Chapter 2

Five years later

She took a sharp intake of breath as she alighted the plane. Her five-year-old was by her side. Her arrival was as completely confidential, as she’d planned to breeze in and out of the pack in a heartbeat, going unnoticed.

That was why when she stepped down and was immediately swarmed with hives of reporters it took her by surprise.

Only her sister knew she was coming. How did they get that information?

“Why did you leave, ma’am?”

“Luna, does the alpha know that you’re here?”

“Is that the alpha’s child? Is he going to be the next alpha? Is he the heir?”

Microphones were all to her mouth as she pushed through them. Barely even walking intact. She had to crouch and pick her five-year-old in her arms as they swallowed her with questions.

“Does your return lead us to believe that you are here to stay?”

“Will you work things out with the alpha?”

“You have been off the grid for five years. Did you divorce the alpha?”

They hauled questions after questions that a guard was forced to take her hand. Go against the guard rule and hold her. Leading her out of the beeline of reporters.

As he led her out, his partners and other bodyguards paved the way for her, blocking and protecting her from the desperate reporters.

“You are holding hands with him, is he your husband?”

“Are you going to marry him?”

“Is he the father of the child?”

Light flashed on her face that she was forced to look down to protect her eyes from the snapping flash of the cameras.

It was a great fit but they successfully saw her to a car that was parked by the air side waiting for her and her team.

That didn’t deter the reporters, they lined by the pane of the car window, still asking questions. Unbeknownst to her her hand was still intertwined with the bodyguard, her grip tight on his.

He didn’t let go until she’d relaxed. They drove in a comfortable silence to the venue.

Her heart still hammered thunderously against her rib cage. They say time heals all wounds but being back in this pack peeled it back open.

The pack where her mate had cheated on her with her best friend. That day she’d lost both a friend and a husband. That was a great loss for anyone.

That was even the more reason she’d argued against coming here for the ceremony. But her sister, Emelda, has begged her to come. And so she’d agreed only to be plagued with memories from the past.

When they arrived at the venue, they parked the car and climbed down. Her five-year-old was soundly asleep on her body.

A shrieking squeak twitched her lips into a smile as the familiar sound of her sister came. “Leslie!!” She ran to her and engulfed her in a hug.

“Damn, I’ve missed you.” She said against her body. Leslie giggled. “I’ve missed you as well.”

She broke the hug and stared around for her nephew. “Argh, he’s all grown up now. He’s losing the baby charm.” Emelda complained but took him either way.

She gasped. “And he’s gained pounds of weight, what in the moon goddess are you feeding him?” Emelda fired the question at her sister with an arched brow.

Leslie shrugged. “Nothing, he’s just a large eater. He has a big appetite, courtesy of his wolf.”

“Now,” she waved her hands. “Where is your mate? I’m dying to meet him!” Leslie squealed to her sister’s excitement.

Emelda grinned. “He’s inside. Come let me introduce you two.” She pulled her by the hand. Leslie made a brief stop and glanced at her bodyguard. “Be on standby,” she instructed before following her sister inside.

As she crossed the ledges and went into the house. The old familiar scent of the house wafted past her nose and she couldn’t help a deep inhale. It was like a breath of fresh air.

She showed her to the hall that had been decorated for the ceremony. It was designed in blue and white with a splash of pink here and there. A perfect combo of her sister, she thought.

Emelda quickly went up and placed her nephew on the bed before she returned. Leslie wandered around before she bumped into a male with art supplies.

Just as she asked, “Who are you?” Her sister came down.

“I guess you two have already met.” She giggled uneasily. Going down she stood by the centre of both of them. “This is Leslie, my sister I told you about and this is Marcus, my mate.”

She introduced both of them. They smiled and shook hands. “Nice to meet you, Leslie, I’ve heard so much about you.”

She returned the courtesy. “Can’t say I haven’t heard much about you as well. As you must know, your mate plagues my night with talks about you.”

They guffawed at that and Emelda grinned, blushing from ear to ear before she hastily pulled her mate away by the hand. “We’ll be right back, settle in.” And then she was gone.

Leslie was about to yell out to her that she wouldn’t be staying long but the girl was happy with no care for the world, her sister was leaping alongside him that she was genuinely happy for him.

She’d tell her later, she didn’t want to ruin her mood. Her mate in question was handsome as hell. He had grey eyes with dark ebony hair. He was a splash of handsome and dangerous. A perfect mix for her uptight sister. Someone to break her out of her shell.

