Chapter 3

I returned home and began packing, pulling out every valuable I owned.

I was going to sell them all. I would convert everything into supplies and provisions and donate it to the injured wolves and orphaned pups at the border.

Over the next few days, I stayed completely out of Kael and Mira’s sight, focusing solely on handling my assets.

As my father’s only daughter, what I owned far exceeded what most people could imagine. These things were symbols of my status.

In my past life, they were the very things I gave away without hesitation, just to please Kael. Now, they were nothing more than chains.

Somehow, Kael got wind of it. He stormed into my residence, fury written all over his face.

"Talia, what the hell are you playing at? You think doing all this makes you look kind? Noble? You think it’ll make me change my mind?"

I didn’t even look up. My voice was calm. "That’s not what I’m doing."

"No?" Kael let out a cold laugh as he stepped closer. "You’re just using charity as an excuse to win over more of the pack and to make me see you differently. Let me tell you something. It’s useless. No matter what you do, in my eyes, you won’t even measure up to a fraction of Mira."

He paused, then leaned in close to my ear. "No matter how powerful your family is, it can’t buy real class. Talia, I honestly don’t know how you turned into this."

He had said these same words countless times in my past life. Each time, they were like a blade, driven straight into my heart.

Now, I simply lifted my gaze, looked at him once, and gave a faint smile.

"Kael, you’re right," I said evenly, without a ripple in my tone. "Don’t worry. I won’t bother you anymore."

"Enough!" he snapped, cutting me off impatiently. "Drop the act. You won’t bother me? Do you even believe that yourself?"

I didn’t respond. Instead, I stood, walked past him, and headed out to finish my final preparations.

He stood there, watching me leave, his expression shifting between anger and disbelief.

…

The next day, I ran into Mira.

Around her neck was a delicate necklace. It was his mother’s keepsake, the one he once said would only ever be given to his future Luna.

She deliberately stepped in front of me, gently brushing her fingers over the necklace. Her face carried undisguised pride and satisfaction, her voice soft but cutting.

"Talia, look. Kael gave me this. He said only I deserve to wear it. I am the only one he truly accepts as his mate."

If this had been my past life, the sight alone would have shattered me. I would have been unable to breathe. I would have broken down completely.

I merely glanced at it, my voice flat. "Congratulations."

The smugness on Mira’s face froze instantly. All the taunts and provocations she had prepared died in her throat.

Not long after that, Kael had someone deliver a jewelry box to me. He said it was compensation for the broken moonstone. The packaging was crude and cheap. It was obvious it had been picked carelessly, without a second thought.

Mira happened to be there, smiling with feigned sweetness.

"Talia, Kael’s just been busy. That’s why he picked something so casually. If you want, I can help you choose something better."

I picked up the cheap box. Without even opening it, I walked straight to the balcony, raised my hand, and threw it hard into the trash below.

Nothing could replace my mother’s moonstone, and nothing could ever make up for what he had done to me.