CHAPTER 1

ALEX’S POV

“Let her go, she’s mine.”

Diana’s eyes snapped towards me as I tried to make up the expression on her face. It was a look of disbelief and I had expected her to put up a resistance immediately but I saw her eyes snapped again to the retreating back of Ryan.

“You want to go with him.”

She looked down at her feet as the rest of the men left the Alpha’s room leaving me with a quiet Diana who stood in a long pair of leather trouser and a jacket which was open in the front. She looked different. There was an air of darkness around her but a very harmless one.

“Come closer.”

She moved without a word and it was starting to get frustrating.

“Will you say nothing?”

“What are you going to do to him?”

Really? The first thing you would be saying to me after three years is that you care about is what I would do to him?

“He’s my husband, what do you think?”

I began to move closer to her slowly, “What about me after all these years? Do you have nothing to say to me?”

“What do you want to hear me say, Alex? That I regretted what happened and wished it never did? What would that change?”

“It would change nothing! But I would like to know what happened back there years ago and why you left without even as much as a goodbye to be with someone else. Wait, were you two timing me? Because it wouldn’t have happened all of a sudden if it wasn’t something you had carefully planned. What did you gain from all of this?”

She looked down but did not really say anything in response and it was starting to annoy me what she was doing, not responding to me. I grabbed her neck angrily and applied a little pressure. I want to hurt her so badly but I cannot bring myself to do that because I never got over her. All I need is a reason to let this all go but she wasn’t giving me anything to work with.

I grabbed her right hand and pulled her outside with me then handed her over to one of my men.

“Make her change her clothes and let her work in the pack house as a maid. Treat her like you would treat every other maid here.”

I don’t know what I expected but this is annoying me the more I think about it. The Diana I knew would fight back but it looked like life had been drained out of this one. I understood the sense of loss and her husband’s capture but deep down, I want to believe she cannot love him that much to mourn for him.

I held a meeting to announce my takeover of the River beak pack. Three years ago, their Alpha had taken away what was mine and now, I am back for it, for her.

I made sure Ryan was tortured day and night, he was at my mercy now and I will make sure he regretted ever setting his yes on Diana and I will also make sure he is there when I finally have her again, right where I belong.

“Alpha, we have tie up all lose ends but what do you plan to do about Diana?”

My Beta, Lucas asked me and I shrugged.

“I guess I haven’t decided for now. I am just happy that I have her here for now.”

“But you made her a maid, isn’t that a little too harsh for someone you used to love or probably still love?”

I knew.

I just did not want to admit that her refusal to engage me or give me any reasons for her actions or even beg me to save her annoyed me. More than anything, I want her to beg me on her knees to take her back and maybe even beg me to save her husband even though I will not.

“Let’s focus on what to do with the slaves for now and leave her. I will know what to do with her but like I said, treat her like everyone else and make sure she is assigned to my room.”

“What plans do you have?” Lucas asked as he raised an eyebrow and I grinned before moving away to watch Diana clean the pack’s compound. Yes, it was not too early to get her to start working at least till she begs me to save her.

“I assume you enjoy being a slave than being a Luna.”

I said, startling her a little but she soon went back to what she was doing without a word to me.

“Are you trying to annoy me on purpose?”

“No.”

“Then, what are you doing? Don’t you think it is a shameful thing for you to be cleaning?”

“No, it is not. I am no longer Luna. I am a slave now and what do slaves do? They do whatever their masters tell them to do.”

She is making this so hard. I wonder if she is trying to guilt trip me or something. I rolled my eyes as I leaned against the railings that faced her.

“You know there is only one thing for you to do, you just have to say the word.”

She did not respond neither did she stop what she was doing.

“You won’t ask?”

“What?” She didn’t even look up neither did she stop working.

“Apologize for the past.”

CHAPTER 2

DIANA’S POV

It was better that he did not know how much it hurts me to see him like this, unreasonable but even in that, I understood how he must have felt. However, what is the point of going back to three years ago?

I knocked on the door of his room lightly. It has been three days now that I have started working as his maid and he has made a habit of bringing home different girls. I have a feeling he does it to spite me, but really what else could I do but to go with the flow of things.

I had done what I thought was best at that time but now, my past has come to haunt me.

