Natash's POV
The ringing tone not only interrupted my reverie but also yanked me out of my thoughts. My face was slightly flushed, and my small hands were quick to push away the man in front of me. I belatedly realized that his influence on me was still immense, to the point where, when he got close, I had no resistance left.
I knew very well that I was at a significant disadvantage from the beginning. Our marriage had nothing to do with the love that resided in my mind. Love, in Jaclyn·Dills' case, might be something that didn't exist at all.
And it was because of this that I realized that the Moon Goddess could make mistakes too.
In the past, when I watched idol dramas and cried my eyes out, if Jaclyn·Dills ever saw me, he wouldn't say anything. Instead, he would look at me with an incredible expression, owing to his good manners and poise.
Sometimes, he would cast a glance at the TV screen, where some melodramatic eight o'clock drama was playing, and furrow his brows before saying, "We watch TV for entertainment and happiness. You've turned it into a snot and tears fest, and it's lost its entertainment value." With a snap, he would pick up the remote and turn off the TV.
I still remember that I looked at him with a slightly stunned expression. I couldn't find any words to refute him. This man was too rational, standing above it all, capable of assessing every situation with utmost clarity.
As Annelie would put it, this man was wasting his charming looks that could drive people to their deaths, while the treasure within was utterly uninteresting. He wasn't romantic, nor was he affectionate. Nevertheless, I loved him. Two years later, when facing him, I still felt utterly powerless.
I stood up, pushing the rolling stand carrying the IV bag a few steps to the side before I answered my phone. "Hello, it's Natasha Yael."
The voice on the other end sounded relieved. "Oh, Natasha, I thought I dialed the wrong number earlier. I heard a man's voice."
"Yes, it was a male colleague from my company," I mumbled vaguely. Sophia laughed. "I understand, I understand. In fact, your housemaid has been saying that you're so young and beautiful. You should find another partner; it'll be less of a burden."
"Sophia, is something wrong with Perry?" I whispered into my phone, covering it tightly.
"No, no, I was just telling you that I need to go back to the pack for my nephew's wedding the day after tomorrow. I'll be back in two days. Perry is—"
"Oh," I cut her off. "You go back and don't worry. I'll take care of things here. Thank you, and goodbye."
I hung up the phone, and as I turned around, I found Jaclyn·Dills sitting in the spot I had occupied earlier, gazing at me intently, his eyes cold and distant. Unconsciously, I hugged my arms, lowered my head slightly, and went to the nurses' station to disconnect the almost empty IV bag.
The young nurse who attended to me seemed a bit nervous, and when she removed the needle, it stung a little, but the pain quickly passed. I pressed on the spot where the needle had been and glanced back at Jaclyn·Dills. The phone call had brought me back to reality, and I couldn't afford any further involvement with him. If he were to find out...
A shiver ran down my spine. I knew I was no match for this man. I had a keen sense of self-awareness, and after what I had done, I never wanted to be with him again. In fact, even if I hadn't called it off, our marriage was probably at a dead end. He didn't love me, did he? Without love, what's the point of a marriage?
Jaclyn's POV
I had been pondering since the call about who the person on the other end was and what connection they had to my Luna, Natash·Yael.
I thought I knew her very well, which was why I agreed to marry her in the first place. I liked her simplicity, especially after being surrounded by women outside who were often made up and had complex personalities.
I preferred my mate to be uncomplicated, so I could find some peace at home.
The Yael family had complicated family relations, but my mate's social circle was incredibly simple, almost to an unrealistic extent.
Her best friend and classmate, someone named Annelie, were the only people she interacted with. I generally chose to ignore less important people, even if they were my mate's friends.
I'd seen Annelie just once or twice, and I couldn't even remember what she looked like.
Her name stuck in my mind only because it was so unusual. But clearly, the person on the other end of the call wasn't Annelie. If it were her, there would be no need for such secrecy.
The term "suspicious" was fitting for how Natash had acted, treating me like a thief.
We'd been reunited for several hours, and it only occurred to me now that two years had passed between us, and there were things I didn't know.
This feeling was starting to annoy me.
I picked up my coat draped over the armrest and walked over.
Natash·Yael couldn't help but notice the sensitivity of the nurse who was removing her IV. The nurse's eyes seemed to almost form two complete heart shapes as she held her notebook in an attempt to disguise her curiosity, trying to look without being caught.
This behavior reminded Natash·Yael of her own past.
