Episode 20
860 Words
Clara's POV
I looked at the shock on Ethan's face.
He probably never expected that I would suddenly act like this. After all, I'd been following him around nonstop since I woke up, always worrying about him, always asking for affection, always giving in to everything.
"You're not scared I'll stop talking to you forever?" he asked, lifting his chin and testing me.
I looked at him. If this was really what he wanted… maybe I should respect it. Maybe living with Frost would actually make him happier.
"If that's your choice," I said calmly, "then I'll accept it."
But the moment the words left my mouth, he panicked.
"So… you're saying you don't want me anymore?" he asked.
I wanted to say yes. But my eyes burned. I felt like crying. I stayed quiet for a few seconds—until a voice behind me pulled me back from that weakness.
"You should think about how you're treating your mother first."
Alpha King Xavier. And his beta. Why were they here?
"Funny coincidence, Your Majesty," Caleb said, bowing his head slightly, though his voice was full of tension. "What brings you here?"
"If Alpha Caleb can walk in and out with a maid whenever he likes," Xavier replied coolly, "do I really need to report where I go to you?"
His mocking tone almost made me laugh. But it also confused me.
The last time we met, things ended badly. Why was he helping me now? And that house… how did it end up being his?
But this wasn't the time to ask. Caleb's eyes darkened. His face hardened.
"Clara. Get in the car. I'm taking you home."
"No," I said. "I'll go back myself." I could set up a time with Xavier to return the handkerchief.
"If you need help, we'd be happy to take Luna Clara back," Xavier's beta said with a polite smile.
Caleb grabbed my wrist and raised one eyebrow. "I'll say it again. Come with me."
I knew that look. He'd used it countless times in pack meetings when someone challenged him. I didn't want another awkward public scene in front of Xavier. Last time was embarrassing enough.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. We'll be going now," I said quickly. Then, without asking permission, I opened Caleb's passenger door and got in.
The ride back was suffocating. Ethan and Frost sat in the back. I lowered my head and pretended to scroll on my phone, avoiding eye contact with Caleb. I didn't want to answer anything that might expose my plans.
But Caleb clearly wasn't letting it go.
"I went back to our room before I came," he said. "Your closet is empty."
I blinked. "What?"
"Your clothes. Your bags. Your jewelry. Everything is gone."
My heart skipped. He noticed.
I kept my voice steady and acted surprised. "There was something dirty in the closet. I sent everything to the cleaners."
He narrowed his eyes. "Dirty?"
Of course, I meant her underwear, but instead I said, "I found… a cockroach."
"So you sent everything to wash because of one bug?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I'm not Gamma anymore. I stayed home all day. I got bored and decided to clean everything."
"And your jewelry?" he pressed. "And the wedding ring I gave you?"
"Maintenance," I said calmly. "Diamonds lose their shine over time."
My tone was flat but reasonable. He stared at me for a few seconds, clearly trying to read between the lines.
Then he nodded slightly. "If you're that bored," he said quietly, "why don't you come back and be Gamma again? You can help me train the warriors as you did before."
"What?!" Frost shrieked from the back seat. Then she immediately caught herself and softened her voice. "I know I'm not as good as Luna… but I really try. I'm sorry…"
She started crying in a disgusting way as she always does. But to my surprise, Caleb looked annoyed.
"The last rogue operation was badly handled," he said. "We made the wrong call. Other packs were affected. We need to go to the Alpha Summit and fix things."
I almost laughed. So that's what this was. They screwed up—and now they needed me to clean it up.
Fine. Better than staying here watching Caleb and Frost pretend to be a family. Better than risking my plan being exposed.
"So I'll officially get my Gamma position back?" I asked.
"Of course."
"And no one else gets to interfere with my work anymore? I'll be the one with the final authority? My warriors will be back under my command?"
"Yes," Caleb said. He really should've glanced at the rearview mirror. Frost's face was about to c***k apart.
"Okay." I said. And in the mirror, I smiled at Frost, whose face twisted with hate.
The next day, I booked my ticket and got on a flight to Apex City, where the Alpha Summit would be held.
After landing, I jumped into a taxi and gave him my hotel name.
The car pulled out of the airport. But I had a strange feeling.
Like someone was watching me through the window.
- Writer
