Chapter 5

**Camilla’s POV**

As soon as Tracey was distracted with something else, I parted my lips, ready to talk, but Seth beat me to it.

“I have to go. Alpha’s calling,” he said. I quickly stood up.

“Have they found Luna yet?” I asked. Seth pressed his lips into a thin line as I walked closer to him.

“Please, I need to know,” I added, and he released a deep sigh.

“I’m not sure yet. We just need to check out the abandoned buildings.”

I puffed out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and sat down on the couch. “We will find her,” Seth whispered to me. At that moment, Tracey looked at us, and I pushed myself deeper into their couch.

“I’m leaving,” Seth said to her. She frowned and placed her hands on his cheeks.

“Come home safe,” she whispered, and I jerked my head to the ground as she placed her lips on his.

Fuck. What was I doing here? Before I could think deeper, the sound of footsteps drawing closer made me snap my head back up. I flinched backward as Tracey stood close to me, and I scanned around, seeing that Seth was no longer in the room.

“Wanna talk about it?” Tracey asked, taking my hand in hers. I blinked slowly, trying to process what she said and only managing a confused, “What?”

She smiled at me and squeezed my hand. “I know something’s bothering you, and my guess is it’s a boy?” she asked. I almost scoffed but instead dragged my eyes to the ground.

More like a man.

“It doesn’t matter,” I whispered, unable to meet her eyes.

“It does matter…” Tracey said, tugging my hand, making me look at her sincere expression. “Judging by the way you were this morning, I’m guessing you found out that he cheated on you?”

My heart literally stopped at her words, and my eyes widened.

“Oh my!” Tracey gasped, placing her hands over her mouth. “I am right, aren’t I? Is he your mate?”

I closed my eyes and intertwined my fingers together. I couldn’t possibly tell her that her husband had cheated on her with me, even though he is my mate. That still didn’t make me feel less guilty. I released a deep sigh, then looked at her and parted my lips to talk.

“No. You are wrong. I wasn’t cheated on, and I do not have a mate.” I sighed and got to my feet. “I only knocked on the wrong house, and luckily for me, it was the Beta’s house, and I was able to ask about my missing friend.” I looked around the house and spotted the little boy, Jorge, sleeping by a pile of his toys. “I am grateful for you taking care of me, but I have to go now.”

Tracey wore a frown but nodded instead of asking questions. She led me to the door, and as soon as I was on the front porch, she placed her hand on my shoulder. With a smile, she said, “I hope you find your friend soon.”

I didn’t bother to answer and began to walk away, my hands balled into fists and tears threatening to fall from my eyes for what I was going to do.

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**Seth’s POV**

I knew that I should be happy that our Luna was finally home safe after we rescued her just a few hours ago, but I couldn’t find myself to be happy—not that I wasn’t deep down—but with everything that had happened in the space of two days, I just couldn’t.

“I need all reports on the guards that will be guarding the Alpha’s house,” I said to one of my soldiers, and he nodded.

“Yes, Beta.”

A knock sounded on the door, and I frowned at who could be interrupting me at this hour of the night. “Come in,” I muttered. The door to my office was pushed open, and I sucked in a breath as she stood there.

“Leave,” I said to the soldier. He bowed and left the room while Camilla closed the door behind her. The look on her face made my heart tighten, and I got to my feet and walked up to her.

Fuck. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I did not like seeing that look on her face. I blurted the first thing that came to mind, which was very confidential information. “We found Luna.”

“I—” Camilla paused what she was going to say, and it seemed that my words finally registered with her. Her face instantly lit up.

“Oh my goddess! That’s wonderful!” she said and hugged me. My tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and I couldn’t help but grin myself, but it dropped when she shifted away from me and intertwined her fingers together.

“Camilla?” I called, walking closer to her, but she shook her head.

“I can’t do it—this, I can’t do it.” She darted her eyes around the room but didn’t focus on me. My heart clenched at her words, and I knew what she was going to do. I took another step closer to her, and she took one back, making it clear she didn’t want me close to her.

“I spoke to your wife, Tracey, and she is a lovely woman. You have a beautiful family. There is no place in that family for me, Seth.”

I took a step closer to her and shook my head. “No…” I trailed off, but before I could finish what I was going to say, she did.

“I, Camilla Parley, reject you, Seth, Beta of Green Hill Pack, as my mate.”

My face contorted in pain and I bent over like a punch had been delivered to my stomach, and I could see the agony in her eyes. She turned and ran out of the room.

“Run, wolf, because if I find you, I will claim you,” I muttered as the door closed behind her, and she did what I said.

She ran.