Chapter 3

Noah had no idea. He thought she was the purest and kindest she-wolf alive.

If I could choose again, I would let him be with Harper. At least then, he wouldn’t have been tortured by our mate bond for a decade.

Just then, my cellphone suddenly buzzed with a text from the Werewolf Academy.

They were asking me to confirm my spot in their advanced training program overseas. That was when I remembered I was still a student there at this age.

Last time, I turned down that offer. But this time, I decided to seize the opportunity.

I went to the Werewolf Academy to submit the application forms, then headed to Noah’s house.

Noah’s parents, Lisa and John, were home. Lisa pulled me into a hug.

“How wonderful! Let me see your mate bond application! I’m so happy you will be joining our family, becoming Noah’s Luna.”

John asked me, “Why didn’t Noah come back with you?”

“Noah had things to do at the company,” I said.

“But today’s the day for you two to apply for the mate bond,” Lisa said. “He should be here with you celebrating.”

John nodded. “Being an Alpha means taking care of the pack and business, but a happy family matters, too. I will talk to him.”

I couldn’t keep lying to them, not when they had treated me like their family.

I looked down. “I’m sorry. I lied. In a few weeks, Noah will find out my signature is invalid. And… I just got into the Werewolf Academy’s program oversea. I am leaving in a few days.”

Lisa and John were shocked.

“How is that possible?” Lisa asked. “You didn’t sign it? Did Noah do something to upset you?”

I shook my head.

Lisa went on, “He cares about you a lot. He used to drive you to school every day, just to make sure you were safe. And that Harper? She is no good. We would never accept her as his Luna.”

“I’m sure Noah is just confused,” John said. “He will see who Harper really is.”

I knew they meant well, but they were wrong. I would never forget that first night Noah and I had spent together.

“I need to mark you to complete the mate bond. Take off your clothes.” Noah’s voice was cold.

I slipped off my nightgown slowly.

“Come here,” he said.

Before I could move, he kissed me roughly. We grew intimate and he pressed his lips to my neck, leaving a mark that sealed our mate bond.

Even as he kissed me, he whispered Harper’s name.

After that night, he avoided touching me at all.

I took Lisa’s hand.

“I care about Noah, but he has never even loved me. I always knew that. Yesterday, I went to the meditation cave and saw a vision. I was his Luna. But he would stay late at work to avoid coming home to me. We were like that for ten years. His pain outweighed his happiness.”

My heart ached as I spoke.

“He was trapped in our mate bond, and he would always think of Harper. The worst part was… when he was at the age of thirty, he died saving me from a truck.”

Lisa was gifted. She could read minds. She must have seen the memories in my head when I touched her.

“No… that’s just a vision. You and Noah are perfect together. This can’t be how it ends for you two.”

I forced a weak smile. “He doesn’t want to disappoint you two, but I can’t be the one forcing him anymore. We need to let him make the choices he wants.”

Lisa’s eyes were filled with tears. John put his arm around Lisa’s and patted her.

“Charlotte, you are such a beautiful and kind she-wolf. It’s Noah’s loss if he won’t choose you as his Luna.”

John nodded. “Even if you’re not his Luna, you will always be like a daughter to us. This house is always open to you.”

“I will keep that in mind. But I am leaving for the training program overseas. I need some time away.”

I thought, I have kept Noah’s second wishes. This time, they wouldn’t force him to start a mate bond with me anymore.

Suddenly, I heard a bell ringing loudly.

The witch had warned me about the time. She had said that she would signal with a bell.

I could only stay for 36 hours before I returned.

This meant my time here was running out.