Chapter 3

News of Kaine and Adele's upcoming bonding ceremony spread like wildfire across the continent.

Even my father called, his voice filled with confusion and concern.

"Lara, didn't you say you would be Kaine's Luna? Why is someone else taking that place now?"

A lump rose in my throat. I fought to keep my voice steady. "Dad... Kaine and I broke up."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, followed by a helpless sigh. "Silly girl. Even if you broke up, you should still stay in touch with your family. Do you know your mother talks about you every day? She's terrified you're suffering out there, all alone."

Tears welled in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them. "I'm sorry, Dad... I didn't mean to make you and Mom worry."

"Don't be sorry," his voice softened. "You'll always be our beloved daughter."

"Dad, I want to come home."

"Yes. Yes, of course," he replied immediately. "I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow afternoon."

The next morning, I had just gotten out of bed when I saw a group of workers arriving at the house. They were bustling about, moving furniture and boxes. The foreman shot me a contemptuous glance.

"Well, well, look who it is, the lowly Omega," he sneered. "What, still clinging on? Think you're really going to be our Luna? Get out of the Alpha and Luna's home before we throw you out ourselves!"

I bit my lip, ignored the venom in his voice, and quietly began gathering my things.

Just as I reached the door, I came face-to-face with Kaine's mother, Claudine. Her gaze swept over me with open disdain.

"Why are you still here?" she snapped. "Do you think we'd allow an Omega like you to latch onto our family?"

I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay calm. "Claudine, everything will be ready this afternoon. I'll leave soon."

She let out a cold laugh. "At least you know your place."

At that moment, Kaine himself walked in. He heard the word "leave" and his expression instantly darkened. "Mom, who's leaving? Are you trying to drive Lara away?"

Claudine glanced at me, then quickly covered her tracks. "No, of course not. Your father and I are planning a trip next week. You misunderstood."

Kaine turned to me, his brows furrowed. "Lara, where are you going?"

Claudine interjected before I could speak.

"Kaine, think about it. She's an Omega living in the Alpha and Luna's home. If word gets out, we'll be a laughingstock! Unless she wants to stay here as a servant, she needs to leave."

Kaine looked conflicted. His gaze shifted between his mother and me, clearly torn.

I gave him a calm, almost weary smile. "There's no need for all this. I'll stay in a hotel."

Just as the words left my mouth, Adele walked in. She wrapped her arm around Kaine's like she owned him.

"Kaine, you're back."

Her eyes fell on the ring I still wore. Her expression instantly darkened.

"That's the Luna's symbolic ring. Why are you still wearing it? Take it off before someone gets the wrong idea."

I looked down at the ring. It was the only proof left of our once-deep love—the last remnant of the promises Kaine had made to me.

I raised my eyes to him, silently begging him to defend me.

But he looked away and muttered, "Lara, just take it off for now. Don't worry. I'll give it back to you after... after I break things off with her."

I froze. His words cut deeper than any blade.

'Kaine, you've really changed,' I thought bitterly.

With trembling hands, I removed the ring and placed it into Adele's palm.

Then I turned and walked out without another glance at all of them.

On the way to the hotel, my father called. He was already waiting outside to meet me.

"Lara!" he said, pulling me into a hug. "I missed you so much."

When he noticed my belly, joy lit up his face.

"You're pregnant?! That's wonderful! The Golden River Pack finally has an heir!"

...

On the day of Kaine's bonding ceremony, a news alert popped up on my phone.

[Kaine and Adele's bonding ceremony: Now streaming live.]

I shut off my phone.

Meanwhile, back at the ceremony, Kaine couldn't shake his unease. His chest tightened with a strange, gnawing dread.

Something didn't feel right. But he couldn't say what.

Before the ceremony ended, he called his subordinates over.

"Go to the hotel and check on Lara. She's there alone. I don't feel at ease."

They nodded and rushed off.

Not long after, they came running back, their expressions grim. "Alpha... Lara isn't at the hotel."

Kaine's face hardened. "What do you mean she's not there? She doesn't know anyone here. Where else would she go?"

One of the guards hesitated, then said quietly, "The hotel staff said... she never checked in. She's missing. Someone saw her leave... with a strange man."

"What?!"