4

It wasn't until complete darkness fell that Victoria finally arrived late, carrying the bag.

As soon as she entered, she proactively mentioned adding me as a friend, putting on a pitiful act: “Luna, I sent you so many messages, why didn't you reply? Am I being too annoying? I'm sorry, as the Alpha's secretary, I wanted to get to know the Luna better so I could do my job more effectively. I just wanted to get closer to you and become friends, so I talked a bit too much.”

She blushed with shame, and Gabriel glared at me before speaking with displeasure:

“Aurora, why are you being so cold? Victoria is just trying to get close to you! As Luna of the Blackwater Pack, you should be caring for pack members, especially when she's doing it for work.”

This dinner tasted like chewing wax to me.

Victoria seemed particularly happy though. Before leaving, she placed an invitation in front of me.

“Luna, this is tomorrow's banquet invitation. I negotiated the supply transfer agreement between Blackwater Pack and the Western Territory packs. The Alpha wants to throw a celebration banquet for me. You absolutely must attend!”

But the invitation clearly displayed Gabriel's and her names together, looking just like a mating ceremony invitation.

However, I didn't have time to dwell on it. Tomorrow I would be leaving to join the Alpha Council's secret research project. I couldn't allow any accidents to happen before then.

“I'll definitely be there,” I calmly agreed.

After she left, I hid in the room packing my belongings. Actually, I had spent the entire day organizing everything in the house, throwing all the couple's items Gabriel and I shared into the incinerator.

Gabriel sensed something was off and suspiciously walked around the house several times before tentatively asking:

“Are you redecorating the house?”

Every single detail of this home had been lovingly arranged by me.

He didn't suspect anything, nor would he. This was good - it avoided a lot of trouble.

“I noticed many things were getting old, so I wanted to tidy up. You should rest early. Tonight I'll sleep in the guest room - I still have many things to handle.”

Gabriel didn't mind and returned to his room early to start selecting tomorrow's banquet attire. Tomorrow was Victoria's big day, and I could tell he took it very seriously.

Watching his actions, I only felt desolate.

In four years of being bonded, Gabriel never cared about our mating ceremony anniversary.

For four years, I had carefully prepared mate gifts for Gabriel on every anniversary and holiday. Last Valentine's Day, I even spent a year's salary buying him an Alpha pin.

The only gift I ever received from my mate was a bag Victoria didn't want.

Yet I kept finding luxury item receipts around the house, and I never understood why. Until I saw Victoria's social media - the bags and cosmetics she flaunted had receipts that perfectly matched the ones in Gabriel's belongings.

Tears pattered onto the floor. I stubbornly lifted my head - this was the last time, the very last time I would be sad over Gabriel. Then I contacted the leader of the Alpha Council's secret research project and finalized the details of joining.

Soon I would be leaving.

The next day at noon, I set out alone for the banquet venue. Due to security and privacy concerns, only registered license plates could enter.

Gabriel had taken the car early in the morning without bringing me along.

Left with no choice, I had to walk in under the scorching sun. As a healer, years of testing experimental medicines on myself had made my body weaker and more sensitive to heat than the average wolf.

The brutal May sun made me dizzy all over, and my originally flowing dress clung stickily to my body.

“Luna, you finally made it.” Victoria ran over to greet me, wearing an elaborate gown that should have belonged exclusively to a Luna. As a secretary, wearing such clothing was extremely presumptuous. She clearly had no right to wear that outfit - obviously Gabriel had made an exception allowing her to wear it.

“Sorry Luna, today was my fault. You know, I haven't been working long and don't have a car yet, so the Alpha had to pick me up. Don't blame him - he was just being kind, thinking that since today is my spotlight, he couldn't let me lose face.”

I surveyed the luxurious castle where the banquet was being held, silently calculating the cost of this celebration.

So Gabriel could spend so lavishly for his Omega secretary, not hesitating to use money that belonged to the pack - and to both of us. Yet as my mate, he could use the excuse of needing to reduce expenses for pack development to repeatedly postpone the Luna ceremony that should have been mine.

I walked into the castle with Victoria in a daze. As soon as we entered, she stepped on the train of my dress, causing me to fall to the ground. In that instant, the spotlight that had been focused on the Alpha at the podium suddenly illuminated me, putting my embarrassment on full display for everyone to see.