Alpha's Regret: Rejected Luna Becomes The Prize

Chapter 02

~SERAPHINA~

The house felt quieter than usual, maybe because, for the first time in three years, the silence didn't feel permanent.

I stood in front of the wardrobe, straightening the sleeves of the charcoal suit I'd laid out for Kael that morning. Today was the first day of our agreement. I wasn't foolish enough to believe love could bloom overnight, but maybe it could start with something small. A conversation, a smile, a shared breakfast. Anything.

Footsteps approached down the hallway, and my heart immediately picked up its pace.

Kael stepped into the room a moment later, already dressed except for the dark blue tie hanging loose around his neck. His amber eyes landed on me briefly before shifting to the mirror.

"I'll be leaving in a few minutes."

"I know."

An awkward silence settled between us, neither of us quite sure what came next. Finally I found the nerve to speak. "Your tie's crooked."

He glanced down, then back at the mirror.

"I suppose it is."

"May I?"

For a second I thought he'd say no. Then he gave a single nod. "Go ahead."

I stepped in front of him, close enough to catch the familiar scent of cedarwood and rain that always clung to him, close enough that my heart forgot how to beat normally. My fingers trembled reaching for the silk. It wasn't because tying a knot was hard, but because this was the closest I'd been to my husband in years, except for intimacy. His eyes stayed fixed on the mirror while I worked, with neither of us uttering a word,

I smoothed his collar once I'd finished.

"There. Much better."

He checked his reflection, then looked at me. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me."

The silence that followed felt less uncomfortable than the last one. He fastened his watch around his wrist. "The council meeting may run until tomorrow."

"Oh." I hadn't expected that. "You'll be staying overnight?"

"Yes."

"I'll make sure everything's ready when you're back."

He nodded, reaching for the file resting on the dresser before checking the time on his wristwatch.

"I'll be downstairs. The driver is still waiting for the final itinerary from the council."

As I watched him walk away, something in me wanted to stop him, not to tell him about the babies, not yet. It was just to say something.

"Kael."

He paused without turning around. "Yes?"

The words caught in my throat.

~Come back safely. Don't forget about me. I miss you.~ None of them felt right even while hanging in my throat,

"Have a safe trip," I said instead.

He was quiet for a beat too long. "Take care of yourself." He replied, and I blinked before a small smile curled on my lips with a warm feeling reaching my chest.

I let out the breath I had been holding once his footsteps faded down the hall,

“You wanted to tell him,” Lola said inside my head,

“I almost did.”

"You should have."

I pressed a hand to my stomach. Not yet. If this month changes anything, I want him to choose us because he loves us, not because he feels responsible. Lola didn't argue, and I was glad my wolf understood.

Five minutes later, I was in the kitchen waving off the cook who tried to hover. Kael would eat plenty at the council meeting, but it still didn't stop me. Grilled chicken. Herb butter rice. Steamed vegetables. I reached for the bowl of peas and stopped halfway, a smile tugging at my mouth. He never touched them, and yet most people never noticed, including Celeste, which I found odd. Quickly, I replaced them with roasted baby carrots and rosemary instead.

“No peas today, Luna?” The cook asked, and I shook my head,

“He doesn't like them,” I answered her,

She blinked. “I've worked here fifteen years, and I never noticed that.”

“You notice different things when you're in love, I guess,” I said before I could stop myself, feeling heat rush to my face.

She smiled at me a little sadly, “I hope Alpha Kael notices too.”

“So do I.”

Kael was already waiting outside by the time I finished packing the lunchbox. "I know they'll feed you at the meeting," I said, handing it over. "But just in case."

He looked down at it, then at me. "You made this?"

"I did."

"You didn't have to."

"I wanted to."

He hesitated, then reached out and collected it. "Thank you."

I watched him set the lunch box in the back seat and climb into the SUV. As the car moved, my legs remained rooted to my spot with my arms wrapped around myself, and I heard one of the maids' voices behind me,

"He's gone, Luna."

I blinked and forced a smile. "Thank you."

She bowed, turning and heading into the house, and I lingered a moment longer, hand drifting to my stomach. I was doing this more often now, and at this point, anyone could suspect I was carrying the Alpha's heir, especially Kael himself.

I turned back and walked into the house. When I got into my room, I found my phone and dialed my best friend's number. Lily answered before the second ring.

“Sera, I was just about to call you. How did today go?”

I had told Lily about Kael's willingness for a divorce and also our agreement just to keep my marriage, and even though she never supported it, she still believed in me.

“He let me fix his tie today.”

There was silence for a second before she responded, “It's just a tie. No forehead kisses to begin with?”

I didn't reply. Kael had never done that on a random basis. The only time I knew what his forehead kisses felt like was during intimacy.

“I packed him lunch too, and he accepted it.”

Her voice softened. "I'm proud of you. Not for cooking, but for trying."

Lily was the only person who knew exactly how tired I was. She'd watched me love Kael from a distance for years through forgotten birthdays, festivals he spent beside Celeste instead of me, whispers around the pack that I was Luna in name only.

"Can I ask you something?" she said. "If nothing changes after a month, will you really leave?"

I looked down at my hand, resting over my stomach. "I have to. I still love him. But I have to love myself too."

She was quiet for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was thick. "I've been waiting three years to hear you say that."

"I don't want my babies growing up watching their mother beg to be loved," I said, and only heard the words after they were already out.

Silence, long enough that I checked the screen.

"...Your babies?"

I clapped a hand over my mouth. "I wasn't supposed to tell you over the phone."

"Sera." Her voice cracked into a laugh. "Does that mean what I think it means?"

"I'm pregnant."

She screamed loud enough that I laughed through my own tears. "You finally got your miracle."

"There's more," I said. "It's twins."

There was dead silence again, long enough that I had to check if the call was still connected.

"...Twins?"

"Yes."

"I'm coming over right now."

"No. You need rest. So do I."

"I'll see you tomorrow, then, and I'm still spoiling you."

"You don't have to."

"You deserve it."

I smiled after we hung up. Maybe I did. For the first time in years, hope didn't feel impossible.