Chapter three

Olivia POV

I went for exercise in the morning. When I came back, the people gave me strange looks. I didn't require sorcery to know news about the Alpha finding his fated mate has spread.

Jack didn't hide his connection between him and Monica. I wondered whether the pack members were pleased that their Alpha would become more powerful now that he had located his Fated. I wondered whether they were worried about my well-being, considering the pain I would have to go through, possibly pushing me to madness. Frankly, I didn't know who they would support, I or Monica.

I ran by the pack members and came back to my house.

Jack was having his morning meal. I hadn't talked with him and had no intention to do so since I had no words to say to him.

I headed to the bedroom to bathe and get ready for the day; we had a meeting to go to together.

Although I'd prefer to skip it, I had given my word to Luna Emily that I'd attend.

She was the person I was closest to in terms of friendship, and I had a hunch my life would be like hers soon.

Alpha John, Emily's spouse, discovered his Fated mate four years ago, and they've been living together ever since.

Even though she never confided in me about her household situation, I could tell she was deeply hurt. He consistently joined parties and meetings with his Fated mate, leaving Emily to herself.

But she endured it. She was handling things better than Ava, who was in a similar situation as Emily, but I feared I wouldn't be as strong. I showered quickly. This was the first time I didn't stop in front of the bathroom mirror to dry my hair.

I didn't feel like putting in any effort. Although Jack didn't like makeup or revealing attire, I used to try to look good in these circumstances, but I didn't feel like it anymore. Monica was very beautiful, and I couldn't compete with her because they were destined for each other.

No matter how unattractive she might be, he would still want her. Fated worked strangely in love. When I entered the room after my shower, I saw Jack on the seat. I didn't give him any attention and just grabbed something simple to wear from the wardrobe.

He walked towards me, hugged me and kissed the mark on my kneck, but I pushed him away

Don't try to get intimate with me after, your actions last night I said with clenched jaws, I was furious.

He had completely humiliated me and displayed no self control.

"We didn't go all the way, Olivia. I stopped myself. I resisted, despite my body and wolf urging me otherwise," he explained.

"Resisted, meaning you didn't insert your dick, but you romanced, kissed and did everything else,"

I explained what he meant by "resisted," and he stayed quiet.

"Get dressed. We have a meeting later," I said, and he held my hands.

"The meeting's been moved to this evening. I want to apologize, Olivia. I'm sorry," he said, and I smiled and he avoided eye contact.

Don't say that word when you don't mean it, Jack, when you apologize it should mean you won't do it again but I know you will, so don't worry about it," I told him, and he grabbed me tighter. I felt his frustration.

"Olivia, please. This is difficult for me too," he said, with tears in in his eyes. "I felt like an idiot last night. I was embarrassed. People were disgusted by my presence , and I wouldn't blame them. I abandoned my luna and went to kiss a stranger, all because fate dictated it."

I didn't plan to lay a hand on her. My intention was to let her know that it wouldn't work. I was prepared to take the risk, and reject her. I knew it would come at a great cost, but I'd still have you. Olivia, I was Okay with you being my pillar of strength, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't, and I still won't. 

This morning, I woke up with the idea of going to the Shadow pack to reject her, but I can't. I can't explain it because this feeling is unfamiliar to me, but I just can't, Olivia. Please assist me," he said,as he fell to his knees, hugged my laps and cried.

"I'm lost, my darling. I'm very confused. We should have just remained at home as you suggested, but I felt like I had to accept Bruce's invitation," he said, tears still rolling down his face.

Throughout the years I'd known Jack, I'd never seen him cry or appear this vulnerable and fragile. He was confused. Fate had messed up our lives.

Despite my doubts, I ran my fingers through his hair to soothe him. But I wondered if my touch could be enough again. He looked at me, got up, and hugged me tightly.

"I'll find a way, Olivia. I'll fight it. I won't see her. Please, Olivia," he promised, though I knew he might not keep those promises.

I hugged him, knowing fully well that our happy life together had ended.

Similar to what happened to other luna's in their stories, I had to figure out how to make this work. I had to mentally prepare myself to share him with her because his wolf would never want to stay away from or reject her.

As eager as I was to have him, I could never allow him to make love to me once more because I am sure he would do so out of obligation, not affection. In that scenario, I would prefer to go without his touch than to have him touch me out of sympathy.

"Don't leave me, Olivia, I'm begging you," he said, noticing my seriousness.

"How can I when destiny has already forsaken us?" I replied, staring at him.

