The Alpha's Runaway Luna

Tears rolled down my face.

My life was over.

I smoothed the crumpled bedsheet beside me, sniffing the last of his scent on the pillow he used. I closed my eyes tight as I tried hard not to sob. I could feel my throat swelling. My heart was racing. How could such a wonderful thing end so easily and then plummet to the brink of sadness and despair? What would I do after all that happened?

Even though my inner wolf was feeling awful, she made sure to hide deep within me so as not to add to my already heavy emotional load.

Sobs emerged from my throat. I embraced the soft cashmere blanket against my bruised skin. Every inch of me was aching. My eyes caught the blood stain on the bedsheet, making me shudder in pain. Not just physically. I thought my heart was already numb from all the heartbreaks I suffered while loving him. However, because of my own foolishness, the events that happened between me and him became a profound wake-up call.

He will never be yours, Giselle. I whispered inside my head. I had already exhausted all possibilities, leaving only the bitter truth I could taste at the back of my tongue.

I was never enough. I will never always be enough.

I bit my lower lip hard. I bit my lower lip so forcefully that I nearly tasted blood, causing a sudden surge of anger in my chest. It burned the miserable feeling in me and acted like gasoline that pumped throughout my veins, urging me to go out of bed and snatch all my clothes from the floor. In his room, I was totally alone. He left me without a word, and I thought it was okay. I thought it would be better if I didn't have to see his face once I left his condo unit and disappeared from his life forever.

I put my clothes on with anger and shivering fingers, and I checked my face in the mirror first. My eyes were puffy red, and there were bruises visible on my arms and the right side of my neck. Last night was wild and intoxicating. Blissful and thrilling. But then morning came, and everything turned bleak and awful, and I just wanted to forget every bit of memory of it.

But it did happen. Every second of it was tattooed on my head, causing the tears to run freely down my pale cheeks. The delicious sound of his voice when he whimpered my name. His touch made me feel so delicate and weak. I felt like I was melting butter under his flawlessly sculpted body. He was so handsome. It was as if the gods had molded him into perfection, and no woman could ever resist the animal magnetism of that man!

I shut my eyes tight.

Well, perhaps not my sister, who had a stone for a heart. But it was aggravating that I was not exempted from being a crazy girl who fell in love with a man like him.

"Screw you, Caden!" I snarled under my shivering breath, then punched the mirror with all my strength, only to channel the pain away from my heart and down to the bleeding knuckles of my small hands.

I could feel the weight of the world falling on my shoulders.

***

[One month later.]

"No, Madelyn. I can't go out tonight! I have to finish this project before the deadline, okay?" I kept my voice calm as I talked to my best friend, Madelyn, over the phone. I met her two years ago at an art viewing in one of the city's museums. She had been insisting on taking me out of the house since last week because, apparently, I now have a habit of imprisoning myself inside my small, old apartment full of canvasses, dirty paintbrushes, and tin cans of paint.

Yes. I sell paintings for a living.

"You have been sick for days, Giselle. You have to get out of your small den and breathe some fresh air, for goddess' sake! I am scared your brain has already melted with the fumes of those paint chemicals!"

I poured black coffee on my mug and smiled despite my friend's anxious voice. She was always overprotective of me. I owe her a lot after I ran away from the pack and home. "Tomorrow. I swear. I am feeling great today, so I will pour all this positive energy into my work and finish it before the deadline. Then I'll treat you to a nice cup of coffee this weekend. Is that good?" I made my voice as cheerful as possible and then took a small sip.

The bitter drink spread all over my mouth, and I almost gagged at the taste. Madelyn heard me and then went into total panic. "Giselle?! Are you alright?! What happened?"

"I'm fine. It's just the coffee. I forgot the sugar and cream." I lied to her. The coffee was fine. I just couldn't understand why my stomach didn't want it anymore when I used to drink it every morning. "See you later, Madz."

Before she could even speak again, I hung up the phone and placed the mug on the small wooden dining table. I went straight to the toilet and opened the medicine cabinet. There was a force telling me to open it and take something from it.

I felt like my heart crawled up to my throat.

"Maybe I am just paranoid," I whispered to myself, but I still took the small white packet. I looked at myself in the mirror and moved sideways, focusing my eyes on my tummy. Then I touched it. I felt it on the palm of my hand, with a scared feeling in my chest.

It couldn't be.

"It was just a one-night thing! No one gets pregnant like that," I uttered in a shaky voice, my eyes full of dread as I looked at my face in the mirror. I was too scared to know the truth. I was not ready.

I put the packet of pregnancy tests on the sink, thinking about throwing it in the trash. But then, with shuddering fingers, I took it and tore the plastic packaging.

