7

Zara returned to the Pack Council’s law firm, requesting a wolf legal adviser to draft a mate rejection contract.

 In truth, while she was still being treated at the pack’s healing clinic, she had already designed most of its contents herself, only the clauses concerning territorial division, pack assets, and blood rights remained unresolved, matters she had never once discussed with Declan as Alpha.

Once, Zara had a promising career as a lunar energy researcher. But after the mate bond was formed, the Jordan Family, the oldest Alpha clan in the Rodrigo territories declared firmly that their Luna was not permitted to appear in public. 

Luna was meant to remain behind the walls of the packhouse, maintaining the Alpha’s emotional stability. Forced into compliance, Zara gave up everything and devoted her life entirely to Declan.

Declan favored quiet and order. Because of that, nearly all the packhouse servants were dismissed, until only one remained Susan.

Susan was a trusted aide of Violeta, the Senior Luna. Relying on that connection, she acted with impunity inside the packhouse, slacking off, breaking rules, even openly ordering Zara to perform physical labor that should have been done by low-ranking servants.

Declan did not know. Or perhaps he knew and simply chose to look away.

Because of that, rather than being called Luna Jordan, Zara was more accurately described as a bondmate without status, nothing more than a vessel to soothe the Alpha and an unpaid servant.

She understood that as a Luna who had failed to bear an heir, it was impossible for her to demand half the territory or the pack’s wealth. But at the very least, she did not want to leave the packhouse with nothing, as though her years of existence there had meant absolutely nothing.

After long consideration, Zara asked the legal adviser to calculate compensation based on her contributions to the pack, the years she had sacrificed her career, her mental stability, and even the fertility of her bloodline for the Alpha. That figure was then formally written into the mate rejection contract.

With the document in hand, Zara returned to the packhouse villa.

The moment she stepped inside, a foul stench assaulted her nose. Her wolf senses picked up the smell of garbage and leftover food. Fruit peels littered the floor, and the living room table was cluttered with dirty dishes.

The culprit, Susan, was lounging casually on the sofa, shelling pumpkin seeds while watching a popular human drama on the large screen.

When she saw Zara, Susan’s previously tense expression instantly relaxed.

 “Oh, Luna is back?” she said lightly, then leaned back again, as if no pack rules were being violated at all.

When Declan was present in the packhouse, Susan would play the role of a loyal, obedient servant. But whenever the Alpha was away, she behaved as though the packhouse belonged to her not to Zara.

Zara knew Susan was deliberately waiting for her to lose patience and clean everything herself. Just like always.

At first, Zara felt pity. Susan was nearly the same age as her late mother. She often cleaned the packhouse together with her. But over time, Susan grew increasingly outrageous, frequently pretending to be ill, avoiding duties, and eventually not even bothering to make excuses.

Zara had once reprimanded her gently. The response was nothing but a disdainful look. She had also tried to dismiss Susan, only to receive an angry call from Violeta the very next day, berating her mercilessly.

The conclusion was simple: as Luna, she did not even have authority over a single servant. So how could she ever stand as an equal to the Alpha in pack affairs?

In the past, Zara could only swallow it all.

But now, she would not anymore.

She pretended not to hear Susan’s remark and went straight upstairs. There, she stared at the mate rejection document in her hand, thinking about how to make Declan sign it.

Before her thoughts could reach an answer, a heavy Alpha aura suddenly enveloped the packhouse.

Declan was home.

Downstairs, Susan was still sitting on the sofa. Suddenly.

BAM!

The packhouse door burst open, nearly as if it had been kicked in. The dominant energy of an Alpha swept through the room.

Declan entered with a dark expression, his steps filled with restrained fury.

At the sight of him, Susan looked as though she had been struck by lightning. She immediately jumped to her feet, crouched down, and hurriedly pretended to clean the floor.

“Alpha, Luna just went upstairs. I haven’t had time to tidy up yet,” she said quickly, pointing at the dirty floor and deftly shifting the blame onto Zara.

Declan swept his gaze across the chaotic living room. His expression darkened further, but it was clear his mind was not focused on the mess.

In a cold tone, he asked, “Zara is upstairs?”

Susan nodded at once. “It seems that Luna is not in a very good mood.”

Before Susan could finish her sentence, Declan was already striding quickly up the stairs.

Zara not in a good mood?

She had even gone to complain to Violeta about him and Marina. Perhaps now she felt victorious.

Unaware that this time, Zara was not sulking.

She was preparing to sever the bond of fate between them.