Chapter 4

Selene POV

Having not slept all night, the pain from the bond still lingering in my chest, plus the news of Grand Alpha's passing. My head was foggy, like a huge stone was pressing on it. I didn't even know how I left the Healing House.

The sound of an engine turning off suddenly came from the distance.

Nyx instantly lifted her head, and I instinctively looked out the window. A familiar black SUV stopped in front of the Healing House. Michael got out of the driver's seat. Having not seen him for just one night, he seemed like a different person. Pale complexion, bloodshot eyes, even stubble on his chin, as if he hadn't rested at all.

My heart contracted, "Michael..."

I had just walked down the steps when Michael was already striding toward me. One step. Two steps. Getting closer and closer. Before I could even speak, the next second, my body was suddenly pulled forcefully into his embrace. His arms locked tightly around my back, the force so strong it hurt, as if he wanted to merge me into his bones and blood.

Nyx whimpered, "Alpha... our mate is crying."

And I was completely stunned, even forgetting to struggle, forgetting to breathe. I could only feel Michael's violently heaving chest, and the hands holding me were trembling slightly.

In that instant, last night's arguments, those hurtful words, the severed bond, all seemed to become unimportant. Grand Alpha was gone, and my mate was grieving. That was all.

After hesitating for a few seconds, I slowly raised my hand, gently wrapping it around his waist, then patting his back one by one like Grand Alpha used to comfort pups.

"Michael." My voice was very soft, "Grandpa would be angry. He hated seeing you like this most."

I paused again, my thumb unconsciously rubbing gently on his arm, "I'm here."

The next second, I felt his body stiffen.

My hand immediately stopped mid-air, my chest suddenly sinking, color draining from my face bit by bit, last night's words suddenly resurfacing in my mind.

I hate you.

"Sorry." I immediately withdrew my hand, backing away several steps as if burned, "I misunderstood..."

I lowered my head, not daring to look at his expression, but saw Michael's hand move, as if instinctively wanting to grab something, or push something away. His movement stopped mid-air, finally landing on my wrist.

I instinctively looked up. Michael was looking at me, as if wanting to say something. His hand was very forceful, gripping until it hurt a little. My heart suddenly beat faster uncontrollably, I even had a moment of expectation.

Maybe... no, Selene, he definitely doesn't mean that.

A few seconds later, he eventually slowly let go. His voice was incredibly hoarse, "Get in the car."

My heart sank bit by bit, throat tightening. I was silent for a few seconds, finally softly humming in agreement.

As expected, I had misunderstood again. That embrace just now was only because of Grand Alpha's passing, only because he was too sad. It had nothing to do with me.

"That's not right!" Nyx spun around anxiously, "Alpha clearly liked you hugging him! Selene, you idiot!"

I closed my eyes, ignoring her.

Last night's lesson was enough, I didn't want to make the same mistake twice. So I took another half step back, creating distance between us.

I was the first to open the car door and get in. The car still held his familiar scent, making my chest tight. I sat leaning against the car door, trying to maximize the distance between Michael and me, but my fingers unconsciously tightened. That embrace seemed to still linger on my body, even my back felt faintly hot. My mind was in chaos - Grand Alpha, Michael, last night's argument, and that embrace. Everything mixed together.

The sound of a door closing came from the other side, Michael got in the car. The engine rumbled lowly. Neither of us spoke, the air so quiet it was uncomfortable.

Suddenly, the car stopped. I was stunned for a moment, turning to see Michael frowning, "Seatbelt."

I followed his gaze and looked down, then reached to pull it. But the seatbelt was stuck in the gap and wouldn't come out. I tried again.

This damn seatbelt.

Having not slept all night, plus crying earlier, even my fingers were somewhat weak. Just as I was about to try a third time,

A shadow suddenly loomed over me.

My breathing caught, "I can do it myself..."

Michael had already leaned over, the distance instantly shortened, so close I could even smell that familiar scent on him mixed with a faint coldness. Making my chest inexplicably tight. His slender fingers reached across my body, brushing past the back of my hand, the warm touch making my fingertips tremble slightly. My body instinctively stiffened, even my breathing became lighter.