"I won't force you to share as other Alphas do, Olivia. I'll resist it," he said, and I didn't respond. While I didn't truly trust him, I couldn't deny his sincerity. In the evening, we participated in the security meeting, and I was anxious about conversing with the other Luna's present.

By now, the word had spread that Jack was destined for Monica, and they had linked up.

Earlier to the meeting, I overheard pack members gossiping about sightings of Jack and Monica on the balcony, while they were kissing and romancing passionately.

I heard he ripped the upper part of her gown. There was no means to conceal such an occurrence, particularly when the woman had to exit the balcony appearing disheveled.

"How are you coping with it, Olivia?" Luna Ava from the Moonridge pack asked, and I gave a negative response.

She was facing a situation similar to Emily's. She lived with her husband and his Fated mate. Her husband, James, declined to reject his fated partner because he understood it would diminish his wolf's strength. He compelled Ava to approve to it, and she had been living unhappily as a heavy drinker ever since.

"You must show courage, Olivia. It won't improve. My bed turned cold three years ago. Now, they have offspring, and it's almost as if I'm invisible. Meetings are the only thing I'm ever useful for," she said, then took a large sip of her wine.

"At times, I wished he were a regular pack member, not an Alpha. I could reject him and move forward. Unfortunately, for us, they have to reject us, or someone stronger fights for our hand. Either way, we're in a dilemma."

"They're afraid of appearing weak if they reject us, so they won't do it. And because we're seen as already taken, nobody would think we're worth fighting for," she explained, stating a truth I'd long recognized.

"How do you cope?" I asked her and she chuckled.

"He accepted his Fated mate, so neither of us feels hurt when they're together again. I just find happiness in short relationships and flings. No one stays for long, and even though they say they love me, they never try to oppose the Alpha. So, I enjoy the affair and then move on," she said, taking another sip of her wine.

"Is he aware?" I asked, and she smiled.

"He's not different, Olivia. They lose interest and stop feeling jealous once they claim their Fated mate. I discovered this the hard way. I tried making him jealous a few times, and even though he was irritated, I didn't achieve the response I desired. Consider it more like this," she explained and sipped the wine in her glass. "Before he found his destined mate, he couldn't tolerate me being near anyone else. He didn't want anyone else touching me and would become jealous at the slightest hint of another scent on me. Now he doesn't care about my actions as long as they're not public, and rumors don't spread; he's fine with it," Ava said, and I got her point.

She refilled her glass and took another sip of wine. Ava was a mess; would I soon be in the same state?

The other women gathered around, and I noticed they were avoiding the obvious issue, Jack and Monica. I admired and thanked them for their self-control. Eventually, I unintentionally gave them an opportunity to discuss it with me, and they expressed sympathy. Most of them genuinely hoped it was just a passing phase, but a few, like Emily and Ava, understood it was only the beginning of the end for me.We soon joined our husbands.

I should have been with the men during the meeting because I was a warrior Luna, but I didn't want to be near Jack or provide any support anymore.

I wasn't naive. I intended to gradually withdraw from my responsibilities to the pack. It had become pointless.

I observed the subtle interaction between Alpha Henry and my spouse, and I didn't need to think about the reason.

After the meeting, we proceeded to the parking lot, where Alpha Henry confronted us. "Departing so early, Alpha Jack? Our conversation isn't over yet," he said, and eyed me.

"You can't retain him, you understand," he said to me, causing Jack tensed

"Stay out of my wife's affairs," Jack cautioned him, and he chuckled.

"But she's caught up in the situation, Jack. You might be the most influential Alpha in this area, but we deserve Regard. You dishonored my daughter at that gathering and failed to escort her home. It's unfair," he stated, and Jack snarled in response.

"We kissed. That's it. I didn't go to bed with her. I didn't have intercourse with her," he stated, and Henry slapped him. To be honest, I was relieved by that slap. It was something I had wanted to do last night. "I don't care, Jack. You lost your composure and tore her dress. Now that's all everyone is discussing. You will do the respectable thing and come take her from my pack," he insisted, but Jack declined.

"You believe I wanted this fate for Monica? She pursued medical school. I had aspirations for her. Becoming an Alpha's mistress wasn't in the plan," he uttered with a trembling voice. The man was suffering too.

"Luna Olivia is too valuable for you to refuse, and you won't want to forfeit some of your wolf's strength by denying your chosen. I'm certain you'll stick with her. I also know you won't reject your Fated mate for the same reason. Come and get her from my pack, and claim her too. The three of you can sort it out from there. Next time, I won't be as polite," he said before walking away.

I couldn't find my voice because Henry had painted the most acc

urate picture of the situation.

I walked to the car in a daze, struggling to hold back my tears.