Chapter 71. Urgency and Time

Chapter 65: The Jeqel

Annabelle's POV

Before Alpha could finish in the bathroom, I had already packed some of my belongings, leaving the royal chamber.

Fiona sighted me and asked about my whereabouts but I told her I had to attend to something really important in my pack.

She wasn't convinced. I knew that look on her face. 

Even as she helped me with the little bag in my hands, I could still see how hard she struggled to keep calm.

“ But Luna,” Fiona was tired of pretending. “ Does Alpha know about this?” 

“He does,” I muttered, my breath slowing. 

Fiona sighed. She was still puzzled but didn't want to go too deeply into my affair with Alpha.

“So when are you coming back?” She replied after a short silence.

“Anytime soon” My voice cracked. “Please take good care of Alpha,” I pleaded, knowing how much pain he was going through. 

Fiona gave a slow nod, her brows lifting.

“ It's okay, Luna…but what if you never come back? You look like someone embarking on a long endless journey” 

Fiona was right. It may take a while for me to come back to the pack house. Alpha himself doesn't need my presence anymore.

His declaration that he would visit me in my father’s chambers revealed only one truth—he had grown weary of my presence and would rather seek me out in our pack than endure me by his side.

My heart broke each time I remembered his last words to me. 

Meanwhile, I ought to have left the pack house but Fiona kept dragging me backwards, insisting I tell Alpha before leaving. 

When I realized her plan was to pin me down in the pack house, I snatched my bag from her and began to hurry out. 

“Luna! Please wait!” I heard her voice from behind but didn't stop. 

At the far edge of the field, a handful of guards moved in one accord, going through their training exercises.

I couldn't spot Jared from their midst so, I called out to another guard who refused to help me out until he got approval from Alpha. 

I didn't finish talking before he walked inside. I'm sure he was going to ask Alpha whether to take me to my pack or not.

In the process, Fiona caught up with me, her breath thumping. 

“Alpha didn't know you're leaving right?” She muttered those words out of breath. 

I glared at her and lost the words to say. But as I lifted up my eyes, I saw the guard untying a horse, walking towards me and Fiona.

Seeing him, my heart broke into tiny shards. 
Indeed, Alpha isn't interested in me any more. His mind was made up. 

“I’ve got to go now” I said to Fiona and abruptly made my way to the horse.

“Luna” She called again but I didn't respond to her. 

I steadied myself on the horse and we proceeded with our journey. 

Eventually we passed by, Fiona waved at me and tears brimmed down my face. With a broken heart, I waved back at her before she sorrowfully departed. 

In a few hours time, we got to our pack and I described the direction of my father's chambers to the guard. 

Then something suddenly hit my mind. 
It's about my dad. 

What will I tell him when he tries to find out my reason for returning home? 

I can't possibly unveil the circumstances surrounding Alpha's life to him. Nor could I mention anything about my contact marriage  with Alpha to him.

What'll I say to him now? How do I convince him about my fake and wrenched marriage?

A knot tightened in my chest. 

I never thought about that until now. 

Very steadily, the horse stopped at my father's chambers and the guard helped me down. 

“Thanks” I muttered and began walking to the door.

“Luna” his voice echoed in my ears. 

I slowly halted and spun. 

“Alpha asked me to give this to you” he replied, his hand fiddling with the pocket of his shirt for something. 

I blinked. What could that be?

Eventually the guard found what he was looking for, he ran towards me with something wrapped and hidden inside his hands. 

“Please always put this on.” He replied, handing me a golden necklace that glistered. “ That is what Alpha instructed me to tell you” He stepped backwards. 

Glancing at the jewelry, my heart began to flutter but before I broke down in front of the guard, I decided to take my eye off the jewelry. 

Masquerading a smile, I said very faintly. “ Thank you… and tell Alpha I'd always put it on” 

The guard nodded and walked away.

Shortly as the guard rode off, I narrowed my eyes back to the jewelry in my hands, forgetting completely that I was at the front of our chambers. 

The jewelry was indeed beautiful but the message attached to it seemed a little ambiguous for me.  

Was the necklace a symbol of my place in Alpha’s life, or merely a token of his appreciation? 

Lost in thoughts, I felt a gentle hand tap me on my shoulders and I jerked, my eyes shifting to the direction of the person. 

It was Mira. I didn't know she had been standing by the door all this time.

I was about to say something when it suddenly struck me that Mira still had no idea that I could hear… or speak. 

I know I'd definitely tell her the truth but not today.

“Anna?” She said, her eyes darting around as if she was in search of someone. 

“Did you come here alone? Where is Alpha Ashton?” She stepped outside and began searching for Alpha.  

Just like before, I put on an odd expression on my face, a sign that I do not know anything she was talking about. 

Before Mira could return, I had  dashed inside, heading to my chambers. I didn't even know if my dad was present or not. 

I just put my bag down and crashed on the bed but the door suddenly flung open, interrupting me. 

“Annabelle, why did you come here on your own? I couldn't find Alpha outside” Mira kept pestering me, like she suspects I could hear and that I was hiding something from her.