Chapter AFTER I LEFT, ALPHA 9
Chapter 9 Chapter
9
Nora wanted to say it aloud: "I don't want to be this Luna anymore."
In truth, even without today's humiliation, she had been ready to leave long ago.
But what would be the point of saying it now? Arnold had never cared for her words, never listened to her explanations.
To him, her voice had always been white noise, easily dismissed.
Her burnt fingers betrayed her resolve, and the tray slipped from her trembling hands. The delicate cups shattered against the floor, the silver liquid pooling like spilled tears across the tiles.
Arnold's expression darkened as his gaze bore into her. "Are you losing your temper with me?" he
demanded, his voice sharp with irritation.
Before Nora could respond, Linda, ever the picture of composure, stepped forward with a saccharine smile.
"Now, now, dear," she cooed, placing a calming hand on Arnold's arm. "I'm sure she didn't mean it. Don't be angry...
Nora's lips curled into a pale, brittle smile, one that barely concealed the bitterness simmering beneath. Her voice was steady, each word deliberate and clear.
"No, I didn't mean to lose my temper," she said, her tone devoid of warmth. "I just don't think you two deserve the tea I made."
Arnold's glare sharpened, but before he could respond, Nora turned on her heel.
Without waiting for the fallout, she walked to the elevator, ignoring the furious murmurs that followed her. Inside the restroom, Nora ran her burned fingers under the cold stream of water.
The sting of the injury was nothing compared to the ache constricting her chest.
She reached into her bag, pulled out a small tube of ointment, and began tending to her wounds with practiced efficiency.
Once, her life had been filled with creative pursuits..studying diplomacy, sketching intricate designs for clothing.
04:37
After left. Alpha father and son went crazynk
7.54
Chapter 9
She'd been far from a domestic expert. Thit marriage had demanded a different version of herself.
To gain Arnold's approval, and that of his family, she had transformed from a spirited teenager in dutiful wife, mastering every household chore.
into a
Her hands bore the scars of that transformation: needle pricks from embroidery, burns from cooking. Yet none of those minor injuries compared to the million tiny heartbreaks she had endured.
Staring at the bandage now wrapped around her finger, a small tear escaped her eye.
The childish bear print on the adhesive tugged at her memories.
*What mother doesn't carry first-aid supplies for her child?*
Alex, her mischievous little coyote, was always full of energy and curiosity, forever scraping knees or bumping into trouble.
She had spent countless nights bandaging his wounds, soothing his tears.
And yet, he would only remember her as heavy-handed and unkind.
"Linda's so much gentler," Alex would whimper, favoring the woman who offered comfort without substance.
But Linda never cleaned his wounds properly, leading to infections that left Nora rushing him to the hospital in a panic.
Arnold never saw that side of the story. He only saw Alex's tears and blamed her for them. "You're careless," he'd snap, berating her for failing as a mother.
*But none of that matters now, Nora thought, her heart hardening. "I'm leaving them. Both of them."
With her wounds treated, Nora left the restroom, her steps firm. She reached the elevator and waited, staring at the closed doors.
She was jolted aside when a group of staff members suddenly pushed past her.
"Move out of the way!" one of them barked. "Our future Luna is coming through!"
Nora blinked, stunned by their abruptness, but she stepped aside as the employees gushed over the supposed "Luna."
"Did you hear?" one of them said in an excited whisper. "It's rumored that Alpha is already engaged to her. She's the only daughter of the Snow Moon Pack's Alpha. So elegant, so beautiful..she's perfect for him."
"I saw her once," another chimed in. "She really is gorgeous. Although... doesn't she look a little like-
The man's voice trailed off as his gaze fell on Nora, his brow furrowing as he studied her face. Before he could voice his observation, the elevator doors opened with a soft chime.
Linda stepped out, her beauty drawing every eye in the room.
Surrounded by the adoring staff, she glided past, her expression radiant.
Nora moved further aside, unwilling to draw attention. Yet one staff member, still unsatisfied, tugged at her sleeve.
"Stand back a little more! Don't get too close to Ms. Linda..she's an important VIP."
Linda noticed Nora then. Their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, Linda's confident mask faltered. She looked away quickly, her expression strained.
Nora said nothing. She had no energy left for confrontations.
As Linda disappeared down the corridor, one of the staff members sighed dreamily..
"She's like a fairy, isn't she? It's like the Moon Goddess herself blessed her. Don't you think so?"
Nora didn't respond. Her silence only deepened the curiosity of the man who had studied her earlier.
"You know," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "you look a bit like her. Are you related?"
Nora stiffened but kept her expression neutral. "If only you knew, she thought bitterly.
Linda wasn't just a passing shadow in Nora's life. She was her sister by blood, the illegitimate daughter of Nora's father, the Alpha of the Snow Moon Pack
When Nora was a child, her father's betrayal had shattered her world. He had abandoned her mother, publicly rejecting her in favor of his mistress, Linda's mother.
Nora's once-happy family had crumbled overnight, and her mother...broken and ostracized. Descended into madness.
While Nora and her mother stru8450 to survive, Linda was raised as a princess, showered with affection and privilege to compensate for the stigma of her birth. Fate, it seemed, had always favored Linda. Nora had tried to rise above her jealousy, focusing on improving herself.
But the cruel twist of fate that bound her to Arnold-her mate who had fallen for Linda at first sight...was too much to bear.
8.0%
Chapter 9
The man's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Hey, Nora, I just realized you're actually really pretty too Maybe if you dressed up, you'd be just as dazzling as our new Luna. Are you feeling okay? You look pale.
Nora forced a smile, her heart heavy. She didn't need his platitude
"I've seen
seen this play out before," she thought grimly. "My mother walked this path, but I won't follow her fate. I'm leaving before it's too late."
Chapter 10
Chapter 10