The aftermath of Jacob's whispered confession created an ongoing weight in Leah's thoughts. The words she heard were like a hidden truth which twisted within her mind as she navigated Barduff Castle's corridors.
Serafina grabbed hold of Leah with her tiny hand as they strolled through Luna Vivian's rose garden which she lovingly nurtured. The roses' normal lavish blossoms showed signs of decline because their devoted caretaker was no longer there.
"Will the flowers die now?" Serafina asked, her voice small.
Leah gently swept Serafina's loose hair to the side while she kneeled on the floor. The flowers will remain healthy with our dedicated care.
Serafina maintained her silence while fixing her gaze on the fading roses as though she could somehow make them blossom again.
Leah wished it could be that easy.
The castle walls contained growing whispers that intensified as time passed. The council elders discussed forming alliances and stressed that the pack needed both a new Luna and strengthened protection against threats. Joseph paid attention to the whispers but took no practical steps toward change. Not yet.
It was Beta Paul Lyall who found her later that afternoon. He stood in the servants' corridor, his tall frame casting a shadow against the stone walls.
"The council is pressing him," he said without preamble. "They want him to take a mate before the next moon."
Leah's heart skipped a beat. "And does he agree?"
Paul hesitated. "I don't know. But he doesn't deny the necessity."
Leah nodded, gripping the cloth in her hands tighter. "I am only Serafina's caretaker, Paul."
His sharp gaze softened, but his expression remained unreadable. "That may be so, but you are also the only one who understands her grief. And his."
She swallowed hard, unable to form a response.
That evening, a summons came.
Leah found herself standing outside the Alpha's chambers, her palms clammy despite the cool night air. The door was slightly ajar, firelight flickering against the stone walls within.
She stepped inside.
Jacob stood near the window, his hands braced against the wooden ledge. He did not turn as she entered. The tension in his shoulders was palpable.
"You wanted to see me, Alpha?" she asked, keeping her voice steady.
Jacob exhaled, his breath fogging against the cold glass. "The council has proposed an arrangement."
Leah clenched her hands at her sides. "An arranged marriage?"
He finally turned, his gaze meeting hers. "Yes."
Her throat tightened. She had expected this, and yet the confirmation still hit like a blade to the ribs.
"With whom?"
"Gwen Boris. The daughter of Alpha Edmund Boris of the Tail Wind Pack."
Leah swallowed, nodding slowly. She had heard of Gwen—ambitious, strong-willed, a proper Luna by all definitions. She would strengthen the pack, secure their future.
But she did not love Jacob. And Jacob did not love her.
Leah forced herself to speak. "If it is what the pack needs—"
"What do you think, Leah?" Jacob interrupted, his voice quieter now.
Her breath caught. "It isn't my place to say."
His jaw clenched. "Perhaps not. But I am asking you anyway."
Silence stretched between them. The fire crackled, the only sound in the heavy stillness.
Leah lowered her gaze. "Serafina will not take to her."
"I know."
"And you don't love her."
A muscle in his jaw twitched. "No."
"Then why are you considering it?" she asked.
"Because the pack needs stability. The elders demand it. I'm expected to move forward," he said.
Leah moved closer. "And what about what you want?"
Jacob's eyes darkened as he searched hers. For a moment, Leah thought he might say something to bridge the gap between them.
But he turned away.
"What I want doesn't matter," he said, his voice rough. "The pack comes first."
Leah's hands shook. She knew she shouldn't feel hurt or long for the impossible.
She had to remember her place.
"Then I hope she makes a good Luna," she whispered, leaving the room before he could respond, closing the door softly behind her.
As she walked away, Leah knew her heart had betrayed her.
For the first time, she dared to wonder—if things had been different, could she have been more than just an omega?
As Leah went inside her chamber she couldn't help but feel overcome with grief and heartbreak. Her meeting with alpha jacob had confirmed that there could be nothing between them as he had already chosen his future luna to replace vivian. At the weight of all these she broke down sobbing.
"You don't seem to approve of my choice of mate for our dear alpha, do you?" said a deep voice behind her. She turned around to find Beta paul smiling sheepishly.
"Paul, but…" she uttered in shock.
"What am I doing here?" he asked, completing her question.
"Come on Leah, you really didn't think that the alpha would look twice at a servant Omega like you did you?" he scoffed.
"That's why you need to accept me as your mate." he continued.
"You will never do any better than me considering your social status, in fact consider my proposal as a favour to you"he said.
" I'm afraid I can't take you up on your offer Paul, we both have binding duties to the alpha and that's what should always come first." she responded with great resolve.
"How dare you, a weak useless omega, reject me?" he snarled at her, very infuriated.
He then grabbed her and dragged her to her bed. "If you won't accept my proposal I will have you either way." he snapped.
Leah let out a loud scream. "Help!!.. Someone please help!!"
Unbeknownst to Paul Alpha Jacob had run into the chamber after hearing Leah scream.He quickly shoved paul away from her and punched him on his jaw.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't dismiss you from your duties," Alpha Jacob enquired.
"But Alpha please understand that I only want to have Leah as my mate." Beta Paul replied
.
"For the umpteenth time Beta! That won't be possible." "Look I understand your need for a mate but Leah's duty is towards this pack as my daughter's nanny,until I find a mate suitable for her or until the moon goddess decides her fate for a mate."
"For now let me pretend that this incident never happened, otherwise the next time you dare harass Leah there will be dire consequences." Alpha Jacob said with finality.
"As you say Alpha." replied Beta Paul running away.
Alpha Jacob enveloped Leah in a tight embrace, reassuring her that her safety would always be guaranteed as long as he was the leader of the pack.