After Severance,Alpha Fell in Love With Ex-Luna

Chapter 52: A Dangerous Charade

Chapter 52: A Dangerous Charade

(Elena’s POV)

I spread out the quilt on the floor without changing my expression. “I’m having my moon cycle, I can’t sleep well, I’m afraid of disturbing you.”

Marcus emerged from the Moonstone Washroom, his hair still damp from the shower. He stopped when he

noticed the makeshift bed on the floor.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his golden eyes narrowing.

I smoothed the blanket carefully. “Making a bed on the floor.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened. “Get up. Sleep on the bed.”

I looked up at him, confused by his sudden concern. “I’m fine here.”

“Catherine Hayes and the other manor staff will notice if we sleep separately,” he said curtly. “It will cause

unnecessary gossip.”

I hesitated, remembering his behavior at the Silverbrook Shopping District. His sudden closeness had left me

wary of his intentions.

“I don’t want pack members speculating about our relationship,” Marcus continued, his voice matter–of–fact.

Reluctantly, I gathered the quilt and moved to the bed. The mattress felt foreign after months of sleeping

separately.

Marcus clarified without looking at me. “This is merely to avoid suspicion. Nothing more.”

He turned his back to me and settled on his side of the bed. The space between us felt like an ocean.

I lay there in the darkness, pondering the truth behind his words. Was this really about appearances, or was there something deeper?

The complexities of our strained mating bond weighed heavily on my mind as sleep finally claimed me.

1

The next morning, Marcus and I went downstairs together. We maintained a facade of normalcy at breakfast, though tension hung in the air like morning mist.

Grace Burton approached Marcus with a respectful bow. “Alpha Marcus, your father requests your presence in the Shadow Archives after breakfast.”

Marcus nodded curtly. “Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

with casual dismissal. “Return to the Northern Territory

light response despite the sting of his

my notice, but I had grown accustomed to such

finished my breakfast, voices echoed from the manor entrance. Isabella

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52: A

will be fine, Sophia,” Isabella’s voice reassured someone. “Grandmother

around.”

to my

in the dining room doorway with Sophia Rivers beside her. Sophia’s eyes widened

crystal chandeliers and ancient tapestries clearly overwhelmed her. She tried

place is magnificent,” Sophia

beamed with pride. “Wait until you meet Grandmother Margaret.

as Sophia was about to respond, she spotted me. Her face froze

you here?” Isabella asked, genuine surprise coloring

wondered about my connection to the Blackwood

racing with possibilities.

directly. “I don’t need to explain why I’m here, do

cheeks flushed

my attention to Isabella with a warning tone. “Bringing Miss Rivers to

“I never offended you, Healer Elena. I don’t understand why

“Sophia has done nothing wrong. I’ll expose your true

loyalty to Sophia was both

the dining room, Sophia

she said with feigned desperation. “I truly want to reconcile with you. I apologize for any unintentional

to pull away, but her grip tightened.

stumbled backward, her eyes wide with false terror.

actresses. She released my

The cold

feature. It was a sacred place for werewolves, where supernatural power was weakened and only the strongest could

strength

My limbs grew heavy as

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Chapter 52: A Dangerous

screams pierced the air. “Help! Someone

instincts responding to the crisis. Without hesitation,

into the water.

me, his mate, he headed straight for the struggling

in disbelief as he reached for her first. A sudden leg cramp seized my

through my body.

sink, feeling abandoned and forgotten. The water closed over my head as

to fade.

claim me, strong hands pulled me

air, water streaming from my hair and clothes.