Chapter 4

At the dinner, I handed the former Luna a wooden box.

Inside was a salve I had spent three years formulating. It was made specifically for the joint pain from her old battle injuries.

She squeezed my hand, absolutely loving the gift and praising me non-stop.

Ruby suddenly cut in.

"Luna, I heard you love antiques. I had someone track this bracelet down for me. It's very old."

She opened the velvet box. The entire hall instantly fell dead silent.

The bracelet reeked of the illegal black market. Several elders visibly cringed at the smell.

Items of unknown origin were strictly forbidden in the pack.

Ruby was actually stupid enough to give one as a gift.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Kade bit the bullet and stepped in.

"Mother, Ruby meant well. She just got scammed. Let's put this away and start the dinner."

The former Luna glared at him, absolutely livid.

"If you paid this much attention to Cora, you wouldn't let black market trash into my house!"

Kade shut his mouth and shot me an irritated look.

"The mating ceremony... depends on what Cora wants."

I just smiled and kept quiet. This wasn't the time or place to cause a scene.

The former Luna openly favored me throughout the dinner.

She made sure I was served all my favorite dishes.

Ruby tried to make a toast to save face, but knocked her wine glass over in a panic.

Kade stood up to protect her before the elders could lose their tempers.

"She's just startled. Please don't hold it against her, Mother."

The pack elites at the table silently looked away.

Everyone could see the Alpha was blindly favoring his childhood friend.

The former Luna asked me to stay after dinner ended.

I finally walked out over half an hour later.

Kade was waiting at the end of the hall. He immediately stepped up to probe.

"What did my mother say to you?"

"Nothing. Just talking."

"Did you mention the thing with Ruby?"

He was clearly paranoid. He was terrified I would expose his sick little fake-mate game.

I calmly shook my head. He breathed a massive sigh of relief.

"You're always so reasonable, Cora."

I gave him a cold look and walked right past him.

Before I left, the former Luna insisted on giving me her moonstone ring.

I tried to refuse, but she gave me a knowing look and sighed.

"That foolish boy doesn't know how good he has it."

Kade didn't get it.

"Mother, what does that mean?"

She patted my hand and glared coldly at her own son.

"I'm saying you'll get what's coming to you for taking your fated mate for granted!"

Kade looked away in irritation. He just wrote it off as an elder's bias.

We drove off under her watchful gaze.

On the way back, Ruby reached for the passenger door out of habit.

For the first time, Kade blocked her.

Ruby stiffened. Then she quietly moved to the back seat.

I sat in the passenger seat and stared blankly ahead.

The car reeked of her perfume. The smell was sickeningly sweet.

I was already sensitive to strong scents. Halfway home, I fought down a wave of nausea and told Kade to pull over.

I shoved the door open, grabbed the roadside guardrail, and started gagging.

"What's wrong? Do you need the clinic?"

"No need."

I instinctively dodged his hand. I was a healer. I didn't need his fake concern.

For once, Kade didn't just drive off and leave me.

He actually handed me a tissue and a mint.

"Ruby and I are just playing a game," he muttered. "You can rely on me if something is wrong. Don't push yourself."

I looked up at him. If he had done this earlier, maybe we wouldn't be here today.

Once the nausea passed, I opened the back door and got in.

Ruby immediately jumped at the chance to dive back into the passenger seat.

"Kade, you promised to take me to that show in the south district tonight. Are we heading straight there, or going home first?"

Kade stared at my pale face in the rearview mirror.

"We're going back to the estate."

Back at the main estate, I leaned against the sofa and closed my eyes.

Ruby ran into my old walk-in closet to touch up her makeup.

Looking at that door, I couldn't help but think of my ruined greenhouse.

I spent countless nights growing those rare herbs.

But Kade leveled the whole thing without a second thought, all because of one word from Ruby.

Seeing me stare at the closet, Kade walked over and actually spoke up.

"Ruby is only here temporarily. I had the Beta find a place for her in town. She's moving out next week."

"I'll have the greenhouse rebuilt for you. You can plant whatever you want."

I listened to his pathetic, charity-like promises. I felt absolutely nothing.

Ruby was excitedly putting on her heels by the door. I spoke up, offering one final test.

"Don't go."

Kade's expression shifted. Finally, he sighed. "I promised her. I can't break my word as an Alpha. I'll stay with you next time."

I let out a soft laugh the second the door clicked shut.

Kade would never change.

Whenever I said no, he did it anyway just to spite me.

But that was fine. This was the last time he'd ever go against me.

My phone buzzed. Three hours until my flight to the United Pack.

I grabbed the small bag I had packed earlier. Just a simple suitcase, carrying away whatever little dignity I had left in this place.

I didn't look back at the main estate as I walked out the door.

Once, Kade pledged to me under the stars, "Cora, with you by my side, I'm a real Alpha."

I was naive enough to think it meant forever.

But things changed.

Or rather, I finally woke up. I refused to be held hostage by this mate bond anymore.

Kade called right as I walked into the airport terminal.

"Cora, you love the roasted lamb chops from that place downtown, right? They have a huge cut today. Want me to bring some home?"

My boarding announcement blared through the speakers. I replied coldly.

"No."

He went silent. "Cora, how long are you going to keep up this tantrum? Just admit you were wrong and play along. We can put this behind us."

"You're right. This is the last time."

"What do you mean?" The announcement echoed through the terminal again, calling my gate.

Kade's voice turned frantic.

"Cora, where are you?"

I ignored him and spoke my final truth. "I am done obeying you, Kade."

"I, Cora, reject you as my mate. We are done."