Alpha Theo's Unloved Luna - Chapter 54: Chapter 54

~ Caroline ~
"She doesn't compare to me, Caroline," Madison said. "Please, help me. I love Theo so much. You know I do."
"We were about to get married, and suddenly, Gwen returned. It can't be a coincidence. I'm sure she returned because she wanted to be with Theo and be the Luna of this pack, but can she handle it?" Madison added.
"Remember how she can't fight?" Madison said. "She said she isn't Lucius' daughter, but she doesn't have enough proof. Something is off with Gwen, and I feel it."
"I think she is lying about not being Lucius' daughter because she knows we will always find it hard to accept her. No matter what, the enemy's daughter can't be our Luna. We all learned that the hard way many years ago," Alice, one of the female warriors close to Caroline, suggested.
Caroline sat with Madison and their group of friends, exchanging opinions about Gwen's unexpected return. Their conversation only strengthened Caroline's decision not to accept Gwen.
"Maybe she had purposely had her son kidnapped," one of the companions pitched in.
"She said she is a doctor, maybe a quack doctor, but who cares! There are many doctors here, and what if Port Leon is attacked? She can't do anything as our Luna. I don't want her back," another one of their friends said. "Madison should be our Luna."
"Don't worry, Madison. I'll see what I can do, but the good news is Gwen is leaving. So, maybe you'll finally have your chance with Theo," Caroline suggested.
"Is she really leaving? Or is she just making Theo hate us?" Madison pointed out. "I'm telling you, Caroline, Theo could be bewitched. I don't believe it one second that they are destined mates! How lucky could she get!"
"Yeah, we need to investigate that," Alice added. "This might be part of a big scheme that Gwen and those men she was with have orchestrated."
"I'll send in some people to look into Gwen in Southern Alfar. From what I understand, she calls herself Doctor Weneth there," Caroline said. "With my resources, I should be able to get information in a week. Then, I'll also contact a witch who can help us determine if Theo is being manipulated."
"Thank you, Caroline." Madison sniffed her tears away. She embraced Caroline and said, "You are indeed my true friend."
After meeting her friends at their usual place, Caroline returned home. She and her mother had been living separately since Theo married Gwen. When they all thought Gwen was dead, Caroline proposed returning to the packhouse. However, Theo refused it.
Gwen's disappearance was meant to unite their family, but it ended up creating a distance instead, as Theo had difficulty accepting that she was gone. Consequently, Caroline found herself holding resentment towards Gwen. It wasn't just because Gwen was Lucius' daughter, but also because Gwen had changed her brother in ways Caroline didn't fully understand.
Caroline arrived at their house just in time to see Theo's car coming their way. Caroline anticipated that Theo would bring Ian again, but to her surprise, he brought Gwen!
"What is she doing here, Theo?" Caroline asked.
"She wants to treat Mother," Theo answered.
"She is not seeing my mother," Caroline said outright.
"That is for our mother to decide, not yours," Theo growled, and she swore. Her brother's eyes glowed in irritation.
See? Gwen did this. Gwen was turning her brother against her, and Caroline did not like it!
They made it into the house with tension building up in the air. Her mother, Catherine, was aided down the stairs by one of the maids, and when she saw Gwen, her eyes rounded.
"What is the meaning of this, Theo?" Catherine asked.
"Mother, Gwen came here to check on you. She wants to treat you," Theo suggested.
At the foot of the staircase, Catherine lingered. Her eyes panned from Catherine to Theo and then to Gwen. She said, "It's not necessary -"
"Mrs. Erhart, did you feel much better after I treated you once? I can cure you completely if you allow me to," Gwen said, interrupting Catherine.
Caroline frowned, but she noticed how her mother hesitated. Catherine answered, "I checked, and there was no difference from what any doctors would have given me. Maybe that was just a coincidence. I have also been given treatment from the hospital, so maybe that made me feel better."
"But how are you feeling now?" Gwen asked. "My treatment plan can boost energy, but if it's not sustained, you may not fully recover."
"But what else did you give me aside from intravenous fluids and epinephrine?" Catherine asked.
Gwen wavered. She replied, "A massage and some supplements -"
"Which Ian had already named," Catherine revealed. "I will take Ian's suggestion and buy those supplements, but I think there is no need for you to treat me."
"Exactly," Caroline echoed. "You are no better than our doctors here. My mother will be healed anytime soon."
"Mother, Caroline, Gwen is here to help. Why can't you just accept her help?" Theo said through gritted teeth, and again, Caroline saw it as a scheme Gwen had crafted to create a distance between their family and Theo.
"Do not force us, Theo. We can choose our doctor and a better one at that, not someone who just claims to be a doctor!" Caroline said while rolling her eyes.
"It's okay, Theo," Gwen said. She handed Theo a paper bag containing herbal tea and sweetener. "My brother and I bought this earlier today. And we especially made these monk fruit cubes for sugar substitute. This may also help you feel better."
Caroline received the paper bag from Theo. She looked at it and frowned, saying, "It's just green tea."
"Yes, but green tea has a lot of antioxidants," Gwen explained.
"We could just buy this -"
"Caroline, Gwen has made an effort to prepare those for Mother. If you say it's just green tea, then there is nothing to lose. Just have Mother try it, for goddess' sake!" Theo scolded.
"Come on, Gwen, let's go," Theo said.
Still, Gwen remained rooted in her place. She looked at Catherine and pleaded, "Please, have some tea at least once daily and use the monk fruit cubes. I hope you get well soon."
Eventually, Theo and Gwen left. When they were finally alone, Catherine suggested, "Well, your brother is right, you know. There is no harm in drinking the green tea."
"Of course, there is Mother! For all we know, it's poisoned! You are not drinking this!" Caroline exclaimed. She ran out to the back and threw the paper bag in the trash.
Finally, Tuesday came. Gwen and her party were returning to Southern Alfar.
Because Gwen barely slept the other night, she survived that evening without napping beside her son. She did, however, wake up at five in the morning, too early for their departure. Still, she got ready.
Gwen prepared her clothes and took a warm bath. Just when she had changed into a new pair of pants and a blouse, she heard the door to her room creak open.
When she turned, she saw Theo walking in. She asked, "Is Ian awake?"
"No, he is still asleep," Theo answered.
"What are you doing here, then?" Gwen asked.
"I wanted to say goodbye," Theo said.
"I thought you were taking us to the airport," Gwen raised.
"I am, but I wanted to do this -" Theo suddenly wrapped her in his arms before Gwen could react. He held her so tight that she felt like she was being squeezed against his muscles.
His scent easily engulfed her, causing her inner wolf to go wild. The mate bond kicked in, and her stomach did somersaults.
Theo inhaled her scent repeatedly before saying, "It's so difficult for me to let you leave, Gwen, but I hope that by setting you free, you'll choose to return to me on your own... someday."
With that, Gwen's heart skipped a beat. She tried to hold back any emotions, but a tear inevitably rolled down her cheek.