“Get out of the way, you fat and ugly thing.” Lily, one of his regulars said as she bumped into me by the door. She was in his clothes.

“I’m sorry.” I simply said.

“That is what I hate about these useless maids, they are just too plain boring, if you are sorry, don’t do it again. Never get in my way.”

My eyes found Alex’s on the bed and he just laid there watching the scene unfold before him. I headed out if the room to get some clean water.

“I hear she was their pack’s Luna.” I heard the whispers of some of the ladies who had come with him. I wanted to ignore it, but it was hard, yet I did not do anything about it.

“No wonder he is humiliating her like this. This is like a fall from grace. Imagine a Luna now being a maid.” Another one said, and they laughed. As I carried the water past them, one of them kicked me on the side and all the water came pouring down. I also fell face down in the mud.

Their laughter filled my ears but it was even worse for me because I had no plans to retaliate. I did not want to get into trouble for so many reasons.

I got up slowly and began to go back to get another water while their laughter and mockery filled my ears. I wouldn’t tolerate this on a normal day but do I have a choice? No, I did not and it makes me so angry that I have been reduced to this. I returned to Alex’s room. It was empty and I felt a little happy because I could avoid him while I work.

They have taken over everything here and I heard them talking about moving us all out of here as slaves. I wonder how Ryan was doing though? Not out of my goodwill nor anything, but a wife should care about her husband, isn’t it?

“You miss me, don’t you?” My heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice but I managed to maintain my composure and turn around slowly.

He had a towel wrapped around his waist, he must have just had his bath.

“I can leave the room if you have to get dressed.”

He smiled as he began to come closer to me. I took in a deep breath as I held tightly onto the stick of the mopping stick in my hands. I feel like I would break the stick from just my ordinary grip. He stopped on front of me.

“Tell me you missed me, you missed us?”

“And if I didn’t?”

“I would know you are lying but what are you keeping from me?”

“I don’t want to fight, Alex.”

“Just like that time I saw you with him, huh? You did not want to fight but you wanted to say stuffs about me. You called me weak, why did you say that?”

If only he saw himself now, he was no weak Alpha. Deep down, I am proud of him but again, who am I to say that?

“Did you ever regret leaving me for him? Leaving everything behind?”

His eyes narrowed. Perhaps because of the way I did not reply but I needed him to believe that. I turned around again in the silence. I could not look at him because if I did, I would cry, and there was no room for that.

I have no answer for his question.

I continued to work and suddenly I heard fast movements and he grabbed me from the rear, his face buried deep in my neck from behind and I stood still.

“What are you doing?”

“I miss this, I miss us.”

I shrugged him away but he wouldn’t budge.

“Let me go. I don’t want anyone to misunderstand.”

“Why? Because of Ryan? Tell me you are not still thinking of him while I am holding you?”

“Please, let me go, Alex.”

“And if I don’t?”

He kissed the curve of my neck without a warning and I began to squirm in his arms as his hands began to roam my body forcefully.

“You should not do this.” I pushed him away and this time succeeded and he looked at me angrily. Obviously he had a lot to say.

“Do you do this because of him? Is that how it is, huh? You wouldn’t push him away if it were him but you pushed me away?” He began to move closer to me again and this time with a very determined look on his face. With each step he took, I took another one back but he wouldn’t stop.

“I can because I want to.”

“If not for any reason, can’t you at least not do it because of your girlfriend?”

CHAPTER 3

DIANA'S POV

I left Alex's room and went back to my own.

I closed the door behind me, resting against it as my breathing came in ragged gasps. The room was dark, lit only by the soft light of the bedside lamp.

Pain wrapped tight in my chest—bitter, unyielding.

And then, the cough.

Violent. Abrupt.

I barely had time to lift my hand before the metal taste exploded in my mouth. Warm, dark blood gathered in my hand, stark against the whiteness of my skin.

I stared at it, my vision blurring.

It was getting worse.

I swallowed forcibly, forcing the panic welling up. But I had known—down deep, I had known for some time now.

My body was failing me.

The healer's words echoed in my mind.

"You don't have much time left, Diana." Her voice was gentle, but her eyes had been tears.

"Maybe a few months."

A few months. That's all. And I don't even know if it's even as much as a month or not.

