I Forgot I Loved You, Alpha

When Ellie went to see him with her pregnancy test in hand, she caught her Alpha husband with his ex . "I'll NEVER let that wolfless rogue be the mother of my child. She's just a surrogate!" Tears streamed down her face as she got in an accident and lost all her memories 💔. Her friend says, "You almost gave up everything for that man..." "Who? Me? Why?!" 😳 * His wife seemed different now, but he has no idea why. She urges him, "Let's get a divorce! Now!" 😘 He grits his teeth, "No way!" 😡😡😡 Chapter 1 Ellie's POV “Did you hear the Alpha only married that rogue girl for her child? Because the child of a fated mate is supposed to be the strongest?” "Or why would he marry her, a spineless low-born... What's her name, Ellie? ” "It doesn't matter." The Alpha, my fated mate, Nolan, spoke too, "We're about to divorce." "Right. She's useless." People surrounded him, his friends, his subordinates, laughed, like hearing a joke. Hearing their words, the pregnancy test slipped from my hand to the floor. I was about tell him that I was finally pregnant. After three long years. A new life born of matebond. Of us. I thought this would make Nolan happy; he always wanted an heir. But when I eagerly rushed here from home, to his usual lounge, I found Nolan with a group of people laughing at me. They were calling me that rogue girl, a low-born, saying I was desperate and clinging to him. And a woman cuddled up next to him. His ex-girlfriend. Felicity. Through the lounge’s glass, Nolan sat in a private booth, his dark hair perfectly styled, the sharp line of his jaw catching the golden bar light. His suit clung to his broad frame, tailored to his strength, every inch of him composed and unreadable. One hand rested on the velvet seat behind him, the other around a glass he hadn’t sipped. He looked like a man carved from ice and control, distant, beautiful, and entirely out of my reach—like always. Felicity's curvy body leaned into his, her breasts nearly spilling out of her red dress as her long, golden hair fell like silk over her shoulder. She laughed, tilting her head back as she traced a finger along his sleeve. He didn’t flinch away. Didn’t correct her. Just sat there, letting it happen, his eyes fixed somewhere beyond her shoulder. My jaw tightened. Felicity had left the pack years ago when Nolan and I had wed… She was who this party was for? This is an extravagant Lounge, one I rarely dared go to. Only today, I didn't care all the whispers from polished, powerful people who never quite hid the way they looked down on me. I opened the door and peeked in, hesitating around the crowd of bodies on how or… if I should approach. Next to me, a few pack members watched with interest, laughing loudly, too loudly, like they wanted to be overheard. “Felicity and Nolan, back together again. Honestly, they look perfect.” "Felicity is so much better than that rogue girl, she’s the daughter of a Beta, after all." "Ellie begged Nolan to marry her. How pathetic. She won’t mind if Nolan strays. She should be grateful he even touched her.” Their laughter was cruel, biting, and not a single person in that room bothered to lower their voice. He didn't stop them. My breath caught in my throat, and I gripped the edge of the doorframe to steady myself. I waited for Nolan to deny it. To say something. But all he did was offer a hollow shrug. “I simply found her forgettable,” he said, tone as indifferent as his expression. “There was no spark worth nurturing.” The world tilted. They saw me, eventually. Some glanced my way and looked away again, covering their mouths, amused. Others didn’t bother hiding their smirks. But Nolan’s eyes found mine last. And when they did, there was no flicker of regret. No apology. Just that same blank indifference. "Go away," Someone yelled at me, as if trying to chase away a homeless. Someone drunk, threw a drink at me, laughing. "Go pick up trash! Isn’t that what you rogues do?" Hope shattered like fragile glass. I turned and fled. I wasn’t even sure where I was running, but my feet carried me in a clumsy mess. Someone called after me. A Beta, I think. "It's dangerous outside..." “Let her go.” That was Nolan’s voice. “It’s time she sees her place.” I hadn’t even realized it had started raining until my consciousness snapped back into place. My