"There is only one way to find out." I breathed desperately, trying to find the courage to do it. My heart was fast, beating wildly against my chest, and I could hear it inside my ear as it throbbed. Softly at first, and then it became louder and louder until I couldn't hear anything but the thumping of my own heartbeat.

Ba dum, ba dum, ba dum.

Each second that I anxiously stayed inside the toilet made me want to scream. I watched how the red line on the test kit appeared. I held my breath for as long as I could. As if breathing would make the scariest result appear right in front of me.

And it did.

"F*CK!!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs and threw the pregnancy kit on the other side of the tiled wall. "No! This isn't happening... THIS. IS. NOT. HAPPENING!"

No. No. No. No. No!

I heard a loud knock on the door, but I was too weak to go and open it. I sat on the toilet bowl while cold sweat beaded my forehead. I was so confused. I couldn't believe that one night of mistakes could create something inside me that fast.

I didn't know if I could raise a child now that I had removed myself from my former pack. I had no one to help me now but my best friend Madelyn, who I was sure would faint once she found out about the truth. About what actually happened.

About how Alpha Caden just disappeared like a ghost after he took my virginity that night at my sister's engagement party.

"I'm sorry, I don't accept extra projects until next month. Please tell your client that I need some adjustments to my schedule."

I was still feeling weak after the pregnancy result. It totally blew my mind. I was still in a daze from the problems that would soon overtake my life and failed to notice that the people who came to my door were not the ones I had anticipated seeing today. I lifted my eyes to look at them. They were both wearing black suits with stoic expressions on their faces.

"Maam, are you Miss Giselle Sidney?"

My eyes widened. No! I wasn't ready to go home yet!

Perplexed, I shut the door on their faces, and my hands quickly worked on the locks. The two men tried to push it open, but I was faster. My brain focused as the adrenaline throbbed in my veins. I stepped away from the door, thinking about how I would escape those men who had been hunting me for over a month since I left my father's pack. I couldn't let them capture me now that I had a bigger problem to deal with than hiding away from my own family.

"Miss Sidney! We are just following orders! Just give up and come with us!" The man yelled from outside the door after someone kicked it.

I saw that the hinges were not going to hold any longer, so I had no choice but to go down the window and leave my small, dear apartment.

God, I hated it!

I lived on the second floor. Jumping from the window was not too bad for a werewolf like me at that height. But then I froze when I remembered I was pregnant, and I couldn't risk skipping down and running away down the street just to get away from them. What if something happened to me if I landed wrong? What if I bleed?

There was no time to decide.

The men in black suits finally succeeded in breaking my wooden door apart, and they stepped inside. Both brushed the dust off their suits and then looked at me impatiently.

"Just leave me alone! I am not going back to the Greyfur Pack! I won't let Father take control of my life again!" I yelled at them desperately, and they looked at each other, which made me confused.

I frowned and uttered, "My father didn't send you?" I asked as I tipped my head to the other side in curiosity, "Then who sent you here?"

*****

"Miss, the Alpha is already waiting for you in the dining hall."

One of the waitresses kindly led me to the dining area, where lots of wealthy people gathered. The aroma of expensive wines and the delectable smell of fine dining cuisine permeated the entire space as well-dressed male Omegas served food and beverages all over the hall.

After the two men asked me to go with them, I never expected this kind of VIP treatment since I arrived at an expensive five-star hotel and until I got into the restaurant. The Highridge Pack Alpha's servants had prepared a black velvet dress and white diamond jewelry for me for the occasion.

I already had an idea what this fuss was about. But since I couldn't run away from the people chasing me since I left the Greyfur Pack, perhaps it was finally time to face the person I had been hiding for over a month. I had to make it clear to him that I had no intention of going back anymore. No matter how hard they try to convince me.

I won't let him sway me easily with his flowery words.

Or his charming eyes and pretty looks.

Yes. It was Caden. Alpha Caden Einsworth. It was him who had been bugging me, not Dad, which was surprising.

And terrifying at the same time.

He stood in his seat the moment our eyes met. His back was straight. His eyes were nervous, just like mine. His wavy, raven-dark hair glistened under the white light of the crystal chandelier above us. His green eyes gazed at me so deeply that my heart started to pound fast and hard as I closed the gap between us.

The last time we were together, we were both naked in his bed.

I swallowed a huge lump in my throat as he gestured for me to sit like a gentleman. There was no mistake that he was as anxious as I was because he couldn't even smile or gaze back into my eyes once I was finally settled in my seat. The servers asked him for his order, and he tried to distract his perturbation by choosing the best they had on their menu.

