Chapter 3

The next afternoon, there was a sudden knock on the door.

I'd just placed the last bottle of healing potion into my leather bag when the door was shoved open from the outside.

Ronan's tall figure appeared in the doorway. He looked as though he'd rushed over in a hurry. His black cloak was still damp with night dew, and his breathing was slightly ragged.

The moment he saw me, he visibly relaxed. He swept his gaze around the room, his handsome brows furrowing deeply.

"Why did you move out of Moon Shadow Manor to stay in such a remote, shabby place like this?"

I calmly put away my leather bag and answered softly, "That is the residence of the future Luna. It's not appropriate for someone about to embark on a long journey to continue living there."

Ronan's frown deepened. "Since when do we need to follow stupid rules like that? This place is too isolated—it's not safe for you to live here alone. I'm moving in tonight to stay with you."

I paused for a moment, then gave a small shake of my head. "That won't be necessary. I'm about to leave the pack soon, so I want some time alone."

In the past, Ronan would never have offered such words. If anything, he always complained that I was too clingy and meddled too much. He'd even get irritated if I so much as asked where he'd been.

Yet now, he was offering to stay with me. What a pity that it was far too late.

In the air, the Alpha's pheromones grew increasingly restless, a reaction wolves only displayed when unsettled.

After a moment, he suddenly said, "If you don't want to go to the Onyx Wolf pack alone, I can go with you."

My fingertips curled sharply. For a second, I thought I'd misheard him. After all, just yesterday, he'd been scheming to send me away so he could enjoy so-called freedom with Willow, and now he was suddenly offering to go with me?

I slowly lifted my head, meeting his eyes. "Ronan, the silver arrow wound on your leg hasn't healed yet, and the pack can't do without you right now. I can go by myself."

Ronan's expression froze, and a trace of awkwardness flickered through his eyes. After all, he'd faked the silver arrow wound from the start.

Just then, a familiar girlish voice came from outside the door, "Ronan!"

Willow came running in with her arms full of moonberries she'd just bought. As if completely oblivious to the tension in the room, she threw herself smilingly beside Ronan.

"Why did you run off so fast? I couldn't even catch up with you."

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she scrunched up her nose in dismay.

"Oh, no! You promised yesterday to go with me to the taming grounds today. Silver Moon wolf cubs only recognize the first person they see as their master. If you don't come with me, I'll be scared."

Willow was very good at playing sweet and helpless, and she knew just how to melt a wolf's heart. With just a few words from her, Ronan—who had been on the verge of questioning me—once again cast me aside and left with her.

Not long after they left, my phone suddenly lit up.

"Freya, so what if Lucian wants you as the Luna? It's me Ronan loves. By the way, I bet you didn't know the pack battle and betrayal were all fake. Ronan was never really hurt. He just wanted to send you away.

"He said you're too docile and boring. He also said he wanted to create some beautiful memories with me before being bound to you. So, do you get it now? I'm the she-wolf who truly brings him happiness and joy."

Even though I already knew the truth, seeing Willow's message still sent an unavoidable, sharp pang through my heart.

My phone lit up again.

"Freya, trust me when I say I can make sure Ronan won't even come to see you off tomorrow."

I stared quietly at my phone screen. I didn't move an inch, not even when the first light of dawn began to creep in.

The escort team Lucian had arranged arrived. I shouldered my backpack and silently walked out of my temporary residence.

And just as I was stepping past the pack boundary, my phone finally lit up once more.

Ronan's low voice came through, "Freya, there's something I want to tell you."

Suddenly, I was wide awake. Was Ronan about to tell me the truth? If he decided to come clean, I might find it in me to give him a chance.

But he only said to me hurriedly, "Something came up with the pack, so I'm afraid I won't be able to see you off today. I'll make it up to you once you've returned from the Onyx Wolf pack."

Rather than reply, I silently powered off my phone. Then, I turned around and, without so much as a backward glance, headed in the completely opposite direction from the Onyx Wolf pack.

Needless to say, I was going to the Moon Goddess' Sacred Ground.

From this moment on, Ronan and I had nothing to do with each other anymore.