Chapter 4

How do I put this?

When Lucas wrapped his arms around me, I nearly gagged.

But I had more dignity than he did. I simply pushed him away and said, "I'm tired of you. Go sleep by yourself."

He hadn't expected the rejection. For a moment, he looked lost, but then he shamelessly leaned in again, sure that a few sweet words would fix everything. "I was just angry and talking nonsense. Did you really take it to heart?"

Even tolerating his touch made my skin crawl.

We had marked each other once. The Moon Goddess had blessed us with a bond that allowed us to sense each other's emotions.

But my mind was filled with images of him and Amy tangled together. I didn't know if it was my imagination or if I was sharing his memories. Either way, it was disgusting.

Etiquette didn't matter anymore. I gagged, dry heaving.

Lucas' expression darkened.

I pulled away from him, throwing his excuse back at him. "Sorry, I must've eaten something bad."

Maybe I had made my disgust too obvious because Lucas tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. I could feel him watching me, as if afraid I would disappear. Then, he slipped out of bed in the middle of the night.

I opened my eyes slowly and turned toward the window.

I watched as he knocked on Amy's door. Amy, dressed in a revealing nightgown, threw herself into his arms.

…

The next morning, Lucas made me breakfast. He even brought me a bouquet of moonflowers.

He looked at me with unease, subtly probing why I had been so distant lately.

My change had caught his attention, but I knew he didn't truly care. If he did, he would have noticed the empty walls—every picture of us had been taken down and thrown in the trash.

I was leaving.

Lucas grew desperate when I didn't respond. "Why are you looking at me like that? Like I'm a stranger? Is this because I didn't get you a gift? You're punishing me for that?"

Suddenly, he pulled out a ruby necklace, his voice urgent. "I ordered this a long time ago. There was just a bit of an unexpected delay.

"You have to believe me—gems of this size aren't easy to find. I arranged for a collector to get one for me three years ago."

I figured his "unexpected delay" had been meeting Amy. The gift meant for me had ended up in her hands.

That necklace had to be worth at least a million dollars, yet he hadn't used our joint account.

"Where did you get the money?"

"Obviously, from my personal savings."

For a moment, I softened. Through the 31-year-old Lucas in front of me, I could still see the young werewolf from 11 years ago—the one who had loved me with everything he had.

"Thank you." I meant it—thank you for genuinely loving me once, but I didn't need a love that had already been tainted.

I couldn't accept a gift meant for me if it had once belonged to someone else.

It was just like I couldn't accept a mate whose scent had already intertwined with another she-wolf.

"You've forgiven me?" Lucas' voice was laced with uncertainty, almost pleading.

I didn't answer. Instead, I changed the subject. "Tomorrow, you're going into battle against the Silvermane Pack. Make sure you come back alive."

I walked him to the door. He hesitated, then asked for a lucky kiss.

After a moment of hesitation, I leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips. It would be the last time I ever kissed him.

His somber mood lifted instantly. "I'll win. I want to see you waiting for me."

I watched him leave. When I turned back, I found Amy glaring at me, seething with jealousy.

I smirked, deliberately taunting her. "Thanks for the advice. All it took was a little effort, and Lucas would be glued to me all night."

Amy's smile twisted. "Is that so? Too bad no amount of effort will erase the wrinkles at the corners of your eyes."

I didn't argue. I had no interest in playing games with her.

Instead, I went home, packed my things, and called my parents to take my son.

…

On the third day, I left the signed mate bond dissolution agreement on the coffee table.

The Moon Goddess only granted us one true mate. Since Lucas had chosen the younger, prettier Amy, I was willing to let them have each other.

Ms. Murphy came to pick me up for the airport herself, probably afraid I would change my mind at the last minute.

Years ago, I was one of the top students in my field. Ms. Murphy had recommended me for the Werewolf Genetics Institute.

But Lucas wanted to stay and build his future in the pack. So, I turned down the Wolfen Kingdom's invitation and returned to the Southern Pack to live as an ordinary she-wolf.

I managed his finances, took care of our home, and bore his child. I even threw myself in front of him when he was ambushed, shattering the bones in my lower leg in the process.

But at 30, the same me, the one who had given him everything, was now someone Lucas found so repulsive he could barely stand to look at me.

Ms. Murphy handed me the latest research findings. "Are you sure about this? Leaving your mate, your parents, and taking your son to start over somewhere completely new?"

"Yes. This was always my dream—to dedicate my life to research, to find a way to stop werewolves from losing themselves to madness. But I was blinded by love and wasted the future you had planned for me."

Ms. Murphy looked at me, her eyes suddenly turning red with emotion. "My brightest student is finally back. When you gave up back then, I felt such regret.

"True love would never make you sacrifice yourself—it should help you become the best version of yourself."

I hugged her, then turned and walked into the airport.

Before my flight took off, I caught a glimpse of Lucas' victory parade on the live stream.

He rode behind the Alpha of the pack, towering atop his massive wolf, basking in the people's cheers and admiration.

At first, he looked elated, his sharp wolf eyes scanning the crowd. But then his expression shifted—from uncertainty to panic. He was calling my name over and over.

That day, Lucas returned in glory. And for the first time, I wasn't there to welcome him home.

From now on, his victories and failures would no longer matter to me.

I boarded the plane and shut off our mindlink connection.

"Goodbye, Lucas."