head throbbed from crying, my vision was a blur, and I had no idea where I was— It’s not fair. I had given everything. Bent over backwards trying to make him see me, love me. I had begged silently for scraps of affection, clinging to the hope that he would soften, that someday he would reach for me like I always reached for him, despite my place in the pack. I burst out past the brick, my shoes spraying into a puddle. A car honked. Headlights flared. I turned too late. “Bang—” The impact slam into me, and the intense pain exploded through my body. The light bloomed like fire, sharp and white-hot, before everything went dark as the faint howl of a wolf merged with the screech of tires. The smell of antiseptic and linen greeted me first. I blinked against the harsh white lights. A hospital room, only those lights can burn your eyes that badly. My limbs felt heavy, my head thick with fog. Beeping machines echoed somewhere nearby. “Ellie!” A familiar voice broke through the haze. I turned my head slowly. A woman with red hair leaned over my bed, her face pale, eyes wide and red-rimmed with worry. “Are you okay? Goddess, Ellie, you scared me. They said you just stepped onto the road without looking. What were you thinking?!” I tried to answer, but the words tangled on my tongue. What happened... I stepped onto the road? Why didn't I have any memory? The door opened, and a nurse entered, followed by a man in a healer’s uniform. The healer murmured something to the nurse, then turned to me. “How are you feeling?” I stared at him blankly. "Ok," The Healer clearly didn't care my answer, he took out a pen, "your name is Ellie Ashwood, right?" I didn't give any answers. The healer furrowed his brow and brought a tablet forward, flipping through some notes. “We contacted your mate. Alpha Nolan. He mindlinked you earlier, but…” I blinked again, slowly. My mate... What is mate? Do I have memory loss or...? Healer said, “Alpha Nolan said he thought you were just making up the accident for attention, causing trouble. Anyways, I’ll inform him you’re awake.” A sharp silence cut through the room, then an indifferent voice was nearly in my ears, in my head. “Ellie. Seriously?” A familiar man's voice spoke in my thoughts. “...You just had to go and make a fuss out of nothing？” Third-person's POV Nolan was furious. He got a call from Healer, saying Ellie had a car accident. He thought this was another excuse she made. She caused all sorts of trouble these years. Throwing her tantrums, making a scene, all these drama—just to get his attention. He's had enough. A car accident now, huh? She’s been gone for only half an hour! What are the odds? "I’m not doing your childish game." His voice low, "How many times are you going to use excuses to get my attention? You need to stop, Ellie. I've got better things to do - " "Umm... what?" She sounded hesitated. "What home?" "Go home." He ordered, "And stop bothering me." Her voice totally confused, "I DON'T KNOW WHERE IS HOME... who the hell are you?" "......" He said, "What?!" Chapter 2 Ellie's POV I had a bad headache. Am I really suffering from amnesia? Why can't I remember anything? The weirdo's voice in my head paused. His voice filled with confusion and distain. "What is this," he asked, "Your new trick?" "What?" I was a little angry, because of his tone, "And why are you in my head? " “Ellie, I don’t have time for your games or tantrums. Stop pretending. The Moonstone Pack will be arriving soon, and I need you home. Now.” Then—silence. The mindlink cut so abruptly, I felt like I’d been slapped. What... the hell?! That was rude! I blinked up at the ceiling, the sterile white lights of the hospital sharp against my eyes. I was searching for anything, any memories, an explanation, but there was nothing. Who was that? No—who was I?...Ellie? I'm Ellie? A low curse broke the quiet. I turned my head, found the redhead still standing over me, arms folded and lips curled in outrage. “Unbelievable!” she hissed. “You almost died, and that sorry excuse of a husband doesn’t even show up to see if you’re breathing.” Husband? I tried to sit up, but my body screamed in protest. But she rushed over and helped me upright, her touch gentler than her tone. “Careful,” she muttered. “The crash was bad. You’ve only been awake for a few hours.” “Wait.” My voice