Chapter 47

Aina If Osborne hadn’t stepped in to calm me, I might have done something I’d regret. Now that Bella is gone, at least there will finally be some peace and quiet. Osborne mentioned that the Alpha himself, along with the Luna, would be going to my home to apologize to my mother—which to me is the right thing to do. Osborne, however, has been tied up with work, so I guess I’ll be spending the day by myself. Well, not completely alone, since the maids are always around to keep me company. The memory of yesterday came rushing back, and I couldn’t help but smile. I buried my face in my hands, wishing I could sink into the ground just thinking about it. I had confessed to Osborne that I loved him, and he went wild. All through the night I couldn’t sleep; he would constantly ask me to say it again, and every time I shyly did, he would take me again. Even now, my lower back aches—I don’t know how one person can have such beastly stamina. Dragging myself out of bed, I lazily went to bathe. I smelled of sex, so I washed myself thoroughly before stepping out of the bathroom. The maids had neatly arranged my things with such care. I’ll have to call them later and thank them for looking after me so well. If not for Bella’s intrusion, my time here so far has been nothing but wonderful. Everyone treats me kindly, as though I already belong here. I can’t wait until Osborne and I finally tie the knot. Then we’ll be bound forever, and no one—not even Bella—will ever come between us. I slipped on a grey top and black pants, with no makeup. I had kept my lenses aside, so I picked up my glasses instead. I wasn’t too comfortable with the lenses yet, but the glasses felt much more natural to me. I stepped outside for a walk around the mansion, and everyone I came across greeted me with a smile. I really like it here—no one looks down on me because of my weight or height. That used to weigh heavily on me. People always whispered, gossiped, and mocked me just for being chubby. I had been ridiculed so much that I learned to walk with my head down, drowning in low self-esteem. But now things feel different. Here, I have a man who loves me for who I am—not for how society thinks I should look. I’m healthy, and that’s what matters. People don’t realize that being chubby isn’t always about what you eat. I once believed I was overweight because I ate too much, but then I saw girls who ate far more than me yet kept their slim figures. That’s when I understood it wasn’t that simple. I used to be so miserable, wishing I looked like everyone else. I never truly learned how to love myself. So when they called me fat, ugly, or smelly, I carried their words like shame. Thinking back on those days, I see how far I’ve come. But just then, I felt it again—the weight of someone’s gaze. In fact, I’d noticed it earlier. Someone was following me, and I didn’t know who it was. I turned around but saw no one suspicious, so I kept walking. Whoever was following me would eventually get tired and stop. “Ma’am, would you like some hot chocolate? The chef just made a fresh batch,” one of the maids who attends to me, Julia, her cheerful voice called out. She hurried to my side with a bright smile. “I’d love that,” I replied happily. Together, we walked to the kitchen, and the rich aroma of food being prepared filled the air. As soon as the chefs noticed me, they greeted me warmly, their smiles genuine. I couldn’t help but return the gesture. “Why don’t you sit here?” one of them offered, pulling out a chair. A moment later, Julia set a steaming cup of hot chocolate in front of me. “Oh, thank you. Mmm, this is delicious,” I said, taking a sip. My words made them laugh softly. “We called your room earlier to ask what you’d like to eat, but no one answered. Then someone mentioned seeing you walking around the mansion,” one of the staff explained. I nodded, touched by their thoughtfulness. “Well, thank you for taking care of me.” Their laughter was warm, genuine, and it filled me with joy. Being in their company, I realized I wouldn’t be lonely here at all. Aria We had gotten word that the Alpha and his Luna would be visiting soon, so we prepared the house to receive them. Honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to their arrival, but there was no avoiding it. “Are you sure you don’t need me here?” my husband asked. I shook my head. “No, you should head to work. I’m certain it won’t take long,” I assured him. He nodded, pressed a quick kiss to my lips, and left. My son was already gone for work as well, leaving just Suzy and me at home. She, for some reason, had gone heavy with her makeup today—I suppose it’s not every day you get to meet the leaders of the pack. I just hoped that whatever discussion we had today, they wouldn’t bring up the past. There’s something about those memories I’d rather never speak of, something that has been quietly eating away at me inside. Closing my eyes, I tried to steady myself. That was the reason I was a little bit uneasy about Aina and Osborne in the first place—but does it even matter now? They were paired by the Moon Goddess, after all. And besides, I don’t even know where that... The sudden sound of cars arriving outside pulled me out of my thoughts. With a quiet sigh, I straightened myself. It was time to greet my guests. As the vehicles pulled up and came to a stop, the rulers of our pack stepped out, carrying themselves with such dignity it almost felt like this place was unworthy of them. As they moved closer, I lowered my head in a respectful bow. “It is an honor to welcome you into my home,” I said in greeting. When I lifted my head, my eyes immediately met the stern, unyielding gaze of the Alpha.