Xavier tightly held onto Bella, his body trembling with anger.

He couldn’t believe Eva would hurt someone, but he witnessed it firsthand when she tried to harm Bella, his mate.

“Xavier, I’m okay now. It’s just a small injury. When she pushed me, I instinctively protected myself to minimize the damage. I’m sorry, I’m just so weak,” Bella said, her voice trailing off.

“I shouldn’t have followed her, but something seemed familiar about her, so I confronted her, and that’s when she pushed me.”

“What? Why would she be so angry at you? It doesn’t make sense for her to try to kill you,” Xavier inquired, trying to understand the situation.

“Alpha, I want to tell you some things, but please don’t get mad,” Bella said, looking at him intently.

Xavier adjusted to meet her gaze, ready to listen to her explanation.

“For over two years now, I’ve known you were my mate. I was planning to come and find you, but on the night of your birthday celebration, I was abducted. When I woke up, I was already being sold and taken far away,” Bella revealed sadly.

Xavier’s heart broke at the revelation, realizing that he had missed out on meeting his mate for such a long time.

“When I was drugged, I heard a woman’s voice giving instructions to my kidnappers. She wanted me taken far away. And when I met Eva, I felt she was familiar, so I confronted her. In her rage, she pushed me down the stairs. I was terrified, but I managed to protect myself,” Bella lied, trying to make her story more convincing as she broke down sobbing.

Xavier froze upon hearing her words, shocked that Eva had tried to kill Bella not once but twice.

He now understood why Eva had kept them apart, purposely preventing them from meeting as mates.

He remembered Eva’s obsession with him since their teenage years, always seeking his attention and constantly being around him. However, he never imagined she would such extreme lengths to get rid of his mate.

She had convinced him to marry her, assuring him and very certain that his mate was dead.

“Get some rest; I’ll be back later. I need to take care of something,” Xavier said in a constrained voice, filled with anger.

Bella nodded, hiding a small smile, knowing her plan was working.

Xavier believed Eva intentionally kept them apart and married him, which fueled his decision to divorce her.

Bella felt pleased with herself, as she knew Xavier’s reaction was going as she had planned.

While he walked away, he made a call to his Beta, Chris. “Arrange a marriage annulment, I’ll be divorcing the Luna.” He instructed.

He hadn’t planned anything drastic, but the revelation of how she had kept them apart ticked him.

The feeling of being a fool and manipulated by her over took all other emotions he had for her.

The documents were made ready in minutes and he drove off late that night to their gated mansion.

Eva’s POV

I was just settling into sleep when the doors swung open, and Xavier walked into our bedroom.

“Sign this,” he instructed, flinging a blue document on the bed, Curious and puzzled, I picked up the file and read the bold words

“Marriage Annulment.”

“Xavier, what’s this?” I asked calmly, trying to keep my emotions in check. “You’re divorcing me? You…”

“Bella’s my mate, I’ll get married to her officially by next week. You have until then to sign that, the rejection will take place tomorrow,” he replied in a restrained voice.

My heart sank, and a knot formed in my stomach.

This couldn’t be happening. “Do you love her?” I found myself asking, wanting to know the truth.

“Did you ever love me? Or even come to like me?”

“No, you were convenient, at least that’s what I thought till it came clear to me that it was all your plot, keeping Bella away, staying around me while I was drunk and trying to kill her yesterday!” he retorted with anger in his voice.

My eyes widened in disbelief and hurt. “What are you talking about?” I shot out of bed, running towards him. “I never pushed Bella. She threw herself…”

“Enough!” Xavier interrupted, furiously grabbing my arm and pinning me to the wall. His fingers tightened around my arm, digging into my skin.

His body was shaking with anger, and his gaze was filled with disdain. “You’re a mistake, getting married to you was a mistake. I fell for your plot.

You purposely got me drunk that day and probably drugged me that night, right?”

My head dropped slowly as tears filled my eyes, I was guilty of that.

“I’ll only give you a little bit of honor because of the service of your late father, for harming my mate, your Luna, You shouldn’t be allowed to live.

I need you out of my home by tomorrow. Bella will be moving in,” he said, releasing his grip on me as I fell weakly to the floor.

It’s hopeless, he believes her, even if he didn’t, I didn’t have a place here anymore, not in his heart. I’d hoped to win his love but that would never happen now.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” James, the family butler, asked, helping me up.

