Kevin’s POV
These past two days, I haven’t seen Ella at all. Camila mentioned she goes up the mountain to gather herbs at 5:30 in the morning and returns at midnight. I didn’t say anything; I knew she was avoiding me. Ever since I exposed Ella’s true identity, our relationship has been strained.
A Cold War can’t last too long. I need to change this situation quickly. On the third night, I waited for Ella in the yard, but she didn’t show up. Her room’s window was dark, indicating she hadn’t returned that night. I grew anxious and went to knock on her door.
“Kevin, has Ella gone missing again?” Eric asked.
Me: She probably hasn’t. Once she calms down a bit, she’ll be willing to listen to my explanation.
Eric: When will that be? I hate waiting, waiting is too long!
Eric paced impatiently in my mind, furrowing my brow.
Me: I hate waiting too, but we need to give her some space. She probably can’t accept being exposed like that.
Eric: What do we do then? The deed is done. Kevin, I have to say, your decisions are always impulsive. You could have pretended not to know Ella’s identity and continued being with her. But you exposed everything; she must think we were just playing with her before.
Me: I had no choice at that moment. Eric, can you calm down a bit? I’m frustrated too, but we need patience. We shouldn’t scare Ella away.
Eric: Fine.
“Ella, are you there?” I stood by the wooden door, asking cautiously.
Silence was the response. I knocked a few more times, causing some noise in the quiet night.
“Kevin, she’s not home.”
Camila’s voice came from behind me, yawning. “She packed her bags and went to work at Luna’s estate.”
“Work at Luna’s estate?”
“Yes, she won in the election and has already gone to Luna’s estate to take up the position. Knocking on her door won’t help if you’re looking for her.”
“Alright.” As I turned to leave, Camila stopped me. “Kevin, I must say,”
“I don’t care where you come from or what your relationship with Anna was in the past. But now that she’s with me, she’s my granddaughter, and I won’t allow you to harm her.”
Camila’s expression was serious, her brown eyes sharp. I nodded, “Don’t worry, I love her more than anyone else and would never harm her.”
“Well, I hope what you’re saying is true. Normally, I shouldn’t be the one reminding you…” Camila paused. “I smelled your scent on Anna, so you marked her, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I must seriously warn you, Anna is a wolf with strong boundaries. She’s highly vigilant towards others. If you forcibly marked her without her consent, it will only push her further away from you.”
“I understand, Camila. So, what do you want to say?”
“Kevin, you’re an intelligent leader wolf; you’ll understand what I mean. Until you’ve figured out everything and can give Anna what she deserves, don’t engage with her. Don’t let your momentary impulses shatter her heart again, especially when she’s just started to heal.”
My heart tightened. “Alright, I know what I should do.”
Ella’s POV
Luna’s estate.
I lay on the luxurious bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Today, I accepted the title of Senior Apothecary from Luna and will be working for Alpha Oscar for the next six months. The salary here is high, $80, 000 per month, at least five times more than what I earned at the clinic.
The wind outside knocked on the branches, raindrops’ sound reached my ears. I looked up, and memories of that night with Kevin, our bodies entwined, made me blush. Honestly, I eagerly accepted this apothecary role mainly to avoid facing Kevin. This is the Blue River Pack’s Alpha camp, and as a Blood Moon Pack’s Alpha, Kevin won’t be able to freely enter here.
The news of the Blood Moon Pack’s extermination of black wolves spread throughout the Blue River Pack. According to the maid Ava, Alpha Oscar is unhappy with the Blood Moon Pack’s actions, thinking Kevin’s decision was too ruthless and biased against him. Fortunately, the Blood Moon Pack and the Blue River Pack are geographically distant and have maintained a non-interference relationship for centuries. So, I am confident that Kevin and Beta Liam won’t cause trouble here.
Ella, are you really not planning to meet Kevin again?
Lucy spoke up.
I sat up, considering her words: I don’t know, but I don’t want to see him now. Lucy, he’s too cunning; he deceived us, pretended not to know my identity, and then marked us during our heat.
Lucy: Yes, Kevin did go too far, but doesn’t that also show that he loves you?
I paused: No, Lucy, he can’t possibly love me.
Lucy continued talking.
Kevin ordered the werewolves of the Blood Moon Pack to exterminate all black wolves, but you grew up with him since childhood. You know, he wasn’t so ruthless before. Is it possible that, thinking you were dead, he sought revenge on your behalf?
I fell silent, remembering when I was 11, he saved a little black wolf chased by an eagle. At that time, he gently told me that all species in the supernatural world are equal, and not to harbor prejudices against other races. But the current him is vastly different from the one in my memory.
Also, based on these days of interaction, I can feel that he and his wolf care deeply about us. I guess the reason he remains silent about your identity is likely because he senses your hatred towards him and wants to stay close to you.
My heart skipped a beat. I recalled the scene of my mother being pierced through the chest by the black wolf’s flying knife and the moment Kevin looked panicked when I fell into the abyss. I shook my head, trying to dismiss these unrealistic thoughts.
Me: Lucy, this is just your imagination. Kevin is arrogant; he said he wouldn’t be emotionally attached to any she-wolf. If he really loves me, why would he reject us? His current behavior is likely out of pity. Five years ago, my mother died to save him, and he might just be thinking of redemption.
Lucy: Yes… you’re right.
Lucy sighed in frustration, and I knew she was trying to justify Kevin. Since that night of passion, she had become restless, like a young she-wolf experiencing her first heat. I understood her; as a wolf, it’s challenging not to be influenced by the bond of a Mate. She yearned for a Mate.