Chapter 8 No.8

I quickly broke the silence, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "Grandpa, try the Grilled Chicken Breast I made. It used to be your favorite."

Freya chimed in, "See, Seraphina knows how to take care of you."

"Ah, Seraphina's the thoughtful one," Magnus said with a smile as he took the plate. "Unlike some arrogant, self-absorbed people who only know how to make me angry. It seems like they'd rather drive me to my grave than leave me in peace."

Nathaniel, who had just been called arrogant and self-absorbed: "..." "Grandpa, please don't say that. You're going to live a long, healthy life."

When I was fifteen, my parents passed away, and I was left completely orphaned.

It was the old Alpha and Luna who took me in, offering me warmth and a new sense of family.

The pain of losing family was something I never wanted to experience again.

No one wanted Magnus to stay healthy more than I did.

By the end of dinner, everyone except Nathaniel seemed to be getting along just fine.

I did my best to make Magnus and Freya happy, chatting with them, laughing together. It felt like a real family.

Vespera, who was sitting beside me, added, "Luna, every time you come to Moonshadow Manor, Alpha Magnus seems to be in better spirits."

After the meal, I stayed with Magnus and played a game of chess.

Magnus had taught me how to play, and I had improved quickly-so much so that even he had to start taking me seriously. He couldn't afford to slack off during our matches.

"Grandpa, that's cheating!"

I protested when Magnus tried to bend the rules, but I couldn't help grinning-clearly just teasing him.

"No, no, that's not cheating. I haven't even made my move yet," Magnus said confidently, moving the piece back and placing it somewhere else.

"Are you sure? Are you really sure that's where you want to put it?"

Magnus glanced at me, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'm sure."

Without missing a beat, I placed my piece on the board. "Ha! You lost, Grandpa!"

Magnus's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't seen my trap, so he quickly grabbed his piece and moved it back-along with mine, putting it where it originally was.

"No, no, this doesn't count. I made a mistake. I put it in the wrong spot."

Nathaniel, watching me full of energy, glanced over at the old Alpha's playful antics. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

In front of his brothers, Magnus had always been stern and serious. But in front of me, he allowed himself to be as stubborn and playful as this.

Suddenly, I pointed at Nathaniel and said, "Grandpa, he's mocking you."

Magnus turned to look at him, and Nathaniel's smile froze instantly.

"You little brat, you dare to laugh at me? Go pour some water for Seraphina and me! Stop standing there like an idiot."

Nathaniel: "..." Nathaniel went to pour water for us, and from behind him, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Nathaniel's face darkened.

Afternoon

We left Moonshadow Manor.

I sat in the back seat of the car, leaning against the window. "You must have noticed Old Alpha's attitude. He strongly opposes our divorce. What are you planning to do next?"

Nathaniel gazed out the window and sighed. "We can get a divorce certificate from the human world, keep it from Grandpa for now, and tell him later."

As expected, he chose the same path, showing no sign of change.

Even though Old Alpha had made his stance clear, even though we'd be deceiving him, could we really hide this from him? Although Old Alpha no longer managed the pack or the company, he still held ultimate control.

My breathing grew heavier, each inhale feeling like a blade cutting through me.

I lowered my gaze, nodded silently, and said in a hoarse voice, "Okay, when do we go?"

Nathaniel checked his schedule on his phone. "I'm pretty busy the next few days. How about next Monday?"

"Okay."

Seeing my straightforward agreement, Nathaniel pursed his lips and glanced at me a few times.

To be fair, I was beautiful.

My almond-shaped eyes slanted upwards, sparkling with life, both gentle and sharp at times. When I was gentle, there was a magnetic charm that drew people in; when I was sharp, my gaze had a cutting edge that made it impossible to ignore.

I had a perfect oval face, smooth and well-defined, with a small but firm nose and full, delicate lips. When I smiled, two little dimples appeared at the corners of my mouth, adding an extra touch of sweetness.

My figure was slim and graceful, the result of strong self-discipline. I dedicated several days a week to working out to maintain my physique.

Nathaniel knew this better than anyone.

Our married life over the past three years had always been intense, leaving Nathaniel constantly wanting more.

Whenever he closed his eyes, he could still savor the memory of our shared moments.

Beyond that, my abilities were well-recognized by both the pack and the company. To become the perfect Luna in their eyes, I had worked tirelessly, and the growth of V&R had surpassed Nathaniel's expectations.

After all, how could such a woman not be loved?

But Nathaniel had rejected me for his first love.

At that moment, Nathaniel suddenly asked, "Do you like someone?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I glanced at him. "Yes."

The person I loved most was right in front of me-the one I had loved for ten years.

Back then, I had lost all my family and was just adopted by Old Alpha.

Even now, I could vividly recall those days.

I was that insecure, sensitive, timid girl, deeply pessimistic about life. But then, a figure appeared and suddenly broke into my world, casting a warm and brilliant light on the dark soil of my soul. From that moment on, I fell deeply in love with him.

I never stopped trying, always striving to follow his steps, hoping to get closer and closer, praying that one day, I could become his mate.

But back then, his heart belonged to another girl, and no matter what I did, he never stayed for me. Even when I had him, I knew I would eventually lose him.

Maybe this was fate-destined to give me the perfect mate, but also destined to part ways with him.

After I admitted it, I could sense Nathaniel's agitation. This was our bond; we could feel each other's emotions as mates. Yet, it seemed he couldn't feel my pain-or maybe he could, but just wasn't willing to comfort me.

"Maybe he likes you too?"

For some reason, Nathaniel seemed eager to hear this answer.

I gently shook my head. "No, he doesn't like me. He has someone else he loves, and he's loved her for many years."

"If he doesn't like you, why do you still like him?"

I let out a bitter laugh and answered irritably, "Why does it have to make sense?"

Nathaniel was momentarily stunned, a flicker of anger crossing his eyes.