Chapter 2

The next morning, I met Ethan in the dining room.

I didn't know when he returned. Not that he was obligated to inform me of his whereabouts.

"Have you seen the news online?" he asked.

As his clear voice reached my ears, I paused in the midst of sipping my milk and looked up at him.

"What news?" I pretended to be unaware.

His gaze lingered scrutinizingly on my expression. Then, he said nonchalantly, "It's nothing. Just some boring, baseless news."

I let out a soft hum in response. As I lowered my eyes, my eyelashes cast a shadow over my eyes, hiding the swirling emotions within. I continued having my breakfast.

After some time, Ethan spoke again. "I guess it's a good thing that you didn't see them."

His deep voice seemed to be tinged with mixed feelings, which I had difficulty distinguishing. He seemed relieved yet somehow disappointed.

My heart clenched.

Perhaps he was hoping I would cause a fuss over the incident so that he could go with the flow and suggest that we break our mate bond. With that, he could then get rid of me, a burden cast onto him by the older generation.

I thought that by being silent and submissive, I'd be able to stay by his side for a bit longer. Yet, I forgot that no matter how hard I strived, I could never keep what wasn't mine in the first place.

…

"Thanks for meeting me today."

Across from me sat the highly sought-after healer as of now, Sophia.

When the butler informed me that she was here, I instinctively wanted to turn down her request for a meeting. However, I knew avoiding her wouldn't get me anywhere. For how long could I refuse to meet her?

I went straight to the point. "Is there anything you want to talk to me about?"

Sophia gracefully picked up the cup of coffee before her. Her smile was outrageously sweet. In the presence of her radiance, I was as dull as a rock by the roadside.

"Ethan and I were classmates at the Werewolf Academy. I don't think he has told you about it, has he?" she asked with a chuckle, as though that bit of the past was nothing worth mentioning.

My chest tightened as I nodded. "No, he hasn't."

"However, Ethan told me about you," Sophia said.

Her tone changed, now carrying a hint of sympathy as she asked, "You're the Luna forced onto him by the Elders three years ago, aren't you?"

Forced onto him… So, that was the phrase he used when he described our relationship to Sophia.

Although that was a fact, a sharp pain still pierced my heart, as though a knife was slicing clean through it.

"That's right." I remained expressionless, and my voice was calm. I was undoubtedly in pain, but I didn't want to respond in any way that might give her a sense of satisfaction.

Sophia smiled, feeling pleased. She slowly retrieved a check from her branded purse and slid it over to me.

The check had two million dollars written on it.

Her fingers didn't leave the check immediately. Instead, she gently clicked her polished nails against the table. She was so composed, it was as though she had all the time in the world.

"I'm not sure if you've seen a check before, but I guarantee you it's real. I hope you can leave Ethan's side."

"... Was he the one who sent you?" I hated how my voice sounded raspy as I asked that question.

Sophia shook her head as she leaned closer. With a lowered voice, as though she was whispering, she tried to stab me where it hurt most. "Ethan told me your mate bond was purely a dutiful cause, a step taken to mend the political rifts left behind by the Elders decades ago.

"Now, he needs to live life to the fullest and be with a proper Luna, someone with whom he could build a future. Someone he chooses to be with."

Then, she sat back calmly, as though she hadn't been trying to break me with a smile on her face just seconds ago. "Elena, you've hindered him long enough. Give him back his freedom."