Chapter 7

Marcus had been unusually busy these past few days.

I watched coldly as he left early and returned late, never letting his phone leave his side, the lights in his study burning until dawn.

I knew he was meticulously preparing for Rose's "final" Mating Ceremony.

On the morning the Alpha Council approved the mate bond dissolution application, I left early to collect the approval document from the council.

Besides that, I only packed my pitifully few personal belongings.

When I returned home, Marcus was adjusting his tie in front of the dressing mirror. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit with a silver badge pinned to his lapel—it matched the one on the red dress Rose had worn before.

"Back from your walk?" He saw me in the mirror and smiled gently. "Baby, I need to patrol the border today. I might be back late. Rest well at home and remember to take your supplements and vitamins on time."

He turned around, his long fingers gently caressing my abdomen as he whispered: "Baby, come out soon. Once you're born, your Alpha daddy will personally teach you to hunt."

Looking at the tenderness in his eyes, I suddenly felt the irony.

Daddy? My heart felt like it had been pierced by an ice pick. He was exhausting himself for a "dying" outsider, yet had no idea that the "child" he claimed to care about had already vanished from this world. This belated "fatherly love" built on lies was so cheap it made me sick.

I gripped the mate bond dissolution approval tightly: "I have something to tell you."

Marcus paused: "Baby, I need to leave right now."

"So urgent?" I asked softly. "You won't even spare me five minutes?"

Marcus checked his watch and ultimately refused: "Whatever it is, we'll talk tonight, okay?"

"Is this matter really that important?"

"Very important." He answered without hesitation, not even giving me a glance.

I laughed.

I pulled at the corners of my mouth—that smile must have looked terrible, like crying. "Go ahead," I said quietly. "Don't delay your important business."

Marcus seemed like he wanted to say something but ultimately just placed a light kiss on my forehead before hurrying away.

Watching his retreating figure, I gently closed my eyes and placed the mate bond dissolution approval on the table.

When I left with my suitcase, I didn't look back.

The airport terminal was crowded with people.

Just as the plane was about to take off and I was about to turn off my phone, Marcus's text appeared:

"Baby, I left the supplements warming in the kitchen. I'll come home and watch the aurora with you after I finish my business."

What a beautiful promise, what a ridiculous lie. Your "important business" is going to hold a ceremony with another woman, fulfilling her "final wish." And I don't even qualify for five minutes of your time.

I've already applied to dissolve our bond. From now on, there's nothing between us.

I calmly deleted the message. My fingertips were ice-cold, but my movements were remarkably swift. Then came the sweet photos in my phone album—moments I'd once treasured like jewels, now all seeming like mockery. Finally, his name, his number, every way to contact him—I erased them all completely.

Last, I blocked our mind-link, severing the final connection between us.

The plane bound for the Northern Territories roared into the sky. The massive thrust pressed me against my seat back. I watched the Bloodclaw Pack territory grow smaller and smaller outside the window, watching this place that had buried my youth and love.

Marcus Stone, goodbye forever. From now on, you no longer exist in my world.