Chapter 3

Alyssa didn't remember how she went through the party as her whole heart was worrying about the future of her baby. The next morning she stood in front of the mirror, a pale reflection staring back at her. Her eyes were dark and swollen. Obviously, she wasn't able to have a good sleep. She shook her head with a bitter smile and quickly got dressed. It was a new week and she had somewhere to go. She curved her lips as she stared at the huge signboard of a Cafe. HEAVEN CAFÉ was the only place in this city that could help distract her from all of her problems back at home. She managed to find herself a job here. "Alyssa!!" Alyssa heard her name being called the moment she entered the café. Her smile widened when she saw Lily walking towards her with her arms opened wide for a hug. "I missed you so much." She muttered as she embraced Alyssa tightly. "Seriously?? I was only gone for a day." Alyssa told her with sign language and Lily immediately understood. "A day?? It felt more like forever. Do you know how hard it was for me to manage this café all on my own yesterday?" Lily pouted at her. "So you didn't miss me, just the work I was supposed to be doing?" Alyssa joked and she smiled softly. "You got what I mean." "Well, now I'm back so you don't have to miss my service anymore." Alyssa signed to her, playing along with her joke. And then they both burst out laughing. Lily was the only genuine friend Alyssa had made after joining the Moon Stone Keepers pack. She's a gorgeous and caring woman. Even though she wasn't much older than her, she cared for Alyssa like a big sister would. She even learned sign language for her. She wasn't that good at it but she still tried to understand Alyssa. Time with Lily was always comfortable and happy. In the blink of an eye, the morning passed and the customers had filled the cafe to the brim. Alyssa received an expedited order for delivery when Lily was busy attending to other customers. The address seemed familiar, but it wasn't until Alyssa arrived that her heart nearly stopped - it was Ezekiel's company. Her hands trembled on the motorcycle handlebars. How come she didn't notice that earlier? Ezekiel wouldn't be happy to see her here as he had warned her before not to be in the same space with him whenever they were in public. His company was a no-go area for her. She wasn't supposed to be here, wasn't supposed to enter his space in public. For a moment, she considered turning back. But the thought of causing trouble for the café where everyone had been so kind to her made her hesitate. Besides... a small, hopeful part of her heart whispered that this might be her only chance to see where Ezekiel spent his days. What did his office look like? Did he keep any photos on his desk? Would there perhaps be even one small reminder of her in his professional space? "I'll just drop off the coffee and leave," she told herself firmly, trying to squash that dangerous spark of hope. "He'll never even know I was here. Just deliver it quickly and go - that's all." She took in a deep breath and walked into the building. The receptionist kindly directed her to his office. "I'll leave it at the door," she thought again, her heart racing. "Just set it down quietly and slip away. He doesn't need to see me. He doesn't need to know..." But then Cindy's voice pierced through the door, stopping her in her tracks. "How long should I wait, Ezekiel? " Her voice sounded like a scream. "I'm tired of seeing that woman having my rightful place! You're MINE and it was supposed to be us getting married!" MINE? Alyssa couldn't help her temper at hearing this word. Was that how they called each other? But it was supposed to be a word reserved for mates. How did she have the guts to claim him as hers?! "He's MINE!" Alyssa screamed in her mind but...was he? Her heart sank as my hand reached her neck. Ezekiel hadn't given me her mark because he found it disgusting to fully claim her as his mate. She somehow pushed the door open a bit so as to see how would Ezekiel react to Cindy's complaint. She wished she hadn't done this then she wouldn't see Ezekiel just pulling Cindy closely towards him in a loving manner that he'd never done to her. "You know my marriage with her means nothing." He said before landing a soft kiss on her hair. "It's only because of my father's dying wish. You are always and forever the only one in my heart." Tears burned in Alyssa's eyes as reality crushed her last desperate hopes. How many nights had she lain awake, imagining he might one day look at her with even a fraction of such love? How many times had she told