เข้าสู่ระบบI didn't let Father finish before I hung up the call. Cold tears trickled down my face.Four years.It took four years to finally get good news.I started walking again, but with every step, my legs felt heavier.I didn't think twice. I broke into a run.The wind blew my hair in every direction.“Mother.”I called softly, my chest tightening as my heart thudded almost out of my chest.I finally came to a halt in front of the main hall and exhaled heavily, clutching my chest.I didn't have time to wait. I hurriedly opened the door.Elena and Cassius were right there, deep in a conversation. They were so engrossed in it that they didn't even notice me.“We have to go now!”Their eyes snapped toward me.Elena quickly got up as she stared at my disheveled face.“My lady.”I inhaled sharply.“Ronan healed Mother.”Cassius's eyes lit up as he slowly stood from his seat.The hall was already deserted, making it easy to hear his heartbeat racing.“Talia is healed?”I nodded my head excitedly.
I still couldn't believe I had seen Elena kissing Cassius.I almost laughed.My assistant and my dear uncle.Thrilling, I'd say."What are you thinking about?"I looked up and realized we were in a different wing of the estate.I hadn't even noticed.I had spent the entire walk thinking about the scene I had just seen.And trying to convince myself that I had seen it wrong.I hurried toward Alaric, forgetting that only a few hours ago, he had tried to reject me, even though I later understood he was only trying to protect me from the reporters and elders.I shouldn't be sitting close to him yet, but this was urgent."Did you see Cassius and Elena by the corner a few minutes ago?"He shook his head.I sat properly.When did these two catch feelings for each other?I asked myself."Leave them alone. You're with Alaric. I need to feel him."My wolf cried.I scoffed.That was her only concern.Alaric.My fist curled.I tried to move away, but Alaric grabbed my hand."Is your wolf awake?"
It would have been better if it was a hyena smiling like that from the entrance.Kael's smug look almost made me vomit.The nerve.If I hadn't tried to make him useful for my game, he wouldn't even have the leisure of standing in the same room with me.My eyes followed his every step.Hands in his pockets as usual, Cade Stag strode behind him.I nearly laughed.He must have considered this important. He rarely went out with his assistant.But today, Cade Stag was dressed in his usual emerald suit, granny glasses and a whole stack of documents. For some reason, I couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to bring—My thoughts stopped halfway.My eyes stayed fixed on Kael.He wasn't here only to claim me.He was here to do something worse.Far worse.He stood before us, smiling as he stared at Alaric for a long moment before turning toward the reporters.The coldness beneath that smile was hard to deny.My legs moved toward him, but Alaric's hand caught me.My eyes turned toward h
My eyes snapped toward Alaric, who just stood there as though this had nothing to do with him.Keep the facade up, my foot.Was he really going to let Aveline take my place?"What is she driving at?"The sound of camera shutters clicking filled the room.The council members sitting in the corner could only watch the show unfold before them.They started what they couldn't finish.How pathetic."Aria, you shouldn't have been here. I sent Elena specifically to keep you company."I shook my head, a bitter smile spreading across my lips.Then I turned to look at the Grand Luna and Aveline.They were both wearing smug expressions.Like they already knew how this would end.Aveline Sterling!My heart screamed her name.My fists clenched at my sides.My eyes caught Elena standing a short distance away, talking to Cassius and mumbling something to him nonstop.She looked genuinely worried.I looked away."Your Majesty, even if you're going to break the bond with me, you can't simply take the f
"My lady, are you sure you want to do this?"I stared at the entrance.No.I wasn't sure about anything anymore.But I couldn't turn back."I have to."She sighed before stepping out.I followed.The moment my feet touched the ground, cameras flashed."Lady Aria!""Is it true His Majesty is ending the mating bond?""Lady Aria, are you still the Imperial Luna?""Is Aveline Sterling going to take your place?"My heart clenched.I stopped walking.Aveline?I looked at Elena.She immediately reached for my arm."Don't listen to them."But it was already too late.My eyes searched the enormous estate.Somewhere inside those walls was Alaric.The man who had broken my heart less than an hour ago.The man who had told me we needed to put an end to our relationship.And now the entire kingdom was waiting to hear what he had to say.I forced myself forward."Let's go."We entered the estate.The noise outside faded behind us, but the tension inside was suffocating.There were guards everywhere.
"You don't mean it, right?"I cackled bitterly.He remained quiet, my frozen hands tightening slightly around his."Talk to me, Alaric."He slowly turned to look at me.His face was still, completely void of emotion.He meant it.The realization hit me.So what was the use of the bond and mating?Just a bunch of lies...My eyes stung. For the first time, my heart ached for a man.I had loved him so much.He paraded me around just to humiliate me?I stared at his chiseled face, the same face that once made my heart flutter."I don't have to explain myself to you."That hurt even more.I tried not to break down.We were fine a minute ago, and now everything was suddenly over.No more Alaric.No more us?My heart trembled."If..."I sniffled as tears poured down my face. I couldn't stop them.I wasn't strong enough.I was just a stupid girl who believed too easily.My grip tightened around his palm."If I get out of this car, Alaric, we are truly done."He stared at me for a moment.For