My fingers trembled as I washed my hand, the cloth having no effect against the cold that seeped into my bones.

I should have been frightened.

But I wasn't.

I was relieved.

Three years of misery. Three years of living another's life. I had surrendered everything—love, freedom, happiness.

But it would all soon be over.

And I would finally be free.

I fell onto the bed, watching the lamp sway, my thoughts returning to the time when things were not as they stand today.

When love was important.

---

Flashback – Three Years Ago

Sunlight filtered through the trees, bathing the clearing in golden warmth. The breeze brought the scent of wildflowers and green grass.

I laughed as Alex tugged me forward, his grip firm but playful.

"Come on, Diana," he teased, grinning. "You're slower than a snail."

I pursed my plump lips, pretending to be offended. "Not everyone has Alpha speed, you know."

He grinned, turning his face away from me, his deep blue eyes glinting mischievously. "Then I suppose I'll just have to carry you."

Before I could protest, he had swooped up, scooped, and enveloped me in one smooth, determined movement. I shrieked, wrapping arms around his neck.

"Aaaaalex!" I gasped. "Put me down!"

His laughter rattled the skin under me. "Never."

I couldn't help smiling despite my outrage. His warmth, his skin—he made my pulse throb.

Back then, he had been my whole world.

We collapsed onto the grass, breathless from laughter. He propped himself up on one elbow, looking at me with a tenderness that made my chest ache.

"You know you’re mine, right?" he murmured.

I nodded. "And you’re mine."

He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "Always, Diana."

Then his lips met mine—soft, full of promise.

I had believed in that promise.

I had believed in us.

Then he stepped back, slapped my head and mocked me. "Look at how red your face is, what a poor kisser."

I buried my head in my hands, blushing hard until my cheeks turned tomato red.

"She's blushing," he guffawed and I got up faking anger and embarrassment and ran after him while we went round the whole compound. Effervescing in joyous laughter and smile.

---

Present Day

Shuddering breath escaped my lips, the past pressing down on me like a burden I could not escape.

The promise had been broken. The smile had perished when he was poisoned and I was promised to Ryan.

Alex had set me free. He had suspected the worst. He had gone away, leaving me to ache alone.

And now, it was too late to make amends.

I touched my aching chest.

I would not tell him the truth.

He had moved on—built a life with Lily, while I had retreated into nothing more than memory.

I was a shadow of the past.

I just had to wait a little longer.

A few more months, and it would all be over.

Then, I would be free.

From him.

From the pain.

From everything.

---

Later That Night

A knock at the door startled me.

I quickly shoved the bloody cloth under my pillow before unzipping it.

Alex just stood there with his face expressionless.

I straightened up. "What do you want?"

His eyes raked over mine. "Are you okay?"

I attempted to smile. "Why would I not be?"

His jaw tightened. "Diana—"

"I don't need your sympathy, Alex." My voice was silky in spite of the ache within my chest. "Go back to your life."

His eyes darkened. "You are my life."

A bitter laugh was torn from me. "No. I was your past."

Silence.

He just stared at me, as if he was waiting for me to take it back—to say something that would make it all go away.

But I didn't.

I gave him a reminder instead.

A cruel one.

"Do you remember?" My voice was soft, but sharp. "Do you remember when I cheated on you?"

His entire body tensed.

I saw it in his eyes—the anger, the betrayal, the raw wound which never healed.

"Diana—"

"I married someone else," I continued, my voice slicing through the air. "I chose him over you."

His fists clenched at his sides. "Stop."

"Why?" I tilted my head. "Does it still hurt?"

His breath was caught, his body rigid with contained emotion.

Good.

If he was angry, he wouldn't see the truth.

He wouldn't see how much I was hurting.

How much I still loved him.

He had trusted Lily. He had trusted the lies.

And that had destroyed me more than anything else.

I walked to the door, opening it wide.

"Leave, Alex."

He hesitated.

But then, at last, he consented.

He came in, and I closed the door on him.

As soon as he was out of my sight, I exhaled, not knowing I'd been holding it.

I pushed my hand on my chest, the weak, uneven throb of my heart.

All this would be gone soon.

Soon, I would be gone.

And maybe, just maybe

That was better.