Chapter 3

Moira's POV I stepped into a room that wasn't particularly grand, but comfortable enough to live in. At first, I wanted to bring Mirielle with me if she agreed to come. However, she refused. She was pretty firm, and I didn't expect a child as young as her to do and say something like that. "Mirielle. Pack your things. We're leaving," I said at the time. "What? Where? Are we going with Dad and Aunt Bella?" I didn't answer her question, but I packed everything and waited for her to do the same. "Mom, is Aunt Bella coming with us? I don't want to go if Aunt Bella isn't coming because—" I instinctively grabbed her arm and shook her slightly to stop her from talking. My gaze was fixed straight into her eyes, and she looked frightened. "It's just the two of us, Elle. Do you hear me? Pack your things now, and we'll leave immediately!" Mirielle let go of my hand and took a few steps back. She looked unhappy and clearly had no intention of going with me. I should have understood from the first time she mentioned Jude and his whore. Mirielle seemed so excited about something that was so painful for me. Seven years of marriage and living together that existed just for the sake of it. I always hoped that by being nice to him, he would eventually soften up and love me. However, it seemed like that would never happen. "Elle, what do you like most about me? And... if I ask you to choose, would you choose me or Dad?" She looked at me, still clenching her hands together. Her face was pale, and I couldn't bear to see her like that. I sighed, trying to control my tone so my voice wouldn't be too loud and push Mirielle further away from me. "I choose Dad." I almost spoke again, but Mirielle had already made her decision, and it felt like my heart was breaking. "Especially with Aunt Bella around. Dad always plays with me more. Usually, I'm always alone because you and Dad are always busy at the office." She was right, and my heart ached deeply hearing her words. Mirielle had never complained about anything before, but today she said it all with such innocent words. "I want Aunt Bella to be my mother. That's why I'll stay here with Dad." And here I was, deliberately renting a simple, comfortable, quiet apartment. I wanted to immerse myself and calm my chaotic emotions right now. I hoped that everything would get better after this, even if not with my marriage to Jude and my relationship with Mirielle. I had let them go. *** "Are you sure you want to do this, Moira? You're resigning, and it's usually difficult to find a better job after that. Wouldn't it be better to think it over? Especially since Kevin has just contacted you," said Ziri, my wolf. She was always my best friend, and I felt lucky to have her. Even if the world was against me, it wouldn't matter as long as Ziri was with me. "I've thought everything through carefully. Kevin eventually stopped trying to change my mind because Jude didn't want me. He's sick of seeing me wherever he goes. So, enough. The sacrifices of love and my foolishness all this time have been enough. I can accept that Jude can't accept me as his wife and Luna, but not his betrayal." Ziri was right. Kevin, Jude's beta, had questioned my reasons for stepping down. He knew exactly what my position in the pack was—just a mean of merging two large packs. I was only a tool, but Jude's charm ensnared me and made me fall in love. Unfortunately, he didn't feel the same. For so long, the pack members had regarded me as a temporary Luna until Jude found his mate, who would become their Luna forever. Sad, but that was what I had to accept. Even though I never asked for an exception, I still came as a she-wolf searching for my fated mate at the annual event held by the pack, where she-wolves and male wolves would attend a dance party to find their perfect match and mate. Jude stood there as the alpha being sought after. He seemed not to have found his mate yet, so he reluctantly returned with me. Now, he has Bella, and I didn't know when their relationship had started. Right now, I just wanted to live my life well. "Do you know about the annual event for alumni of Pack's Academy?" I asked Ziri, who just shrugged. "They won't accept you again after what happened, Moira. You'd better not waste your time on that." Hearing Ziri's words, I became even more determined to return to the academy meeting for the whole pack. The strongest packs from all over would come, and that brought back memories of my struggles in the past. The rigorous training, fierce competition, and strong bonds formed between the Luna candidates and other pack leaders—I would never forget them. I graduated with the highest grades and had the opportunity to form an alliance—of course, after that, especially when my marriage to Jude was arranged, everything fell apart. I took my phone, ignoring Ziri's opinion. I immediately contacted the academy's administration, which reserved a place for me at the meeting. "Have you forgotten how you left the academy last time? Now you have many rivals, Moira. You have to start from the bottom again, and your opponents are young warriors. Are you sure you're ready to compete with them?" "Come on... You know why I gave up my position back then." "Of course. And that was the dumbest choice you ever made. I really regret it all, even though I tried to talk you out of it, you still insisted on choosing... Ah, never mind!" "You're right. I was foolish. But I won't make that mistake again. Please..." The other side did not respond, which, though I was sure that meant that she had granted my request and added my name to the list. I smiled in relief and glanced at Ziri, who merely raised an eyebrow. "Let's hope everything goes as planned," she said, and I silently agreed. Now, all I could think about was making all my dreams come true, even if I had to start over from scratch. I wouldn't give up. I would rise to become the Moira I was meant to be. That was my promise to myself, and I would make it happen.