Chapter 3

The healer, Ravenna Nocturne, knew nothing about what had really happened. She simply assumed I had accidentally lost my pup and gently comforted me.

"You and Alpha Grayson will have more pups in the future."

I lay in my hospital bed and smiled without correcting her.

Grayson and I would never have another pup, nor would there ever be a future for us either.

During the two days I spent recovering in the hospital, Grayson never once came looking for me.

The werewolf who once couldn't bear to go even 24 hours without messaging me to report his whereabouts now couldn't even spare a single word to ask how I was doing.

Then, I received an anonymous text message with a photo attached.

"Don't bother waiting for Grayson. He's on vacation with me at Lover's Bay. He says it's his way of making it up to me."

The message ended with a smiley face.

In the photo, Grayson was walking hand in hand with Avery along the beach. It was the very place where he had proposed to me.

After all these years, the sea and the setting sun hadn't changed at all. The only thing that had changed was the she-wolf holding his hand.

I stared blankly at the screen, tears splashing onto it and blurring the image of the setting sun.

Perhaps this was for the best. It would make it easier for me to leave quietly.

Yet, the nightmare continued to haunt me.

On the day Grayson and Avery returned, the Beta, Azrael Sylvaris, called me.

"Luna Clara, Alpha Grayson says he wants to put Avery in charge of the trade route with the Northern Forest. He needs you to come over now and sign the transfer documents."

The trade route was responsible for supplying the territory with essential provisions and energy for the winter. It was a vital lifeline for the pack, and I had always been the one in charge of it.

In the dream, the credit and connections I had built through this trade route were exactly what had helped me when I tried to leave.

Ignoring Ravenna's advice to continue resting, I hurried to the merchant guild's meeting room.

The moment Grayson saw me, he froze for a brief second.

"You've lost weight," he blurted.

An overwhelming sense of helplessness and sorrow washed over me.

Just the day before our wedding anniversary, Grayson and I had been curled up together on the couch, discussing where we should go on vacation this year. He wanted to visit Frostville, but I told him it was too cold. In the end, neither of us had managed to convince the other.

Yet, in just three short days, everything had changed.

I wanted to tell Grayson that we'd lost our pup, and that the nightmare he'd told me about had already become reality.

But before I could even open my mouth, he spoke first.

"Why not let Avery take over the Northern Forest trade route? Consider it compensation for what happened to her that day."

A sharp ache pierced my chest.

Every time Avery suffered the slightest grievance, Grayson knew exactly how to make it up to her. Yet, he hadn't even bothered to investigate what had happened to me when I left the council building that day.

I lowered my eyes. "I object."

No sooner had I finished speaking than tears welled up in Avery's eyes, and her face crumpled into an expression of wounded innocence.

"Luna Clara, I know you look down on someone as insignificant as me. But I heard from others that you haven't been to the merchant guild for three days. A trade route this important should be entrusted to someone more responsible."

Grayson's gaze lingered on my pale face for a few seconds before his brows furrowed.

"Where have you been these past few days?" he asked.

I didn't want to lay bare my wounds in front of outsiders, so I chose not to tell him the truth.

"I haven't been feeling well, so I've been resting at home."

Avery immediately burst into tears. "Alpha Grayson, she's lying! I asked your household staff, and they confirmed that Luna Clara hasn't been home at all!"

Grayson fell silent for a few seconds before sliding the agreement transferring management of the Northern Forest trade route toward me.

"So you've been neglecting your duties and going off to enjoy yourself. Sign it."

The ache in my chest surged again.

I looked at him and pleaded softly, "Grayson, do you still remember that dream you had? Could you please just believe me this one time?"

I had never humbled myself or begged anyone like this before, not even when facing the most vicious criminals.

Grayson's breathing faltered for a beat, but he quickly forced himself to regain his composure.

"Clara, it was just a dream," he growled, his voice low and cold.

My heart turned completely cold.

If only it really had been just a dream.