"Dad sent you to convince me to go back home. Didn't he?" I asked Caden with a condescending look on my face because I was not pleased to see him in a situation like this. Just like my father, he had a habit of forcing people to do what they wanted. They never ceased to amaze me with how domineering and demanding they were when it came to me, like I was still a child who needed them.

For goodness's sake, I am already twenty! I wanted to live my life the way I wanted it! Away from my manipulative father. And especially, away from my perfect, too-smart older sister.

Away from Caden's bewitching eyes. I whispered in my head, adding the man to the list of people I needed to avoid my entire life.

"Yes," Caden answered, his voice calm and collected, as if he had prepared a lot just to see me tonight. "And we need to talk about something important, Giselle. I know I made a huge mistake, and I want to apologize for what happened."

Mistake?

The word felt like a hot knife piercing through my chest. It was heartbreaking to learn that the phenomenal evening I shared with him was merely a mistake on his part. I wanted to punch him straight in the face!

But I decided to stay calm as I averted my eyes from him. "It was all in the past. There is nothing we can do about it. I am not asking you to take responsibility for what happened, Caden. I am fine, and I am happily living on my own while pursuing my dream." I answered with confidence and with a smile, but deep inside, I was hurting. "We were both drunk, and it was fine. I am not blaming you if that's what you are worried about."

"I am not worried, Giselle. I'm back, and I want to get what is mine."

I looked at him in the eyes, baffled at what he meant by those words. And then the realization came to me: if he already knew. But that was insane! I just tested positive for pregnancy this morning, and I haven't told anyone about it yet! Even my best friend, Madelyn!

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Caden. There is nothing here that is yours." I scowled at him as anger rose in my chest. "You didn't show up yourself for a whole month after what happened, and now you are telling me you want something from me? Don't make me laugh, please."

But Caden's green eyes darkened as he leaned over the table and gazed at me intensely in the eyes. I felt like my heart skipped a beat. He was so handsome when he was so serious like this, but I had to focus and keep in mind that I shouldn't let myself be deceived by his striking looks.

"I can smell it from here, Giselle. I can feel that small life forming inside you, and I know that baby is mine," he growled so low that only I could hear. It sent shivers down my skin, making me gasp at what I heard.

I stared at him, not blinking.

"I have to go now," I said with panic in my voice, and I stood violently away from the table. I was at the front door when I stopped after two men suddenly appeared and blocked my way out of the restaurant, making me more terrified.

"There is nowhere for you to run, Giselle Sidney. You have to come with me," Caden calmly uttered as he stepped closer, pulling me against him.

"I am not going with you, Caden, so better tell your men to let me go, or I will scream and make a scene here," I threatened him, and he looked displeased as he flinched away from me with both hands on his side.

"It's okay. Just let her go." Caden's eyes darkened the second I walked past him and his guards.

Terrified that I no longer had the peace I had always wanted, I went straight to the side of the building where I could call an Uber. I had to get away from Caden as fast as I could and move to a place where he couldn't hunt me down. My hand automatically went to my belly, thinking about the life forming inside of me. My baby with Alpha Caden's blood running through his or her veins...

"There is no way I would let my parents know," I whispered to myself. My breaths were heavy, and the anxiety in me made the tension worse, so I decided to go back to the restaurant. But to my surprise, he was already standing right at my back. I couldn't believe he had been watching me that closely, and I failed to sense his presence.

"I wouldn't tell them if you would go with me, Giselle. I swear this will never reach your parents."

"Why? Because you are scared of what my dad would say about it? Because you are too scared, Gretta would know?!" I snarled at him, wishing that the earth would just swallow me open. It has been over a month now since I left the house, and if they found out I was pregnant, it would be a huge scandal for my parents and my pack.

"There is nothing to worry about, Giselle. I understand if you hate me because of what happened, but please, let me take care of you and the-child. You went rogue after you left the Greyfur, and your father wants you back."

"I can't go back home with this," I murmured, my eyes wide with fear as I held my belly.

I pictured in my head how my father would react once I told him about my pregnancy. He would surely force me and Caden to marry, and I never wanted that to happen. There was no way I would let Dad do that, especially since I knew Caden was still in love with someone else. He was only doing this because he and my father had been friends for decades, and my parents were fond of him.

Caden looked at where my hand was holding, and I saw the perturbation in him as well. I didn't know if I should be more angry or apologetic about it because I should also blame myself for that one night of mistakes that happened between us. And so, we both had to deal with the consequences of our actions.

The plan was to never get him involved with this, though. But I was afraid I would survive this without his help.