cracked. “I’m married?” She froze. Her gaze snapped to mine, searching. “Ellie… don’t mess with me right now.” “I’m not.” I muttered, “Who am I married to?” Her face tightened, shocked. “What? Didn't you just connect to Alpha Nolan's mindlink? Wow…You really don’t remember, huh?” ...So that person just now was Alpha Nolan? My husband? “Well, I’m Rae, we’ve been friends for a long, long time. As for Nolan, you’ve devoted everything to him.” Rae could hardly believe it all, but she still went on to explain everything to me. “You were always trying so hard to be good enough, yet he was always cruel…You—you just stood by, loving him. I was…never a fan.” I stared at her. “Why would I love someone like that?” And I meant it. Something inside me curled at the idea. It felt foreign. Pathetic. Rae blinked, startled. “Wow. That’s... new. The old you, whenever you mentioned Nolan, you'd defend him for just breathing. Now you're actually saying this about him... that's new.” I scoffed, "Now that's the thought of a normal person!" The "Me" that Rae described was utterly unreasonable — giving up everything for a man? Foolish! Why not live for yourself? Just then, the door swung open and the Healer stepped in again. He looked me over with practiced boredom, his lips twitching with something close to disdain. Rae frowned. “She doesn’t remember anything. Not even Nolan. You need to do another check.” The Healer rolled his eyes, but came forward anyway. But when his hands touched me, his expression changed. He stiffened, eyes flickering. “You have a wolf,” he said softly. “That’s… impossible.” My throat tightened. “What?” He didn't answer me. He just moved more quickly now, fingers searching along my temples, my stomach. And then he went still. “...She’s pregnant,” Rae shot up. “What?!” “Only a few weeks. Barely detectable. But it’s there.” The Healer took a step back, his face pale. “And she’s healed almost completely, even from moments ago when I checked. Faster than she should. If she’s wolf-less, a rogue… this shouldn’t be possible.” He left in a rush, muttering something about needing to speak to the Alpha immediately. Pregnant. I let the word sit in my mouth, so unreal. The world had tilted, completely untethered. I looked at Rae, hoping she had answers, but all I saw was her crumbling. “You didn’t know,” I said quietly. “I didn’t think it was possible,” she replied, dragging her hands down her face. “He’s barely touched you in months. And you’re not even… officially Luna.” “So I was married to someone who didn’t even want me?” Rae’s voice softened. “You wanted him. You thought if you tried hard enough, he’d see you. That he’d love you.” I really wanted to ask Rae, "And did he?" But from her reaction, I already knew the answer. A cold weight settled in my gut. Shit. “...You could run!” Rae said aloud, surprising both of us. “Take the baby. Start over somewhere no one knows you. Honestly, if you wanted an out, nows the time.” I blinked, instantly overwhelmed. I had just woken up, no memory of who I was, no idea if the woman beside me was truly my best friend. And now, I was supposed to make a life-altering decision— Could I go out on the street and get into another accident to get my memory back? Rae rubbed her eyes. “Forgive me, I spoke out of pure feeling. I mean, if you did, I’d support it. But… now that I’m thinking about it, is that fair to the kid? To grow up like we did? As a rogue?” I fell into silence. "And... you don’t even know who you are. How could you raise someone else?" Rae spoke softly, hesitated, "Do you consider... getting an abortion?" "An abortion?!" "I mean, think of it. You are carrying a child from a man who felt like a stranger to you, and didn’t love you," she muttered, "and you're a rogue. Do you really want to keep this child? " "I know, but..." I hesitated, "this is so cruel. What if... their father wanted it? This should be a decision for both of us." “I’ll go home,” I said finally. “See how my husband reacts. Then I’ll decide.” After receiving permission to leave the hospital, I felt a strange sense of freedom, but also uncertainty. Home wasn’t what I remembered. Not that I remembered anything, but I expected it to feel… safer. He was waiting, who I assumed was my husband, Nolan, stood in the center of the den like a statue carved from ice. His suit