Chapter 4

After insisting on submitting both my resignation and application to dissolve the mate bond to the elders, I returned to my desk to hand over my remaining tasks.

The colleague taking over from me, Beta Briar Blackwood, had always been a close friend. When she heard I was leaving, her wolf ears drooped, and her eyes were full of reluctance.

"Are you seriously leaving, Nova? If you're gone, I'll be stuck with those two tramps and their disgusting stench!"

Following her gaze, I saw Callum explaining a report to Seraphina. She appeared to have made a mistake, but as he softly scolded her, she looked utterly wronged.

To cheer her up, he produced a pure silver rune bracelet from nowhere, inlaid with rubies.

She immediately beamed and happily slipped it onto her wrist. Then, as if she had just noticed me, she met my eyes and panickedly scrambled to her feet.

"Nothing's going on between me and Alpha Callum, Nova! This is just an ordinary bracelet for protection against dark magic!"

Her words instantly drew the attention of every wolf in the council hall toward the two of us. Given a wolf's acute hearing, not one of them could have missed it.

Throughout five years bonded as mates, Callum had never gifted me such a valuable magical accessory. Like Callum, the wolves believed I came from some poor border village and would not know the value of what I was looking at.

To them, I, the "future Luna," was pitiful and pathetic.

Next to me, Briar bared her fangs on my behalf as a low, threatening growl rose from her throat. "You're still mates, and they're treating you like a fool!"

I placed my hand on hers and gently shook my head, signaling her not to start a fight. Then, I looked back at Seraphina.

"The rune engravings on the bracelet are exquisite, and the rubies have excellent clarity. The color matches your skin tone."

Seraphina seemed dissatisfied that I hadn't lost my temper, so she maintained her innocent facade and pressed on. "Please don't be mad, Nova. I'll tell Alpha Callum to get you one, too."

I almost laughed. Why should I bother getting upset at all? Ruby bracelets like that were piled high at my home back at the Darkhowlers pack. That particular design was a style Mother had deemed outdated during her younger days.

When I stayed silent, Callum shot me a surprised look before pulling Seraphina back to her seat to continue their "lesson".

Briar could not help but ask through the mind link, "Are you just letting them off?"

While organizing my files, I shut out the surrounding noise and replied, "I've applied to sever the mate bond. Under wolf law, either mate has the right to refuse."

After preparing 52 coronation ceremonies that never once succeeded, I was tired of being the only actor in a play that was never going to start.

When work ended, Callum actually walked over to help me pack my belongings. "Let's go. I booked us an eight o'clock table at Moonstone Restaurant. If we leave now, we'll make it on time."

When his eyes drifted to my bare wrist, he froze, then asked in a panic, "Where's the moonstone bracelet I gave you?"

"I was worried about cracking it at work, so I took it off and placed it in my jewelry box at home."

He visibly relaxed and smiled at me. "You used to wear it every day like it was your good luck charm. Why did you suddenly think of putting it away?"

Before I could think of an excuse, Seraphina trotted over and stopped beside us.

"Alpha Callum, I'm all packed!"

Callum's attention immediately shifted to her. He gestured for her to wait in the car.

I watched as she walked straight to the SUV and climbed into the passenger seat. It was a seat I had never once sat in in all five years.