I took a pen and signed the papers. I ran after Xavier as he got into his car and called out, “Wait! I’ve signed it. I hope you’re happy together.”

Xavier took the files, got into his car, and drove away. James stood beside me, offering silent. comfort.

I spent the night packing and organizing my things. I decided to give away most of them to the kind helpers.

Morning came, and I hadn’t slept at all. James and Martha helped me with the final preparations. James said, “Finding your mate is a happy thing. He’s so in love. The Alpha never hated or disliked you. It just wasn’t meant to be. I hope you find your mate.”

“It’s good you’re not pregnant; it would have made things messier.” He added Confused, I asked, “What do you mean? What would have happened if I was?”

James explained.

“The first child of the Alpha must come from his mate, not a rejected one. Having the Alpha’s first child outside of the mateship is complicated. In most cases, such children might just be aborted. If the lady had the child, it would grow up with the Alpha and his mate, though most likely as an illegitimate child by the pack, if the Luna accepted the child. In most cases, though, the child was just aborted.”

James excused himself, leaving Martha and me alone.

She held my hands, and concern filled her eyes.

“Oh ma’am, you didn’t ask for your ginseng dose last month,” Martha said softly.

“You usually have menstrual cramps and request those soups, but it’s been weeks now, and you haven’t asked for them. You also haven’t had your time of the month yet, have you?” she inquired, urging me to consider the possibility.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been preoccupied with everything that was happening, and it hadn’t even occurred to me. Could I actually be pregnant? Counting back, along with the morning sickness and tiredness I had, it seemed possible. I looked at Martha in horror, and she seemed to understand.

With a concerned expression, Martha produced a test strip, and I excused myself to the bathroom to use it. As I waited for the result, my heart was pounding in my chest. When I saw the test, I let out a small gasp, unable to believe my eyes.

I was pregnant!

Martha’s expression turned grave as she looked at me.

“This is bad. You’re not the Luna anymore, and they might not let you keep this child. Even worse, they could take it from you. Don’t tell the Alpha about your pregnancy. Stick to your plan of leaving the country and start a new life, far away, with your child,” she said softly, her eyes filled with warmth and love.

I was taken aback by her words. Martha had always been loyal and caring, but this was a level of kindness and understanding I hadn’t expected.

She continued, “My lady, you’ve shown me such kindness and compassion. You don’t deserve this sad fate. It’s not your fault that your love couldn’t be reciprocated. Find happiness for yourself and your child. Don’t let them take that away from you.”

She swiftly grabbed the test strips and concealed them in my luggage, sealing it shut.

Soon we were done packing, the doors swung open, revealing Xavier’s handsome face with his hair swept to the side.

I remembered running my hands through it the last time we made love, but now he stood distant, flanked by his Beta and best friend Chris.

“Well, I’m all set now,” I said in a faint whisper, heading for the stairs. My voice quivered slightly as I couldn’t wait to leave, knowing that my child was at risk.

Chris spoke up, “One last thing, Luna, uh, Jasmine.” He corrected.

Right, I wasn’t Luna

anymore.

We need to be sure that you’re not leaving with anything that belongs to the pack.”

Confused, I asked, “What do you mean? I’m not a thief.”

He clarified, “I didn’t mean it that way. What I meant was, an heir. We need to be sure you our” As he spoke, Butler James brought out four pregnancy strips.

“My lady, you’ll have to use these before your official rejection and before you’re allowed to go,” James explained.

I glanced at Xavier

He interjected through gritted teeth, “We need to be sure you’re not pregnant.” He looked uncomfortable and anxious, he was clearly hoping for a negative result.

Holding back my emotions, I walked back to the room with the test strips clutched in my fingers. My mind was reeling as I wondered what to do.

“I’ll come with you, my lady. You’ll be needing assistance,” Martha offered, following me in shutting the door.

“Martha, what do I do?” I asked, grabbing her anxiously.

“I can’t let Xavier know,” I cried.

“Am not pregnant,” Martha reassured, taking the test strips from me. She gave me a small smile before heading to the bathroom.

She was done in a couple of minutes, and the strips read negative.

She handed all four of them over to me. We both exited the room, and Xavier and his Beta stood side by side. Butler James announced,

“It’s a negative.”

