Liora's POV:
It took me almost a minute before I could find my voice, Caelum's gaze fixed on me.
"Annabelle, I was really happy. These three years of my marriage have been the best years of my life," I lied, trying hard to sound believable.
As much as I want to cry out to Annabelle, the last thing is letting Caelum know how miserable I am. How unhappy I have been.
How these three years have been the worst years of my life!
Even though tears were threatening to pour down my eyes, I continued, trying not to show I am aware of Caelum's presence. "Alpha Zand treats me well and amongst all, an Omega like me got to become the Luna of our pack."
As if my words were something Caelum wasn't expecting to hear, he walked away.
"Who is he?" Annabelle asked the moment I felt my breath return to normal. "He does seem—"
"He is my stepson. Alpha Zand's son," I quickly cut her off. "Are you going to stay here tonight?" I asked sharply, trying to change the topic of our conversation.
I had other works to do, but I would gladly abandon them to spend quality time with Annabelle.
It might have been three years, but it felt like three decades. I missed her presence and amongst all things, she would make me…
"I want to stay tonight but Mom wants me back home tonight," she replied, sadness laced in her voice.
Before I could talk, she continued, "Before I go, can you introduce your stepson to me? He is really my type."
I bit my lips at Annabelle's words, anger burning through for reasons I can't explain.
Maybe because she is my sister and Caelum is the last person I would want for her.
"Annabelle, he is a no-go zone—"
"What makes him a no-go zone?" Annabelle asked, silencing me, her gaze piercing through mine as if she could read through me.
For a split second, I felt short of the right words to say.
"He is the Alpha's son and probably has a mate," I quickly forced out those words, sounding as if it was meant for me.
For me to stop thinking about him. To stop imagining him doing all those dirty things to me.
"Luna Liora, don't worry about that, I am now a grownup and—"
"You should be thinking of meeting your mate in the Moonfest festival and not Caelum," I cut her off.
She chuckled at my words, as if everything I said was funny. "So you even knew his name? You know this stepson of yours looks like that man who always had you restlessly and glued to your phone?"
"He is not the one! For the goddess's sake, Caelum is… he is my stepson," I quickly corrected myself before causing a mess I won't be able to clean up, especially with gazes on me, ears wide open as if they were recording every bit of my conversation.
"You know what, I won't have this conversation with you. If you want him, you can go do whatever you want," I finally summoned the courage to end this conversation. "I would be inside my room, if you are ready to leave, just inform one of the maids—"
"So you want to—"
"Anna, my assistant will show you around," I cut her off before leaving for my room.
I am done having every moment revolving around Caelum. It just makes everything hard for me.
A part of me wants back what we shared, the happiness I had before these three years of bondage, the man who looks at me with love and affection in his eyes. The man who calls me his moonshine.
Goddess… I have to wake up from this daydream. Not when I know what would happen if Alpha Zand finds out we knew each other, let alone this delusion messing with my brain.
I pushed open the door, finally feeling alive.
I immersed myself in the files I had already gone through, trying to remind myself of my life.
After what seemed like almost three hours, a loud knock on my door distracted me.
"Come in," I shouted, hoping my assistant is only here to inform me of Annabelle leaving.
"Luna, your sister wants me to inform you that she will be staying," her words made my eyes blink rapidly, unable to make sense out of her sudden change of mind.
What happened to going back home?
I quickly let go of everything, climbed down from my bed before heading to the living room.
"Why do you want to change your mind? What about—"
"I called mom, she said I can spend some time with you," she interrupted me, a bright smile on her face.
I am supposed to be excited she was going to spend the rest of the day with me but I felt weird. I felt like the reason she was staying isn't because of me but Caelum.
"Luna—"
"If you are going to stay here, regard me as your big sis," I muttered, trying not to entertain the silly thoughts clouding my mind.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, I am also going to spend a few days," her words made me bite my lips, feeling already frustrated.
Where in the goddess's name did that cute little girl I used to know disappear to?
"Mom said I can," she added, giving me that silly look that indicates she could read those thoughts clouding my mind.
Before I could give her the rules she must abide by if she wants to stay in this house with me, especially with eyes and ears on me, Caelum walked down to us, as if directly to me.
My heart hammered in my chest as he approached me, trying to force my gaze away from his direction but my body was betraying me.
My gaze was on his face which was strikingly handsome and different, maybe because of the new haircut which I was just noticing.
"Babe, I am already on my way," his words were like a rock, breaking me down for reasons I can't think of.
I am supposed to have no business with him being soft and in love with another female but…