Chapter 6

Moira's POV I was ready to start my first day at Blitz AI, as Dillan had requested. Just as I was about to step out of the apartment, my phone rang. Beta Kevin's name was displayed on the screen, and I answered the call without hesitation. Even though I had decided to leave home, I was still on good terms with him. He often assured me that Jude would surely realize his mistake in mistreating me, but I didn't need those words. Instead of comforting me, they only had made things worse. "Yes, Beta Kevin. Is there something important that made you call me?" I asked, and he replied with a light laugh. "Hi, Luna Moira. I just wanted to let you know that Alpha Jude wants you to come to the office," he said. "By the way, why are you being so formal with me? Just call me by my name, like Jude does. Besides, we're not in front of the other pack members." "I just still respect you. As for my name, I think you should stop calling me Luna. It doesn't suit me anymore," I replied. "So your decision is final?" he asked after being silent for a moment. "Yes. Jude may have invited me to come and talk about the divorce papers I sent to his office, right? I'll come. Thanks for the information, Kev." "Uh, wait, Moira." "Yes? Is there anything else?" "I forgot to mention that Jude asked you to come to the office because he didn't accept your resignation letter and hopes you'll stay. He might be considering fixing your marriage." Could I say that was impossible? Jude wasn't the type to take back on his words. Once he made a decision, he never went back on it. So, was Kevin lying? If Kevin really was lying, what was his motive? I didn't say much but immediately headed to the office, and when I arrived, I ran into Jude. I should have been happy. After being apart for days, seeing his handsome face should have made me happy. However, instead of happiness, I only felt numbness. He also seemed indifferent, which was clearly not what Kevin had described. Jude had never cared about me. He passed by me as if I were a stranger. It didn't matter. I had already decided I was only there to resolve our unfinished business. The divorce papers hadn't been returned to me signed by Jude. Once he did that, I would finally be able to breathe easily. Kevin approached me when he saw I had arrived. He greeted me in the same friendly way as always, seemingly on my side. He smiled and glanced briefly at Jude, who was indifferent. I just shrugged, not caring. "There must still be something you can fix," Kevin said, offering hope that could never materialize. "How about you talk things over with a cup of coffee? You still remember what he likes, right?" I didn't answer. More accurately, I didn't want to. If I kept trying to win his heart and affection this way, he would only see and miss the memories, not me, and I would just feel even more pathetic because of that. Still, I turned around and made Jude coffee the way he liked. I brought two cups to his room, thinking we would talk as we enjoyed coffee and snacks. But what I saw was a sight I never wanted to witness. Jude wasn't alone in his room; he was with Bella, who was sitting on his lap. They were kissing passionately. His hands squeezed Bella's butt as she swayed her hips and busied herself down below, as if she was unbuckling Jude's belt. If I hadn't walked in, they would have ended up taking off their clothes and having sex like two stray dogs. I didn't say anything. I was about to turn around when Bella noticed my presence and quickly slid off Jude's lap. "Shit! What are you doing here, huh?! If you ever walk into my office without knocking again, I'll fire you!" Jude snapped with a loud, authoritative alpha voice, making me tremble and the hot coffee spill, scalding my hands. It was hot and burning. It was excruciating. But my feelings were burning worse. More throbbing pain. He didn't need to worry about anything because he might have forgotten that I'd seen much worse than this. My gaze fell on Bella, whose lips curled into a faint smile, her red eyes glowing triumphantly. I'd seen that look before. It was just what her mother had done to my mother back then. Looking at Bella brought back the same intense pain I felt when my father first brought her mother into our house. That flawless face had charmed everyone since she was born. She had been Dad's beloved daughter since birth, born to his fated mate—a rare, pure-blooded Alpha. The bond between Dad and Bella's mother was said to be blessed by the Moon Goddess. Unfortunately, their sacred bond was a fatal sentence for my mother. At the time, rumors spread that my father, already married to my mother, had taken his fated mate, bringing shame and sorrow to the strongest pack, and it destroyed my mother, who came from noble lineage but with an ordinary family background. She rejected her wolf spirit then, and soon after, she died. I still remember how my strong and beautiful mother suddenly withered and lost all interest in life, until her wolf soul disappeared completely. My father didn't wait for the mourning period to end but immediately announced his new mate and brought Bella into the pack. As the daughter of an Alpha and his fated mate, Bella was like a goddess. Everyone bowed to her and honored her, as if she were blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. In contrast, I had to face the bitter reality of my own life. I married Jude, the future Alpha of the strongest pack, thinking I'd finally get the place I deserved as a mate and a Luna, but the opposite happened. History repeated itself. Bella had taken everything that should have been mine—my father's love, my mate's loyalty, and even my daughter's heart. My title as Luna meant nothing in her shadow. I threw both cups of coffee into the trash after leaving Jude's office. I checked and treated the burns on my hands from the hot coffee. There was no point in sacrificing everything—my heart, soul, and youth—for the love of my husband and child. The reality was clear. Whatever I did would never be enough. Someone with an ordinary background couldn't compete with a pure-blooded Alpha lineage. I had to stop fighting. I had to let go of everything. My phone rang. It was Dillan, calling again, and I immediately answered to explain why I hadn't come to his office. He understood, but his words remained the same. "I hope you're okay, Moira. Don't hesitate to contact me whenever you need help," he said, and I agreed. I hurried to the cafeteria for lunch. Now that I was just an ordinary employee with no status in the pack, household, or even for Jude—the owner of a giant company whose wealth could last for seven generations—I picked a meal that matched my frugal lifestyle. I picked a seat near the window to enjoy my meal while looking at the city from above. Whispers drifted from where I sat. Some employees were gossiping about Jude's new lover. I didn't want to listen, but a part of me still wanted to know how others viewed my marriage to Jude. Especially considering that, even physically, I couldn't compare to Bella. "I think they're a perfect match. He's never been open about his life, but today... She's so lucky to have Mr. Hammer," said one of the employees, catching my attention. Then they started talking about something that left me speechless, unable to believe what I heard. And the more I listened, the more my chest ached, the pain squeezing tighter.