The ceremony kicked start afterward and everyone was gathered in the hall. She was, however, the center of attraction. Everyone passed her with murmuring questions. It wasn’t a matter of time before the reporters would swing in and start interrogating her.

She excused herself to the women’s bathroom. There a call came in. Just as she was about to answer it, the door creaked open.

Her body tensed instinctively and for some reason, her heart began to stir. Whipping her head towards the door, what she saw made her stiffen. Nathan. She stepped back from the wash-hand basin, her heart hammering. "What are you doing here?" She demanded, trying to mask the tremor beneath the bravado. "This is the women's bathroom. Get out!" He smirked slightly before raising his hands in the same slight fashion, as if to show he meant no harm. But the sight of him alone harmed her heart. The look on his face was softer than she expected, almost vulnerable. "Leslie, I know this is so sudden, but please we need to talk. Now. I only came to meet you here because you wouldn't have allowed me to talk to you out there." She scoffed, her palms already balled into fists. "And what makes you think I'll talk to you here. We have nothing to talk about, you lost that right a long, long time ago." "I'm sorry, Leslie. But-" "Oh! Sorry? That's rich coming from you. Get out, right now." He ignored her, daring to reach for her hand, but the moment his fingers brushed hers, she pulled back and slapped him so hard across the face it took some time before the outline of her fingers melted off his red face. "You think you can trick me using the mate bond. Touch me all you want, but you're a revolting wreck and you mean nothing to me anymore. And don't you dare touch me." Nathan stared down for a brief moment, smiling to himself but he quickly straightened. "You can hit me all you want, but please, I need us to talk." "Get out of my way, you creep!" She said, trying to force her way out but he immediately stepped in. "You're the one making me look like a creep, I just want to talk.”

She immediately flinched before she adamantly stilled her pounding heart.

“Leslie.” He called her but she didn’t so much as paste a glance at his side.

With her breath hanging in her throat, her chest high, she waved him off. “No.”

“Please I’m sorry for everything that has happened.” He stalked close to her and attempted to take her hand before she slapped him hard against the face again. “Don’t you dare!” She warned with fire in her eyes and tone.

“Please Leslie, please come back to me.” He begged still and it aggravated her the more.

“You are sick, so sick in the head!”

She shoved him aside and marched towards the door but he was after her immediately.

"Leslie, wait!" He called desperately and grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks.

She whipped around, eyes blazing with anger. "Let me go or I'm going to scream. And when the guards get here, I'll let them know you tried to assault me. I'm sure the Pack will be happy to hear that. Go back to that slut you left me for and stop pestering me, you sick fuck."

"Please, just hear me out." His grip tightened slightly despite her threats.

That was the moment a knock sounded on the door.

"Ma'am, is everything alright?" A deep voice, one she knew very well, called from outside.

She turned towards Nathan. "Do something smart for the first time in your life. I play the cards now." She whispered with a smirk.

"Ma'am?"

Nathan’s grip loosened before his hand dropped to his side. He looked so frustrated and pained, and she relished every second of it.

"I'm fine." She said, opening the door to leave, but his voice stopped her in her tracks. "You can't run from this forever, Leslie," he muttered, darkly.

Despite the tiny ripple of shiver the words sent through her, she let out a mocking smile and shot back. "Watch me."

Yanking the door open, she brushed past the concerned guards without another word.

Once she was out in the hallway, her composure cracked. She could hear her heart hammering in her ears as she picked up the phone. With her location already compromised, staying around would be a bad idea.

Not taking a time to think about the consequences, she pressed the button her thumb was poised over and left a voicemail for her sister. I'm sorry, Emelda darling. But I can’t stay. The memories here are too much to bear. I know you’ll say I’m running but yes I am. Congratulations to you and your mate. Much love, Leslie.

And with that, she took the next flight back to her home. Her son would come with the bodyguard from earlier.

She stayed a day in a hotel to regain her poise before returning home. When she arrived she came to a stop with the assaulting sound going on inside.

We’ve arrived ma’am. A message from her bodyguard read.

She came down and was met with her bodyguards in pain, sputtering across the ground groaning in agony. “What happened?” She demanded instantly. That was right about the moment she saw him, the alpha.

As he stepped out, the guards got down from the car with her child.

“Is that my son?!”