Chapter 2
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my wolf talking to me. "You've healed completely, Hana. Good job with the breathing technique."
I smiled bitterly, my face against the pillow. This is the technique that Jordan taught me. It shouldn't have been shared with any member of a lower rank, but Jordan broke that rule for me. Since I go into battle with him a lot more times than any other beta, I needed to heal just as fast as him. The memories came rushing to me.
Suddenly, the door barged open with Jordan holding a piece of cake for me. I raised my eyebrow, looking at how he tried to plate it on a tray. He's done an awful job, everything is out of place.
"Here's your breakfast." He said nonchalantly. I didn't respond to him and sniffed the air around the tray.
"It's walnut?" I asked. He sat on the edge of the bed and nodded his head. His back was facing me. I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. I woke up hungry and THIS is what he gives me?
"Have you forgotten that I'm allergic to walnuts?" I ask him. His subtle fidgety movements froze. He looked over his shoulder and said, "Yeah. Forgot."
Sitting there in contemplating silence, I couldn't help but wonder how he grew into this new...person. Where was the man who was so caring and loving?
Wordlessly, I climbed out of the bed and took the plate from the tray. Heading to the dustbin in my room, I slid the walnut cake into it. When I turned around, Jordan had a look of shock and betrayal mixed as he stared at me in disbelief.
"...I could have eaten it." He said, his voice trying to sound nonchalant but the pain was evident. I didn't pay heed to him and borrowed the tray, walking out of my room to head downstairs. I entered the kitchen, fully expecting Jordan to follow me there and ask for food like he usually does. Instead, I heard a slam of the door. He's gone into his room. It bothered me how unfazed I was.
While munching on a sandwich I whipped up with whatever ingredients were at home, I heard the door upstairs open again. Jordan descends the staircase dressed in an amazing suit. I recognised the burgundy suit. The urge to ask where he was going was on my throat, ready to be spat. But I held myself firm to the ground.
Self-respect. That's what I was working on.
"I'm going to the office. I have work." His angry tone spoke. He wasn't even looking at me, and so was I.
"Did you hear me?" He asked to confirm. I just hummed in response. Out of nowhere, he flailed his arms up and asked, "Where's my lunch?"
"Since when did I start packing you lunch?" I asked because I never did! I've stopped packing him lunchbox on his request. He would have something from the Company's cafeteria. He requested it three months ago. Can you guess who's keeping him company? That's right. His little omega assistant.
"You're unbelievable. Thank god I never marked you in our five years of relationship. You've become unbearable. Do you realize that?" Jordan seethed, but I could sense that he was just trying to stir up an argument. Hence, I simply hummed again. Dusting my hands off of breadcrumbs, I put the plate in the sink and walked upstairs. He didn't try to stop me, all while staring at me with mixed emotions. Mostly, it was anger.
Before I could shut the door to my room, I heard him cuss and slam the main door close upon exiting. I sighed in relief.
Thank god that I didn't have to go to the office with him today. While I work under him, taking direct orders, I'm not exactly under him. My manager is a human, we work in a multi-species environment. It's a billion-dollar company established by Jordan's forefathers. To say that our pack was rich was an understatement.
"Bull crap." Cursing as well, I tuned into work mode and started working from home. In the evening, I shut the laptop close and yawned heavily.
"Oh...Maya. I'm so tired. I never want to do work from home ever again." I say out loud to Maya, my Beta wolf.
"Right. All I can hear is 'I'm glad I don't see them in the office acting all mushy'. That's why you didn't want to go to the office, wasn't it?" Maya caught me. As I giggled, we heard the main door of our mansion open. Several omegas and workers exited upon his arrival back home. Dinner was ready, made by the omega workers that day.
"Did you have lunch?" As I walked downstairs to grab a bowl of what smelled like taco-seasoned rice and meat bowl, I heard my mate ask. I didn't turn to him and said, "Sandwich."
"Again? You need to have something healthy and I don't know...fatty? You look so frail and lifeless. Is something bothering you?" He asked, faking concern. At that point, I wasn't sure if he was faking it or truly asking me out of worry.
"Why do you care?" My question took him aback. At once, he threw the office bag on the couch and flew over to me.
"What the hell is up with you!?" He shook me violently by my shoulders, yet, I refused to give him any reaction.
"Is it because of the fucking walnut cake? I'm sorry, okay!? I'm a forgetful man and you know that! It's been five fucking years, Hana! People tend to forget!"
Yet I don't forget the way he ties his shoes, the way he likes to comb his hair to the right, how he likes arranging the stash of money notes in a certain way that fits his pocket. It's the little things that mattered to us both. But now, I've lost all feelings.
