After Alpha Lucas's first love came back, I left without telling anyone. I didn't tell him where I was going, and I didn't tell him I was pregnant. The first month after I left. The Alpha didn't care at all, spending every day doting on his first love. The second month after I left. The Alpha's friends started placing bets on when I would come crawling back. The third month after I left. The Alpha finally panicked and sent people to search the entire territory. But they still couldn't find a single trace of me. From that point on, the name Eleanor Smith became a forbidden topic among all werewolves. But what no one knew was that every night, he went crazy missing me. Blackwood Pack had a tradition—an annual year-end gathering that outsiders were never allowed to attend. This year, there was an uninvited guest. Lucas's first love, the human who had once rejected him: Genevieve Roth. When the two of them walked in, the banquet had already started. Lucas had his arm half-around Genevieve as they walked straight toward me. I stared blankly at Lucas's joyful face, and suddenly my eyes began to sting. He was the only man I'd ever loved in my life. Three years of marriage, and I still hadn't found my way into his heart. "Get up. This isn't your seat." Lucas spoke seriously, not caring about my dignity at all. I was Lucas's legitimate wife, yes, but I wasn't the Luna in his heart. For three years, he hadn't even been willing to truly mark me. Now that the human girl he deeply loved had returned, naturally I had to give up this position. I didn't say no. If this had been the old me, I probably wouldn't have accepted this humiliation. But after all these years, my heart had long been shattered, and I'd already accepted the fact that he would never love me. Just as I was about to stand up, Genevieve's gaze fell on my neck. "That necklace you're wearing looks very unique." I instinctively raised my hand, my fingertips touching the cool pendant. This was what Lucas had given me on our first anniversary after the wedding. It wasn't particularly valuable, but it was the only gift I'd received in three years. I'd always treasured it. "I really like it." Genevieve turned to Lucas, her tone carrying nostalgic coquettishness. "It feels just like the one I lost before. Lucas, would you ask her to give it to me?" Everyone's eyes focused on my neck, then looked toward Lucas. I looked at him too. I didn't know what I was hoping for. Was I hoping he would remember what this necklace meant, or hoping that I mattered more to him? Lucas didn't look into my eyes. He just pulled a bank card from his pocket with practiced ease and tossed it in front of me. "Is this enough?" Whispers suddenly erupted around the table, mixed with low snickers. Three years married to Lucas, and this wasn't the first time he'd bought my dignity with money. As the Alpha of Blackwood Pack, he was truly wealthy. Wealthy enough that it seemed like everything in this world could be bought. But he could never buy my love again. Seeing my silence, a flash of surprise and impatience crossed Lucas's eyes: "Three years of marriage, and you're not going to raise your price now, are you?" With one sentence, he threw the memories I cherished on the ground and trampled them repeatedly. My hands clenched deeply into my palms. This necklace had been against my skin for three years, but now it felt like red-hot iron. Genevieve pretended to be understanding: "Lucas, don't be like this. After all, it's Eleanor's property. I was just saying—I don't really want it..." "If you like it, take it." Lucas interrupted her, looking at me with a commanding tone. "Take it off." I used the last of my strength to undo the clasp at the back of my neck. The necklace fell into my palm, still warm with body heat. I gently placed it on top of the cold bank card. I should have known all along—between us there was only money and our arrangement. Now that the girl he deeply loved had returned, our arrangement was over. As I turned to escape this suffocating place, Lucas called out to me: "Wait. Take this bank card with you." In that moment, I heard the sound of my own heart breaking. "Okay." Lucas, I forgot to tell you. I'm pregnant. And this child will have nothing to do with you.
