Chapter 2

Lucien stared at me, confused. "When did you say you got home?"

"Three minutes ago," I repeated, my voice empty.

He nodded, though the heat had left his eyes. He brushed a quick kiss against my cheek and told me to rest up for his surprise.

After dark, the pack territory erupted in cheers. I looked out the window to see fireworks painting the night in brilliant bursts of color.

I pulled on a white sweater, tied my blonde curls loosely, and walked out into the pack grounds. Wolves greeted me with smiles and blessings.

"Our Alpha is the handsomest male alive," one young she-wolf sighed, "and our Luna the most beautiful. A perfect match."

"If I’m reborn," another added wistfully, "I hope to be as happy as our Luna."

I managed a faint, bitter smile.

Lucien appeared at my side, kissing me deeply in front of everyone. "I love you, Gaia," he whispered against my lips. "Do you like your surprise?"

I couldn’t smile back. All I could do was stare into his deep navy-blue eyes, that achingly handsome face… Memories flashed like ghosts—running wild through fields in wolf form, the searing pain and pleasure of our bonding bite, nights of tangled sheets and whispered promises…

All of it washed away now in a tide of crimson.

My child’s blood.

Lucien had killed our child.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced down to see an email notification from the Werewolf Alliance Council:

*Your petition for forced mate dissolution has been received. It will be processed within 72 hours.*

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and then looked at Lucien calmly and resolutely—concealing all my resentment and hatred.

Seventy-two hours.

That was all the time he had left in my world.

I would never have to see this man who betrayed me again. I could leave this devil who killed my son behind forever.

A flicker of panic and curiosity passed through Lucien's eyes. He leaned in to reach for my phone, his voice laced with confusion.

"What message did you get?"

When Lucien looked at me, his eyes were filled with concern. His deep blue eyes were utterly tempting. They were as captivating as on the night we marked each other when I was eighteen. "If you keep secrets from me, I'll be angry," he said.

I smiled faintly, suppressing all the rage and loathing in my heart. I simply maintained my calm tone and replied, "And what about you, Luc? Do you have secrets from me?"

I gazed into his eyes, hoping to see at least a flicker of guilt or hesitation.

But unfortunately, there was none.

I saw not a trace of remorse in his eyes. He answered with what seemed like sincere, unwavering conviction, "Of course not, what are you thinking, my dear?"

Then Lucien kissed my forehead, my cheek… and finally, his intense kiss landed firmly on my lips. His strong pectoral muscles pressed against my body, and I could feel the restless desire stirring in his soul.

The scent of cold pine and whisky enveloped me—a fragrance I had once been so addicted to, but now, his scent only made me nauseous.

"Tonight, we’re going to have a sleepless night," Lucien’s deep, masculine voice murmured beside my ear. He gently nipped my earlobe with his sharp wolf fangs. "This is what you owe me. Don’t refuse me again."

He was still upset about my rejection that afternoon.

My stomach twisted as if it had been thrown into a washing machine. I mustered all my strength just to push him away, but he held me too tightly. His powerful silver wolf king, Clovis, seemed ready to break through the resistance in my soul, eager to devour me with its fervor.

My strength was nothing before Lucien and his formidable, one-of-a-kind silver wolf king. At no moment had I regretted anything more than I did then—that three years ago, during the energy field battle, I shouldn’t have sacrificed my own wolf to save Lucien.

Poor Selene—my powerful and sacred little white wolf—had fallen into an eternal slumber.

The members of the pack gathered around us watched our embrace and kiss with envious eyes. I could hear the excited whispers of the young women: "Honestly, the Alpha is just too handsome!"

"If I could have him kiss me—even for just one second—I’d willingly offer up my soul."

The sky was ablaze with dazzling fireworks. I closed my eyes, not in rapture, but to suppress the urge to vomit.

Finally, the kiss, which felt like a prolonged execution, ended. Lucien released me, gazing tenderly into my eyes as he asked softly, "You still haven’t told me who sent you that email earlier?"

I turned away, covering my mouth tightly with my hand. I took a few deep, difficult breaths to force down the nausea completely. But I decided I would go brush my teeth later—at least three times.

Lucien’s voice took on a displeased edge. He grabbed my shoulders, his dark blue eyes flashing a hint of warning, though his tone remained low. "Who’s filing for a forced divorce? I thought I saw that word on your phone just now."