jacket was unbuttoned, his tie loose around his throat. He was handsome…but he felt alien to me. “So the dramatics continue,” Nolan said coldly, arms crossed. “What was it this time? A scratch on your arm?” I froze. Hey! Your wife had a car accident! He stepped closer. “I saw the report, you were nearly ‘dead’ when they found you. I’m so sure, though, you look fine to me. Quit playing the victim, Ellie. You’ve done this before. I'm not falling for it again.” “What—?” My voice caught. “Crying to get attention. Collapsing in the kitchen just because I was late. What’s next? A coma?” I’d faked being sick or hurt in the past? Just for attention? A woman, curvy and blonde, sauntered into view behind him, all silk and smugness. She was close to him, considering he was supposed to be my husband. “Honestly, Nolan, you should’ve let her stay gone. Rogues are always such a mess.” I stared at them. I clenched my hands into fists. ...This was my life? Third-Person's POV Meanwhile, deep within the heart of the Moonstone Pack… The crystal orb flickered to life, its pale blue glow casting shadows across the stone chamber. Alpha Alaric stood frozen, his hand hovering inches from the orb’s surface. Beside him, his son, Cassian, drew in a sharp breath. “It’s her,” Cassian murmured, voice tight with disbelief. “After all these years…” Alaric nodded slowly, eyes never leaving the shifting light. The long-lost princess, his daughter, had resurfaced. And not just anywhere. He knew that pack... Alpha Nolan’s territory. The very pack where their princess was — right there! Chapter 3 Ellie's POV "Am I right?" Felicity pouted, speaking to Nolan in a teasing tone, throwing me a sidelong glance. "She’ll only cause you trouble." "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU NOW?" I asked. The words slipped from my lips before I could think, before I could filter or soften or smile like I apparently used to. The air in the room stilled. Nolan’s brows shot up, but Felicity’s face cracked first, her lips parting in a sneer. “What did you just say?” she asked, a mocking little laugh curling around her words. I took a slow step forward, tilting my head, studying her as if she were a painting hung in my house without permission. “I mean it. Who, are, you?” The silence that followed was heavy with shock, their shock. Maybe it was because I hadn’t flinched when she sneered at me, hadn’t cowered or looked to Nolan for help. Maybe it was just that I was finally acting like someone with a backbone. Felicity recovered quickly, smile stretching back into place like a mask. “Cute. Trying on a new personality, are we? What is this, Ellie 4.0? A little sass to win your precious Alpha back? Man, you’ll try anything for a glance from him.” “Oh,” I said lightly, “I see. You’re in my house, with my husband, insulting me, and I’m the one desperate for his attention. That clears things up.” Nolan blinked, furrowing his brow. Felicity’s expression twisted. “Excuse you! You’ve got a lot of nerve for someone who used to cry if Nolan so much as frowned in your direction,” she snapped. “Remember that? Remember begging him to stay every time he so much as glanced at me? Or do we not recall that version of you? This personality switch up won’t last! You’re pathetic! Remember that!” I smiled, not because it was funny... okay, it is a bit funny. A random woman yelled at me for who I was. “I did all that?” I asked, raising a brow. “Wow. That’s embarrassing. Should I laugh? Or clap for it? Because until now, all I’ve heard is the story of a poor girl doing everything she can for the man she loves, and that man being blind to it, not appreciating her at all. " "And here you are, mocking her, " I looked at her in her eyes. "as if it has anything to do with you. If she made a mistake, it’s that she didn’t leave sooner. You two are disgusting” Felicity’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. She looked like she spotted a ghost in daylight. “You really are insane,” She said, recovering her balance. “What are you doing, Ellie? Reinventing yourself? Playing the new, brave and misunderstood wife? You’re embarrassing.” “She’s pretending again,” Nolan muttered under his breath, arms crossed. “She’s always done this when she wants something.” I snapped my head toward him. “You think I’m pretending? For what?” “You