Chapter 3

My heart clenched. I knew I couldn’t reveal anything to him then. Otherwise, given his influence within the Werewolf Alliance Council, he could easily intercept my forced divorce petition.

"It’s nothing, just a friend," I said, placing my warm, soft palm on his forearm, my tone earnest. "Her Mate betrayed her, so she’s decided to take action. Luc, if you ever betray me one day, I’ll do the same."

Lucien was momentarily stunned. But clearly, the warmth of my palm made him overlook the implications of my words. It also made him ignore the threat carried by that term.

Besides, he was a suspicious ruler, and I was sure he quickly grasped a crucial point of logic—if I truly suspected his betrayal, I wouldn’t openly discuss it with him; I would proceed in secret.

I saw him relax slightly, but soon, his brow furrowed with displeasure. "I’ve told you before, don’t spend too much time with those so-called pioneering she-wolves. They’re always too radical in their actions."

He seemed to have forgotten that before we married, I was originally a progressive, independent woman.

But then, I just nodded and didn’t argue with him about it.

Seventy-two hours. In just seventy-two hours, I could end all of that.

He would suffer the pain of a severed mate bond in shock, forever losing his Mate.

And none of it would be my concern anymore.

The fireworks faded, and silence returned over the pack grounds. The sulfur scent lingering in the air made me intensely uncomfortable. Ignoring everyone’s well-wishes, I turned and headed back toward my room.

Lucien wanted to follow me to my bedroom, anticipating our night together. "Same requirement as before—you’ll use the massage plate against your clitoris. It’s something new. We need some passion, Gaia."

I didn’t understand why, when he had already found passion with Irina, he remained so fixated on doing the same with me. I had no intention of indulging the twisted whims born from his position at the peak of power and wealth. I simply quickened my pace up the stairs.

Just then, Irina suddenly emerged from around the corner, carrying a dessert tray. Her steps were hurried, as if rushing to a feast—and I was the door she had to push open.

"Oh!" Within seconds, she collided with me. Then, her Mary Jane shoe caught on the hem of her maid’s dress, and the sudden force yanked the dress down. As she stumbled toward Lucien, I saw the seductive lingerie and her full breasts beneath the torn white apron.

"I’m sorry, Alpha. I’m sorry, Luna. I shouldn’t have been so careless." Irina frantically tried to adjust her clothes, but her ankle seemed injured. She couldn’t steady herself and fell backward toward me.

I stood midway up the stairs, watching Irina’s performance, my eyebrow slightly raised—I was surprised she didn’t throw herself toward Lucien again.

But Lucien’s actions soon gave me the answer.

Lucien instinctively stepped forward to catch her. "Careful," he said. I saw their gazes meet, deep and meaningful.

"You’ve hurt your foot. I’ll have someone escort you back to your room," Lucien said a few seconds later, steadying her with a tone that was distant yet carried the benevolent authority of an Alpha.

Irina’s voice was weak and alluring. "But… everyone has gone to prepare for tomorrow’s banquet. I’m the only maid left in the villa… It’s alright, Alpha. I can make it back to my room on my own."

She crouched down, trying to pick up the tray she had dropped on the floor, her ample breasts in red lace lingerie exposed once more.

Lucien’s expression visibly wavered.

He looked at me, his lips parting slightly, but ultimately made his choice.

"Gaia," he said kindly, apologetically, "It seems, then, that I should be the one to help Irina back to her room? You know, she’s like family, having served us for so many years."

"Of course," I replied with a smile. "That’s only right."

I thought my heart could no longer feel pain, but in that moment, I could still feel it bleeding.

That crimson blood seemed to spread like a river, flowing down from the stairs where I stood, spreading across the floor of the first level—like a stream leading straight to the Omega maid’s quarters in the northwest corner of the first floor, where Irina stayed.

Lucien, supporting Irina, walked upon it.

In three days, I swore, it would swallow him whole.