The Prying Questions

It had been two years since we had seen each other.

"How have you been, Kiana?" Alessia asked, hugging me.

Given our complicated history, I had expected a more distant reception. In a daze, I somehow mustered a polite reply: "I've been well, Alessia. Thanks for asking. It's great to see you again."

My attention drifted towards Dion. Probably eyes gave away my true feelings as they locked onto Dion, filled with a cold, lingering stare. The unspoken history between Dion and Alessia cast a shadow over my mood. 

"I missed you so much, Kiana." Alessia beamed. "You look beautiful. Is that gown from Dolce and Gabbana?

I gave an empty smile. "Thank you, Alessia; where have you been all this time?" I tried to redirect the conversation away from my appearance.

"Oh, I was travelling here and there, trying to discover myself." Alessia's response only heightened the tension in the room, as it reminded me of the distance that had grown between Dion and me. He was still quietly staring at Alessia. I choked on a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, I'm glad you're back now. We have a lot to catch up on." 

The other pack members descended around Alessia. I watched as they exchanged warm embraces, feeling a pang of jealousy and resentment. Alessia still held a special place in their hearts.

Feeling increasingly out of place, I excused myself from the party. I needed time to collect my thoughts, confront my past, and perhaps save my marriage. But it was possible that now that Alessia was back, Dion would favour Alessia, his first love.

Alessia stayed in the pack even after the party was long over. I barely saw Dion after the party. He would leave early and return late. I avoided Alessia as well. I just kept to myself, scared of any confrontation. Two days had passed, and it was time for the long-overdue conversation that had been haunting me.

I waited for Dion, anxiety and uncertainty heavy in the air. I had initially resolved to tell Dion about my pregnancy, clinging to the fragile hope that it might be a turning point in our fractured marriage. 

"You are still awake?" Dion's voice broke my heart. I had been waiting in the living room of our suite. 

I looked at his tall frame towering over me as he entered the room. His tired eyes and dishevelled appearance hinted that he hadn't been sleeping well either. Despite my nerves, I mustered a small smile and nodded, gesturing for him to sit beside me. 

"Dion, we need to talk." I fumbled.

Dion's expression grew serious as he took a seat next to me.

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you as well."  He said. "After five months, our marriage will end," he stated, his words a stark declaration of his intentions. 

My heart sank, and a wave of disappointment washed over me. 

"I see," I replied, my voice tinged with sorrow. My dreams of reconciliation crumbled before my eyes, leaving me with a profound sense of hopelessness.

"However, Kiana, the pack will always be your home. Your place will always be here."

I looked at Dion's unreadable face. Was he offering compensation? Or was he simply trying to soften the blow of our impending divorce? 

"Thank you, Dion." I whispered.

"You wanted to say something?" Dion asked.

I shook my head. "It's nothing important." 

But then Dion uttered a name that felt like a sharp blow to my chest. "Alessia."

Dion's mention of Alessia sent a shiver down my spine.

"What about Alessia?" I inquired, my voice trembling with uncertainty. The mere mention of her name brought a flood of emotions rushing back, as if the wounds of the past had been freshly torn open.

Dion hesitated for a moment before he replied, "Alessia told me you drove her away two years ago."

His words astounded me. The accusation felt like a knife to my heart, a painful twist of reality that I had never expected. I didn't ask her to leave; Alessia left on her own, but now to hear that she had accused me of driving her away was a devastating revelation.

The truth was on my mind, but I could not respond and remained silent. Dion's words echoed in the air, creating an uncomfortable silence between us. The weight of his accusation hung heavy, leaving me grappling with a mix of emotions: anger, confusion, and a deep sense of betrayal. The wounds from the past had not healed, and now I faced the daunting task of defending myself against a false narrative. 

Dion continued, his voice tinged with a hint of regret, "Since Alessia has returned, I hoped you would accept her back into the pack."

Dion had misunderstood my role in Alessia's departure. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts before responding. "She can stay." 

Before giving him a chance to speak further, I added,

"I will choose to leave when the contract expires," I declared, my voice trembling with resolve. I couldn't bear the weight of this one-sided love any longer.

I didn't wait for Dion to answer before leaving. My footsteps could be heard in the hallway. It hurt too much to love someone who didn't love me back, and I couldn't figure out how to fix the rift that had formed between us.

Though it was dark in the hallway, I couldn't help but feel like my life had turned into a sad farce. No matter how hard I tried, I could tell that Dion still loved Alessia with all his heart. When I realised that, I chose not to tell Dion about my pregnancy because I didn't want to bother him. I instead raised the child by myself. It was time for me to start over, free from the hurt and confusion that had marked my past.

After that painful conversation with Dion, I distanced myself from him and Alessia. The thought of seeing their happiness together with the rest of the pack was painful. I couldn't stand to see Alessia and the others having fun while I was having a hard time with my own feelings.

My sole focus had shifted to protecting my child and the future I had envisioned for us. I knew that leaving the pack was inevitable, and I had given myself a timeframe of three months to prepare for our departure. But in those moments, I hadn't quite figured out where we would go or what lay ahead.

******************

The soft glow of twilight filled my room as I struggled with a heavy box. I was determined to get my things in order before leaving, so I kept going. 

Suddenly, a voice from the doorway broke through my concentration. "Madam Luna, you really shouldn't be doing heavy lifting in your condition." Gilly had materialised silently, her eyes filled with concern. She was one of the few who knew about my pregnancy, along with the pack doctor. 

I paused and smiled gratefully at Gilly. "You're right, Gilly. I appreciate your concern."

Just as we were about to resume our conversation, a gentle knock on the door disrupted the moment. The familiarity of the scent that wafted into the room told me who stood on the other side. I braced myself, both my human and wolf's instincts aware that Alessia's visit was not as simple as it appeared.

"Kiana, I've been wanting to catch up with you," Alessia said, her voice soft and inviting as she stepped into the room.