Lira's POV

"Lira, I heard the news. Don't be so disappointed. Varek had to do this as an Alpha. He's the number one personality of the pack.

He needed to ensure the maximum safety of every member. Especially those of high caliber like Ravena.”

"You're absolutely spot on!" I screamed and didn't stress myself to reply to him.

Ten minutes later, the group chat was electrified again.

Ravena had sent some more pictures. It was Varek alone with her, giving her water to drink, checking her temperature and her wrapped bandages as if she were his sick wife.

"Guys, I am sorry for the pandemonium my ordeal has created, especially to Ravena and Varek. It wasn't my intention to spoil the most important day of your lives.

Varek, thank you for being the best Alpha I could ever wish for. You've always made me have a full sense of belonging in this pack. You made me feel like an important person here.”

Most of the group chat members liked and sent heart emojis. Some were even bold in saying they looked like a couple, or they could have been a good pair if the moon goddess allowed it.

Ravena….It was always her that everyone favored and revered. Tears shimmered down my eyes. I felt like I had waited for seven years to realize a mistake. It was time to make the necessary amendments and choose myself.

"Call me."

I dropped a message for Varek. I knew he wouldn't call if I didn't ask him. I sat and waited for a call or even just a response. Fourteen minutes had passed, and still nothing. I was about to stand when my phone suddenly rang.

“Why are you requesting for me to call you? Did something happen, Lira?” I could sense a bit of disgust from his voice.

"Is that all that you have to say?" I retorted, hurt when I could feel his disgust.

"Sorry. My thinking was narrowed. Ravena got hurt. I needed to ensure she would be okay."

“ Exactly! As her night and shining armor. The prince that saved the princess in distress. Alpha Varek.”

“And what's the meaning of all that?”

“To cut all the bullshit. It means we're done! It's over!”

I dropped the call, not a slight chance for him to say anything.

Lira's POV

The welfare of the pack was Varek topmost priority. That leadership duty was bestowed on him the moment he took the title.

He thought I, of all people, understood this because I was my mate and the incoming Luna of Hollow Shade pack.

He sighed and picked his phone. He went straight to WhatsApp to check.

The group chat had countless messages, and he hadn't even been able to check it. When he glanced through, all the messages were from Ravena.

She had been updating the group on her current situation.

Varek clenched his Jaws at the pictures she sent because they're centered around him and her.

Varek was gravely enraged by the one she sent, where she was lying on his lap and he was caressing her hair. His face was ultimately showing concern for her. He was mad.

He ran a hand through his hair. Everything was obviously going out of control. But he didn't seem to blame him self. He thought he shouldn't be blamed

because Ravena needed him.

She was seeking comfort and solace. He couldn't just feign ignorance and abandon her because of the bonding ritual. That I should understand that safety is of great paramount for the pack, that he was the watchdog that has been set over the people.

But still, he couldn't shy away from the guilt. He Called off our mating ritual ceremony all because of Ravena. All he could thought of was the rage inside me.

He thought that he should've treated the matter and handled the situation with top notch discretion.

He should've called me and sought for my consent before proceeding to call off the bonding ritual.Or maybe, an explicit explanation would've made me understand that the bonding ritual meant the whole world to me.

It was not just a charade.

But the damage has been done and he'd to deal with the repercussions that came with it. A knock on the door pulled him off his thoughts.

“Come in, it's open.” he responded.

Anthony came into the room with his characteristic gentle expression.

He waved at him and sat on the opposite sofa to Varek. If there was any ally he could trust in the pack, it was definitely him. Varek could rely on him to help him fix this mess.

“Varek, I had the news.” He spoke with a low tone.

He sighed.

“Yeah man, Lira is mad at me. She's totally pissed off “

Anthony gave him a faint look while leaning his back on the sofa.

“May I Know the reason? Why is she mad at you? All because you were doing your duty as the Alpha of the pack?”

He ran his hand down his wet and slippery face.

“I called off the most important event for her, Anthony. Our bonding ritual for crying out loud. She is justified for being angry and upset.”

Anthony shook his head, skeptical of my flare up.

“Yeah, she's at liberty to be angry and furious at you. You did what was necessary.” Anthony told him.

Lira's POV

“But Ravena was hurt. You 're simply performing your Alpha’s duty to one of the members of your pack. The rules said that the Alpha must ensure the safety of every member.

Ravena wasn't an exception to that! C’mon man, you're not wrong.”

Varek saw an assuring and incredible seriousness from Anthony for the first time.

“Yeah, I know the point is that Lira…She does not see it that way.

Her own perspective to the situation is way beyond what you're saying at the moment. All she thought was that I placed Ravena as my priority over here. She thought I was choosing Ravena over her.”

Anthony's expression melted and faded away. He was silent for a while before he spoke out.

“Varek , you didn’t choose Lira over Ravena. You chose the pack over everything. That's your responsibility. That’s who an Alpha stood for. I can bet my life that Lira knows that deep down, even if she’s angry right now.”

Varek twisted his fists as frustration crept inside him.

“I know she does, but it feels like I’m losing her. It feels like we're far apart. I’ve been solely focused on the pack recently, on Ravena, that I didn’t even have any spare time for her.”

“I can't see that as a form of neglecting her, Varek. You’ve got responsibilities that most people will never understand. Lira'’s upset, that without a doubt.

But will she come around? Obviously yes! You’ve always been there for her, and she knows that. That is not a bone for contention.”

Varek was silent as Anthony spoke all through. He just stared at the window. A part of him knew Anthony was right.

I've always stood by him, but lately, things have taken a different approach and dimensions. He felt like we're adrift and distant from each other like two parallel lines.

Anthony must have sensed the inner war Varek was struggling with because he continued, "You’re doing what is required of you, Varek.

Ravena's part of the pack, and as Alpha, you have to take care of her. Lira will understand once she has calmed down.”

Varek gaze at him with an empty look,

There was still skepticism in his heart.

“You really thought that's her plight?”

"I'm absolutely certain about that. Don't wear yourself out because of this matter. , it's nothing. Lira’s hurt right now, but she’ll realize you were just doing your job," Anthony spoke with complete boldness and self-assurance.

Varek nodded his head. He'd been overwhelmed by guilt and frustration that doubt started creeping within him.

He was extremely scared of what was going to happen with our relationship.

He was doing the right thing and couldn't be in two places.

He thought that what he did for Ravena is what any compassionate Alpha would do.

“I just… I don’t want to lose her. She meant the whole world to me”. He whispered.

“No,you won’t. Lira genuinely loves you. That’s why this was so hard for her to take.”