Chapter 2

That kiss was like a silver blade, stabbing fiercely into my chest.

When Jason had just woken up, Laurent had clearly knelt before the statue of the Moon Goddess and sworn to me that she was only temporarily taking care of Jason.

The moment Jason’s inner wolf recovered, she would immediately step back.

In the beginning, she indeed avoided Jason.

But starting from who knows when, the boundaries between them became blurred.

And now, she could even kiss him.

“Let’s discuss this later,”

Laurent urged in a low voice.

“Lyra lost her parents not long ago. Forcing her to leave the Central Castle now...”

Jason interrupted her.

“It’s already been half a year! I can’t wait to sleep with you, in every corner of this castle…”

His hand brushed Laurent’s neck.

She leaned back against his chest, her body settling into his arms.

Laurent’s breathing turned heavy.

In the end, Laurent could only say,

“Then when she returns, I’ll talk to her.”

I slowly turned around, looking up at the Central Castle.

As a child, this place was filled with my belongings—my mother’s favorite moon-patterned vase, the black longblade my father would always rest in the foyer after training, and the silver bell the pack members gifted me on my eighteenth Awakening Rite.

Six months had passed, and those things had grown fewer and fewer.

Laurent had replaced all the decorations in the master bedroom.

The vanity table my mother used to use had also been moved to the storage room by her.

Meanwhile, all of my belongings were crammed into a cramped side room.

In the past, I thought it didn’t matter because it was only temporary.

She wanted me to move my stuff, so that Jason would heal without all those distractions.

Now I finally understood that she didn’t temporarily step into my position, they truly intended to squeeze me out of my home completely.

I left the Central Castle and sat in the garden for a while, intending to head straight to the Pack Administration Council.

But halfway there, my inner wolf suddenly grew restless deep in my consciousness.

“The scent of cleansing fern...”

My steps halted.

Only then did I realize that I had unconsciously walked near the Healing Center.

Six months ago, Jason had woken up right here.

Back then, I used to come almost every single day.

I grew familiar with every corridor here.

I stood still for a few seconds before walking inside anyway.

To be honest, even I couldn’t explain why.

Perhaps I simply wanted to ask when his inner wolf would fully recover.

Or more accurately, I just wanted to give myself one more reason to hold on.

Just as I reached the outside of Healer Cheng’s consultation room, a familiar voice suddenly came from inside.

My footsteps froze instantly.

It was Jason!

“Have you had any headaches recently?” the Healer asked.

Jason’s voice was very calm.

“No. My inner wolf has fully stabilized as well. Transformation and Alpha aura are both fine.”

“That’s good. To be honest, when you first came to tell me three months ago that your memories had returned, I was worried the silver poison would leave lasting aftereffects.”

My breath stopped abruptly.

Three months ago? Memory restored?

I almost thought I had misheard.

The conversation inside continued.

The Healer flipped through some files.

“You recovered faster than I expected back then. Memory, inner wolf, scent recognition, all normal now. You even remembered everything about your past with Miss Lyra. I thought you would tell her immediately.”

The air went quiet for a few seconds.

Then, I heard Jason say, “There’s no need.”

Three words.

As light as a casual comment.

It froze my entire body in place.

The Healer was clearly surprised.

“No need? She has spent the past six months thinking you haven’t recovered. And were’'t the two of you originally preparing to hold a Bonding Ceremony?”

“That was in the past. Once I recovered, I indeed remembered everything. Her parents. Our past. I remember all of it. So what?”

He smirked.

My fingertips turned cold bit by bit.

He remembered. He remembered everything.

He remembered how my father was killed while standing in front of him, and how my mother fiercely shielded him before her death.

He remembered how my father, with his last breath, entrusted the entire Pack and me to him.

He remembered every single bit.

“Since you’ve recovered... why continue pretending to have memory loss?”

At that moment, I even forgot to breathe.

“Because I realized... I no longer want to go back to how things were. She won’t be my Luna, Laurent will.”

My inner wolf snapped her eyes open deep.

Jason continued, “When I had memory loss, I always believed Laurent was the she-wolf I loved. Later, when my memories returned, I still want to be with her.”

The Healer put down the files.

“Jason. This isn’t the same thing as memory loss. Miss Lyra has been waiting for you to recover, and out of fear of distressing your inner wolf, she never forced you to accept the past. And her parents gave their lives to save you…”

“I know,” Jason abruptly interrupted.

My heart went completely cold.

He said,

“So what? That’s why I haven’t directly made Lyra leave. She is the daughter of the former Alpha. Her parents indeed saved me. But I owe her nothing now!"

Nothing?

Standing outside the door, I suddenly wanted to cry.

The Healer was obviously silent too. After a while, he said,

“Then when do you plan to tell her?”

“Wait a bit longer. Wait until Laurent becomes my Luna. By then, even if Lyra finds out, it won’t matter anymore. She will be useless to me.”

So that was it.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to face me, nor was it because guilt kept him from speaking up.

He simply wanted to drag it out until Laurent completely took my place.

Until every Pack member saw Laurent as his Luna.

Until I, the daughter of the former Alpha, truly became useless.

Healer Cheng sighed.

“You asked me not to tell her about your recovery, and I can keep healer-patient confidentiality for you. But Alpha Jason, I couldn’t do that for you any longer…”

I couldn’t listen any longer.

I slowly took a step back. Then another step. Until I completely left that corridor.

The sunlight outside was blindingly bright. But I felt cold all over.

Three months. Three full months.

He had already recovered three months ago.

And I had been like a fool, defending him every single day.

Explaining on his behalf to my father’s former Beta.

Explaining on his behalf to the Elders.

Even on Ancestor’s Moon, when he refused to attend, I was still making excuses for him, saying:

“His inner wolf hasn’t recovered yet. Give him a little more time.”

Looking back now, how foolish I was.

He didn’t forget.

My father died to save him; my mother died to save him.

I stayed by his side for four years, guarding him for seven days and seven nights.

None of these things did he forget. He still chose Laurent.

My inner wolf asked me very softly.

“What now?”

I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, the very last trace of hope in my heart had completely vanished.

“Now. We don’t want him anymore. He will pay for what he did to me.”

I didn’t return to the castle.

Instead, I wandered in the Healing Center.

By the time I realized it, I had walked near the birthing clinic where she-wolves underwent pregnancy checks.

I suddenly caught sight of Laurent. Jason was also there.

The midwife’s voice came from inside.

“It’s already been two months. The pup is very healthy. Are you keeping it, Alpha Jason?”

Before Laurent could answer, Jason spoke up first:

“We will keep it! Of course we’re keeping it!”

His voice sounded almost ecstatic.

“This is my first pup!”

I saw him pull Laurent into his arms.

“Laurent. We are having a pup!”

Laurent didn’t say anything, but Jason had already begun making arrangements.

“Before it starts showing, let’s hold our Bonding Ceremony as soon as possible. I will summon the Elders tomorrow and announce that you will be the future Luna. Moon Blessing, Soulmoon Wine, the ritual! Not a single thing will be missed.”

He paused.

“From now on, you will officially move into the Central Castle.”

Laurent looked up and happened to spot me outside the door.

Her face instantly drained of color, and she pushed Jason away.

Jason turned around.

Seeing me, a flash of panic crossed his eyes.

“Lyra? Why…? Why are you here?”

I didn’t answer, merely staring at Laurent.

“You’re pregnant?”

Laurent lowered her head.

Jason had already stepped in front of her.

“We are preparing to hold our Bonding Ceremony. Having a pup is completely normal.”

I smirked.

“Laurent, so this is your way to take care of Jason,bestie?”