He was too close, so close I could see the red veins in his eyes, see the fatigue left by a sleepless night, even feel his breath falling.

I suddenly remembered that embrace from a few minutes ago, remembered his slightly trembling hands when he held me. My heart suddenly skipped a beat. Michael just silently pulled out the stuck seatbelt, bringing it across my shoulder.

Click.

The sound of the buckle fastening was particularly clear in the small car cabin.

But he didn't immediately move away. Those deep blue eyes looked down, his gaze lingering on my face for a moment, as if confirming something, then he slowly withdrew, sitting back in the driver's seat, starting the car again.

Nyx had stood up again, tail gently wagging, "Alpha is still taking care of us."

"Just incidentally." I said quietly to Nyx, but it sounded more like I was convincing myself.

The whole process was only a few seconds, but my heartbeat took a long time to return to normal. I looked at the rapidly retreating street scene outside the window, secretly hiding my heated hands in my palms.

Michael suddenly spoke, "How has the Healing House been lately?"

My fingers paused, "What?"

"The wolfsbane suppressant project." His gaze remained on the road ahead, voice low and hoarse, "What stage has it reached?"

My body tensed slightly, the warmth in my heart instantly cooling, "Did the council of elders ask you to inquire?"

Sure enough, everything just now was just my illusion. He was still Storm Pack's future Alpha after all, not Michael.

His hands on the steering wheel tightened slightly, "What?"

"Project progress." I looked down at my hands, "Investment status. Experimental results. Next steps. These things..."

I tugged at the corner of my mouth, "Has the council of elders finally decided to care about the Healing House?"

The temperature in the car seemed to suddenly drop. I could feel Michael's aura change, but I couldn't stop anymore, even with a hint of vengeful pleasure, "Or have they finally discovered that if the laboratory collapses, Storm Pack will lose a lot of money in the future?"

"Selene." Michael's voice deepened.

"Don't worry." But I acted as if I hadn't heard, "The laboratory is my responsibility. Even if I can't hold on, I don't need anyone..."

"Enough." Michael finally turned to look at me, those deep blue eyes clearly suppressing anger, but this time, he didn't lose control like last night, nor did he continue to get angry.

The car cabin only had our suppressed breathing sounds. I belatedly bit my lip, my chest feeling slightly stuffy. I suddenly regretted what I had just said.

The silence lasted for a long time. I looked down at the window, suddenly speaking softly, "Do you know? When Grand Alpha first met me, I thought he would dislike me like the other elders."

The corner of my mouth lifted slightly, "Instead, he called me over and stuffed a whole bag of moonberry candy in my hands. He also said a Luna who's too thin would be blown away by the wind."

The car cabin remained quiet, but that tense atmosphere gradually dissipated.

"Later, when the council of elders opposed me, he was also the one who stood up to tell everyone that the future Luna could only be me." My voice was somewhat hoarse, "I miss him."

"Mm." Michael's voice was very soft. He still looked ahead, but the coldness between his brows had dissipated considerably, "Grandpa would indeed do that."

The car cabin became quiet again, but no longer suffocating. This was the first time since last night that we hadn't argued, and the first time we could calmly mention the same person.

I leaned against the car window. My gaze unconsciously fell ahead, and only then did I notice that the heater in the car had been turned up, and there was also a bottle of mineral water next to me, the brand I usually preferred to drink. I didn't know when it had been placed there.

Nyx gently wagged her tail, "Alpha still remembers us."

I didn't speak, but found that the heavy, oppressive feeling in my chest seemed to have lifted a little. The scenery outside the window kept receding, and the car speed was much slower than usual, so steady I could hardly feel any bumps. I suddenly remembered that in the past, every time I stayed up late doing experiments, Michael would deliberately slow down because I would fall asleep in the car. My heart softened a bit.

Maybe... last night's words weren't entirely true. He still cared about me.

After a moment of silence, I took the initiative to speak, "What about me?"