Chapter 3

Luther's stern expression softened, and he looked at me with relief. "That's more like it. You've become much more sensible. In the past, you'd get so jealous when the pups got close to someone else. Ivana was right about you being too possessive. Now that you've thought it through, that's for the best."

The twins also said to me happily, "Thank you, Mommy. If you were like this every day, it'd be great. We like you better this way."

I looked down and smiled bitterly. It was time to let go. Some people would never appreciate me no matter what I did. My sincerity should be reserved for those who needed or wanted it more.

Subconsciously, I touched my belly. Inside, a small life was quietly growing. This little being was connected to me by blood, and I looked forward to its arrival.

The twins left happily with their birth parents, while I returned to the bedroom and continued packing my few belongings. There weren't many photos of me and Luther, but the pups' photos filled the entire room.

Silently, I tore the photos down and put them into a box. I didn't take a single photo of them with me. I tore down and destroyed the photos that had me in them too.

I had once deeply cherished the gifts from Luther and the handmade crafts from the pups. But now, I packed them into a cardboard box and threw it into the trash bin.

I had sent the signed agreement to the city hall. Once I left the Sharp Teeth pack, my mate bond with Luther would be dissolved legally. By then, we would have nothing to do with each other anymore.

Just then, my phone screen lit up. Ivana had sent me a link to her Instagram account. I hesitated for a moment but still tapped it open in the end. A new post showed a photo of the four of them together. In it, all four wore matching family outfits with bright smiles on their faces.

In another photo, Ivana held up her hand, flaunting a moonstone ring on her finger.

The caption read, "A special gift from my little sweethearts. I heard they used up a whole year's worth of their pocket money to buy it. I'm so grateful to these cuties!"

Below her post were countless envious comments.

"What a happy family of four. The pups are so sweet to buy such an expensive gift for Mommy!"

"The twins look so much like their mom and dad. They're so beautiful!"

I looked at the expensive gemstone sitting on Ivana's hand, then at the cheap, handmade crafts in the trash bin. My gaze hardened with bitterness.

Ivana's feed kept updating itself. There were countless moments of the four of them working in sync on sports day. There were also photos of Luther and Ivana standing side by side, holding the twins as they accepted an award.

Anyone who saw such heartwarming scenes would probably smile, but it had the exact opposite effect on me. Each photo was like a silver knife that stabbed hard into my heart.

Ivana's messages kept flooding in.

"See? We're the real family connected by blood! The kids are mine and Luther's, and the person they like more is me!"

"If I were you, I would've left long ago! How can you shamelessly enjoy stolen happiness?"

I didn't even go through her vicious taunts and instead blocked her. I no longer wanted Luther or the pups, so her words could no longer affect me.

With my suitcase, I walked out of the villa decisively and boarded the boat leaving the Sharp Teeth pack without looking back.

Luther felt uneasy and panic, as though something precious was slipping away. This had never happened before. He tried to call out to me through our mind-link, but I didn't respond to him.

At that moment, Ivana, who was holding Lucas, waved to him and urged, "Hurry up! Didn't you say we're going for a feast?"

Luther hesitated for two seconds before shaking his head. "Let's go back and get Yara first. We should invite her for the meal too."

The twins were a little unhappy about it, but they didn't object. But when the four of them returned to the villa, I was nowhere to be found.

"What? Did you say Yara left the pack, and she left with her luggage?"