Chapter 2

When I stayed silent, his voice carried a hint of disbelief:

"That was just a business decision!"

"You're emotionally unstable right now. Go clear your head overseas, and we'll talk when you've cooled down."

He hung up after that, probably treating my words as nonsense and the mate bond severance papers as trash.

On what should have been our mating anniversary, we both tacitly ignored it.

He probably thought I'd take a trip abroad, blow off some steam, and come back to continue being his Luna.

But what he got instead was a divorce lawsuit from my legal team.

He stared at the aggressive legal documents in disbelief, then actually brought in our mentor healer.

I was in the middle of a video conference with my new team when my mentor's video call request came through.

On screen, my mentor sat in the workshop where we'd once worked together, frowning deeply.

Kieran sat beside him, looking grave.

My mentor spoke first:

"Phoebe, you've really gone too far this time. Meredith is also my student.

Kieran was thinking about the pack's future. Having multiple star healers makes the pack more stable - it's choosing the lesser of two evils.

Besides, Meredith is a good kid. You're both my pride and joy - why fight like this?

Over one research credit, you're gambling the entire pack! How can you be so impulsive!"

Kieran finally spoke:

"Mentor, I've already contacted the Golden Caduceus Award committee to add Phoebe's name, so she and Meredith can share the award."

My mentor quickly tried to mediate:

"There, Phoebe. Kieran's already done this much. He was thinking of the pack. Stop making a fuss!"

I looked at those two familiar yet strange faces on screen and found it laughable.

"Making a fuss?"

I asked softly, my tone mocking.

A female voice came from off-camera - my mentor's mate.

"Phoebe, why are you still so petty?"

"Your mentor's right. Kieran meant well."

"Look at Meredith - so sweet-talking, so good with people."

My mentor chimed in: "Meredith knows gratitude, unlike some people who forget where they came from once they get successful."

His words were like needles piercing my heart.

Kieran spoke at just the right moment, his tone gentle.

"Phoebe, Meredith's got a soft personality, not strong-willed like you. I have to look out for her more.

She's just starting her career. She needs guidance from senior healers."

I laughed coldly.

"So I deserve to be sacrificed?

My life's work should become her stepping stone to success?"

"Phoebe!" My mentor slammed the table, furious. "We're trying to talk to you nicely - what's with this attitude!"

My mentor's mate quickly joined in, her voice full of disappointment.

"It's just one award. What's wrong with letting your junior have it? How can you be Luna with such a narrow mind!"

Kieran stayed silent, not contradicting them.

His silence was the biggest insult to me.

I simply held up a document to the camera: "This isn't up for discussion."

"How dare you!" An angry shout rang out as my mentor shot to his feet, pointing at me on the screen:

I watched my mentor's face twist with rage on screen.

"You!" His pointing hand shook violently, his face turning liver-colored.

The next second, he clutched his chest and collapsed backward.

The video erupted into chaos.

My mentor's mate's screams pierced through the speakers.

Kieran frantically tried to help my mentor while yelling at the screen.

"Phoebe, are you happy now?"

"If anything happens to mentor, I'll make sure you carry this guilt for the rest of your life!"

I watched the chaos on screen without saying a word.

"You jinx! You killed your mentor!" "Kieran! Call an ambulance!"

I pressed the hang-up button. The world went quiet instantly.

This manipulation tactic stopped working on me long ago.

I paused for a moment.

Eventually, I picked up my phone and called my lawyer.

I said calmly to the lawyer: "Proceed as planned."

"No matter what excuses they use, don't stop. I, Phoebe, will never look back."