Chapter 1

[Supreme Lycan Council: Your application for Special Envoy has been approved.]

My phone lit up in the dark.

The shower stopped.

Kian walked out. A towel hung low on his waist, water trailing down his Adonis belt.

His signature cedarwood scent wrapped around me, suffocatingly strong.

He walked up, his large, warm hand gripping my waist. He dipped his head, sniffing my neck.

Wet kisses trailed up my skin.

His eyes darkened with a mate's pure possessiveness. His breathing grew heavy.

Once upon a time, I would have melted.

But now, my heart was ice.

Feeling me tense up, Kian paused.

He glanced up at the wall clock.

8:55 PM.

The lust in the Alpha's eyes vanished instantly. Replaced by cold, hard logic.

"Aurora, it's almost 9." He let go, taking a swift step back. "I need my space. Any pack reports today?"

This was how he loved me.

Restrained. Routine. Never breaking the rules for anyone.

Even during the most painful nights of my heat, once 9 PM hit, he pushed me away.

I looked at him calmly. "No. Nothing at all."

Satisfied with my rationality, Kian turned into the study.

The door didn't click shut.

I stood in the shadows of the hallway, watching him with dead eyes.

Tick, tock. 9:00 PM.

His private phone lit up instantly.

A name flashed.

Lily.

The Alpha who needed "absolute silence" moved impossibly fast to answer.

I let out a bitter, mocking laugh in the dark.

He didn't hate exceptions. I just wasn't one of them.

Late that night, I went back to the master bedroom.

Kian laid with his back to me. Fast asleep, or so it seemed.

But in the moonlight, I saw it clearly.

That burning hot phone was face down on the nightstand.

In his right ear? A micro Bluetooth bud.

He was falling asleep listening to another Omega's breathing.

Expressionless, I pulled out my phone and replied to the Council.

[I accept the appointment as Envoy to the Northern Tundra. I leave in three days.]

Sent. I closed my eyes. My wolf was eerily quiet. For the first time in five years, I slept peacefully.

The next morning.

I changed into my black tactical gear, shoving the transfer papers into my bag.

Walking past the nightstand, I grazed his private phone.

Still burning hot.

The lingering warmth of a 12-hour unbroken call.

"Aurora." Kian's voice came from behind.

He was in a crisp white shirt, holding a dark grey tie.

He stopped in front of me naturally, dipping his head. Waiting for me to tie it, just like I had for the last five years.

I didn't move.

Kian frowned, confused. He grabbed my wrist. "What's wrong? Why aren't you doing my tie?"

His thumb rubbed my pulse. A look of fond exasperation in his eyes.

I pulled my hand back. My voice was ice. "Learn to do it yourself. Or get your precious, attentive Omega to do it."

Hearing "Lily", Kian's harsh features softened instantly. A subconscious urge to protect flashed in his eyes.

He smiled faintly, lips curving up. "You're throwing a tantrum again, Aurora. The whole pack knows you're the future Luna."

He reached to touch my face. I dodged.

He pulled his hand back, annoyed. "Lily is just a fragile Omega. It's hard for her here. She isn't tough like you. She can't handle stress. Can you stop being so petty?"

Petty.

I didn't even bother to scoff. "Think whatever you want."

I grabbed my bag and turned away.

"Stop." Kian's voice dropped, dripping with Alpha command. "If you're going to have this attitude, skip making my calming tea at noon. Lily said she'd do it."

An Alpha's instincts are prone to feral rage.

I spent two hours every single day brewing rare herbs to calm his nerves. Never missed a day.

Now, just to defend another woman, he wiped out all my efforts.

"Fine by me." I looked back and smirked. "Saves me the trouble."

Kian froze. I ignored the confusion in his eyes and walked out the door.

10:00 AM. Council Hall.

The Elder handed me a red-stamped file. "Aurora, this is your Envoy Seal. Once activated, you are officially out of the Valerius Pack's jurisdiction."

"Thank you."

I looked out the window.

The white roses were in full bloom, petals dancing in the wind.

The suffocating weight on my chest vanished. Pure freedom washed over me.

I pulled out my phone, opening the Elder Council's chat.

Pinned at the top were the details for next month's Mating Ceremony.

Without a second thought, I typed:

[Cancel all preparations for the ceremony. I will not be attending.]

Sent.

A dull ache throbbed in my chest—my wolf's lingering instinct for her mate. But it faded into nothingness almost instantly.

I locked my phone and tossed it in my bag.