3

—should I drive you to the research institute?"

I shook my head. "No need. I quit."

Damon froze, his brow furrowing slightly. "Why did you suddenly quit?"

I looked up, my gaze steady. "I'm tired. I want to rest for a while."

Damon was silent for a few seconds, then reached out to ruffle my hair. "Quitting is good. Research work is too exhausting, and besides..."

His fingers gently traced my waist, his voice low and husky. "If you quit your job, we'll have more time to deepen our bond. And after our mating ceremony, you'll be the pack's Luna. You'll have pack management duties too. You'll be very busy."

I stepped away from his touch, my tone cold. "You should go handle your business."

After Damon left, I spent most of the day throwing away all those mementos that carried our memories.

Standing in the empty living room, I felt like something was blocking my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Just then, my phone suddenly vibrated.

I picked it up and saw an unknown text message.

"3 PM today, Central Street Restaurant. Meet me. I am Damon Blackwood's destined mate."

My fingers clenched the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white.

I pushed open the restaurant door, and the wind chimes chimed crisply.

I immediately spotted a woman in haute couture sitting in the VIP booth, polishing an Ironwood Pack crest ring—a token only the Ironwood Pack Alpha could possess. Yet I had never seen it on Damon.

"My name is Lydia Ashford, and I'm Damon Blackwood's destined mate." Lydia cut straight to the point, her tone carrying a hint of provocation. "We recognized each other the moment we first shifted. Our packs have already arranged our engagement."

I didn't speak, just looked at her calmly, my eyes as still as stagnant water.

Lydia clearly hadn't expected this reaction. She frowned. "You and Damon have already submitted your bonding application, and now he suddenly has a destined mate. Don't you have anything to ask?"

I forced a smile, my heart completely cold.

Ask? What was there left to ask? Ever since I overheard those words outside the hunting grounds office, I was completely done with Damon Blackwood.

Nothing he did could surprise me anymore.

Seeing my silence, Lydia's expression darkened.

I had revealed my identity expecting to see Sage Rivers break down hysterically, but this girl was like a block of ice—so cold I couldn't find anywhere to strike.

She gritted her teeth, her tone turning sharp. "To expand the northern territories' influence, Ironwood Pack and my Ashen Peaks Pack will be united in marriage soon. Damon confessed that applying to bond with you was just to use you. No matter who you are, he'll abandon you immediately. So I advise you to leave voluntarily. I can even give you some money. Otherwise, you're just embarrassing yourself."

I looked up, my gaze steady and calm. "When will your marriage alliance be announced?"

Lydia paused, then smiled smugly. "Early next month. The exact date isn't set yet, but it won't be long."

Early next month—right after the mating ceremony.

So Damon had planned it all along. Use me to threaten my brother into withdrawing from the Alpha King race during the mating ceremony, then marry into the Ashen Peaks Pack alliance.

Damon Blackwood, you truly have no heart.

My voice was flat. "Did you investigate me? If you had, you'd know I don't lack money. If you came here today to humiliate me, you miscalculated."

Lydia's face instantly turned ugly. I glanced at her and added, "And let me remind you—Damon Blackwood has no heart. He doesn't love anyone but himself. Marriage alliances for mutual benefit are fine, but if you fall for him, you're dead."

I stood up to leave, but Lydia suddenly shot up and grabbed my wrist, her voice shrill. "How dare you say that about him!"

Before I could react, Lydia had grabbed a cup of scalding silver water from behind her and threw it at me.

I couldn't dodge in time. The burning silver water splashed across my body. I was frozen by the excruciating pain, unable to move.

But Lydia wasn't satisfied. She shoved me hard to the ground.

My wolf was suppressed by the silver and couldn't emerge. My back slammed hard against the table corner. I crashed to the floor, my head hitting the ground with a sharp pain. Everything went blurry, and I could feel blood flowing.

Just then, the restaurant door was thrown open.

"Lydia Ashford, what are you doing!"

A cold voice suddenly rang out behind me, filled with suppressed fury.

I looked up through my blurred vision to see Damon striding over, several pack guards following behind him. He wore a black coat that made his expression look even more terrifyingly dark.

He shifted into his Alpha wolf form and used all his strength to shove Lydia away, sending her flying to the ground.

Then he stripped off his coat to wrap around me, his voice trembling slightly. "Sage, are you hurt?"

Lydia endured the pain and stared at him in disbelief. "Damon, I'm your destined mate! You've already sworn before the Moon Goddess that you would bond with me! You're attacking me for her sake?!"