Chapter 3

Not long after Dorian left, Vanya appeared at my bedroom door, inspecting my room as if she already owned the place. She was draped in that snow fox cloak, the moonstone necklace nestled against her throat, and the laurel brooch Dorian had just taken was pinned to her chest. Even on her wrist, she wore the moonstone bracelet that was originally mine.

"Tiana, are you clearing out your room?"

I remained silent. Yet, as if completely oblivious to my cold shoulder, she made herself right at home and walked in. "To be honest, I came here to apologize. Dori keeps giving me things that were meant for you, and it has been quite troubling for me too."

Even though she claimed to be troubled, the way she kept running her fingers over the necklace made it clear that she was flaunting it. "I'm sure you won't blame me, right, Tiana? I genuinely didn't mean for this to happen."

I remained silent.

Vanya let out a soft sigh. "Honestly, I envy you so much, Tiana. Growing up, you had everyone wrapped around your finger. Dad adored you, and Dori spoiled you rotten. I, on the other hand, only ever receive scraps, and I treasure them more than I should."

Her words sounded heartbreaking, yet the very next second, she pulled out a design draft from her coat. It was a revised sketch for my mating ritual gown, densely marked with new measurements, with Dorian's signature scrawled at the very bottom. "Dori just asked me to try on the gown. He was afraid I wouldn't have anything suitable to go with the jewelry set, so he insisted I try it out first."

My gaze lingered on the design sketch as a dull ache exploded through my chest. That was a privilege meant strictly for an Alpha's mate.

Yet, she feigned innocence as she said, "Please don't get the wrong idea, Tiana. Dori's just looking out for me. He said since it's my first time attending a werewolf mating ritual, I don't know how anything works, so he took it upon himself to arrange everything for me."

Having flaunted her prize, she wore a triumphant smile as she spun on her heel and sauntered out. Keeping my head down, I quietly closed my empty suitcase and left the manor that very night. Gazing at the boarding ticket in my hand, it hit me that leaving was, without a doubt, the right choice.

…

At the first light of dawn, Dorian arrived at the banquet hall to confirm the final arrangements. When he thought of the upcoming mating ritual, he couldn't suppress the smile creeping onto his face.

It had been five years. At long last, he was about to become mates with me.

"Alpha Dorian, the banquet hall has been set up according to your instructions."

Dorian nodded and asked, "Has the gift I asked you to secretly prepare a few days ago arrived?" It was a moonstone ring that was blessed by the Moon Goddess, which he had personally gone to the sanctuary to pray for.

This was the surprise he had prepared for me. He had promised to make up for everything he owed me, and this ring was just one of the many compensations he had lined up for me. In his mind, there was no rush; after all, we still had a lifetime together.

Dorian's smile widened at the thought. "Prepare another 999 moonlit roses, along with the moonstones that just arrived at the auction house. Have them all sent to the manor once the ritual is over."

Before the ritual began, he waited nervously in the center of the banquet hall.

All of a sudden, a commotion broke out at the entrance, and a slender figure slowly came into view. Vanya walked in, wearing the tiara blessed by the Moon Goddess. Her silver-blue gown dragged on the floor, and her moonstone jewelry shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.

Dorian scowled and barked, "Why are you wearing that gown? Take it off!"

Vanya was caught off guard, and so was everyone else around them. For the past month, everyone had watched Dorian cater to Vanya's every whim. Hence, no one anticipated this kind of reaction from him.

Vanya blanched and immediately teared up. "I'm sorry… I merely thought it was beautiful... I thought Tiana wouldn't mind..."

Had this been before, Dorian might have already stepped forward to comfort her. However, things were different that day. After all, we were going to have our mating ritual. He wouldn't allow a single soul to ruin it.

The oppressive aura belonging to an Alpha instantly permeated the hall. Dorian's voice was strained with barely contained rage. "Take it off. That's Tiana's gown. Our mating ritual hasn't even begun yet. Who the hell gave you permission to wear it out here?"

At that suffocatingly tense moment, Dorian's Beta, Lucas Kravitz, burst into the banquet hall, panic written all over his face. "Ms. Tiana isn't at the manor, Alpha Dorian! She's no longer in our pack territory. The werewolf council just notified us that Ms. Tiana had submitted her application to leave the pack yesterday. The paperwork went into effect just moments ago."