"Seraphim, are you alright?"
I snapped back. "Huh?" I blinked and looked at Desmond who was tilting his head, looking at me. "Are you saying something?"
He creased his forehead before he sighed. "I am asking you if the food is to your liking. You haven't touched it. Isn't appetizing for you? Shall we change to a different restaurant?" he asked. There was a concerned expression on his face.
I shook my head as I looked down at my food. He was right. I haven't touched it. "I don't have an appetite right now, cinnamon." I forced a smile as I sighed.
"Is there... something wrong?" Desmond asked, hesitant as he took my hand.
I glanced down at his hand. I secretly gnashed my teeth. I almost smiled bitterly before I put up my real smile. "No, cinnamon. We have been eating a lot for the past two days so I think I am still full. You know what I mean..."
We had arrived at the capital two days ago to attend the meeting with Alpha King Azarius. Since we arrived there, the palace never failed to provide us with some snacks and meals which always made me full.
Desmond chuckled. "Right... I thought there was something I should worry about. Is there anything you want? Tea?"
"That will do." I nodded my head, smiling.
As soon as we were finished, we walked into the plaza, enjoying the vibrant and spirited night here in the capital. We saw many food stalls as there was a carnival there as well. Desmond and I spent our time there before we returned to the inn where we were staying.
"Seraphim."
"Hmm?" I glanced at him when he settled beside me as he hugged me from behind as soon as we laid down to the bed. "What is it?" I asked softly and caressed his arm.
"I wish to discuss something with you once we get home."
My eyes widened as I felt my stomach somersaulted. I inhaled and exhaled, blocking all the emotions so Desmond wouldn't feel it. "What would you like to discuss?" I asked and turned around to plaster a sweet smile. "Do you wish us to elope?"
Desmond chuckled and bit his lower lip. I could tell that he liked what I teased him. "Well, do you wish to?" he asked as he knew that I was kidding.
"Hmm..." I hummed softly. "Of course, yes. I would like to go to any place as long as I have you, Desmond."
He hugged me instantly. "Ah, seraphim, you are making me and my wolf feel skittish right now." I felt him kissing my head. "I wouldn't get enough of you, seraphim."
I forced a smile, feeling heartbroken. "Me, too, cinnamon. Me, too..." I said softly.
Looks like he was going to tell me about the surrogacy once we get home. It could mean that Hazel accepted it with Desmond... with Desmond accepting the condition Hazel uttered at that moment.
My husband... My mate...
He betrayed me again.
This time, he was not controlled by the aphrodisiac. He did it of his will to spend a night with her.
It hurts.
This hurts more than I ever caught him.
I pretended that everything was alright. I blocked all the emotions I felt so Desmond wouldn't dare to feel what I felt right now. Because if he knows that I am troubled right now, he wouldn't leave me alone until I told him.
We returned to our pack after we had the last meeting with Alpha King Azarius. I was nervous as soon as we arrived. I tried my best not to appear nervous when I got to see Hazel. I squinted my eyes at her when our eyes met.
But I caught her smirking before she glanced at Desmond.
I felt my heart clench when I caught Desmond looking at Hazel. I secretly gritted my teeth in annoyance. I also feel useless right now.
"We will have a meeting at the moment in my study room, seraphim," Desmond said as soon as we arrived at our chamber.
"I'll bring some refreshments later then," I stated when he helped me change my gown. "Desmond, you shall summon a servant to help me here." I was indicating the part where he was helping me to dress up.
He frowned and shook his head. "I want to help you." He smiled.
"What refreshment do you want to drink later? Tea? Juice? Or—"
"You."
I shivered at his reply. But I smiled sheepishly and turned around to tap his cheek. "Naughty." Desmond only grinned. "Go now. I shall disturb the meeting later." I winked.
His expression softened as he nodded. "Please do, seraphim." He winked back.
I kept my smiling face when he left but I vanished as I changed it into a bitter one. Then I went to the walk-in closet and took the vial that I needed. I also started packing my things by taking a few clothes. I even took some of the jewelry that has high value and some trinkets so I could sell them.
I decided that I would leave it here in my pack.
I couldn't take staying here knowing that Desmond slept twice with other women.
I am not a fool to stay here anymore.
Damn him!
My wolf was feeling furious and agreed with me. Desmond knew that my wolf and I hated Hazel yet he had some discussions with her to make her a surrogate mother. Most especially, it seemed like he agreed to her condition based on the glances they exchanged earlier.
It pained me...
