12

Two Weeks Later

The days passed in a blur, each and everyone of it, Alexia avoided the Alpha at every turn, keeping to herself in the pack,

The alpha, for his part would search for her, his eyes scanning every room, every corner, desperate for a glimpse of her which he can't find.

Alas, on the final day of their stay, fate intervened. As Alexia made her way to the stables, Alpha Steele stepped into her path.

"We need to talk." He didn't let her go. She couldn't push past him either, not until he's let his guard down.

"Like I have been saying, there is nothing to say. You have your pack, your duty. And I have mine." She smiled, and like an open book, he noted it didn't reach the eye.

"I don't care about my pack. I care about you. About us." His face hardened as repeated like any other day. Why was she this hard to win over?

Alexia knew what he must be thinking. He's wrong. She wanted nothing more than to give in, to surrender herself to him. Something she couldn't.

"This is madness. We can't be together. Not now. Not like this." She didn't have to search further, she told the same excuse.

"Why not? Why can't we be together?" He cocked a brow at her.

"But how, huh? How can we be together? Your mother will never accept me, and I won't let you endanger yourself or your pack for me."

The alpha smiled, his eyes full of tenderness and warmth. "I don't know," he said, his voice quiet and honest. "But I will not rest until I find a way, for you, for us."

And then, with one final squeeze at her hand which he grabbed for a second, he pulled away, his eyes staying firmly locked on hers.
"Be safe, I'll find a way."

Alexia watched as he turned and walked back into the pack house. She climbed into the carriage, her eyes trained on the pack house, on the alpha's disappearing form. Her parents followed closely behind her carriage.

Would she ever see the alpha again? Would they find a way to be together? She's uncertain.

On Saturday morning, Alexia's phone buzzed with a call from Kade, the Alpha's Beta.

"Princess Alexia. The alpha requests your presence tomorrow, at the palace. He has something to discuss with you."

"I'll be there."

The next morning, Alexia rose early, with trembling hands, she dressed herself.
A simple, elegant gown in the shade of brown. A single strand of pearls at her neck, a delicate crown of sapphires in her hair also.

Alexia took a deep breath, steadying herself as she made her way down the stairs and out of the house.

Hours later she arrived at the Cold Moon Pack and two guards stood at the gates, as though eagerly waiting for her.

"Princess Alexia. The alpha awaits you in this chamber." They informed her, and wanted to follow but she stopped them and found her way all by herself.

She had barely even entered when she heard Steele say, "Alexia," He called her name and stood. "We have much to discuss."

"I am here, my Alpha." Eyes casted on the floor she stopped walking and answered.

"Even though you haven't accepted me as your mate, you belong here, with me, in my pack. Just so you know... You are my mate, my equal, my partner." The closer he tries to move toward her, the more she shifted back.

"I cannot stay with you, my Alpha. Not until I find a way to overcome this curse, this barrenness that plagues me. I cannot bring dishonor to your pack, to your name. It would be an insult to your honor, to your legacy."

She was letting him know but he didn't want to hear any of that. To him, he still wants to claim and mark her. If it's regarding an heir, they can get themselves a breeder!

"Your honor is not in question, Alexia." He used his final trial but it once again fell to her deaf ear.

Alexia turned away from the Alpha, she bit down on her lower lip. She bowed her head respectfully before leaving.

As she passed through the hallways, her thoughts whirling with uncertainty and fear, she caught sight of the former Luna, the Alpha mother, who seemed to have been waiting for her.

"So? You think you can defy me? You think you can return to my son, to my pack, after what you did?" The amount of disdain in her was dripping across her question.

Alexia lifted her head, her eyes meeting with the former Luna's who thought she was defiance but she just wanted to be happy, for once in her life.

"I do not seek to defy you, former Luna. I seek only to be with my mate, my Alpha, as is my right as his chosen mate."

"You are nothing but a curse on my son, on my pack. I will not allow you to taint his legacy with your barrenness." Luna Celeste spat, hating that it was taking longer to get rid of her.

Alexia stood her ground, her gaze never wavering as she felt like making that one thing clear. A pushover? Not her.

"You have no power over me, Luna. My mate has chosen me, and I will not be deterred from my path. Your hatred will not stop me, your threats will not weaken me. Things will go smoothly if you just bless us, ma'am."

The servants are nearby. If they weren't they she knew how bad she could have tore at Alexia's skin. Against her motive, she pointed a finger warningly.

"Mark my words, Lycan princess. You will regret this day. You will regret ever setting foot in my pack again."

"Tell me, former Luna." Alexia said, her eyes narrowing with some hope for understanding but found none.

"Do you know why I am barren? Do you know why I have been cursed with this affliction? Do you think it's my wish to be this way?"

The former Luna's face darkened, her eyes flickering between the door behind her and the worthless crying lady before her who just would not stop being pathetic.

"You were always a weakling. It is no surprise that you cannot bear children. It is a testament to your weakness, to your frailty." Luna Celeste snarled, not feeling even a tiny bit remorseful for her harsh words. To her, she deserved it.

Alexia blinked away her tears. Was it her fault the attack from years ago had caused her barreness? For goodness sake, she wasn't the moon goddess who had destined it that way, was she?

"You are naive, Alexia. You think love is enough to overcome all obstacles." The Luna hissed, her words dripping with scorn the more she lets out. "But you are wrong. Love is weak, love is fickle. It will not save you from the harsh realities that will soon befall you if you don't leave my son. Alone."

The discussion was over, Luna Celeste spun on her heels and left. Alexia did the same and when she reached a quiet, secluded corner, she sank to the ground, her tears flowing freely. Why can't her life maintain a good lane? Does she really have to go through all this?

"I cannot do this." She said to herself, her body racking with sobs. She buried her face in her hands, her body heaving helplessly, her heart wobbling with despair.

Alexia's hand drifted to her stomach, her fingers tracing gentle circles over the place where her child had once grown, where her hope and dreams had been so cruelly blown at to vanish into thin air.

"My child," she whispered, her voice choked as she clung tighter onto her stomach. "My beautiful, perfect child. I am so sorry, my love. I could not protect you. I could not keep you safe."

As she stayed at the corner crying, her thoughts didn't stay in one place. She's come this far only to relent? No, she's past that. No more was she the weakling Omega they all knew her to be.

Now, she's the Lycan princess. If anything, she shouldn't be here so hopeless like the person she once was. And again, she's not going to lose the moon goddess second chance mate that she'd bestowed to her.

Grasping on to the hem of her dress, she ran back inside and past the guards whose stares followed her ever so curiously. She didn't stop until she's reached his door, her pant slowly coming to a stop.

All at once, she twisted the doorknob and pushed open the door. Steele who had been staring at the window occupied in his mind was not aware of her presence.

Until she announced in one swift second, his ears perked up at her outburst.

"I accept you. As my mate, and Alpha." She muttered, without pausing to catch her breath.