowned.
Since when had he ever asked?
He didn’t even wait for my response before stepping inside and gently shutting the door behind him.
“This isn’t the face I expected to see on a newly married man,” he said, striding toward me.
“Why do you look like you’ve just been rejected?” he asked with a soft chuckle as he sank into the chair opposite me.
Was it that obvious?
I didn’t answer him.
Was rejection any different from what just happened to me?
The smile on his face froze immediately.
“Wait…
did she really reject you?” The words tumbled out of his lips as his eyes widened slightly.
He searched my face, a mixture of concern and surprise etched across his features.
I shook my head.
I didn’t want to talk about it.
How could I tell him the wife I had fallen in love with at first sight wanted nothing to do me?
“Why are you here?” I asked as calmly as I could.
I didn’t want to discuss it with him.
Although, he was my friend, I didn’t want to tell him about Kira’s harsh words to me.
As far as I knew, I could figure it out by myself.
“I have two pieces of news,” he replied, his expression turning serious as the concern and surprise faded from his face.
After being with me for so long, he knew better than to press me when I didn’t want to talk about something.
I nodded, silently giving him the go-ahead.
He leaned a little closer and steepled his fingers on my desk.
“Alpha Raymond seems to be in the move,” he replied almost immediately, his voice laced with confidence.
My brows furrowed.
Lux understood, he didn’t need me to ask how he meant.
“His men were seen entering Blue Moon Pack in disguise.
It was more like a secret inspection.” I nodded silently.
Blue Moon was the Pack closest to his.
If he had secretly sent his men there, he definitely had an ulterior motive.
“There’s more,” Lux continued.
“Our sources confirmed that he’s been searching for a particular witch doctor.” “He even offered a reward to anyone who could find her.” My eyes widened at the revelation.
Although, there were so many reasons why he could be searching for the witch doctor, I couldn’t rule out the possibility of having evil intentions.
After the tragedy fifteen years ago, the Six Packs unanimously agreed to do away with witch doctors and black magic.
Not to mention, Alpha Raymond had always been power-hungry.
I had to keep an eye on him, if not for anything else, then for the sake of my people.
“Keep your eyes on him, and let me know if you notice anything suspicious,” I said calmly.
“Yes, Alpha,” Lux replied with a slight nod.
“Here’s the second news.” He unclasped his hands and folded them in his chest instead.
“We received a report that a pregnant woman has gone missing from our Pack.
She’s the mother of one of the palace maids, so it was easy to detect her missing.” My brows creased.
I understood what he was trying to say.
He was trying to connect the dot, but I knew how dangerous it was to jump into conclusion without any evidence.
“Doesn’t it sound familiar?” He asked, even though I knew he wasn’t expecting an answer.
“There are many reasons she could have disappeared,” I replied quickly.
“For now, we can’t assume it has anything to do with Alpha Raymond.” I wanted to shut down the assumptions forming in his mind before they took root.
Raymond was the Alpha of the second strongest Pack, we couldn’t afford not to be certain.
He nodded, his gaze turning inwardly.
“I understand, Alpha,” he replied in a calm voice.
“Just keep your eyes on him and report to me as soon as you find anything,” I added.
“As for the missing woman, intensify the search, I’m sure we’ll get a clue when we investigate it.” “Yes, Alpha,” Lux replied.
As soon as the words left his lips, he stood up and excused himself.
‘I won’t let the tragedy of fifteen years ago repeat itself!’ I resolved within me as I stared at the closed door.
Almost immediately, my thoughts drifted back to Kira, pushing aside my suspicions about Alpha Raymond.
After all, they were nothing more than assumptions.
Before I knew it, it was already past six in the evening.
Exhausted by the weight of our conversation, I dragged myself to my feet and headed home.
The moment I stepped into our room, my breath caught.
She stood there, dressed in a sleeveless black dinner gown that hugged her curves perfectly.
A smile immediately spread across her lips the moment she saw me, sending my heart racing.
I couldn’t deny the effect she had on me.
At the same time, confusion settled over me.
Wasn’t she the same person who couldn’t hide her dislike for me?
Why was she smiling at me?
The questions swirled through my mind.
“Welcome home, Alpha,” she said with a warm smile.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” The calmness of her voice, the warmth in her eyes, and the smile on her face left me almost speechless.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she was the same woman who had walked into my office that afternoon.
My feet moved of their own accord, closing the distance between us, my gaze fixed on her face.
She was all I saw at that moment.
Her smile didn’t falter, nor did she look away.
“I’ve dressed for dinner with your mother,” she continued.
“I didn’t want to keep you waiting.” I searched her eyes, checking for any atom of deceit.
Her heartbeat was calm and almost peaceful.
“What happened to you?” The words left my lips before I could stop them.
I couldn’t understand why she kept switching from one person to another.
First, she had asked me to keep Princess Cassy away from our room.
Then, she had made it painfully clear how much she disliked me.
And now…
she had been waiting for me?
I simply couldn’t understand it.
“I’ve decided to give you a chance,” she replied calmly, finally looking away.
“I realized it was the least I could do, since we’re both stuck in this marriage.” My heart melted the moment I heard her.
‘Our mate is giving us a chance!’ ‘Don’t mess this up, or I swear I won’t forgive you.’ Knox growled, barely able to contain his excitement.