Eileen POV
'Luna, the rogues attacked the borders again,' my Gamma informed me through a mind link.
Fuck! It's been weeks since the pack's border started facing frequent attacks, and it was a tough time for every pack member.
"How bad was it this time?" I asked softly, trying to hide my fear from seeping in. We had lost more wolves this past few weeks than we had in years, and as the Luna of this pack, I felt the pain the dead families were going through.
"Two wolves this time," he sighed, just as drained as everyone was during this challenging time.
I cursed under my breath for the hundredth time this week and inhaled deeply to stop myself from tearing up.
"Have men take care of the bodies, and please visit the grieving families on my behalf," I instructed him. "Yes, Luna," he answered curtly.
"And my husband, where is he?" I inquired. I hadn't seen him since, and things had been a bit distant between us.
"I do not know Alpha Jason's whereabouts, but I assume he is in an important meeting with other Alphas regarding the border threat," Gamma speculated.
"Yeah, I suppose so…" I muttered, my voice fading before closing the mind link. The issue of rouge wolves had already become a concern with many packs, so it was no surprise that my husband Jason would be swamped with numerous meetings.
My hands clutched to my chest in an attempt to draw comfort. After visiting families of the deceased these past few days, I couldn't bring myself to do it anymore. It was far too heartbreaking to watch families in tears and the deceased person's mates utterly shattered when we informed them of the horrible news.
Deciding to call it a day, I stood up from my office chair and walked to my en-suite powder room to freshen up before heading home. My dull grey eyes looked back at me through the mirror, and I cringed at the sight of eyebags resulting from the lack of sleep surrounding my eyes. Even my tanned skin looked a bit dull.
I released my honey-blond hair from its tight bun, allowing it to cascade down my waist before slightly massaging my shoulders to release some of the built-up tension. Satisfied with how my poker face expression completely masked my exhaustion, I exited my office building and then drove off to the pack house
When I got home, I headed straight to my five-year-old daughter's nursery room, desperate to hold her in my arms.
"Luna, you're back early… welcome," My child caregiver greeted me warmly.
"Thank you," I smiled and turned to look at my little angel cuddled up with her teddy on the bed.
Her eyes fluttered open when she heard my voice, and she got up and eagerly waved her hand, asking for a hug. Wasting no time, I wrapped my hands around her frail body and pulled her as close as I could get without hurting her.
"Do you still feel pain, baby?" I asked her softly, combing my hands through her curly blonde hair. She squinted her dark eyes and nodded in approval, unable to voice out her pains.
"Don't worry, baby. You'll be fine soon, okay? Mummy's going to make sure of that," I assured her before resting her delicate head on my chest.
"Any progress?" I mouth to my daughter's caregiver.
She shook her head negatively with a solemn look on her face. I felt my eyes water and cast my head downwards to hide my pain. Amber's health had been deteriorating, and as much as it pained me, there was barely anything I or anyone could do to help.
"You can leave now. I'll be with her for the rest of the day. Thank you for today," I said quietly, noting that my daughter Amber's breath had become even, indicating she was asleep.
"You're welcome," she said with a reassuring smile. Then, she picked up her handbag and medical kit before leaving the room.
I softly kissed Amber's forehead before carefully placing her on the bed. I then took off my blazer coat and jewelry before joining Amber on the bed while being careful not to wake her.
Needing rest more than anything in the world, I wrapped my hands around Amber before allowing myself to fall into a dreamless sleep—my anxiety and worries of the day temporarily forgotten.
The sound of the entrance door opening woke me up hours later. Amber was still fast asleep, so I exited her bed gently and closed her blinds since it was already dark outside. Slipping on padded slippers, I exited her nursery just in time to see Jason walking up the stairs with a frown on his face.
"Where have you been?" I asked, frustrated. I was tired of the distance between us because our relationship was starting to seem like that of distant flatmates rather than married couples.
Jason's frown deepened upon hearing my voice, and he continued to his bedroom like he hadn't heard a thing. My eyes widened in shock, completely baffled by his attitude.
"Jason? I just asked a question." I called, my annoyance deepening. I shut the nursery door to avoid Amber overhearing us and walked closer to where Jason stood, pausing halfway through the stairs.
"I am not obligated to explain myself to anyone; I am your alpha. Now, please quiet down and don't give me a headache," he sneered angrily.
I stepped back, surprised, and a low gasp escaped my lips. What was going on with him, and how could he say something like that to me?
"I am your Luna! Your wife-" I whispered the last part, my voice cracking slightly.
"A Luna who could only bear a defective pup, huh?" He roared harshly, and I felt like he had just slapped me across the face.
"What are you?" I stuttered, but his loud voice quickly interrupted mine.
"Look at this," he mocked, dipping his hands in a pocket and throwing an envelope at my feet. I looked at him with glossy eyes, my eyes brimming with tears that had threatened to fall all day.
"You are now barren; pick it up and see for yourself," Jason spat angrily.
After throwing one last glare his way, I leaned down, picked up the envelope, and opened it to reveal a letter that seemed to be a medical report. The tears I had been struggling to hold on finally slid down my cheeks on seeing the bold letters confirming I was no longer capable of bearing children. My chest felt constricted, and it felt like all the air had vanished from the room, leaving me to choke on my pain.
"You think I wasn't going to find out, huh? I had the pack physician secretly access your fertility during your last routine checkup." He confessed.
"Why are you doing this?" I sobbed weakly, hurt by the amount of hate Jason's eyes held.
"Don't you see Elleen? You're of no use in this pack anymore. A female wolf without reproductive value can not serve as a Luna; I need you to leave this pack!" He growled.
"Jason-? How can you say that?" I gasped, barely able to breathe from all the pain I was feeling.
"I reject your Elleen and command you to accept my rejection. Leave this pack immediately. Also, don't forget to take your defective pup with you," he commanded.
A sharp, piercing pain clung to my senses, and my body began to shut down, unable to process this indescribable pain. I collapsed to my knees and struggled to catch my breath; it felt like Jason had driven his hands through my chest and was squeezing my heart in a tight grip.
A loud cry sounded from behind me, perfectly syncing with my own scream of pain. I turned to see Amber's tiny feet rushing towards me. Her face was drenched in tears, and she cried loudly from seeing me in pain. I clung onto her, wishing I could take her pain and mine away.
"What's all this noise, honey?" I heard an unfamiliar high-pitched voice whine. I looked up to the direction the voice had come from and saw a pregnant woman standing at the top of the stairs with an annoyed look on her face. Who was this woman, and what was she doing here? How did I not notice her presence before, and why did she just call Jason honey?
"Don't worry, my love, I'll get rid of this bitch and her defective pup soon," Jason smirked. He looked at the unfamiliar woman lovingly in a way he never had with me, and it didn't take long to figure out that she was his mistress. So this was why he had been so distant? Devoting all his time to his pregnant mistress and none to his wife and sick pup.
That was it; I couldn't bring myself more pain and embarrassment by staying here any longer. I had to leave for the sake of me and my daughter. I gathered the remaining strength and carried Amber in my arms. I wiped my tears before wiping hers as well, silently vowing to leave this toxic environment and build a better life for us elsewhere.
"I accept your rejection," I choked out, holding back tears as intense pain filled me.