herself that if she just tried harder, was more patient, more understanding, he might eventually see her as more than an obligation? Before she could retreat into the shadows where she belonged, Cindy's sharp eyes spotted her. "Alyssa?" The name rang out like an accusation, dripping with false surprise. Alyssa was panicked when Ezekiel turned to look at her. "How do I escape from this now?" She asked herself. "What are you doing here?" His voice was mad and his eyes were red. Alyssa had never seen him this angry before. She bowed her head in fear, not knowing what to answer. "Alyssa...I never expected to see you here." Cindy's high-pitched voice resounded as she walked toward Alyssa. "Did you come to see your husband?" Each word dripped with deliberate provocation, and Alyssa could read the malicious intent clearly in Cindy's eyes. Her heart burned with anger - she knew exactly what Cindy was doing, trying to humiliate her, to show her place as an unwanted wife. The worst part was knowing there was nothing she could do about it.All she could do was hand over the coffee order. Alyssa's hands shook as she tried to set down the coffee order, but Cindy snatched it away. "Oh... you were just delivering our order." Cindy snorted and arrogantly grabbed the coffee from her before walking back toward Ezekiel. "Relax baby...you don't have to get angry at her...she was just doing her job." She smirked as she rubbed her hand seductively on Ezekiel's chest, not minding Alyssa's presence. The casual intimacy of the gesture made Alyssa's stomach turn. Worse was watching how quickly Ezekiel calmed at Cindy's touch, his anger melting into tenderness. It was like watching everything she'd ever wanted but could never have played out before her eyes. "You spoil me too much, even to the extent of neglecting your wife." She complained, feigning sympathy for Alyssa. Alyssa knew she was enjoying how tormented shs felt at that moment. Alyssa couldn't help but look at Ezekiel,searching for any sign that he cared about her suffering. But his eyes remained fixed on Cindy as if she were the sun and moon combined. The complete dismissal of her presence hurt more than any physical blow. "Why do I still hold the stupid illusion that he would love me one day? I should have already learned that I had no opportunity to win his heart when it only belonged to Cindy." Alyssa asked herself painfully. She decided to leave but Cindy called out her name. "Wait, you forgot to take your tip." She picked up her purse and brought out a few dollar bills before stretching them towards her. Alyssa stared at the money quietly, it was too much to be offered as a tip. Was she trying to humiliate her? She shook her head, indicating that she didn't want it, and that only made Cindy grin evilly. "Why don't you want it? I'm sure you badly need it to cater for yourself. Isn't that the reason you're working at that small Cafe despite being the Alpha's mate?" Alyssa balled her fists angrily, attempting to retort but held herself back because she knew it wouldn't make any sense to her. They never took her in the eyes. "Just take the damn tip and leave!!" Ezekiel's harsh voice suddenly resounded in the office giving Alyssa a jolt. Did he hate seeing her at his workplace so much? She managed to hold her tears and forced a smile before collecting the money. I was about to leave but his voice stopped her again. "Remember your position, Alyssa." He voiced out harshly. "Don't delude about things that don't belong to you and dare not to break my rules again. Or else I'll make sure you pay for it." She nodded silently, though her heart was shattering into pieces. Only when she was outside did she finally let the tears fall, grateful for the heavy rain that masked them. The downpour soaked through her clothes, but she barely noticed, too consumed by the pain in her chest. Through her tear-blurred vision, she didn't see the dark figure that suddenly appeared in her path. Her motorcycle swerved sharply on the wet pavement. The world spun violently, and then pain exploded through her body as she hit the ground. The physical agony was intense, but it was nothing compared to the terror that gripped her heart as she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. Her hands instinctively moved to protect her stomach, even as her vision began to fade. She tried to scream for help, but no sound came out - her muteness betraying her once again when she needed her voice the most. "Please," she begged silently, desperately, as consciousness slipped away. "Someone help me... I can't lose my baby... not my baby too..."