think I’m impressed?” His voice was low and annoyed. “We’ve played this game before.” “Do we?” I said, stepping closer. “Now it's the new game. And I'm not who I was.” He frowned. Felicity laughed again, shrill and brittle. “So what, you’re strong now? You’re going to fight against him? Please. You couldn’t even stand to be in the same room when he ignored you, doing all these pity cries for him.” I looked her dead in the eyes. “I don’t want him.” And I meant it. I wasn’t even sure I wanted me yet, but I was damn sure I didn’t want to be her anymore. The girl who begged. The girl who bent over backwards for a man who never met her halfway. “I’m not here to cry or win anyone over,” I scoffed. “I’m just trying to figure out how I ended up married to someone who thinks silence is a personality trait.” That one landed hard. Nolan’s jaw clenched, but with a sigh he turned slightly, his eyes closing as a mindlink reached him. He didn't say anything aloud, but I could feel his mood shift—cold and businesslike. Alpha mode. “I have to take this,” he said, turning and walking out without another glance. Felicity waited until the door clicked shut before stepping closer, her voice lower now, quieter, but no less venomous. She reminded me of a viper, a pretty one, but those eyes locked on me like a target. “I’ve heard rumors, you know, trying for a child. Scraping for scraps again, like you could ever be his true Luna. Even if you did, you think they’d ever let you raise that child?” she asked, her smile all teeth. “With your status? You’re a nobody, Ellie. Just a rogue who got lucky. They’d never let you keep that pup.” I said nothing, but my hand moved protectively over my stomach. Did she know? No way. “Don’t be stupid. When I’m Luna, they’d give the baby to me. And I’ll make sure they never forget how pathetic their mother was.” She leaned in. “If you think I’ll be kind, think again.” I didn’t lash out. I didn’t scream. I just stared at her like I was seeing her clearly for the first time. When Nolan returned, I was still standing there, arms crossed and lips sealed. I turned to him as he walked in, my voice calm. “Is it true?” He raised a brow. “Is what true?” “That I wouldn’t be allowed to raise my own child in this pack?” He exhaled, almost dismissively. “That was the agreement. You knew what this was. We are married to produce the child of a fated bond; they are stronger, but you’re no Luna. I thought that was clear.” “And after that? What—was I just supposed to disappear?” “You’d do what you always do,” he said, dryly. “Run off crying, then show up again looking for attention.” I stared at him. This man… was the worst. My voice shook with something closer to fury than sadness. “You’re such a jerk.” He blinked. “Excuse me?” “You married me, used me, ignored me, and now you’re pretending I’m the one being dramatic? You don’t even know me.” “I know you better than you think.” His voice sounded exhausted, like I was still pulling some act. “No,” I snapped. “You knew a girl who thought being silent would keep her safe. Who thought if she was obedient enough, maybe, just maybe, you’d love her back.” His bored expression didn’t budge, his eyes half-lidded with the same detached disinterest he always wore, like emotions were beneath him. Like I was beneath him. “But I’m not her anymore.” I could practically feel him waiting. Waiting for the performance, he thought he knew by heart. For the trembling lips. For the wide, watery eyes. For the whispered, please don’t go. But I didn’t give it to him. Instead, I squared my shoulders, letting the fire settle into my spine like armor. My voice clear and steady. “I want a divorce.” His hands slid slowly out of his pockets. For once, he looked uncertain. “What?” “You heard me. I want out of this marriage.” I smiled, lifted my chin in pride. Chapter 4 Ellie's POV Nolan looked like I’d slapped him. Still, he said nothing. Just stood there with that same stiff posture, brows drawn together, like the weight of the word divorce hadn’t fully settled on him yet. His silence stretched, broken only by the hum of tension thickening between us. “You’re being ridiculous,” he finally muttered, jaw ticking. “You’re clearly upset. If this is some tantrum to get attention—” “Who’s throwing a tantrum?” I raised my eyebrow, “You think this is about