Chapter 3

While I was recovering at the clinic, I hired an older healer to help take care of me.

Meanwhile, Ryan spent his days parading Clare around the pack. Every day, Clare sent me pictures from their "romantic tour".

They went to Crescent Lake, dove beneath Moonlight Springs, and watched star trails from Starlight Cliff at night. Every spot was marked with kisses, as if they couldn't wait to show the world how in love they were.

I looked at those pictures with nothing but calm.

Lately, I had been busy working with my friend, Amy Bauer, to set up an herbal remedy lab. For the past nine years, I had been secretly helping her refine old formulas and brew new herbal remedies whenever I had the time.

Amy had long wanted to open an herbal remedy lab with me, but I kept putting it off because of a fake relationship.

A lot of friends said it was a shame that I wasted nine years on an Alpha who gave me nothing in return.

But I didn't regret it. Back then, all I cared about was saving Grandpa's life. That mattered more than anything.

Now, with my agreement with Ryan days away from ending, I could finally be free again.

…

On the day I was discharged, Ryan sent me a voice message. "When are you coming back? The villa looks like a damn battlefield. Haven't you left the clinic yet?"

I scoffed and replied with a bite, "What, are the staff on strike or something? Can't you even manage them?"

Ryan's voice turned impatient. "You know I don't like people messing with my stuff. And it's your job to sort those files."

I glanced at the time, ready to say I was busy, when a trainee healer knocked and reminded me to settle the bill.

Ryan must've overheard because he immediately started pressuring me to return.

I ignored him. After paying, I left with my Amy.

In the car, she grinned and winked at me. "Are you free now?"

I stared at the shadows of trees in the distance and smiled softly. "It's finally over. Once I sign the mate dissolution agreement, I'm out of here."

Amy smacked the car window in excitement. "Hell yes! Let's go! We're celebrating with lamb chops!"

I nodded.

As we chatted about our little business venture, Ryan called again. I didn't even look at it. Instead, I locked the phone and kept listening to Amy.

She raised an eyebrow at me. "So that's it? You have no feelings left for him at all?"

She was the only one who knew I had once fallen for Ryan.

But whatever feelings I had had were long gone. They were crushed under the weight of his indifference.

I answered coolly, "We were never meant to be. It was always going to end."

Amy nodded in understanding.

After we wrapped up our plans, we headed to our favorite restaurant. The moment I bit into that first juicy lamb chop, my eyes welled up with tears.

Amy laughed. "Seriously? Is it that good?"

I smiled and didn't say a word.

Ever since I got tied to Ryan, I hadn't touched lamb. He said he hated the smell.

It wasn't just about food. There were so many things he called "inappropriate", like laughing in public and speaking loudly.

For nine years, I was like an empty shell with my emotions kept on a leash. But now, surrounded by the smell of lamb, I caught the scent of freedom. My nose stung from it.

…

By the time I returned to the villa, night had fallen.

I opened the door and saw Ryan sitting in the living room. His expression was darker than the sky outside.

He had sent me over a dozen texts and called countless times, but I hadn't answered a single one.

"Where were you?"

I changed into my indoor slippers and washed my hands before finally replying, "I had dinner with a friend."

Ryan approached, sniffed with a wrinkled nose, and his expression turned even more sour. "I told you not to eat lamb. That smell gives me a headache."

I gave him a sweet smile and said in an innocent tone, "But it didn't bother you when Clare had some."

His expression instantly turned stormy. "Clare's different. She's not my mate."

I didn't respond.

Perhaps not now. But it was only a matter of time.

Everyone in the pack could see how Ryan doted on Clare. Meanwhile, I was nothing to him and definitely not a Luna.