Natasha's POVI didn't want to say anything to him here.My face had already suffered enough embarrassment moments ago, forgetting everything in the midst of kissing in a place like this. It's a hospital, and apart from us, there are several patients receiving IV drips and nurses around.I lowered my head, deliberately choosing to ignore the faint but noticeable gazes fixed on me.Exiting the IV room, I walked briskly. Despite my short stature and petite frame, I took two steps, and Jaclyn Dills caught up with just one step.Therefore, by the time we reached the emergency room door, I was already slightly out of breath, while Jaclyn Dills continued to follow me with an unhurried pace.It was well past eleven at night, and the early winter evening breeze carried a bone-chilling cold.Lifting my gaze, I could see distant, dimly lit lights and some desolate streets beneath the chilly glow.At first glance, this place resembled Red Valley Pack. Same bustling city, the noise settling into
Natasha's POVI avoided him precisely because of this—I didn't want to endure his anger. In reality, he had never erupted in front of me, except for the one time when I wanted to work after our marriage. Most of the time, I couldn't read this man. He stood tall, looking down at me as if a deity, and I, a mere ant in the vast world.From the beginning, we were never meant to be together.The forced compatibility due to our backgrounds disappeared, and I chose to leave for the sake of the little pride I had left.For the past two years, I deliberately avoided thinking about him.I didn't pay attention to family matters, didn't read newspapers or news. I subconsciously avoided everything related to our past.Annelie said I was running away, but other than running away, I couldn't think of any other solution.When I found out I was pregnant and felt the living presence of a small life inside me, my life took a turn. A child, a child belonging to Jaclyn and me.I was overjoyed, like any wo
Jaclyn's POVI really wanted to tear open this woman's chest and take a good look to see what exactly was on her mind. Or perhaps, she had no heart at all; it had long been devoured by some stray dog.Clearly a timid woman, yet a few words from her could infuriate me to no end.I didn't even care about it, but she was all focused on getting a divorce from me.How beautiful.When we got married, she was more than willing. Now that she's married to me, there's no way she can get a divorce.She talked to me about matrimonial law as if I wasn't familiar with it. I raised a sarcastic smile and said, "The pack's law states that if mates' wolves live separately for more than two years, it can be considered a possible condition for a broken relationship, provided that one party files for divorce. So, what's your intention? Are you going to file for divorce and take me to court, or are you going to sue Jacob?"Natash Yael kept her head down, biting her lip in silence.She knew very well that s
Natash's POV:As soon as I opened the door, I saw Sophia walking around in the living room, holding Perry and murmuring softly.It startled me.Perry was born premature, a month early, weighing just a little over four pounds.She spent almost half a month in an incubator.Her little face, small body, and weak breath made her look like a fragile and pitiable kitten, with a mouth so small it couldn't even hold a bottle.My breast milk was limited, and my overall care during that period wasn't great.The poor little girl often couldn't eat enough, lacked strength, and fell asleep with a bottle in her mouth, whimpering and twitching in her sleep.It got a bit better after three months, but at six months, she developed bronchitis. She had needles on her tiny forehead, and the pain in my heart was unbearable.I spent many nights holding her, rocking and comforting her. Normally, at this hour, a child would have been asleep, but holding her now likely meant she wasn't feeling well again.I h
Jaclyn's POV:I returned to Red Valley Pack overnight and sat on the terrace of the villa for the whole night. In the morning, I drove back to Red Moon Pack.I spent the night pondering but couldn't figure out why she didn't come back with me, just like I didn't understand why she left in the first place.For the first time in my life, I began to question my charm. Could she hate me so much that she wanted to avoid me for the rest of her life?The girl who used to be docile and obedient in my arms, now seemed to have grown bold. I even doubted whether I had been mistaken before; perhaps, if a rabbit bares its teeth, it could bite. Even if not fatal, it would still hurt.Then, I remembered the kiss in the hospital. Suddenly, I felt that she wasn't completely indifferent to me. The direct reaction she had, I could feel it.So why this inconsistency in her actions?I needed to figure this out. After a night of contemplation, I couldn't understand anything else, but one thing was clear—I
Annelie's POV"What now?" I felt a bit puzzled by these two. In fact, I knew about Natash·Yael's secret crush on Jaclyn·Dills for a decade.Natash·Yael was a reserved and stubborn person.Back when I was distressed by my inability to afford tuition and pulling my hair by the college lake, she approached me, softly asking about the reason.We shared a dorm, but for almost a semester, we hadn't exchanged many words.In my eyes, Natash·Yael seemed a bit aloof, and at the time, she was quite insecure.Here, she wasn't the celebrated top scorer in the pack's high school; she was just an outsider from a pack.It took me a while to realize that not everyone was kind and genuine. Some people were malicious, even contemptuous and mocking.In less than a year, I experienced it all. Just when I was losing hope and on the verge of despair, I met Natash·Yael.Although Natash·Yael would never admit it, she was my benefactor, showing me hope in moments of despair.This seemingly ordinary and reserve
Jaclyn's POVI'm really exhausted.Since meeting Luna until now, I haven't even closed my eyes. In fact, it's been almost two years, and I haven't had a good night's sleep.After Luna left, the initial anger gradually faded, and I felt a bit empty around me.I had gotten used to coming home to Luna waiting for me.Even if I returned late, upon entering the house, I could see the dim light left by Natash·Yael for me.Despite not being very bright, it always brought a different warmth to me. My heart was calm and at ease.Now that Natash·Yael is gone, the vast space seems to have lost its vitality. It's desolate and cold, and the atmosphere leaves my heart hanging in emptiness, unable to rise or fall.Unconsciously, this little woman has become so important to me, important to the point of being irreplaceable.I just couldn't see it clearly at that time, clouded by momentary anger.Enduring these two years without reaching out to her, every day and night, my heart has been in a tug of w
Jaclyn's POV Natash·Yael pursed her lips and lowered her head, contemplating how to deal with me. However, before she could respond, I urged her, "Open the door. Didn't you lose your keys again? Let me check." With a quick motion of my long fingers, I hooked her bag over my arm. As I unzipped it, I paused for a moment, surprised by its contents. While I may not have children of my own, the assortment inside—diapers, baby bottles, wipes, towels, spare clothes, snacks, and toys—resembled a treasure chest. Even though Luna's bag wasn't as fully equipped, the real concern was the presence of child-related items. I skeptically looked at Luna. She hastily grabbed her bag back, retrieved her keys, but hesitated before putting them in the lock. Turning to face me, she asked nervously, "What's going on?" I remained silent, narrowing my eyes. In the dim hallway light, they seemed to emit an unsettling gleam, increasing Luna's unease. Misinterpreting Luna's nervousness, my mind raced to