you?” His head jerked back, blinking like I’d just spoken in another language. For a moment, I almost laughed. He truly didn’t get it. The man was so used to seeing me as a quiet, obedient shadow of a wife, he couldn’t comprehend the idea of me actually walking away. “Somehow you think I’m trying to impress you,” I continued, voice sharper now. “Like everything I do is some elaborate act to win you over. This is so toxic. I’m done. I’m not going to be your silent little accessory. I’m not going to let your mistress mocks me and you stand there saying nothing.” "Who is a mistress?" Felicity snapped. His mouth opened, a protest forming, but I didn’t let him finish. “Ellie—” “No,” I snapped, cutting through whatever excuse he was about to feed me. “You made a deal? Fine. But I never agreed to be humiliated in my own home. I never agreed to be treated like some disposable incubator. I’d never agreed to give up my child. And I sure as hell didn’t agree to you. So let’s get to it. Are we getting divorced or not?” He frowned, clearly thrown off by how steady I was. How real this was. “You’re serious.” I met his eyes without blinking. “Dead serious.” His lips thinned, frustration flicking over his eyes. “Fine. If you want to throw your life away, don’t let me stop you.” He turned sharply, calling out over his shoulder, “Beta! Prepare for the rejection ceremony. Do it now.” Felicity’s hand moved to her hip with a low scoff under her breath. “Finally.” The Beta peeked through the door, confusion etched deep into the furrow of his brow. “Alpha,” he said carefully, “ah, not that I’m questioning you, but perhaps you should… reconsider?” Nolan’s chest filled with a deep breath, like a volcano holding its fuse. The beta continued, his voice more pitched. “It’s just…the rejection ceremony isn’t something to do lightly. With all due respect, this seems like an emotional argument—” “Do what I said,” Nolan finally barked, cutting him off. The Beta hesitated, glancing at me like he expected me to cry, plead, offer some kind of excuse. But I just stared back. I even rolled my eyes. Then Nolan’s eyes fell to me, that cold smirk tugging at his mouth again. “Think it over, Ellie. After today, you’ll regret this.” Regret? I broke out a laughter. Why is he so confident that I’d want to stay here? I only regret coming back to ask him about the child. The man who let another woman laugh at me across the table and hoped I said nothing and swallowed it like medicine. How could that be possible? “Regret?” I said. “I regret staying this long.” I left the room without waiting for permission. — The maid blinked when I asked for help finding my own bedroom. Guess they hadn’t gotten the memo yet, the Alpha’s wife didn’t know where she slept. I followed her through the long corridors with my chin high, not stopping once. I didn’t care that my heart was racing, or that the walls of this place still echoed with memories I didn’t have. This wasn’t my home. It never had been. By the time I reached the room, I already knew I didn’t want to take anything with me. I didn’t want the gowns I wore to please him, the perfume that he’d once scoffed at, or the jewelry I had no memory of choosing. None of it felt like mine. Still, I opened the drawers and started folding, just to give my hands something to do. The maid lingered awkwardly, eyes darting to my stomach, then to the door, like she expected Nolan to barge in and drag me back. He dare to. Third-Person's POV Nolan was still, his feet planted like roots had grown through his feet, staring at where Ellie had disappeared. Felicity, as usual, didn’t wait for an invitation as her hand slithered up his arm. “Nolan,” she said softly, her voice all honey and silk. “I know this must be… stressful. Don’t worry about Ellie,” she said. “You know she does this. She’s impulsive. Emotional. She’ll come crawling back when she realizes you mean what you say.” He didn’t answer. His mind was still echoing with Ellie’s voice. “I want a divorce.” Felicity leaned in closer. “Maybe this is for the best. Once the ceremony’s done, everything will be simpler. We can finally talk about the future.” His jaw tensed. “Our future,” she continued, her fingers drifting to his arm. “Marriage. A real mating bond. A proper Luna by your side. And children, Nolan. You need a proper heir. Someone