Chapter 3

At first, Callum seemed annoyed. He was about to question me, but he changed his mind when he registered the tear streaming down my face. He merely addressed the chauffeur, urging him to speed up.

I hastily wiped the tears away with my sleeve once the car eased to a halt and got ready to step out.

Callum suddenly spoke from behind me, his voice slow and deliberate. "Have you finally started to behave after all this time, Selene? Your birthday party is tomorrow, but because of the spectacle you caused these past two weeks, your gift has been revoked as a disciplinary measure."

He paused for a beat, then continued, "Your compliance today was commendable, though. I'm quite pleased with it, so I'll grant you one wish, as long as it's well within reason."

I couldn't help but tighten my grip on the car door handle. I had completely disregarded the birthday gift he spoke of, but Callum's promised wish was a crushing source of pain.

If I had received this offer a day sooner, perhaps Grandpa could have been saved by the antidote—he wouldn't have met such a tragic end by poison.

Unfortunately, life afforded no opportunity for reversal—Callum's offer was delivered long past the point of necessity.

I felt a wave of dizziness washing over me again as I fought to keep my physical distress in check. I then said weakly, "I'm sorry, but I don't want anything."

Callum furrowed his brow, eyeing me with profound suspicion. "You sure you don't want anything? You'd better think this through, because I won't indulge your whims if you change your mind and kick up a fuss later."

I hummed softly in affirmation. I had no desire for Callum, much less the wish he had carelessly offered, which might never materialize.

I pulled the car door open and stepped onto the street, only to hear his voice again from inside the car. "You should stop making trouble for Natalie. There is absolutely nothing between us, Selene."

I checked my pace, but offered no response. I couldn't be bothered to explain that it was always Natalie who provoked me, that her entire goal was to have me banished, and that she had finally won.

I had already made up my mind to abandon this devastating place since I had nothing binding me here anymore.

I returned with a limp to the tiny, run-down apartment, where there was nothing apart from a small bed. I had initially rented the place because it was the closest to Callum's villa.

I took a swift, cold shower, then peeled away my mud-caked trousers to expose the injured ankle—the skin was seared black where the silver had touched it, an undeniable, menacing sign that the poisoning was beginning to spread.

Natalie and her cronies did this to me. They had viciously driven a silver spike deep into my ankle. Watching me scream and writhe on the ground from the silver's burn had entertained them completely.

They would toss a few coins my way once they were satisfied, though that amount never covered even one day of Grandpa's medical fees.

It didn't matter anymore, though, as those tormenting moments were finally over.

I took out my suitcase and started packing my belongings. I barely had anything to my name—just a few worn, outdated clothes, a thin blanket, and a well-preserved wolf claw kept inside a beautiful gift box.

It was the claw Callum had personally severed from the Alpha of the Woodland Wolf pack he killed during the fight—a hard-won badge for the Shadow Wolf pack. He had presented it to me two years earlier, before the entire pack, solidifying my position as his Luna.

I gently closed the gift box, choosing to leave it tucked into a far corner of the apartment.

I grabbed my suitcase and walked right out of the apartment once I was done packing, ending my two years of residence there.

I was heading toward the docks when I received a call from Callum. "I'll have to postpone your birthday celebration, Selene. You see, Natalie wants to bring her coming-of-age ceremony forward, so I've decided to let her have your venue."

Callum, perhaps realizing the audacity of his request, spoke in a soothing, slightly coaxing tone, saying, "I mean, birthday celebrations happen every year, but a coming-of-age ceremony is a one-time thing. You should just concede to Natalie, Selene."

I hummed softly in response, offering no resistance. "Natalie can have the banquet hall, then."

Callum sounded genuinely taken aback, asking, "You're actually fine with it? You truly have no other requests? You've finally learned how to be sensible, Selene."

I smiled wryly as I ended the call and boarded the ship, leaving the Shadow Wolf pack territory. I had zero intention of showing up to that birthday celebration, so yielding the venue to Natalie was of no consequence.