I heard Xavier heave a sigh of relief.

He looked relieved as well, which hurt me deeply.

It was clear he wanted nothing to do with me.

The joy on his face was painful to witness.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked him, “What would have happened if I was pregnant?”

I wanted to be sure that hiding the truth from him was the right decision.

Xavier’s face contorted with seriousness.

“It would have posed a problem, a huge one. It’s a relief you’re not,” he replied.

I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. I knew I had made the right choice, doing what was best for both of us.

“Let’s get the rejection done with,” I demanded.

“Eva Woods, I hereby reject you as my Luna, dissolving any kinds of bonds we ever had,” he said,

With a heavy heart, I added, “I, Eva Woods, am Luna no more. Our marriage bonds dissolve.” The words finalized our separation, and my heartache was now officially a reality.

I turned to leave, to clear my head.

“Eva, finding ones mate is a magical experience. I really hope you find yours.” Xavier said walking away.

Adam kindly offered to drive me away, and my luggage was loaded into the vehicle. As we prepared to depart, I bid heartfelt goodbyes to the servants, knowing that this place had become my home for the past few months, and I had grown deeply attached to it.

Martha squeezed my hand, her eyes filled with warmth and care.

“Take care, My lady,” she said tenderly. “Your secret is safe with me. Stay happy with your child; you deserve all the happiness. And thank you for everything.”

I mustered a small smile and replied, “No, I should be thanking you. You saved me. I promise to live well. Goodbye, Martha.”

Taking one last glance at the house, I slowly got into the car.

As the vehicle left the mansion gates, another car drove in, and my heart sank when I saw Bella alight from it, running to Xavier’s embrace.

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes. Would I ever truly move on from this heartache?

Could I ever find love again? Doubts filled my mind, but one thing was clear – my child was my priority now.

I gently caressed. my belly, feeling a sense of protectiveness.

I knew that even when returned, no one would ever suspect my child’s true parentage, thanks to Martha’s brave actions.

Even if I came back with a child in the future, no one would suspect that it was Xavier’s.

They all believed I was not pregnant when I left.

Taking a deep breath, I leaned back into my seat, determined to start anew and leave this place and the packs behind.

I yearned to blend in as a normal, proper human, putting the past behind me.

It was time to move on, and I was ready for a fresh start, far away from everything I had known.

I lodged in a hotel, took a cab and rode far away to a hospital in a different town, there it was confirmed. I was actually pregnant

As Xavier stood there, watching the car drive through the gates, a searing pain suddenly ripped through his chest, throwing him off balance.

His steps faltered, and he nearly stumbled from the intensity of the sensation.

“What’s happening?” he questioned, perplexed by the overwhelming agony that engulfed him.

He and Eva had never been mated; their marriage had been a result of her manipulation.

He felt no genuine emotions for her, so why was he experiencing such excruciating pain?

Confusion and unease swirled within him as he tried to rationalize the inexplicable pain.

“Xavier, I’m here,” Bella’s voice called out, reaching his ears from where she stood nearby.

The sound of her voice momentarily broke through the disorienting discomfort.

“Right, Bella,” he muttered as he stared back at her smiling face as she walked towards him as if reminding himself of the current situation.

“I have a mate now. She’s my responsibility.”

He repeated the thought like a mantra, attempting to anchor himself and regain control over the unsettling turmoil that had seized him.

“Are you okay?” She asked quietly as she moved to embrace him.

“Yes, he replied curtly withdrawing from her hug.

There was this emptiness he felt inside of him, he could explain it nor place his fingers on the reasons why he felt the way he did.

He cleared his throat slightly, turning to leave the balcony.

Bella stared at his retracting back with a complex look on her face.

Her face gradually broke into a smug and mysterious smile.

“Yes! I’ve won.” She would finally become Luna.

She grabbed her phone to make a call.

“Derrick, Eva is gone. Xavier divorced and rejected her today.”

“Good,” he replied from the other end.

“Now all that’s left is to access your position as Luna, make Xavier get married to you.”

“Yes, of course. He will.” She replied with a confident smile.

Five Months Later

Xavier sat in his car, irritation filling him as he occupied the back seat of his customized Rolls–Royce, trapped in a traffic jam.

As his gaze aimlessly wandered, his eyes settled on a small coffee shop.