strong. Someone like you. Like us.” Her voice dropped into something breathy. “I’ve always dreamed of a little boy with your eyes and my—” He stood up. She froze mid-sentence, blinking at the sudden shift. “I need to walk,” Nolan said curtly. And he left the room. Nolan could feel her staring after him, but he couldn’t hear her anymore—not over the sound of Ellie slamming every door she’d ever kept politely closed. Divorce. She meant it. She wasn’t bluffing, or begging, or trying to prove a point. She was done. And the worst part? She hadn’t looked heartbroken. She’d looked free. The Beta caught up with Nolan in the hallway, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Sir, are you sure about this… It’s just a shame,” he muttered. “The child of a fated mate bond would’ve been the strongest of its generation…” “Don’t bring that up again,” He snapped, sharper than he intended. He went silent, walking beside him with careful steps. Nolan could feel his questions pressing against his teeth, but he didn’t voice them. Smart. Still, he could sense the doubt radiating off him. Wasn’t the Alpha always indifferent about his wife? Why is he so angry now? Because this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Because she wasn’t supposed to leave me. Nolan clenched his fists. “She can’t even have children,” he muttered. “It’s better this way. That marriage was never built to last. I’ve been sick of that low-status rogue for a while now.” The Beta didn’t respond as the lie hung between them. Before the silence could stretch any longer, a young wolf skidded to a halt around the corner, panting and wide-eyed. “Alpha!” he said, breathless. “A Healer is requesting to see you. It’s urgent… about your wife!” Chapter 5 Third-Person's POV What could possibly be wrong with her? The messenger, a scrawny wolf with trembling hands and a nervous scent, stood in front of me, barely managing to meet Nolan's eyes. “Alpha,” he said, voice taut, “the Healer insists it’s urgent. He said it concerns… your wife’s medical results.” Nolan let out a short, humorless breath. My wife. It felt strange, the word. Heavier now. But he shoved that thought aside. “She was perfectly fine earlier,” Nolan muttered. “Lively, throwing her little tantrum, storming around like she owned the place. If anything, she looked healthier than ever. Yet you think she's illed?” The worker didn’t answer, of course. He simply nodded and backed away, disappearing the second he stopped acknowledging his existence. Nolan started pacing, his thoughts still spinning around Ellie’s outburst like flies around fire. She said she wanted a divorce. And she meant it. He could still hear the way she said it, not the sobbing little girl he used to know, the one who wilted under pressure and curled up at his feet with hope in her eyes. No, this version of her was wild and loud and sure. Nothing like her past acts, this character felt far to… real. And it got under his skin. Nolan clenched his jaw. His footsteps echoed under the high ceilings, but even that sound couldn’t drown out his thoughts. “Alpha,” the Beta said quietly, stepping up beside me, “sir, excuse my words, but…why are you so angry?” He didn’t answer. He tilted his head. “You’re not usually like this. Cold, yes. Focused. Controlled. But this? You’re… upset.” Nolan stopped walking. The worst part was, he wasn’t wrong. He’d always prided himself on being unmoved. Strategic. He handled war councils and border threats with less heat than he’d felt knowing Ellie was packing her things like she’d never cared for him at all. Nolan ran a hand through his hair, denied, “No, I am not. It's because she’s acting out. ” “Tell the Healer he can leave the results in my office." He spoke coldly, impatiently, "I’ll look at them when I have time.” The Beta hesitated, then nodded, clearly sensing this wasn’t a battle worth pushing. As Nolan turned to leave, his jaw tightened. Medical results. How could there possibly be something wrong with her? She was too loud. Too bold. Too alive. Ellie's POV The next day, I was double-checking my bag, folding each piece of clothing over again, not because I was sentimental, but because it gave my hands something to do while the rest of me burned. I refused to leave in a flurry. No storming out. No slammed doors. If I was leaving, I’d do