First

“For the last time Carmi, Tatum and I had an argument but it wasn’t about you,” Leila replies to Carmela, stirring her tomato sauce.

Just like she expected, Tatum never returned to the room last night and he left the house very early this morning without saying a word to her.

She plans to apologise to him when he gets back, bringing up divorce is a big deal and she honestly did not expect him to refuse outrightly.

Even if it’s just because of the Luna position, it shows he values her in some way..

“Are you sure Leila? Because he has been so nice to me and spends all his time with me, I hope it’s not making you jealous, because there really is no need to be. Tatum and I are just friends,” Carmela replies with an innocent smile on her face and glee in her tone

Just friends? Leila resists the urge to scoff at Carmela, turning off the cooker so her spaghetti is not overcooked,

There was a time she used to cook for everyone in her household but now she only cooks for herself, her taste in food has changed because of pregnancy and no one seems to notice or even care.

Carmela continues when Leila doesn’t reply.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I know how it looks Leila, but I don’t want to hurt you or chase you out of this house, I don’t even want to be Luna, I just want to remain close to Tatum…so I can heal…..”

“You’re beginning to sound like a broken record Carmi, seriously I get it, you need Tatum, it’s okay.” Leila replies plainly but it’s far from okay.

No matter how hard she tries, she just can’t wrap her head around the fact that she has to be comfortable with another woman always fawning over her husband and yet claim to not want him.

Carmela looks away and frowns when she hears footsteps coming towards them, she turns her gaze to the door, knowing who it is. She counts down with her fingers and as soon as the knob turns, she turns to Leila.

“I heard the werewolf games are in a few weeks, how will you participate without your wolf?” Carmela asks, pitching her voice high enough for the person behind the door to hear and when the door opens, Adaline is fuming.

“What did you just say? She doesn’t have a wolf?!”

Leila turns and when she sees the deep hatred and vivid anger in Adaline’s eyes, her heart is too scared to pound against her chest that it just sinks straight to her stomach.

Her lips tremble under Adaline’s mean and scornful gaze but she cannot find the words to reply.

There is no way Tatum won’t divorce her now, this is really the end of the road for them.

“Answer me! Has a wolfless mutt been the Luna of our pack?” Adaline takes quick angry steps towards her.

Hot tears stream down Leila’s face as she stands there, petrified. She glances at Carmela who acts aloof

after setting her world on fire.

This is all Tatum’s fault, he should never have told her

Adaline grabs Leila, shaking her profusely.

“Have you lost your tongue?! How did you get my son to marry you without a wolf? Does he even know?!” “Mother, please…” Leila replies in tears as Adaline’s claws dig into her skin, causing her even more pain. How does she explain it to her that it was her son’s idea and not hers, Adaline will never believe her, no one will and if word gets out, Tatum may deny her too, to save his image as Alpha.

Surely, he won’t want to be known as the Alpha with a wolfless Luna.

“I can’t believe this, you were going to host the Werewolf games without a wolf? Have you gone mad?! Are you trying to ridicule us completely?”

Adaline tightens her grip, even with Leila’s blood already dripping down her fingers, she doesn’t let go, not with the anger of Leila’s deceit fueling her.

“Let her go,” Tatum’s cold voice reaches their ears as he steps into the kitchen and Leila notices how he doesn’t even look at her, making her hate herself even more.

“Did you know?” Adaline fires at her son, her tone hard, rage clear in them.

“My wolf recognized hers as my second chance before she lost it. She went through trauma too, mother. Don’t forget that. I’m sure with the proper care and given time, it will return,” Tatum replies dismissively. his voice barely holding any emotion.

Leila looks at him but even though he is talking about her, he is looking at Carmela.

She knows it’s Carmela’s wolf he’s more concerned about, he only lied to his mother to save himself the disgrace of taking her as his Luna.

She is truly worthless to him.

“Carmela, the Luna summit for the werewolf games is coming up, you are going in her stead. This wolfless mutt cannot go and disgrace us,” Adaline says out of nowhere.

“No, that would be an insult to me,” Tatum finally looks at Leila and her heart breaks. “She has managed fine being wolfless for a while, I’m sure she can handle the summit.”

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