Noah POV
I watched helplessly as Selene turned and walked away, her body language screaming finality. It felt like my entire world crumbled around .
"Selene, wait!" I called out desperately.
She paused but didn’t turn around
I rushed over until I was right behind her. I reached out and gently gripped her shoulders, forcing her to face .
"Please, don’t do this, Selene," I pleaded with my heart pounding so fast in my chest that I thought it would explode. "I was wrong, so wrong and I promise to be better. But I can’t lose you, Selene. You’re everything to ,".
She avoided my gaze, her jaw clenched tightly. I could see the hurt and conflict warring inside her.
"I’ve failed you in so many ways," I continued hoarsely. "But you have to believe , I still love you as much as I did the first ti, I set my eyes on you. True, I got caught up in my head with the Pack Politics and negotiations. It was inexcusable, but I promise you, I’ll make it up to you from now on,".
I cupped her face in my hands, gently tilting it up until she finally t my gaze. Her eyes swam with tears as she gave a pleading stare.
"Noah, I can’t do this anymore," she swallowed hard fighting back tears "If I agree to stay with you and forgive you, I promise you, the resentnt will not go away. I don’t want to hate you, Noah... please help ... I beg you..."
"Please my love," I whispered brokenly "Don’t give up on us... not yet at least. Okay, fine!" I sighed "We can take a break for now. If it’s space you need, I’ll give you all the space you want but don’t shut out completely. I can’t live without you,".
She searched my eyes and probably might have seen the raw desperation and love there. Letting out a shuddering breath, she said:
"Okay, a break then. But Noah, if things don’t change...".
She trailed off. I just nodded fervently, overjoyed that she was giving him one last chance.
"They will, Selene. I swear it," I vowed, pulling her into a fierce embrace "We’ll weather this storm and co out stronger. I love you, you’re my everything and I can’t wait to tell you that for the rest of my life,".
"Okay," she nodded offering a small smile. "I need to go now,".
I watched as she turned on her heels and left. Forcing myself to look away from her retreating, I started towards my office. I need to pull myself together and attend to my itinerary for today.
"First things first," I murmured to myself, rubbing my temples "The Alpha Coalition eting,".
Closing my eyes, I concentrated on Reid, opening our mind-link. "Alpha," he ca on almost imdiately.
"Tell all the visiting Alphas to wait for at the eting hall imdiately but before that, I need you to co to my office,".
"Okay Alpha," he responded imdiately. Then still on the link, he relayed my ssage to all the Alphas before going off. Instead of going to my desk, I settled on the couch in my office, stretching my fra on the furniture.
I needed to stop thinking about Selene and the break. I needed to focus. Thankfully, Reid arrived a few minutes later.
"I’m here, Alpha," he peered at with worry on his brows, "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes," I nodded with a deep sigh "I am fine" then groaned as I pulled myself into a sitting position. "How’s Princess Jade doing?"
"I asked the packkeeper to prepare a room for her in the pack and she still refused to call her father but I’ve communicated with his Beta and he says, the King is only sending an escort to guide his daughter back ho safely but we’re preparing for the worst,".
"There was no ntion of the deal in our conversation but I know that the King must be cooking sothing. Anyways, I’ve asked our n to be on the alert and arm on in case things go south. What are you going to do about Brooke?"
"I don’t know yet," I sighed "Just tell her not to co before for the mont, I might do irreparable damage,".
"Does it an you still love her? Why are you hesitating to punish her? She bore falsehood against you, and the Luna plus she’s the reason why everything is happening, you have to punish her to let everyone know that you do not accept bad behaviour,".
"I will punish her later, Reid," I waved him aside "It’s just that, I don’t want to take any drastic decision, I am too angry to think straight,".
"You don’t understand, Noah," Reid sighed "You should take that drastic decision now and not wait until you’re less angry. And I feel it’ll pacify Selene... isn’t it what you want? Except you still have reserved feelings for her... you should have been thrown into the pack jail already,".
I arched my brows, watching him silently "Then how about you, Reid, you’ve spread rumours about my wife you’re one of the reasons why we keep fighting. How many tis have I confronted you about that? You’ve not been very hidden with your hate on Selene but I’ve bore it several tis because I wanted you to adjust to it. But here you are trying to indict soone. Very funny,".
"These are two different scenarios, Alpha," he said calmly "There’s a reason for my supposed hate. I wish you’d look beyond everything and see Selene for who...".
"That’s enough!" I raised my hand to stop him "I don’t want to hear of it anymore. When all of this is over, we’ll talk about it. In the anti, what efforts have been made to curb the rumours going on about the queen?"
"They’re working on it," he replied stiffly.
I knew they were not working on it as claid but I was too tired to talk about it. Sighing, I left him in the office and started towards the eting hall.
As soon as I entered, my eyes scanned the spacious room filled with Alphas and their Betas. A hush imdiately fell on the murmuring crowd as all eyes turned to . I gave a curt nod to acknowledge their presence before I took my position at the head of the table.
I allowed Reid to go through the formalities of welcoming them and reading out the program for the day. My gaze rested on Xavier and spite filled my heart... his presence always swayed Selene... I knew they were still very much in love even though Selene had denied it severally but they were fated mate... his mark still glowed on her neck.
"Your majesty," Reid nudged at slightly calling my attention "We’re waiting for you," he whispered.
I adjusted in my seat and allowed my gaze to sweep across the room at all the faces of the Alphas present. Turning to the first Alpha on my right, I asked
"Alpha Zed of the Two Moon Pack, right?"
He nodded turning his attention to .
"Can you give an overview of the current state of your respective packs?"
I listened as one by one, they crooned about their achievents and problems they were facing. Sohow, I trailed off and my gaze landed on my nephew. This ti, he must have sensed that I was looking at him because our gazes t and held. After what seed like an eternity, he looked away.
I felt my heart twist with rage again and the longer I stared at him, the more my disdain for him grew. I wanted to bad to know what conversation he had with Selene in that greenhouse. She was my wife for moon’s sake, can’t he understand that?
There was a reason why I had forcefully taken Selene the other night in the garden... a mating star had appeared the previous night and like all mating stars, after 72 hours, it disappears.
So, I was desperate to take advantage of that and get Selene pregnant, if she’s pregnant, she won’t leave easily. I will make sure of that.
"Your majesty" Reid called my attention again; all the Alphas have finished presenting he said. I nodded and then fixed my gaze on Xavier.
"Has that Alpha presented already?" I asked pointing at Xavier who kept giving a blank expression.
"T...That’s the leader of the Eastern Alphas Coalition," Reid stuttered "He makes a personal...".
"I don’t think I will have the ti to listen to him present personally, I have a lot on my plate. So, if he can kindly make the presentation now and save ti,".
"But..." Reid tried to protest. Imdiately, Xavier raised his hand to stop him.
"It’s fine, Beta," he said pleasantly "His Majesty is busy, so it’s not a big deal to present now,".
He turned on his mike and started speaking into it "My na is Alpha Xavier, Alpha to the Greyhound pack. The Greyhound pack has remained secure, poverty levels down fifteen percent over the last quarter. Our trading routes with the sea territories have..."
A sudden commotion from one of the Alphas who introduced himself as Mason interrupted Xavier as he rose to his feet, eyes red with annoyance.
"Before you go ahead and tell lies before his majesty, why don’t you tell him how you’re about to make a rogue king, one of the Alphas of our coalition?"
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