Show Me You Love Me, Alpha Chapter 05

Show Me You Love Me, Alpha Chapter 05

I looked at him quietly.

“No. We’re not mates anymore. I have no right to interfere with your personal life.”

The color drained from Noah’s face. His lips trembled.

“…You don’t believe me, Anna. I get that you’re upset, but this has gone too far.”

“Believe you? Alpha Noah, what’s there to believe?”

I let out a quiet laugh.

“Forget it. You and your muse can enjoy your artistic connection. We’ll stay out of each other’s lives.”

Before Noah could respond, I turned and walked away.

I planned to leave for the border in a month.

After that, our paths would never cross again.

I thought I knew Noah well enough.

Even after our mate bond ended, even after I walked in on that scene in the private room, he wouldn’t react.

He’d always been cold around me. Quiet. Waiting for me to be the one who stepped closer.

His wolf always claimed he was the once-in-a-century Golden Wolf,

—

gifted beyond compare.

As his Luna, I was supposed to warm his heart and be endlessly patient.

No one ever asked whether I was tired.

Maybe Noah did love me.

But too many things came before me—his pack, his pride as an Alpha. Everything except me.

Yet after that disastrous night, the entire pack fell into chaos.

For two straight weeks, Noah never showed up at the pack hall.

He wasn’t at the pack house. No one knew where he’d gone.

He never returned home.

He wasn’t even in the art studio where he usually spent every spare moment.

Even Elder Nivas grew anxious.

Every evening, right on time, an insulated food container appeared outside my door with no name attached.

I stared at it in silence.

The old me would’ve worried and searched everywhere for Noah.

But not anymore.

—

If I gave in now, I’d only betray the Anna who had finally started living for herself.

Another two weeks passed.

The day of my departure for the border garrison was fast approaching.

At last, Faye couldn’t sit still anymore.

She stormed into my office.

“Anna, where did you hide Alpha?”

“He’s supposed to lead the team in the New Moon Hunt. It’s a once-in-a-century event.”

“He doesn’t have time for your silent treatment. Go talk to him. Make him come back.”

I frowned slightly, smoothing the military documents she’d crumpled when she slammed her hands on my desk.

It was both ridiculous and exhausting.

Everyone seemed to believe I should always be Noah’s perfect support.

That I wasn’t allowed to have feelings of my own.

Even ending our mate bond had to happen at a convenient time.

“Why would I know where he is?”

—

“We ended our mate bond a long time ago. Noah’s no longer my concern.”

“So what gives you the right to blame me?”

A mocking smile tugged at my lips.

“What are you—the next Luna or something?”

“You… You’re shameless!”

Faye’s face turned bright red.

She stammered for several seconds before storming out.

Not long afterward, she returned with the former Alpha.

Inside the stone council chamber, the elderly Alpha sat across from me and spoke earnestly.

“Anna, Noah is the strongest Alpha our territory has seen in a hundred years.”

“I’ve watched the two of you for years. You’ll find your way back to each other eventually.”

“Couples fight. Couples make up.”

“Just talk to him. Tell him to come home and focus on the pack. Whatever mistake he made, I’ll deal with him myself.”

I stirred the coffee in front of me, saying nothing.

It was always like this.

—

Everyone believed I was indispensable to Noah.

For a long time, even I believed it. But I was wrong.

If Noah truly loved me, he wouldn’t have let his pride keep him from apologizing, time and time again.

A difficult wolf might need a patient mate to guide him.

But no one could keep throwing themselves into a valley that never echoed back.

The road between Noah and me—he was the one who sealed it shut.

I looked at the elder calmly.

“I’m sorry. I really don’t know.”

“To Noah, I’m like a sugar cube beside a cup of black coffee.”

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m there or not.”