He Thought I Became His Perfect Luna, I Had Only Stopped Loving Him Chapter 06

He Thought I Became His Perfect Luna, I Had Only Stopped Loving Him Chapter 06

Stellan walked Rhoslyn back to her room and spent a long time calming her down.

“It’s all my fault,” she whispered, leaning against his shoulder, eyes wet. “Aelwen misunderstood

so much because of me. If you’re worried about her, go find her. She’s still your Luna.”

Stellan’s jaw was tight.

“She brought this on herself. She’ll calm down and come back on her own.”

He said it hard. Certain.

But something nagged.

After Aelwen left the hospital, there’d been nothing. No note. No message through anyone. No

angry voicemail.

That wasn’t like her.

Even when she was furious, she never lasted more than three hours before she reached out.

He checked his phone again. Work notifications. Nothing else.

By evening, Stellan was alone in his study.

He kept seeing her: the way she’d looked face-down in the mud, white-lipped and barely breathing.

The way her eyes had been getting emptier, week by week, month by month.

Something like guilt worked its way under his skin. Like a splinter he couldn’t reach.

Then the study door eased open.

Rhoslyn slipped inside wearing almost nothing, a glass of whiskey balanced in her hands.

“Still thinking about Aelwen?” She moved toward him, offering the glass. “Come on. Have a drink

with me.”

Stellan looked at her.

Something in him turned over.

“Rhoslyn.” His voice was flat and cold. “Go put something on.”

She blinked. Pouted. “Stellan… you really hate me that much? I know you feel something, you’re just too scared to admit it—”

“Stop.” He stood, pushed the glass aside. “I care about you. I always have. But like a sister. That’s

all it’s ever been.”

“Liar!” She grabbed his arm. “If I was just your sister, why did you always take care of me? Why did you sit up all night when I was sick? Why would you do anything for me? Stellan, you’re confused about your own feelings. You love me, not Aelwen. You married her because of the elders. She’s leaving now. We could finally-”

“Don’t.”

He shook her off.

His voice came out quiet. Precise. Like a scalpel.

“My Luna is Aelwen. It has always been Aelwen. It will always be Aelwen. Say something like that

again and we’re done here.”

Rhoslyn flinched. Went pale.

Stellan didn’t look at her again. He grabbed his jacket and walked out.

He went to the hospital room he somehow still knew by heart.

He pushed the door open.

The bed was made perfectly. Pillow crisp. Nightstand completely empty.

She wasn’t there.

Stellan stood in the doorway and stared.

Then he turned and grabbed the nearest nurse. “The patient in this room. Where is she?”

The nurse checked her clipboard. “Aelwen? She checked herself out this afternoon.”

“She what?” His voice dropped. “Who authorized that? Her condition isn’t stable enough to-”

That night, Stellan tasted something he didn’t recognize.

Fear.

He drove through the dark and told himself the same thing over and over. She’s throwing a tantrum. She’ll turn up. She’s always come back.

The Luna bond won’t let her leave the pack.

She loves me too much. She took a bullet for me.

He floored it all the way home.

He took the stairs two at a time and threw open the door to the small room.

Neat. Quiet.

Her clothes were still in the closet. Her skincare lined the dresser in its usual order.

It looked like she’d stepped out for an hour.

Stellan exhaled.

Then his hands balled into fists.

He let out a short, sharp laugh. “Aelwen. You think hiding is going to make me chase you? Dream

on.”

He picked up his phone and called his Beta.

“Pull all the transaction records on Aelwen’s accounts. If she wants to make a move, let’s see what

she’s doing it with.”

He washed his face. Forced himself to sleep.

At three in the morning, his Beta called back.

“Alpha…” The voice was careful. “I pulled everything.”

Silence.

“Those accounts you’ve been sending money to, all of them, five years of transfers. She never touched a single deposit.”

Stellan sat up. “Repeat that.”

“It’s all there. Her own salary account has normal small purchases, groceries and basics. But everything you sent her? Not one transaction. She’s been living entirely on her own income this

whole time.”

The phone felt heavy in his hand.

He thought about her clothes, simple cuts, good fabric. Her cooking. The gifts she’d brought to his family at the holidays. He’d assumed all of it came from his accounts.

“Find her.” His voice came out rough. “Every resource we have. I want her found.”

Nobody slept.

When dawn came, his Beta called again. Grim.

“Alpha. She’s gone. We checked the perimeter. There’s no scent trail. She left pack territory.”

Stellan’s legs gave out. He sat down hard.

He called the hospital.

“I’m looking for Healer Bramlock—”

“Miss Bramlock has resigned,” the voice on the other end said. Flat. Dismissive.

The call ended.

Stellan threw the phone at the wall.

–

“She didn’t — she couldn’t have―” He pressed both hands to his desk, staring at the surface Eyes

red. “She loves me. She loves me. This is just—”

His voice broke apart.