Chapter 3
"Okay. Let's talk like adults." I cocked an eyebrow at his statements. The only one who is NOT being an adult was him. I haven't raised my voice yet.
"I rather have a request for you. Make a cake for me, the red velvet one that you always make for my birthday." Request, my ass. It sounds like a demand. In the back of my head, I convince myself not to take his 'request'. But Maya speaks in my head,
"It might just lead to him getting more defensive and restless. Let's just get done with it. We are leaving the city anyway." She said. These are a few of the times I thanked Goddess for him not marking me. He can't smell my intentions. I'm completely fine with that.
"Fine. Whatever." Saying, I urge him out of my room. I didn't even realize he followed me all the way to my room to argue. The next day rolls in, and I take the leave from the office to bake the cake. Getting all the ingredients, I'm about to step out of the supermarket when I get a call from him.
"Did you get all the ingredients? You should start baking." He said, his tone flat as always.
"Yeah," I answered in one word, going into the parking lot. I reminded myself that I was doing this for myself and not him. Baking has always been my favourite way to de-stress. This will probably be the last time I'll be baking in that house. In our mansion.
The word 'our' felt so bitter in my mouth.
"I'll send you the money for the ingredients. If possible, make a few cupcakes for the children too. They'll be coming." I raised an eyebrow. What was he requesting me a cake for exactly?
"Don't bother. We- I'm not that poor." I said.
"Whatever. Just take the 70$ and I'll collect it in the evening." I rolled my eyes. The ingredients cost a little over 100$, but I didn't bother correcting him. As I started the car, he wired me 1000$ as I stared at my phone in disbelief. Well, I don't give back the money I receive. Maybe this will help me move out hassle-free to the new city.
Evening rolled by. I was done with piping the last bit of cream over the cupcakes as I pat myself on the back.
"We're smiling after a long time, Hana," Maya said in my head.
"We've baked goodies after a long time too. We didn't do it for him, right? He said kids are coming to attend whatever the party is. The party to which we aren't invited." Well, there it goes. I'm ruining my own happiness. Again.
Well, instead of Jordan, his subordinates had come to collect them. "Luna? Why are you in the mansion when you have to be there to celebrate?"
"Celebrate what?" I asked, confused.
"Lady Jane's bi—" Suddenly, the other delta member knocked him harshly in his gut!
"It's just an office celebration is what he said to us, Luna. We don't know either." Hmm. So he instructed them not to tell me. I'm not a fool to not figure out what the other delta wanted to say. I watch them leave with the items. However, it suddenly clicks to me that I've forgotten about something. I have to discuss this with the alpha heir personally. And no, it can't be postponed.
As I walked into the big building, the people started bowing to me with respect. Greeting all, I enter the lift and press the button for his floor.
As the doors opened, I heard faint noises of celebration from his cabin. There were only two people speaking, giggling and chuckling. Confused, I walked inside to find Jane and Jordan smearing cake frosting over each other's faces. As if it wasn't enough, Jordan was holding her by her waist as their faces were incredibly close to each other. In another perspective, it looked like they were just about to kiss...
Jordan's body language changed immediately. He wiped the frosting off his face.
"Why are you here?" He asked, almost irritated that I was there.
"I came to drop by some files. The warrior ranks need your permission to take three healers into a high dispute zone." I said, sounding neutral.
"You came for just this...?" He was looking into my eyes, desperate to know something else. As I stared back at him, he sighed in defeat. What did he expect? That I'd act jealous that he was holding her so close to his body?
"Yeah. It was a pack matter that your dad asked me to deliver." I said, saying as it is. He was still looking at me with desperation. He was annoyed that I was there, thinking I came to ruin his moment with his little munchkin.
"I'm going back home."
And that...was the only lie I've ever told him. I wasn't going home.
As I sat in the car again, I looked at the packed bags in the back and broke down. It didn't have to end like this. I've had enough!
Getting over my sadness, I dialled a number and made sure I was in a state to speak coherently.
"H-Hello? Mr. Carson?" I spoke.
James Carson is a human rival of Jordan's company. James is an intelligent man, slightly older than Jordan who I met for the first time when I was Jordan's assistant, seven months ago. It was a formal meeting. I was shocked to learn James didn't have a direct assistant under him.
So when he reached out to me with a job offer, having learned that I was technically unemployed under Jordan, I accepted immediately. We spoke two weeks ago. And the day when I got the contract was the day when I lost my unborn child and my mate.
I drove for over five hours tirelessly across the country. I reached the destination, tired beyond belief, early in the morning.
When I heard Jordan's panicked voice in my head, “Honey! Why am I feeling pain from the mate bond breaking? Why are you leaving? Where are you going?”