Suddenly craving caffeine and a doughnut.

It has been months since Eva vanished, she left, disappeared without a trace.

A part of him wanted to and yearned to see her again.

At that very moment, a lady dressed in a striking red outfit exited from the shop.

Her back turned to the road.

He found himself staring at her back sensing a strange familiarity in her figure.

A surge of emotions washed over him, causing literal goosebumps to rise on his skin, making him jolt upright and almost stumble from surprise.

Without a second thought, he hastily exited the car, the cold air hitting his face made him draw in breath sharply, ignoring the chaotic traffic, driven by an overwhelming mix of disbelief and confusion.

Could it actually be her? Eva? She had disappeared from his life completely.

Left immediately after the divorce, although he was remarried now, he still felt a huge gap.

Like something was missing inside of him.

His driver sat behind the wheels in confusion at his boss's erratic behavior, he parked out of the way and followed closely behind his boss.

Xavier rushed forward trying to catch up with the woman along the busy streets, she took a

turn and vanished completely from his sight blending amongst the cluster of people.

He stood there tossing and turning bumping into the influx of people.

Just as he turned he caught sight of her once more, he ran forward reaching out and grabbing her wrist from behind.

“Eva.” He called out breathlessly

The woman turned.

“Excuse me?” She snapped.

“Oh. Sorry. I thought you were someone, he gave a small sigh of disappointment, it wasn’t Eva.

The woman shrugged him off and continued walking on. He stood there for long moments.

“Sir, are you alright?” Adam, his driver, has caught up with him and asked in concern.

“Yes. He replied slowly.

I made a mistake, I thought I saw Eva.”

“The Luna?” Adam asked.

“Yes. It wasn’t her.” Xavier said, turning and walking back to where the car was parked, settling back into the seats.

Eva, just where is she.” He wondered.

The car drove into his gated mansion

“It’s been five months, without a word from her," Xavier said, pacing around his study.

He recounted his encounter earlier that day to his Beta and best friend Christopher.

“No one knows where she is, I’ve asked neighbouring packs. She didn’t leave the country either.” Xavier said, still pacing.

Christopher sat there listening to his Alpha’s musings.

“Oh please stop your whining.”

“It was you who divorced and rejected her.” Christopher snapped.

“You say you found your mate, and then you sent her away. You picked Bella over her.” Christopher said pointedly.

“What was I supposed to do? When I heard those dreadful things I completely lost it.

And Eva, I never imagined she would give up so easily, that she would sign it that very day.

She didn’t even try to talk me out of my decision.” Xavier said sadly.

All his life he was used to Eva being by him, always constantly trying to and begging for his attention.

He never imagined she would have moved on so easily and disappeared from his life completely.

He felt she was a nuisance, but now, he missed her presence.

“What would you have had her do? You found your mate. She had to back off. She wasn’t wanted, you made it clear.” Christopher challenged.

He was on Eva’s side, she had been a loving and loyal Luna and leader while Xavier’s actual mate Bella irked him.

“She should have stayed!” Xavier snapped.

“You got used to her being obsessed with you and you imagined she’ll stay that way fighting to remain by your side even after you kicked her away constantly? Well it’s good she knew her worth. She’ll find someone better who would love her the way she deserved.

Christopher said.

“Hey, watch it.” Xavier snapped at him.

“What?” Christopher snapped back.

“She has a large heart. But she wasn’t good enough and you tossed her away. Now, you should get over it, move on with your mate.” Christopher finished.

Xavier had gotten engaged to Bella but was still hesitant to get married to her. He spent weeks trying to find Eva.

After she left he had felt empty.

He never imagined it before and hadn’t noticed it before, but Eva was a fixed presence, she was always constantly there for him.

And now she was gone, completely gone without a trace.

Without giving word of where she was or what she was up to.

A part of Xavier felt pained at the thought. Her phone never turned on, she was still in the country, he was sure of that.

Her international passport hadn’t been used yet.

But yet she stayed completely off raider, she didn’t want him to find or see her.

It only meant she was guilty.

She’d indeed harmed his mate, for years Bella had suffered, he gritted his teeth in restrained rage, he was beginning to feel angry again thinking about it.

Eva had played him. But why did he miss her this much and feel empty.

He sighed and relaxed back into his office chair.