"I-I'll think about it first." I uttered the words with hesitation, still not sure if I should trust Caden. I had known him my entire life. He was a powerful Alpha, and I was confident he could take care of me and my baby. It was my heart that was too scared to stay with him when, despite that all my life, it was always him I always wanted.

But not like this.

He let out a sigh of relief, thinking that he had already convinced me to go with him. I saw the frustration in his eyes, and I pretended I was ignoring it. "Fine. I respect your decision, Giselle. But let me visit you from time to time, if that is okay with you. I just want to make sure you are safe with my child. "The last thing I ever want is to force you, so at the very least allow me to at least drive you home."

Caden reached out his hand to shake mine, like it was some kind of agreement. And I had no choice but to take it.

"Fine. Since it's too hard to find an Uber at this kind of hour," I grumbled, and then let him lead me to the parking lot where his expensive black car was parked.

I was used to things like that before, but after I left my parents's house, I learned to live a simple life where I had to work hard to pay my own bills and have enough food for every day. It was never easy to live alone. I was raised in a mansion by a wealthy magnate couple who were the second-most powerful pack leaders in this region.

And yes. Alpha Caden Einsworth was the first on the list.

***

It was a relief for me that I didn't have to return to that hotel because I never wanted to leave my art pieces in this room. They were like babies to me. My creations. The only thing that inspired me and gave me full meaning in my life. Starting over after I left home was hard. But when I worked on my paintings, I felt like I was being transported into another world where I could pour out all my thoughts and emotions. Where I could be myself and not be compared to anyone, especially Gretta.

"I can't believe you are living in a dilapidated room like this, Giselle! Are you sure this apartment is safe? It doesn't look good to me," Caden commented when he looked around after I welcomed him into the old apartment I was renting.

"It's just temporary, though. And it's the cheapest in this neighborhood. Once I save enough money, I have a plan to move to a better one. A much safer place for the baby," I answered as patiently as I could.

I took off my heels and wanted to get rid of the skimpy dress so bad, so I went straight to my small wardrobe and pulled a shirt and shorts to change. "You can sit there if you want."

"No thanks," he answered awkwardly, looking at the old, wooden chair in front of him. "I don't think that thing could hold my weight. I better just stand here and wait."

I could hear his voice inside the bathroom while I was changing, so I yelled and asked with a frown, "Wait for what?"

"Wait until you go with me."

I gasped and couldn't believe what I just heard.

"That's ridiculous! When I said I would think of it, that didn't mean I could make a decision right away, Caden! It might take weeks! Months!" I stepped out of the bathroom and rested my fists on my hips. "This decision is not easy for me; do you understand?"

He shook his head. "You can't hide it anymore, Giselle. Your belly will grow, and once someone sees you and your condition and reports it to your father, you have no other choice but to marry me!"

I gave him a dead look in the eyes. "And you don't like that, do you?"

He gazed at me, looking helpless, but he didn't answer. Instead, he focused on the topic, and it was clear to me that he really had no intention of marrying me after what happened between us. It gave me a sickening feeling in my stomach. The pain was too much.

"That's not the issue, Giselle. I can marry you if that's what your father wanted to-"

I rolled my eyes and turned away from him. I was so hurt and disappointed in his answer that I wanted to just rip him apart at that moment. "Just go, Caden. I don't want to talk about it right now."

"Stop being so immature right now, Giselle! You are in a dangerous situation right now! What if one of your father's enemies finds you here? They will surely use you to blackmail your father and destroy your pack and your clan! You can't do that to your parents!"

I glanced at him sharply and said, "I am no longer a member of the Greyfur Pack! And since I made a huge mistake that will surely make my parents appalled, I already left and saved them from the trouble! I will never go back! I will raise my pup alone!"

The wooden chair clattered on the wooden floor, and my eyes widened when Alpha Caden closed the gap between us and pulled his lips against his teeth. His eyes were dark and glinting red, his face inches from me, and he hissed, "That is also my pup, Giselle. My flesh and blood and I have the right to decide for my pup's future as well!"

I looked at him with pain in my eyes, but I refused to cry in front of him. I had already cried a bucket of tears for over a month. "I can't believe you have the audacity to say that to my face after you left me and disappeared for over a month!"

His green eyes slowly softened, and his shoulders drooped. Guilt was all over his face as he turned his back to me, too ashamed to look me straight in the eyes.

"Please, Giselle... let me do the right thing," he pleaded, sounding weak. He looked so stressed all of a sudden, and somehow it gave me a sense of pleasure to see him being punished like this.

And yet my inner wolf was so furious that I enjoyed torturing her mate.

"No." I scoffed at him, giving him a steely look.