5

As soon as I returned to my private den, my phone buzzed.

It was a video from Ivy.

I knew I shouldn't open it, but my finger pressed play uncontrollably.

In the footage, Blake was tenderly holding Ivy, eyes closed as he gently kissed her forehead, his face full of contentment and tenderness.

His voice carried a note of regret:

"Ivy, if I'd met you earlier, I never would have gotten involved with Aria. You're a gifted healer. Even though you're an Omega, you're pure-hearted and ambitious. But her? She runs wild relying on her father's influence, completely irresponsible all day long."

"I'm about to inherit the Alpha position of Bloodclaw Pack. If I made her my mate, she couldn't handle the responsibilities of being an Alpha's partner."

Every word was like a poisoned needle, precisely stabbing my most vulnerable spots.

Ivy had easily been recommended as a candidate for Head Healer simply by leveraging Blake's Alpha status.

This was what he called "gifted."

Meanwhile, I had given up family resources, entered military training from childhood to become an Alpha warrior, step by step earning my position. I'd even saved his life multiple times on the battlefield. For him, my wolf had been severely injured and gone into dormancy.

In his eyes, this had become "completely irresponsible."

So in his heart, I had always been utterly worthless.

How could he ever truly love me?

I put down my phone.

I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

Just as dawn was breaking, Kane's call came through.

"My Queen, did you sleep well?"

His voice carried barely contained excitement.

"I just landed in Europe. I was so excited on the fifteen-hour flight I couldn't sleep at all. I still can't believe you've actually become my mate."

His tone suddenly softened:

"My Queen, I'm already missing you. Do you miss me?"

Queen?

This title instantly snapped me awake.

Only then did I remember that yesterday, in my anger, I had already bonded with Kane as mates.

"Little wolf? Why aren't you speaking? Are you... having regrets?"

His voice carried infinite hurt.

"No." I answered softly.

Kane and I had grown up together. Though I wasn't sure if he truly loved me, at least we knew each other well.

He'd become Alpha King at a young age - he was indeed a suitable marriage partner.

The phone clearly relaxed, regaining its energy:

"I'll rush back tomorrow! We'll pick out wedding rings! Even though the bonding was hasty, the proposal and mating ceremony - none of these rituals can be skipped!"

"You just need to focus on being the most beautiful Queen. I'll handle everything else."

I couldn't help but laugh softly and agreed to his arrangements.

This was Kane.

By his side, he would arrange everything. I would always just need to follow.

But Blake...

In my memories, it was always his hurried back, and even the mating ceremony had been brought up by me.

Back then he'd frowned and said: "We've only been together eight years. Isn't bonding too early?"

The difference between love and lack of love was so starkly clear.

For the entire day, Blake was completely silent.

Instead, his mother, Bloodclaw Pack's current Alpha's mate, couldn't wait to call me, her tone full of superior condescension:

"You know all about Blake and Ivy's situation, right? Now that Ivy is carrying our Bloodclaw Pack's heir, we absolutely won't wrong her. We're determined to have Blake bond with her. Thank goodness Blake didn't hold the mating ceremony with you yesterday - this is fate!"

I laughed coldly:

"Luna Morrison, Blake and I have already broken up. In the future, unless it's important business, please don't contact me anymore."

The other end of the line was clearly stunned, probably not expecting the usually docile me to respond this way.

Just as she was about to explode, I decisively hung up.

She immediately called back several times.

I unhesitatingly added her to my blocked list, then blocked all of Blake's contact methods as well.

I deleted all our photos together, and eight years of love dissipated along with them.