Chapter 2

Leaving the hall, I swung by the Pack Headquarters.

The Elders needed a territory defense map.

Rounding the corner to the lounge, I caught guards whispering.

"See that? Lily came with the Alpha again today."

"His scent is always so gentle around her. They're a better match, honestly."

"Shh! Aurora is the future Luna!"

"So what? The Alpha never looks at her in public. It's just a political marriage to secure the pack."

I stopped walking.

Right. The whole pack knew I was the Luna-to-be. But to them, Kian and I looked like strangers.

Because he said an Alpha must maintain absolute authority. No public affection. No weakness.

I thought that was the price of being a leader.

Until I walked past his private lounge.

The door was cracked open.

Through the gap, I saw Kian.

He leaned back on the sofa, tie loosened, looking exhausted.

And Lily? Kneeling by his legs, softly offering him a steaming mug of hot cocoa.

"Kian, just a sip. You're too tired."

I gripped the map hard.

As an apex predator, Kian hated sweet things. He claimed it dulled a wolf's senses.

Once, seeing him work late, I brought him a cup. He glared at me, smashed the mug on the floor, and accused me of trying to dull his fangs.

And now?

He looked at Lily and just furrowed his brows slightly.

His dominant, imposing eyes were full of sickening indulgence.

He leaned down and drank the cocoa right from her hands.

And that wasn't all.

He reached out. His thumb naturally, intimately, wiped a smudge of chocolate off her lip.

As his skin touched hers, Lily blushed. Her voice trembled. "Kian... will I break your mental wall after 9 PM again tonight?"

Kian didn't hesitate.

His deep voice pierced through the door, striking my eardrums.

"It's fine. You're an exception."

You're an exception.

The words wrapped around my heart like poisonous vines, choking the life out of me.

The sheer agony almost suffocated me. My wolf completely stopped fighting and simply closed her eyes.

After the pain, a weird numbness spread through my veins.

I didn't even want to push the door open and scream at him anymore.

I turned and quietly left the Pack Headquarters.

7:00 PM.

Kian called.

"Come down." His voice came through the speaker. That familiar mix of intimacy and command. "My mother wants us at the Pack House for a family dinner. I'm waiting downstairs."

Right. He still cared about me.

He'd take me to family dinners. He'd claim me fiercely in bed.

But he gave his soul's only "exception" to another woman. Without a second thought.

I walked downstairs.

His black SUV sat in the dark.

I walked over, habitually reaching for the passenger door.

The Luna's seat.

But as the door pulled open, I froze.

Lily was in my seat.

Nibbling on a butter cookie.

Crumbs were falling onto the leather.

Kian was fiercely territorial and a neat freak.

No weird smells in his car. Definitely no eating.

I once brought raw meat with a faint scent of blood inside. He kicked me out instantly, telling me to control my wild side.

But now? Kian stood outside the driver's door, looking at the crumbs. His face was calm. Not an ounce of anger.

Seeing me, Lily shrank back like a scared rabbit.

"Aurora..." Her eyes turned red. She fumbled with the seatbelt. "I'm sorry. I felt dizzy, so the Alpha let me sit here. I'll move."

She said she'd move, but she took her sweet time.

Kian walked around the hood and stood in front of me. His massive frame blocking my way.

He grabbed my hand, thumb stroking my palm.

His little way of comforting me.

"She doesn't feel well." Kian looked at me. Calm. Unapologetically taking her side. "Sit in the back. Don't fight with her over this."

He was waiting for me to cave.

Waiting for me to swallow my pride and protect his ego, just like I did for five years.

I stared into his deep eyes.

There was love for me in them. But also absolute certainty that I would step aside.

I slowly pulled my hand away.

"It's fine." I even smiled. I was shocked by how calm I sounded.

"You keep it." I looked at Lily. "It's just a seat."

Lily froze.

Kian froze too.

I caught the flash of shock and confusion in his eyes.

He probably expected me to blow up. To scream. To assert dominance like a real wolf.

But he didn't know—you only fight for things you still care about.

I walked straight to the back and got in.

I didn't look at Kian's empty hand.

Or his suddenly furrowed brows.

The car started, merging into the night.

A suffocating silence filled the space.

Kian checked the rearview mirror multiple times.

His eyes were searching. There was a hint of annoyance, a panic of losing control that he didn't even realize.

He tried to break the ice. "Aurora, my mother made your favorite..."

"I'm tired. I want to rest." I shut my eyes, cutting him off coldly.

Kian's breath hitched. His knuckles turned white on the steering wheel.

But he didn't snap. He just quietly turned up the heat.

I turned my head, watching the dark trees blur past.

No tears. No heartbreak.

I realized I genuinely wasn't sad anymore.

Looking at the man I loved for five years in the front seat, I just felt... light.

It's just a seat.

It's just a man.

To me, they're exactly the same. Trash meant to be thrown away.