Isabella's POV
Immediately the cold hand grabbed my wrist, pure instinct took over. I didn't think... I simply moved. I twisted, grabbed the arm and flipped the person clean over my shoulder and they hit the floor with a loud and painful thud.
"Ugh... Isabella!"
My heart dropped. Alpha Edmund.. my mate was lying flat on his back like a sack of potatoes. That explains why I'd didn't hear him sneak up on me.
"Oh my moon!" I rushed toward him. "Edmund... Edmund, I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you! Why would you grab me like a villain in the dark?!"
He groaned and pushed himself up slowly, clearly not impressed.
"I was trying to be romantic."
"Romantic?" I blinked. "By grabbing me from behind in the dark like a kidnapper? Edmund, that's not romantic... that's..." I trailed off.
His jaw tightened. He dusted himself off like I'd tossed dirt on his royal dignity.
"You used to like surprises."
"I like flowers, Edmund. Not heart attacks."
He didn't smile.
In fact, he looked… annoyed. Actually, more than annoyed. His eyes had that familiar tightness... worn-out frustration, the kind that had been growing between us for months now.
"So," he muttered, "you're going to flip me every time I try to touch you?"
"That is not what I said," I sighed. "You just scared me."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"I came to pull you to bed. It's late."
Ah. There it was. I rubbed the back of my neck.
"I know. I'm coming."
He smirked a little... like he thought "coming" meant something else... and took my hand, leading me inside.
We got to the bed and he didn't waste time. He tugged off his shirt and gave me that look... the "you know what I want" look. The problem was… I knew and I also knew I wasn't in the mood. I didn't feel connected and I didn't feel wanted... I felt like a duty.
He slid closer.
"Bella, come here…"
I gently pushed his chest.
"Not tonight, Edmund."
He froze and the annoyance in his face sharpened.
"Again?"
I swallowed but held my ground.
"I'm tired."
"You're always tired," he muttered.
"And you're always annoyed," I shot back.
His eyes darkened but not with desire. With anger. With something deeper and harder.
"Forget it."
He rolled to his side and lay stiff as a log. I stared at him with hurt chewing at my chest.
"Edmund," I whispered, "what was that meeting about? I heard the words Lycan King..."
"I'm going to sleep," he said coldly.
And just like that, the wall between us grew another inch.
I watched his back rise and fall in the darkness and realized sleep wasn't coming for me at all.
***
When I finally drifted off, it felt like I blinked once and by the time I woke up, Edmund was gone.
Of course.
I sighed, got up and washed my face and by the time I slipped into a simple gown and tied my hair back, I felt a little more like a Luna and a little less like an abandoned pillow.
I headed toward our son's room but Clara was already there.
"Magnus is ready, my Luna," she said quickly when she saw me. "Washed, dressed and full of smiles."
My little boy ran to me, wrapping his arms around my legs.
"Mommy!"
I smiled and hugged him tightly.
"Good morning, sunshine."
"Good morning, Mommy!"
I looked up at Clara.
"Thank you."
She bowed.
"Always, my Luna."
Ramona met us in the hallway as cheerful as always.
It felt really good having her around as a sister in law, the only surviving family Edmund had and most importantly as a friend.
We all headed to breakfast together but Edmund wasn't there.. Again.
I tried not to frown, settling Magnus beside me. My guards stood nearby like statues... watching silently, loyal and unblinking. I swear one of them didn't even breathe.
Magnus ate happily, Ramona chatted and Clara smiled politely whenever someone called on her to refill a goblet or so but inside, a small seed of unease grew. Edmund was avoiding me..
***
I didn't see Edmund the entire day. Not in the halls, not in the training grounds and not in the council room. He was like smoke... there, but always slipping away when I reached for him.
By the time night came, I felt drained in a different way. Not physically… emotionally. I changed into my nightgown and stepped onto the balcony, the same place I'd stand to stare at the pack below me.
The gardens glowed softly under the moonlight peacefully and quiet until...
A shadow moved below. I frowned and leaned forward slightly. Someone was in the garden. Tall. Broad shoulders. Familiar outline.
"Edmund?" I whispered.
He was never in the garden at night. Never walking quietly like a thief. What was he doing?
Without thinking, I slipped on shoes and walked downstairs silently, letting my wolf senses guide me.
I kept low behind the bushes and then a sound reached me.. A soft gasp and then...
Kissing.
Fierce, hungry and loud enough for the moon to hear. My stomach dropped.
No. No, no...
I stepped forward and froze. Edmund. My mate and my husband was actually kissing someone pressed against a tree.
I stepped closer with my heart beating. The girl turned her face just slightly and…
Clara…? My maid?! My chest constricted.
"Edmund?" My voice came out softly but sharp.
He pulled away casually. Not guilty and not shaken.. not even embarrassed.
Clara, however, looked like she wanted to sink into the earth and disappear forever.
"L-Luna..."
"Leave us," Edmund said, not even looking at her.
She scrambled away so fast she almost tripped over her own feet and I stepped closer with my eyes burning.
"How long?" I asked quietly.
Edmund didn't answer immediately. He just sighed... annoyed again as if I was the inconvenience.
"You hardly want me anymore, Isabella. What do you expect me to do?"
I stared at him, stunned.
"You're blaming me?"
"Yes," he said simply. "You used to love me. You used to want me but now you avoid me every night."
"I avoid you because I feel like a stranger sleeps beside me!" I snapped. "I left everything... everything... to be your Luna because I loved you!"
He scoffed.
"Love wasn't the only reason, Isabella. You agreed because our parents betrothed us since we were children and the moon goddess made us fated mates!"
The words were like another arrow... one I couldn't catch this time.
"So that's what you think?" I whispered.
He shrugged.
"I can't keep pretending we're happy. For months, you won't even let me touch you. You're depriving me of sex!"
"And Clara?" I asked slowly. "She's an omega and a maid.. my maid!"
He didn't flinch.
"Clara lets me have what I want at least. What position I want and in the naughtiest ways too."
My breath stopped.. just stopped and like he'd ripped my heart out with bare hands and tossed it away.
"You're disgusting," I whispered.
"And I'm done pretending," he said.
He stepped closer with his face cold and cruel.
"Isabella of Evergreen Pack," he said softly, "I, Alpha Edmund of Evergreen Pack reject you as my mate…"