Chapter 1

I quietly made arrangements for my departure and went to the city hall to fill out the application to leave the pack. I also got a copy of the mate bond dissolution agreement.

I had also contacted my birth parents. When they learned that I was going to them, they were so excited that their voices cracked with emotion while they spoke to me over the phone.

A warm feeling surged in my heart when I learned that I had a family who loved me. I knew at that moment that even after I left my mate, I could still live well.

Two days later, the pack-withdrawal application would take effect. After Luther signed the mate bond dissolution agreement, I would have a clean exit from the Sharp Teeth pack.

Just as I closed my suitcase, I sensed Luther's icy presence seep in from outside the door.

"Yara, is this how you take care of the pups? How could you not give them food?" His expression was stern, and there was a faint hint of disappointment in his tone.

That groundless accusation pierced my heart painfully. My face turned pale, but I kept my composure and made sure the tone of my voice remained even.

I explained, "They're allergic to nuts. I just told them not to eat the walnut cake."

Luther paused. He hadn't expected that to be the reason. Instantly, a regretful look appeared on his face.

Apologetically, he said, "I'm sorry, Yara. I didn't get my facts straight before asking you about it. The pups must have misspoken, but they definitely didn't mean it."

He gently embraced me and kissed my forehead. "I'll teach them a lesson after this. The pups are still young. Please don't blame them."

I pulled away from him and took out the mate bond dissolution agreement that was folded in half. I said to him in a deliberately relaxed tone, "I like this villa. If you sign this, I'll forgive you."

Without even looking at the document, Luther signed it briskly. "Just buy it. As long as you like it, I'll buy it for you."

He ruffled my hair affectionately.

Then, after a moment of thought, he suddenly said, "Ivana just came back and doesn't have a place to stay for now. I'll let her move in temporarily and have her help you take care of the two pups."

He paused again before reluctantly explaining, "Don't overthink it. Ivana likes pups. The twins get along well with her, so she agreed to come and help."

I fell silent for two seconds and nodded. "It's fine. Let her move in, then."

In two days, everything here would belong to her. I had no reason to stop her from moving in early.

Luther probably didn't expect me to agree so easily. My consent made him feel a little uneasy. "If you're not happy about this, I can arrange for her to move elsewhere," he suggested.

I looked at him in surprise and shook my head. "It's fine. I'm not upset. It's good to have one more person to take care of the pups."

With that, Luther relaxed, and the slight frown he had been showing eased. "It's great that you think this way. The pups love you, and Ivana moving in will lessen your burden."

He knew how much I adored the twins. When it came to taking care of them, I never let anyone else take over the job.

From their infancy, I personally fed them and taught them to speak. Every time they were sick, I'd stay up the entire night without sleeping. I did it so that when they opened their eyes, they would see that I was right there with them.

The twins were born premature, so they were weaker than pups of the same age. I had painstakingly raised them, yet I never received a single word of thanks from them. Instead, they thought I was purposely mistreating them.

Even after eight long years, they never understood that all the things I did were for their own good. Since that was the case, I would let go.

The next morning, the bubbly laughter coming from downstairs woke me up.

Ivana had been busying herself in the kitchen since early morning, while Luther and the pups sat at the dining table, talking to her animatedly.

My daughter, Cheryl, clapped her hands and said, "Ms. Lamont, you're so nice. Mommy never lets us eat ice cream! We've never eaten donuts or chocolate either."

My son, Lucas, looked at the sweet treats like a glutton. "Yeah, Ms. Lamont. If only you were our mommy, then we could've eaten all these tasty snacks long ago."

Even though I had been mentally prepared, my heart still throbbed in pain. I was going to advise them not to eat too many sweets, especially ice cream. But upon hearing what the twins said, I swallowed those words.

The two pups had always liked sweets since they were little. Before the age of five, they already had cavities, which caused them to suffer unbearable pain.

The dentist had said that if they continued eating sweets and cold foods, all their teeth would have to be pulled out should the cavities return.

I was leaving soon. Since they liked these sweet treats so much, I would just let them be.