I settled my things to the nearest room where Desmond's study room was located before I took the vial with me and went to the kitchen area. I told the cooks and other servants that I could handle everything here. They nodded and left me alone. It was a good thing that they wouldn't suspect me of anything once I mixed the high-condensed sleeping draught potion to the tea.
I inhaled and exhaled to calm myself hearing my heartbreaking slowly as I went to Desmond's study room. I knocked on the door before someone opened it only to see Desmond with a beaming smile on his face.
"I brought some refreshments to everyone here," I said with a gentle smile and showed them the tea I brewed. I felt relief because the two Beta, Harvey and Oakley, and the three Gammas, Jupiter, Solomon, and Nicholas, were here and gathered around.
"Greetings, Luna," they said in unison and bowed their heads before me.
I nodded my head and poured them some tea before I sat at the armchair where Desmond was sitting. "Has the discussion just started?" I asked Desmond as I was referring to the one he told me that they would discuss the budget of building a new packhouse.
He held my hand. "We are still weighing the cost of it, seraphim." He kissed the back of my palm which suddenly pained me.
His hand... It was the same hand he used to hold Hazel.
"Would you mind if I listen here?" I asked as I tightened my hold to his hand, indicating that I was starting to rebel against this marriage.
Desmond nodded, smiling. "I don't mind. You know that you can barge in whenever you want to come here." I nodded. Then he turned his head to the gentlemen who were here. "We also need to discuss what building materials we should use here. Oakley already communicated to the contractor and indicated here the materials we can use for the new packhouse."
I remained a stoic expression as soon as their discussion deepened. I waited. I patiently waited until all of them drank the tea I prepared. Then, later on, they collapsed.
I held Desmond's body and reclined him to his seat when he fell asleep as well. Then I checked his breathing and made sure that he was really sleeping.
I really made sure the vial I mixed was a high-condensed one since all of them had a high tolerance for poison, especially Desmond. For someone consuming this, it would take twelve hours to have them in a sleep state.
For someone who had a poison tolerance, this would only last for three hours.
To make sure that I wouldn't be able to follow Desmond immediately, I also put a drug that could make someone physically weak.
Sighing, I kissed Desmond's lips as tears fell from my eyes. "Didn't I already tell you that I can forgive? I told you that if this happens again, I will not forgive you anymore," I whispered to his ear. "Because today, I, Seraphina Beryl-Verlice, reject you as my mate, Desmond Verlice."
His body irked as he gritted his teeth while his eyes were closed. Then moments later, his closed eyes were streaming tears.
I hissed at the pain as I let the tears fall from my eyes the moment I twisted the doorknob to leave.
"S-Seraphina..."
I gasped hearing Desmond's weakened voice. I turned my head as my eyes widened seeing him standing up, unstabilized. "H-How..." I couldn't continue my words when he collapsed and knelt to the floor having his eyes on me as he was crying.
He was supposed to be asleep! Even if I rejected him, he must remain asleep.
"W-Where are... you going..." He reached for me but he couldn't as he sobbed. "Why... Why did you... reject me? What... did I... do?"
I harshly wiped the tears away from my eyes when I was assured that he wouldn't be able to move from his ground. "You should ask yourself," I said before I bit my lower lip when a sob escaped from my lips. "Farewell, Desmond," I bid one more time when his eyes finally closed. "There is no more second chance for you," I said coldly before I decided to take my things.
I made sure that when I reached the gates, they wouldn't notice what happened to their Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. I held my head high when I arrived and ordered the pack warriors to open the gates for me. I surmised that they hadn't been alerted yet since I knew that Desmond would fail to mind link our pack warriors guarding the gates.
"May we ask where are you going, Luna?" one of them asked. "Did Alpha allow you to go out?"
I glared at him coldly which caused him to stiffen. "If Desmond did not allow me to go out, I wouldn't be here," I said in my icy tone.
"But... usually, Alpha is going with you, Luna..." he reasoned in a meek tone.
I approached him and showed my power as the Luna of this pack. "You dare to question your Alpha's decision? The obvious is right in front of you. Are you dumb or what?" I retorted.
He lowered his head. "P-Pardon me, Luna. We... We will open the gates for you."
"Good. Hurry up!" I ordered angrily to make them haste to their movement.
I needed to get away as soon as possible. I had to make sure that Desmond wouldn't follow my scent already as I was wearing the bracelet to hide my scent.
I glanced at the pack gates one more time before I transformed to my wolf form. Along with me were the essential things I needed to hide from my husband.
Farewell, Rising Diamond pack.