Chapter 2

After signing the agreement, I paid a visit to the merchant camp in the south.

I planned to leave this place in ten days.

Only after asking for clear directions to the Forgotten Pack did I head back, my mind finally at ease.

However, the moment I stepped through the door, Lilith's coquettish voice reached my ears.

“Alexander, you should really go back to Jessica's side! If she loses her temper, she will rip my throat out.”

“With me here, she wouldn't dare trouble you.”

That was Alexander's voice.

“I know you will protect me, but I don't want Jessica to be sad either. Alexander, I can handle this alone. Even though it is a full moon, just thinking about you makes me feel much better.”

“It is just that sister will become your Luna soon. Will you still be good to me in the future?”

“Of course,” Alexander said, his tone firm. “You are my most cherished little lamb. As for Jessica, I believe she has already learned how to be sensible. Unless she wants me to dissolve the mate bond and become an unwanted outcast.”

I clenched my fists tightly, barely managing to suppress the bitter sorrow overflowing in my heart.

It turned out that even after restarting life, hearing my husband treat me with such cold detachment still brought a wave of heartache.

I composed my emotions and walked into the house as if nothing happened.

Alexander stepped out of Lilith's room, a trace of awkwardness flashing across his face.

“You're back? Lilith is not feeling well, so I brought her some medicine.”

I gave a faint murmur in response, turning around with the intention of returning to my room.

In my past life, I quarreled with him countless times because their actions were overly ambiguous.

Now, I felt tired, and found it utterly pointless.

I had no desire to waste any more time or energy. After all, the person bound to Alexander by that agreement was no longer me anyway.

“I'm going to sleep first.”

“Jessica,” he called out to stop me. “What do you want to eat? I will go hunting tomorrow morning.”

I looked at him in surprise. After a brief thought, I guessed that seeing me so compliant and obedient must have triggered a sudden urge in his heart to compensate me.

“No need. Go ask Lilith what she wants to eat instead.”

My refusal caught him entirely off guard.

After all, the old me used to stay by his side twenty-four hours a day, practically wagging my tail. Every frown, every smile, and every little scrap of charity he threw my way was something I treasured like a priceless artifact.

“Jessica, are you angry? Alexander is really too much. I already told him so many times that I am fine, but he just insisted on worrying.”

Lilith walked out of the room, her face filled with grievance and innocence.

Yet, her voice was dripping with smug satisfaction.

Worse, she was wearing the snow-field white fox fur robe that I specifically prepared for my marking ceremony.

It took me half a year to craft that robe, and I had never even brought myself to wear it once.

Lilith explained in a panic, “Oh, this robe is just so beautiful. I only put it on to try it out, and then I forgot to take it off.”

I caught the faint scent of blood and sweat lingering on the fur robe. It was soiled when she lost control during her heat last night.

The smell made me sick to my stomach.

She lowered her head and twirled her fingers, looking exactly like a child who caught making a mistake.

Alexander instinctively took a step forward, shielding Lilith completely behind his back.

I could see his nostrils flaring. It felt as if the very moment I opened my mouth to make things difficult for Lilith, he stood ready to launch an attack against me.

However, I said nothing, only offering a calm nod.

“You look quite good in it, so just keep it.”

Anyway, I had no intention of showing up at that marking ceremony.

Under their astonished stares, I went back to my room and locked the door behind me.

I pulled out a document folder.

Inside was a map I obtained by selling off my jewelry.

In my past life, I yearned deeply for the freedom of the south, especially the legendary Forgotten Pack, which was formed by wanderers. There were even private academies there that taught magic and alchemy.

In my previous lifetime, I abandoned my dreams for Alexander, willingly staying in the pack to serve the elders and nurse his pups.

In this lifetime, I only wanted to live for myself.

I flipped open the calendar. The tickets heading south would go on sale in ten days, and when that time came, I would be able to leave this place. Time was short, but I had to race against the clock to make my preparations.

A sudden knock resounded at the door, and I opened it with impatience.

Alexander stood there holding a bowl of beast meat broth, his tone unusually gentle.

“You must be hungry, right? I brewed a bowl of broth for you.”

I fell into a daze for a split second.

In my previous life, he was either freezing cold to me or yelling with harsh words. I had not seen such an affectionate Alexander in a very long time.

“No need, I already ate out.”

“How is that possible?”

I smiled. “Why is it impossible? The mutton pies at the marketplace are delicious.”

“Haven't you always been reluctant to spend money?”

His words stung me.

I was not reluctant to spend money on myself. I was just used to spending every coin on him, crafting gear and upgrading his weapons. Yet, he was the wealthy Alpha, while I was merely an adopted daughter.

Now that I headed south, I required a massive amount of supplies.

I lifted my eyes to look at him, my voice completely calm. “Speaking of which, I remember giving you all the pelts I earned from hunting a few days ago. If you don't need them, can you return them to me?”

He froze mid-motion, then gave an awkward explanation. “Who said I don't need them... They are in Lilith's room. You know she is very sensitive to the cold during her full moon heat.”

I could not help but curl my lip. How boring. It turned out to be the exact same story every single time.

“If there is nothing else, I am going to sleep.”

I shut the door, shutting Alexander and his strangely attentive bowl of broth outside.

“Hey! I will just give you the money tomorrow!”

A hint of irritation crept into his tone. “You are already my Luna, and the marking ceremony takes place next month. Do you really have to be this petty?”

I could not help but snort coldly. “I earned that through hard work. I have the right to decide who not to give it to.”

“Are you still denying that you are targeting Lilith on purpose?”

“Then why don't you admit that you are biased toward her on purpose?”

I kept no desire to argue with him any longer. I pulled the blanket over my head and turned off the light.