Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

(Ethan's POV)

Time ticked by, and it was soon the appointed time, but Olivia Winters' figure was nowhere to be seen. I picked up my phone, wanting to call her to ask where she was, but worried that it would make me seem impatient and displease her.

My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, sensing my mate's absence. The familiar ache of longing consumed me as I stared at the restaurant entrance.

I put the phone back and continued to wait patiently, my amber eyes fixed on the doorway. Every shadow that passed made my heart leap with hope, only to crash when it wasn't her.

The white moonflowers I'd carefully arranged seemed to mock me with their beauty. Their sweet scent filled the air, but without Olivia here, they felt meaningless.

Maxwell Chen kept replacing my tea, the delicate porcelain cups growing cold one after another. But Olivia never showed up.

At eleven o'clock, Maxwell cleared his throat softly. "Alpha King, it's quite late. Perhaps Luna Winters has been delayed by urgent matters."

His diplomatic words carried an underlying message - that Olivia was deliberately playing with me. But I remained silent, staring at my phone screen.

The last message I'd sent through our reopened mate bond glowed back at me: "Understood, seven o'clock tonight, I'll be waiting for you at Amber Crest Restaurant. Until then."

Memories flooded my mind like silver daggers. All the times Olivia had waited for me in the past, longing for my love and commitment.

recalled my repeated disappointments and broken promises, especially those involving our daughter, Lily. How many times had

had she cried herself to sleep while I was with

those past actions were boomeranging back, causing my wolf immense pain. The irony wasn't lost on

I didn't leave early, staying until midnight. My wolf whined with each passing hour,

quietly around me, their eyes filled with pity

I silently got up and left the carefully arranged restaurant, the moonflowers wilting

to compose a message to Olivia through our mate

overwhelming emotions, making it difficult to

I typed

express the depth of my regret and

until you are willing to look back at me

disappeared into the void of our bond. I discovered their connection was

accidentally opened my social media. Lucas Blackwood's post appeared at

photo showed a restaurant with a view of the city. Upon closer inspection, I spotted reflections in the window, revealing

read 8:30 PM

should have been with me, In the reflection, Lucas