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.”

turned to me with casual dismissal. “Return to the Northern Territory Central Healing Institute on your

response despite the sting of his

notice, but I had grown accustomed

the manor entrance.

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fine, Sophia,” Isabella’s voice reassured

around.”

midway to my mouth. Sophia?

doorway with Sophia Rivers beside her. Sophia’s eyes widened as she took in the grandeur of

ancient tapestries clearly overwhelmed her. She tried to hide her ambition behind

is magnificent,” Sophia

with pride. “Wait until you meet Grandmother

was about to respond, she

are you here?” Isabella asked, genuine surprise coloring her

was palpable. She wondered about my connection

racing with possibilities.

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

flushed with

tone. “Bringing Miss Rivers

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

wrong. I’ll expose

loyalty to Sophia was

the dining room, Sophia

“I truly want to reconcile with you.

her grip

her eyes wide with false terror. “Don’t push

She released my hand and continued stumbling toward the

into the water with a loud splash. The

no ordinary water feature. It was a sacred place for werewolves, where supernatural power was weakened and only the

possessed the strength

my strength draining immediately. My limbs grew heavy as

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Chapter 52: A Dangerous

the air. “Help! Someone

within seconds, his Alpha instincts responding to the

into the water.

instead of swimming toward me, his mate, he

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

through my body.

to sink, feeling abandoned and forgotten. The water closed over

to fade.

darkness threatened to claim me, strong hands pulled me

air, water streaming from my hair and clothes. My