When I got home, I hid the pregnancy test results I'd just received that morning in the deepest part of my closet. Originally, I'd wanted to give Lucas a surprise. But just like me, he also gave me a big surprise. How wonderful. At the end of our marriage, we finally had our first moment of being in sync. I'd just closed the closet when I heard the sound of the door opening downstairs. Genevieve walked in holding Lucas's hand, following him step by step, looking more like the mistress of the house than I ever did. Seeing me, Lucas raised his eyebrows and said casually: "Genevieve doesn't have anywhere to stay since she came back to the country, so she'll be staying at our place for the next few days." "Okay." I nodded, not questioning why, with all the properties under his name, he couldn't find a place to settle Genevieve. If I asked, I'd only look more like a joke. With that thought, I spoke softly: "Do you need me to move out? To save you the trouble." Lucas frowned, as if dissatisfied with my reaction, a trace of displeasure coloring his eyes: "No need. Just give up the master bedroom." "Okay." Without hesitation, I turned cleanly and went back to my room to pack my things and move to the guest room. As we passed each other, Genevieve deliberately raised her voice: "Lucas, I'm a germaphobe. Remember to have Agnes clean all the garbage out of the bedroom later." My steps halted. I instinctively looked at Lucas. I didn't believe he couldn't hear what Genevieve was implying. Of course Lucas understood, but he didn't care: "It's too late today. I'll take you to a hotel for tonight, and you can move back tomorrow after it's cleaned." Genevieve laughed delightedly as she threw herself into the man's arms, her eyes sweeping over me seemingly carelessly, with a victor's smile: "Okay, but you have to stay with me. Otherwise I'll be scared." Lucas didn't hesitate and took her downstairs and left. Leaving only me, holding a pile of hastily packed belongings, looking exactly like a clown. By the time I finished reviewing the divorce agreement, it was already eleven at night. Outside the window, heavy rain began to fall. Genevieve's social media had just updated. A photo of her on the hotel's king-size bed. She was lying in Lucas's arms. Caption: [I'm scared to be alone, thank goodness you're here with me.] I used to have that kind of "rescue" too. Three years ago. Back then, I still couldn't complete my shift and became the plaything of a few spoiled brats. They surrounded me, pushed me into a champagne tower, imitated my clumsy movements, their laughter piercing. "Can't even shift into your own wolf—is this even a werewolf?" "Must be some kind of defective product, right?" The humiliation was like cold needles, stabbing into every inch of my skin. I had nowhere to hide. I wished I could just disappear. Then Lucas appeared. The Alpha's oppressive presence made those who had been so arrogant just moments before instantly fall silent, their faces pale as they backed away. He took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around my trembling shoulders. Then he carried me away from that place that made me angry and embarrassed. His beta brought me brand new clothes. "Thank you, Alpha." I kept my head down, my voice still trembling. He looked at me, and then he made the proposal that would change my life: "I need a companion. You know, the pack always needs a Luna. But I won't mark you. In exchange, I'll give you money." He spoke calmly and cruelly, like he was discussing a business deal. But to the desperate me at that time, the proposal itself was like a light splitting through the darkness. I agreed. From then on, I carefully handled everything for him from behind. On our first wedding anniversary, he got drunk and took me to bed. Then when he sobered up, he personally put that necklace on me. I thought he was finally starting to love me. But we slept together many times, and he still wasn't willing to mark me. I should have known—he wasn't willing to acknowledge my status. Holding back the urge to cry, I liked that post. Then I put my phone on the table and closed my eyes to sleep. Ten minutes later, the phone screen lit up with a pinned message: [Still awake?]
Hearing the notification, I sat up. Lucas's messages kept coming. [I saw Genevieve's post. Don't overthink it—I only stayed with her for a little while.] Then came another transfer. Hinting that I should take the out he was giving me. But actually, ever since I fell in love with him, I'd stopped actively taking his money. Each time, I only reluctantly accepted after he reminded me several times. But this time, I accepted it calmly. [Thank you, Alpha.] After I sent the message, a call came immediately. The man's voice sounded somewhat surprised: "Why did you accept it so quickly this time?" Before I could speak, Genevieve grabbed the phone, laughing as she asked me: "Eleanor, if you're not asleep yet, could you bring some hot French onion soup to the hotel? I suddenly really want some." "Lucas says your cooking is excellent. You don't mind making a trip for me, do you?" I was about to refuse when Lucas transferred more money to my phone, with a note: Service fee. In the past, this was the kind of reward only the housekeeper Agnes would receive. Now it was my turn as Luna? I laughed sarcastically, hung up the phone, and accepted the money. We were about to divorce anyway. Might as well earn what I could. By the time I arrived at the hotel suite with the insulated food container, braving the heavy rain, it was already two in the morning. The door was ajar. Genevieve's voice came from inside: "Lucas, I heard before that you once rescued Eleanor and punished the people who bullied her. Is that true? Did you fall in love with her?" I froze in place, instinctively holding my breath. Even though I'd already decided to leave, my heart still raced uncontrollably. I remembered that night again, the night I fell in love with Lucas. Lucas, would you remember it too? In the room, Lucas looked out at the heavy rain, somewhat lost in thought. Six months ago, it had been a rainy night just like this... Genevieve pushed him, somewhat dissatisfied: "Lucas, you still haven't answered me." The man came back to his senses, his clear voice carrying an indescribable complexity: "No... I just... pitied her." "Just