Chapter 2

Early the next morning, before I was fully awake, I felt a kiss on my forehead.

Garrett was already dressed and ready to leave. He leaned over me, his voice soft with what he thought was tenderness.

"I'm heading to the pack headquarters first. Things have been busy lately, and I've been neglecting you. Once I'm done with this, I'll spend proper time with you."

I didn't move. I didn't even open my eyes. I no longer had the energy to play along.

He probably thought I was still asleep. He kissed my cheek once more before turning to leave.

I quietly listened to his footsteps fade away until I heard the front door close, then slowly opened my eyes.

His so-called tenderness and all those shallow, empty promises felt like a cruel joke now. I picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time.

On the other end, my father's voice came through, filled with surprise. "Raven? What made you think to call all of a sudden?"

Father's voice was still steady, just as I remembered it. But this long-missed steadiness, tinged with concern, broke down all my defenses.

Years of hurt, the queasiness in my stomach, and uncertainty about what lay ahead all crashed over me at once, making it hard to speak.

After a long moment, I found my voice again. "Father, I want to come home."

There was silence on the other end, then his worry intensified. "What did Garrett do to you? Did he hurt you?"

"No," I said softly, leaning against the headboard. "I'm just tired and want to come back to clear my head."

Father didn't press further. His answer was firm, warm, and reliable. "Then come home. I'll send someone to pick you up. No matter what, this will always be your home."

After hanging up, I tossed my phone aside. My parents were the current Alpha and Luna of the most powerful pack in the North.

I was born there, destined from birth to be a leader. But I fled from that place, and from that fate that suffocated me.

I ditched my guards and, for the first time, rebelliously concealed my identity. That was why when I met Garrett at a young adults' gathering in neutral territory, he thought I was just a helpless orphan.

I gave up everything —my family and my future —for this freedom to love. I followed him here.

But now? I could see everything clearly.

Lost in thought, I picked up my phone again and opened the pack's internal network. The pinned post was a status update Willow had posted half an hour ago.

In the photos, she wore tight training gear and posed with a shirtless Garrett in a series of shots. He was guiding her fighting stance hand by hand with their bodies pressed close together, their interactions intimate.

The caption read, "Just convinced the Alpha to train with me. He was a little annoyed at first, but I told him that if he could beat me in training, I'd treat him to dinner. I didn't expect his competitive streak to be so strong. He ended up agreeing to my request anyway!"

After seeing that photo, my stomach churned instantly, and I couldn't help but dry heave again. This was his so-called busy affairs? It's nothing more than having fun with his secretary at the training grounds.

Thankfully, thanks to Willow, the marking ceremony application that had been submitted 37 times had never once succeeded. I gathered my few packed belongings and headed to the Council of Elders at the pack headquarters to submit my application to leave the pack.

The head Elder, Roger Morrigan, took my application and glanced at it once before looking up sharply, his eyes full of shock and confusion. "Raven, what do you mean by this? You're the Alpha's chosen mate, our entire pack's future Luna!"

Another Elder also hurried to his feet, his tone earnest. "Yes, Raven, you've given so much to this pack. We already consider you family. If there's trouble, if the Alpha has wronged you, tell us. We can make it right."

Before I could answer, the door opened. Garrett strode in, carrying a file folder. I glanced over and saw a telltale red lipstick mark on his collar.

He used to hate it when I left any marks on him, saying that he needed to maintain his dignity at all times as an Alpha. Even in our most intimate moments, I was forced to stay silent, hiding my passion behind clenched teeth and clutched sheets.

But now, I understood. It wasn't that he didn't want marks left on him—he just didn't want them to be left by me.

As soon as he entered, Elder Roger sighed and spoke, "Garrett, perfect timing. Talk some sense into Raven. She wants to leave the pack. Did you two have a fight?"

"This has nothing to do with him."

"You want to leave the pack?"

Two voices intertwined. He sounded incredulous, and I remained firm.

Garrett's gaze locked onto me, his brow furrowed. "I knew it. You're still upset about the wrong application yesterday, aren't you?"

The elders shook their heads when they heard him and left on their own to give us space. The door clicked shut.

He approached, his voice gentle, filled with exasperation as he said, "I already told you Willow didn't do it on purpose. Why are you being so petty?"

I tried to stay calm and looked up at him with a smile. "I'm not angry. I want to leave the pack because I'm tired and need to get away for a while."

He grabbed my hand. "If you want to get away, why not just take a vacation? You just scolded Willow and now suddenly want to leave. What will people think of her?

"They'll assume she angered you. How is a newcomer supposed to establish herself in the pack after that?"

A vacation? Thanks to Willow's 37 mistakes, every time I tried to relax on a holiday, I'd receive a text message about our mate bond dissolution on my phone. How could I possibly relax on vacation?

And now, Garrett was only worried that my justified departure would affect Willow's reputation. My heart felt desolate, and my gaze fell on that lipstick mark again.

This time, he noticed. He quickly raised his hand to cover his collar.

"This got on me during training with Willow this morning. Don't read too much into it."

I was somewhat surprised that he would actually explain it to me. But the excuse was too clumsy to fool someone who was already disappointed in him.

I nodded without saying anything. Garrett relaxed, thinking I had calmed down, and pulled me into his arms.

"That's more like it, my dear future Luna. You need to be more generous. Stop threatening to leave.

"Tonight I'll take you to Moonlight Cliff Restaurant for dinner, okay? Consider it compensation."

Before I could answer, the door burst open with a bang.

"Alpha!"

Willow didn't announce herself and pushed straight in.

Upon seeing Garrett's arm around me, the smile on her face froze. I felt his arm around me instinctively loosen.

"What is it?" Garrett asked with a frown.

Willow put on that innocent smile again. "Sorry for interrupting you and Raven, but I had no choice. I don't quite understand this alliance contract and needed to ask you about it…"

Garrett's arm around me immediately dropped. He walked over to her side, took the document from her hands, and leaned down, his tone patient and instructive.

Willow glanced up at me, standing to the side, and her eyes held a challenging glint. "Alpha, this alliance contract is critically important. It's probably not convenient to discuss it here. I think we should go back to your office instead?"

Garrett immediately nodded. Only when they reached the door did he finally remember me. "I'm going to discuss this document with Willow. You get some rest and go home to wait for me."

After saying that, he didn't spare me another glance and walked out shoulder to shoulder with Willow. In the second before the door gently closed, I saw Willow turn back and flash me a triumphant smile.

Only the sound of my breathing remained in the empty room. The morning sickness from pregnancy made me dry heave uncontrollably again. I straightened up wearily, and in the next second, something loosened around my neck.

The wolf fang pendant Garrett had given me fell to the ground and cracked in half. I could still recall how he looked the day he gave it to me, and how his eyes had shone with passion.

"A wolf only gives its fang to its one true mate. This is my fang. Wear it, Raven, and I will protect you. Forever."

Forever, huh?

I crouched down and gathered the wolf fang fragments in my palm. The jagged pieces bit into my skin, but I barely felt it. Then, I threw all the pieces into the trash can in the corner of the room.

Garrett, I no longer wanted your protection.