it calm. Composed. On my own two feet. “Too bad,” one of the maids whispered nearby, her voice not nearly quiet enough. “Nolan’s been Alpha for so long. He really needs an heir. Poor man. Maybe things will finally settle down once Felicity takes over. She can definitely give him children unlike Ellie.” I closed the lid of my suitcase and let the soft click of the latch answer for me. I can have children. That’s not the problem. What scares me is the thought of raising them in this place. This house isn’t a home, it’s a pedestal I was meant to stand on, silent and pretty, until I cracked under the weight. If someone wants to stay here and be worshipped and walked over, that’s on them. A soft chime echoed through the packhouse’s intercom system. It was a message from the Beta, formal and direct to my room alone. “The rejection ceremony has been prepared. Please report to the Alpha’s office, Ellie.” I stood up, brushing invisible dust from my sleeves. My shoes clicked with purpose as I left the room behind. One step, then another, down the long hallway I’d once memorized with the desperation of someone trying to belong. I rounded the corner and nearly froze. Voices. Familiar, but from a dream I hadn’t let myself remember until now. Two men stood at the end of the corridor. The first was tall and broad-shouldered, his hair a tousled chestnut brown that curled slightly at the ends, like he’d always been too impatient to brush it. He wore a dark military-style jacket over a fitted shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing faint scars along sun-kissed skin. His stance was alert, a protective tension in his frame like he was ready to step in front of anything that moved too fast. His sharp eyes locked onto mine the second I rounded the corner. The second man stood just behind him, older, leaner, with silver threaded through his cold-brew brown hair, slicked neatly back. He was dressed in a long ash-gray coat trimmed with gold, regal in posture but unreadable in expression. Still and sharp like a drawn blade, one that hadn’t dulled in the slightest with time. His gaze was colder, quieter, but no less piercing. Those must have been the visitors from the Moonstone Pack Nolan had mentioned. The air seemed to bend between us, the younger one turned, his eyes narrowing the second they landed on me. A look flashed across his face so fast I nearly missed it. He nodded to one of the guards, asking low, “Who is she?” My brows furrowed, I ducked my head, and my legs carried me past them toward the office door. I was almost in Nolan’s office when I heard one of the guards answering his question. “She’s our Alpha’s rogue wife.” Rogue. The word slapped me, not because it hurt anymore, but because I’d heard it so many times it had nearly become my name. Not Ellie. Not mate. Not woman. Just… rogue. Something less-than. The doors shut behind me, and I let myself focus on the trail ahead. Nolan stood behind his desk, arms crossed, looking at me like I was late, even though I wasn’t. “You’re early,” he muttered. “Your Beta said now,” I said. “So I’m here now.” He studied me, trying to read the cracks in my face like always, but I didn’t give him any. “Last chance to change your mind,” he said, smirking slightly, trying to make it sound like a joke. But his eyes weren’t laughing. I tilted my head sarcastically. “You sure you want to give up your dramatic rogue wife? Apparently, she was always good for a bit of gossip.” His mouth pressed into a hard line. “Let’s get it over with,” I said. Something in his expression shifted. Annoyance, maybe. Or disbelief. As if the script in his head was finally starting to unravel. Suddenly, the doors slammed open. The Beta burst in, breathless and holding a folder in his hand. “Alpha! Wait—Please, these are important!” We both turned. He rushed forward, gripping a folder like it were burning his fingers. His eyes flicked to me, wide and uncertain, then back to Nolan. I frowned, watching as Nolan for the papers. “What could it possibly be, Beta.” I saw it before the folder even touched Nolan's hand. My name was printed across the top of the document. The official stamp of the pack’s medical division. I knew what was printed with in it: Pregnancy confirmed. Estimated gestation: five weeks. Nolan frowned and as he took it, "What is this...?"