Chapter 69
“LUNA SERENA,”
Serena’s attention snapped back to reality when she heard Priscilla’s voice calling her name. She blinked and focused on her sister–in–law sitting in front of her, realizing that everyone at the table was looking at her, including Alpha Perez.
“Ah, sorry. What were you saying?” she asked, realizing that her mind had been so preoccupied that she had forgotten they were currently eating lunch together.
“My brother’s birthday is coming soon; do you need help planning and getting ready for it?” Priscilla’s response triggered a sudden realization in Serena: her husband’s 29th birthday was just around the corner, and the thought of not being there to celebrate it with him caused a sharp ache in her heart.
“It would be more meaningful if we were to organize it together, so yeah I need help,” she answered before looking at Alpha Perez, reaching out to touch his hand resting on the table. “Do you have any particular request?”
“I wanted a modest celebration with just our pack, without any additional guests besides your father and Nanny Annie.” he responded with a smile, “That’s how I celebrate my birthday every year, simple and peaceful.”
“All right, I’ll take note of that.” Serena smiled and they continued eating while talking about pack matters. After they were done eating, she and her husband decided to take a walk outside because the weather was nice, which was rare considering how unpredictable the weather in the Northern region was.
They walked hand in hand through the garden, the gentle afternoon wind brushing against their cheeks. The peacefulness of the surroundings enveloped them, a far cry from the constant fear and tension they had been living with before.
As Serena strolled alongside her mate, she couldn’t help but wonder if this sense of calm would stay even after she left the pack.
“Are you okay? It seemed you have a lot of thoughts running around in your head today,” Alpha Perez questioned, breaking the silence in the air. Her mind seemed elsewhere, which was unusual for her. He reached out and gently squeezed her hand, then pressed a kiss to the back of her palm while keeping his gaze locked with hers. He hoped that by studying her face, he could understand what was troubling her. But without marking her yet, it was difficult to truly know her thoughts.
“I was just feeling a bit anxious because we had no idea what the King might do next, now that we had managed to eliminate the infected rogues in such a short period of time.” she replied, “Plus, Marga had been unusually reserved lately. She hasn’t made any attempts to come near the main house or even talk to you.”
“It was a relief when she finally left us alone and stopped causing a commotion. But do you not find it strange or questionable?” Serena looked at him, hoping he would broach the subject of his plans. However, it appeared that he had no immediate intention of discussing it with her.
“Mathias was keeping an eye on her, and based on his reports, it seemed Marga was opening up to him so well and their relationship was slowly but surely improving,” he explained as they sat on the bench and continued looking at each other while holding hands. “It seemed she had already lost sight of her purpose and reason for being here.”
“If that was the case, why not just reject her already? She seemed to be doing much better than the first time she came here anyway.” Serena’s tone was composed as she spoke the words, but inside, she felt a mix of anger and sadness, knowing what Alpha Pere would say.
“There are just two and a half months left until she gives birth, so I’ll wait a little longer.” he answered, debating whether or not he should reveal his plan to her. But Jarren’s warning about their relationship possibly falling apart made him reconsider. Perhaps it might not be the best time yet. “I’m sorry, I know it was hard for you, but I promise to reject her when the right time comes,”
He was well aware of Serena’s insecurities about Marga being his fated mate. If he were to reveal his plan of keeping Marga in their pack and postpone the rejection until after he defeated the king, Serena might end up divorcing him. He
desperately wanted to tell her that rejecting Marga now could potentially harm their pack, which he could not risk because
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Chapter 69
his main goal was to restore their pack to its former glory–and once their pack was strong again, defeating the king would be an effortless task.
If only the infected rogue attack hadn’t occurred, he wouldn’t have needed to delay the rejection. But circumstances have changed. He knew that Serena would understand his reasoning and intentions, as it was ultimately for the benefit of their pack and their relationship. However, considering how anxious she was about him finding his fated mate, he worried she would be deeply hurt by this decision.
Alpha Perez let out a sigh and stood up, then crouched down in front of Serena, She looked down at him as he took both of her hands, gently rubbing her knuckles while gazing into her eyes. The afternoon breeze brushed against their faces, causing their hair to sway along with it.
“1-1 promise I would reject her, for now, things are going better than expected. She wasn’t trying to approach me anymore, so you don’t need to be anxious about her presence,” he said, hoping his words would alleviate any concerns she had. Serena just gazed at him, uncertain of her emotions at that moment.
His words used to bring her comfort, but now that she knew the truth–that he had no intention of rejecting Marga after she gave birth, she couldn’t help but feel like everything he said was a lie. It didn’t help that he was keeping his plans a secret from her. She had purposely brought up the topic of rejection, yet he still avoided discussing it, which only added to her doubts and suspicions.
“All right,” was the only response she could come up with as she forced herself to nod her head before giving him a weak smile, “Why don’t we take a break from work for a bit and go on a quick date outside?”
Alpha Perez smiled, relieved that Serena seemed to have accepted his explanation. He stood up and held out his hand for her to take.
“That’s a great idea, let’s go. I’ll show you something.” Serena tried her best to push away her thoughts and doubts as she followed Alpha Perez who communicated with Beta Jarren through the mind link that he would leave the pack house for a
moment.
“Do you
mind if we ride a horse?” he asked, causing Serena to pause for a moment because horse riding wasn’t exactly advisable for pregnant women.
“We just ate, so I don’t think that was a good idea.” she reasoned, “Where are you planning to take me anyway?”
“I wanted to take you to the cliff for a good view, but it’s quite a distance from the packhouse.”
“Well… I suppose we can ride, as long as we don’t gallop.” Serena responded, not wanting to endanger her own and their unborn child’s well–being.
“All right, I’ll pick a gentle horse, so wait here while I go get it.” He leaned in to gently kiss her on the forehead before heading towards the stable. As she watched him go, she settled onto the wooden bench and gazed up at the blue sky. She still had a whole week left to spend with Perez, and she was determined to make every moment count.
After a leisurely ride on horseback, they arrived at a small clearing nestled between towering trees. Alpha Ferez dismounted from his horse first, extending a hand to help Serena down. Memories flooded back to her of their first encounter during the war, bringing a smile to her face as she took his hand. He then led her over to a large boulder that provided a stunning view of the surrounding landscape, sitting down and keeping her hand in his grasp.
“I used to come here all the time when I had a lot of things on my mind,” he said with a small smile, “It’s my our territory. It gave me peace, especially during the sunset.”
favorite spot
in
Serena couldn’t help but feel touched. He probably brought her to this place because he knew it could alleviate her anxiety. She wanted to open up to him, but the potential repercussions always held her back from discussing important things with him.
“Say, you’re already turning 29, have you considered having an heir yet?” she asked as she leaned her head against his shoulder, her eyes not leaving the view below them. Somehow, her heart was starting to beat fast until it skipped when she heard his answer.
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“I have, but having a child was the furthest thing from my mind given our current circumstances. I already have a lot on my plate, and adding another to the mix doesn’t seem like a wise decision right now,” he explained as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders to pull her in closer, resting his chin upon her crown. “Having an heir wasn’t in my priority right now, but maybe one day, when the time is right.”
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