like pitying a stray dog on the side of the road. No different." Even hearing him speak so heartlessly, my heart seemed unable to feel pain anymore. I walked in carrying the food container. Lucas looked at me in surprise, seemingly somewhat guilty. "You... when did you get here?" I didn't answer. Genevieve had already spoken first. "You brought it? Let me see." She reached out to take the container, but accidentally knocked it over. The scalding hot soup spilled mostly onto my hand and lower leg that I hadn't pulled back in time. Sharp burning pain came from my skin. I groaned and stepped back two paces. Lucas stood up abruptly, about to step forward to check, but Genevieve cried out softly and hid behind Lucas. "Oh my god, I really didn't mean to! Eleanor, are you okay?" Lucas's steps stopped. Soon, he picked up his phone and operated it a few times. My phone vibrated immediately, the screen lighting up with another substantial transfer. The note clearly read: Medical expenses and service fee. He looked at my scalded hand, his tone flat: "Handle it yourself. Let me know if it's not enough. Genevieve... didn't mean to." In his heart, it seemed everything could be solved with money. Genevieve pulled several tissues from her purse and tossed them to me like charity. I didn't take them. In the past, because I loved Lucas, I'd already given up too much dignity. But now that I'd decided to leave, things were different. "Thanks." I said quietly, preparing to leave. But Lucas stepped forward and grabbed my wrist, his expression displeased: "Eleanor, aren't you angry at all?" My pupils trembled slightly. I really wanted to ask him: What should I be angry about? Or rather, did I have the right to be angry? I was just a pitiful little dog he'd picked up from the roadside when he was in a good mood. When his mood was good, he'd pity me and comfort me a little. When his mood was bad, he'd just throw money at me to make me go away. "It's just a minor burn, it's fine. I'll go back and treat it." I tried to pull my hand back. But my tact didn't earn me a better expression. Lucas blocked the doorway, his eyes complex: "You weren't like this before." "Before, you wouldn't have just stood there and let people bully you." Two years ago, Lucas's cousin mocked me for not being fit to be Luna because I didn't have my own wolf. After Lucas found out, he directly kicked him out of the Pack and never allowed him to appear in front of me again. He explained to me that he didn't care about those things. A year ago, at a partner pack's banquet, I was framed and fell into a pool. Lucas immediately pressed the person who pushed me into the swimming pool and made them stay there all night. Except for not loving me, he'd really treated me well. Lucas seemed to remember the past too, his eyes somewhat dark. "I..." But I had already finished remembering. I nodded politely to both of them and moved to leave from the doorway. As I was about to exit, Lucas's voice came from behind: "Eleanor, I know you went to the hospital."
The calm words were like a thunderclap, shocking me in place. "You... know?" Lucas hummed in acknowledgment, hesitating: "Someone saw you go to the hospital that day." "Are you... alright?" I paused, not understanding his meaning. Lucas continued: "If you need it, I can help you contact the best doctors. After all, you..." He didn't finish. But I knew what he meant. Ordinary werewolves healed quickly after injuries and rarely got sick. But I was different. I was a werewolf without a wolf. So he just thought I was sick. Not that he knew... I was pregnant. My eyelashes trembled. Faced with this sudden concern from him, my heart remained extraordinarily calm. Was it pity again? This time, my role should be the family pet dog, right? When the pet gets sick, of course the owner has to care. I laughed self-deprecatingly, looked at Genevieve whose smile was barely hanging on, and explained: "I just happened to be passing by, so I went in for a checkup." After saying that, I left immediately, afraid the man would continue questioning. Early the next morning, I packed my luggage and was about to leave when I ran into Agnes coming to clean. Seeing me leave, there was no shock on her face, as if she'd expected it all along. It seemed everyone assumed that Lucas didn't like me, that I was just a temporary substitute for Genevieve. As I reached the courtyard, a series of sounds suddenly came from the second-floor balcony. Someone was continuously throwing things down. I looked back and saw it was the master bedroom I'd lived in for three years. Bedsheets, cups, pillows... Everything I hadn't been able to take with me was being thrown mercilessly from the balcony. Seeing me off. I didn't care. After all, I hadn't planned to take those things anyway. I took a deep breath and calmly left the estate I'd lived in for three years. ... When Lucas returned, Agnes was throwing down our wedding photos. In the photo, I stood carefully beside Lucas, my face wearing an innocent smile. Completely different from who I was now. The frame fell to the ground, glass shattering. Lucas's steps stopped at that pile of debris. He looked at that huge photograph and suddenly remembered that in the first year of our marriage, I'd seemed to smile a lot. Completely different from the timid person he'd imagined. I'd even firmly enacted a series of laws within the pack to protect the lives of those lower-ranking werewolves. When did things start to change? Lucas opened his mouth and said to his Beta Samuel: "Clean up this photo and put it... in the storage room." Then he tried to call me, only to find he couldn't get through at all. The explanation he'd prepared remained unsaid. It made him irritable and restless. Just as he was about to try again, Agnes came down from upstairs and said to Genevieve: "Miss Genevieve, everything has been cleaned according to your requirements." "Especially the master bedroom. I threw out everything of that person's that I could, and disinfected everything inside and out." "But there was a document folder in the closet that I didn't dare open." As she spoke, she pulled out a folder from her pocket. Lucas put down his phone and took the document folder from Agnes's hand and opened it. A folded pregnancy test report fell out.
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