Chapter 2

When the old Alpha heard Lina's voice, his face flushed an ugly mottled red, and he didn't dare bring up the mating again.

"Elena... you're certain about choosing Cass? You've truly thought this through?"

My gaze traveled across the crowd to Cass, who had just returned from his trial in the Black Forest. Everyone knew the Alpha's eldest son had a reputation for brutality. Not long ago, he'd flayed a wolf from the Gray Pack who'd dared provoke him—even now, the scent of blood seemed to cling to him.

"I choose him," I said.

My mother had once told me that Cass's power surpassed even Cain's. If I couldn't have love, then I would seize absolute advantage and strength.

The old Alpha leaned on his wolf-fang staff and let out a long sigh. "The day you complete the mate-bonding, I'll publicly name the new Alpha heir."

My ceremony with Cass was set for a week away. With a new mate chosen, everything tied to the old one would naturally be discarded.

When I went to the pack's jewelry shop to pick out new rings, I unexpectedly ran into Cain and Lina, freshly returned.

Lina's lips still carried traces of honey, not quite wiped clean, and Cain's collarbone bore fresh red marks.

Their eyes met mine, and Cain instinctively shifted to shield Lina behind him.

When I didn't react, he grew uneasy and forced a mocking smirk.

"Elena... you're clever, tracking me down here. Afraid I won't go through with the mating?"

His voice dropped deliberately, thick with condescending arrogance. "Since you love me that much, I'll give you the respect you deserve after the ceremony. But don't even think about coming between Lina and me."

Lina tugged at Cain's sleeve but shot me a teasing glance. "Cain, Elena loves you so much... how can you talk to her like that?

"Don't worry, Elena. Once I've trained Cain up properly, I'll return him to you."

Cain let her cling to him, his expression indulgent, full of fondness. I suddenly remembered how, in the past, when I'd simply wanted to hold his hand, he'd quietly pull away.

"You're the future Luna. What kind of example is that, pawing at each other in front of everyone?"

So it wasn't that he didn't understand intimacy—he just didn't want it with me.

I drew a deep breath, tamped down the storm in my chest, and met his gaze coldly.

"Who said I'm mating you?"

Cain froze. As his brow furrowed, a shop assistant appeared from behind the counter, holding a velvet tray.

"Miss Elena, your chosen wedding rings are ready."

Cain snorted. "You've already picked out rings... and you say you're not mating me?"

He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. "Put it on. Let's see if your taste has improved."

But his words died in his throat. His gaze dropped to the faint indent at the base of my ring finger—the mark left by a ring he'd given me long ago. His voice faltered.

"The ring I gave you...?"

"Thrown away," I said flatly.

The day I decided to change mates, I'd thrown it out. It had been Cain's first gift to me—a hand-polished wolf-fang ring, our initials carved inside.

The arrogant Cain had gone red-faced when he shoved it into my palm.

"This fang came from a wolf king I killed myself. Lose it, and I'll never forgive you."

But in the end, the first to break a promise was him.

When I later fished another shattered ring from the trash, Cain had only scratched his nose awkwardly.

"Lina drank too much at the gathering that night... insisted on taking it off to look at it... somehow it ended up broken."

"Throw it out. I'll make you a new one."

But I waited a long time. I waited until the mark on my finger faded, and I never received another ring.