21

Caksa’s face darkened again, his Alpha aura trembling faintly as it filled the main hall of the Packmoon residence.

“So the bond is really being severed?” Wenny was stunned. She had suspected Zara would rebel, but going this far was still beyond her expectations.

“Not completely,” Jane shook her head quickly. “I asked one of the guards at the Regional Tribunal Hall. The process isn’t finished yet. There are still thirty days of the Calm Moon Period before the mate bond is fully dissolved.”

As she said that, Jane let out a soft scoff and muttered irritably, “What’s the point of having a Calm Moon Period anyway? It would be better to just cut it off completely. Wouldn’t that be simpler?”

The moment Jane finished speaking, Wenny saw Caksa’s expression grow even gloomier. She immediately patted Jane lightly on the head and reprimanded her gently, “Don’t speak carelessly. Even if they truly end the mate bond, that doesn’t mean you can simply replace her at Alpha Jordan’s side.”

“Mom!” Jane whined. Even though she knew her mother was being realistic, her heart still burned with frustration.

In truth, before the bond had been established, Packmoon Clan had once considered proposing Jane as a Luna candidate for Jordan Clan. At the time, Alpha Devan Jordan had not shown any open rejection of the idea. Yet somehow fate took a different turn, and in the end it was Zara who stood beneath the Moon altar as the official mate.

The opportunity to form a blood alliance with the Jordan Clan came only once in a generation. That chance which should have belonged to Jane had fallen into Zara’s hands. Just remembering it was enough to make Jane’s chest tighten with envy and regret.

Seeing her beloved daughter unhappy, Wenny quickly comforted her. “Don’t worry. I’ll find you a stronger partner. An Alpha far more influential than Devan.”

Jane pursed her lips. “In all of Rodrigo City, who could possibly rival Devan?”

The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. At first she had wanted to complain about how coldly Zara had looked at her earlier in front of the Tribunal Hall, as if she were completely insignificant. But the current atmosphere clearly wasn’t about her. Her parents’ focus was on political consequences, not her feelings. After a few soothing words, Wenny told her to return to her room and rest.

Jane left with heavy steps.

When he heard that the Calm Moon Period was still in effect and the bond had not yet been officially severed, the tension on Caksa’s face softened slightly.

Wenny glanced at him and spoke in a low but meaningful tone. “Even so, Zara has already crossed the line. Packmoon Clan’s reputation fell several years ago, and part of that was because of her. If it hadn’t been for her back then.”

Her sentence trailed off, but it was enough to reignite old embers.

Caksa’s anger, which had nearly subsided, flared again. Seeing Wenny about to continue, he quickly raised a hand. “Enough. Don’t bring it up again. That’s all in the past. Talking about it won’t change anything.”

Wenny had expected that response. She did not argue. Her brown eyes gleamed faintly, and a subtle smile curved her lips. “True, discussing the past is useless. But the future of Packmoon Clan still needs to be secured.”

She stepped closer.

“It’s clear now that Zara is no longer walking in the same direction as us. If we let this continue, even if her bond with Jordan isn’t officially broken, sooner or later she will completely separate herself from Packmoon.”

Caksa let out a heavy breath. “Then what do you think we should do?”

“Don’t worry,” Wenny whispered softly. “I have a way.”

She rose slightly on her toes, leaned close to her husband’s ear, and murmured several calculated plans about social pressure, about shaping clan public opinion, and about how to use the Calm Moon Period to turn the situation around.

Caksa’s eyes slowly lit up. The gloom on his face was replaced by the calculating gleam of an old Alpha who was not yet done playing the game.

Meanwhile, after ending the call, Zara sat in her car for a few seconds without starting the engine.

The night air of Rodrigo felt cold, but her thoughts were colder still.

She was about to head to the Foreign Territory Embassy to arrange her travel documents. If everything went smoothly, she would leave this territory soon away from clan intrigues and the shadow of a fractured mate bond.

The lunar energy research studio she had once founded with several colleagues had long been relocated overseas. Their latest project had even drawn the attention of the Supra Technology Council outside werewolf territory. From a small group of fewer than twenty researchers, the organization had now doubled in size and established its own research center.

Her former senior and colleague, Mavin, had become quite well known in the field of lunar energy resonance and transformation technology. Remembering that journey made Zara’s heart tremble faintly caught between pride and regret.

If she had refused that political marriage back then, perhaps her name would now be recorded as one of the leading innovators among the major clans. Yet she was also aware that her past self might not have been brave enough to defy her family’s decision.

Ting. Ting.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a notification on her phone screen.

Mavin informed her that their research institute would be relocated back to Rodrigo City.

Zara fell silent for a moment. The research center had been thriving overseas, always the first to access the latest lunar crystal technology. There was no urgent reason to return.

In their last conversation, Mavin had not mentioned any such plan.

She typed briefly.

[Why is it suddenly being moved?]

The reply came quickly.

[It’s a long story. Let’s talk tomorrow when we meet.]

Zara froze.

[Tomorrow? You’re coming back here?]

A few seconds later, the reply appeared.

[Yes.]

Soon after, a photo followed an international airport brightly lit under the night lights. Mavin was truly on his way home.

Zara stared at the image for a long moment.

So many things had changed in such a short time, the fractured mate bond, the unstable clan, and now the past drawing close again.

She took a slow breath before typing once more.

[Do you want me to pick you up?]