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.”

Lira’s POV

“There’s no cause for alarm, she’ll come around. You’ve been together so long to be ruined by just a kind gesture of help and care to someone in your pack."

Varek let out a long breath, feeling some of the tension in his chest loosen. Anthony was right.

“Thanks, Anthony. I was dying to hear that.” He smiled with eyes glistening and scintillating.

“Anytime. That’s what I’m here for. I am always ready to render my little token of help.”

Varek stood up from his chair, feeling a little lighter than before. His conversation with Anthony was indeed helpful, but he still had a lot of work to do to repair the damage between us . But at least now, he didn’t feel like he was drowning in guilt.

“I’ll talk to her later. Maybe by that time, she had calmed down."

“That's a good idea. Lira always has a soft spot for you, so maximize it to your advantage.”

They walked to the door together, and Varek felt more prepared to face whatever came next.

Anthony held him on the shoulder. “You’ve got this, Varek . Just don’t forget that you’re not alone in this.”

“I am really indebted to you, Anthony."

When Anthony stepped out of the apartment, Varek could feel the weight on his shoulder had lightened.

But now, he had to find a way to make things right with me. He went to the apartment we shared together. When he opened the door, he called me, and I didn't respond.

He looked for me everywhere, and suddenly, his instincts urged him to check the wardrobe. To his surprise all my apparel and stuff were all gone. I left him, and he sank to the floor.

His inner fear has manifested. He was so careless with the only woman he professed to love.

He thought that standing firm and holding onto his position as the Alpha of the pack will make me calm and stay. He was completely wrong. The signs were glaring at him that I

he might lose me and it happened.

He could recall when we started our relationship about seven years ago.

In the first and second year, he never made room for me to doubt him, no matter what. All his actions were carefully executed.

He did things with absolute discretion. At some point, there was a lady we met in one restaurant sometime ago when we went to have lunch together.

I think the lady knew him way back. When she saw him at the restaurant, she ran and wanted to hug him. He quickly reacted and dodge it.

He didn't want to create any room for doubt for me . He wanted to be plain and clean to me .

When the lady saw how he reacted, she apologized to me because I was almost boiling. How can a random lady from nowhere want to hug my man.

She introduced herself and I got to know she was his junior way back in the university.