Page 54 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

Just like that, my heart sinks all over again. Only this time, I’m really listening to my mother when she goes on to explain what she means.

“You told her that I will never take a mate?” My jaw drops, and more realizations come to light.

“Yes,” Mother nods. “By now, it’s common knowledge that you won’t be taking a mate. You’re already three decades old, Cyrus.”

“Mother…” I shake my head in disbelief. “... Why did you tell her that?”

“It’s true, is it not?” Mother defends with a shrug.

Dropping my head into my hand, I wallow in the light of the truth.

Cassandra believes that I won’t ever take a mate. She must have thought that I’d only used her and that I was only planning on using her for bodily pleasures.

Up until I lost her again, it was something I hadn’t even considered. Yet, it feels like the most natural thing to do.

It’s the only way I can make amends for losing her a second time.

I look up again to find my mother staring at me contemplatively as if she could see right through me. She has no idea what occurred between Cassandra and me, yet, she seems to read me like an open book as expected from the Luna of the pack, who has an innate knowledge of everything.

“It was the disappointment I saw, wasn’t it?”

I nod in response to Mother’s question.

“Hm,” she huffs, pulling the brandy bottle toward her. “I knew something was going on between you two when you dropped her off here that day.”

“So why did you tell her?” I ask with a sigh.

“I was hoping she’d talk some sense into you,” Mother chuckles dryly. “It was obviously a very sensitive topic.”

“I only have myself to blame for that…” I mutter with a heavy heart. “It was all fairly new. We didn’t discuss…” My voice breaks off, the remnants of my past behavior stirred up like debris from a cataclysmic explosion. It lingers, and it needs to be cleared up if I’m ever going to move forward in life.

“Then that’s exactly what you need to do, Cyrus,” my mother advises. “You need to find her and speak to her.”

“I don’t know how—” I’m just about to admit that I’ve tried searching for her to no avail when my mind seemingly clears up. Whatever intoxicants I’ve consumed burn out in a split second, the clarity I’d been seeking finally coming to light.

My intuition kicks in, my inner wolf speaking up for the first time in two weeks.

“Asuka…”it whispers, as if speaking to my mother has allowed me to think clearly.

“I know how to find her!” I exclaim, jumping to my feet and startling my mother when she shrieks. I wrap an arm around her shoulders and press a kiss at the top of her head. “Thank you, Mother.”

Mother giggles lightly, nudging me in the ribs. “See? There’s a reason why I’m still alive. It’s to make sure you give this pack the Luna it deserves.”

Chapter 15 - Cassandra

Impulsive decisions have always been my saving grace in the past. The first time I left Mysthaven, I’d struck gold with an offer from an overseas company. It was like walking away from Mysthaven, and my life as a Moon Shine wolf opened up the doors of abundance that I needed at the time.

This time around, I’m not so lucky. I can’t help but wonder if this is some punishment from the higher-ups.

Was it a foolish decision to leave again? Was I mistaken?

My impulsive decision to leave Mysthaven has only been met with resistance from my outside world. First, I willingly submitted both my body and mind to the Alpha of the Moon Shine Pack. That was my first mistake.

I don’t want to call my decision to leave again without breathing a word to anyone a mistake. But it’s beginning to feel like one, and I can’t go back on my decision.

It’s not like I can go back now with my tail between my legs. It’ll only give Cyrus the leverage he needs to ruin my life, as he always seems to ruin it.

Grunting under my breath, I make my way into the diner, where Kenji awaits me at a table in the corner.

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