Chapter 1

My Alpha once moved my heart when I didn't believe in love. Under his sincere promises, we became mates.

On our anniversary, I saw his lover's kiss marks on him. He thought he hid it well, but he didn't know I would disappear from his world forever.

"This thing can really hide a mate's scent?"

I stared at the ancient gemstone pendant in my palm. In the dim antique shop, it glowed with a dark red light.

The shopkeeper was a hunched old werewolf, his cloudy eyes sharp with cunning. "It helps suppress it for three months. Long enough for you to disappear."

I fastened the pendant somewhere hidden. The burning sensation in my chest, the one connecting me to Derek Blackwood, vanished instantly.

"Deal."

When I left the shop, I checked my phone. I'd purchased many plane tickets, departing in two weeks. Flights to Fesmington, Arcanum, and Drobia, all at different times and destinations.

Even if Derek used his Alpha authority to track me down, he'd only find himself lost in a maze.

I walked home as memories flooded back like a tide.

Three years ago, at Glory Challenge, Derek fought a raging bear to defend my honor. He bled everywhere to protect me.

He collapsed in my arms, smiling weakly. "Katherine, no one insults you in front of me."

Two years ago, he named his tech company after me—Kath Tech. At the launch party, he announced in front of all the pack elites, "In this world, only one Katherine deserves all my glory."

When I was young, my parents had a loveless marriage. So when I discovered they both cheated, I swore I'd never choose a mate.

However, Derek pursued me for so long, and he never wavered after countless rejections. His sincerity won me over.

On the full moon night when I accepted the mate mark, I looked into his eyes and said slowly, "Derek, my loyalty belongs to you alone. Any betrayal ends everything."

He kissed my forehead and swore, "My wolf soul pledges before the Moon Goddess that you'll be the only one for me in this life."

How ironic.

Tonight was our bonding anniversary. Derek came home holding an exquisite gift box, looking apologetic. "Sorry, honey. The overseas project had some issues. I'm late."

I walked closer as he opened the box. Inside lay a beautiful badge engraved with our names, inlaid with the Moon Mark pattern symbolizing the mate bond.

"This is a limited edition. I pulled so many strings to..."

Before he finished, I caught it. That sweet scent unique to Omegas, drifting from his open collar.

My gaze fell on the side of his neck. It was a faint bite mark. A temporary mark, yet a claim of possession.

Derek didn't notice at all. He kept explaining, "Something came up at the company, so it took longer than expected. You're not upset, are you?"

"No." I took the gift box and smiled. "I prepared a gift for you, too."

I turned toward the bedroom and retrieved a wooden box carved with runes from the deepest part of my drawer. Inside lay the Mate Termination Agreement I'd already signed. The parchment glowed faintly with moonlight, the sign that the oath was taking effect.

"This is my anniversary gift." I handed Derek the wooden box. "But I have one small request."

"What request?" He took it curiously.

"Don't open it until two weeks from now." I looked at him seriously. "This is our seventh anniversary. It should feel special."

Derek paused, then laughed. "What are you playing at?"

"Promise me." I stood on my toes and kissed his jaw. "You have to wait two weeks to open it, okay?"

"Okay." He ruffled my hair affectionately. "I promise."

He held the wooden box in his palm. His Alpha power surged out, setting a time lock on the box's surface. Golden runes flickered to life, intertwining with the magic I'd already placed there.

"Now no one can open it," he said solemnly. "In two weeks, it'll unlock automatically."

"Mmhmm."

Derek carefully stored the wooden box in his study safe, like he was storing the world's most precious treasure.

He turned and went to the bathroom. Water was running as his humming mixed with the sound. It was the song from our bonding ceremony.

I stood in the living room, my hand on the gemstone pendant that hid my scent. It felt ice cold.

I hoped that in two weeks, this surprise would haunt Derek forever.