Chapter 4

The next morning, I stood in the center of the villa's living room, holding the only suitcase I owned.

The house where I'd lived for the past five years felt so empty now that even the sound of my breathing echoed off the walls.

My personal belongings and Mom's keepsakes had been shipped out the night before. As for Kalev's things, I didn't touch a single one of them. I left them all exactly where they were, just like a pile of worthless trash.

Two heavy brass keys lay in the center of the coffee table. Resting right on top of them was the necklace that signified the status of Luna of the pack.

Since our mating ceremony had never been completed, I was thus spared the tedious process of severing the bond with him.

At 8:00 am sharp, Randy arrived at the door with Debbie. After verifying all of the details, Debbie signed the property transfer deed and smiled at me.

"I wish you all the best in your new home, Ms. Whiteclaw. May the Moon Goddess watch over you always."

I returned her a calm smile. "Thank you. I'll be leaving this property in your hands now."

Then, I wheeled my suitcase out the front door and got into the car bound for the border of the pack's territory. I didn't look back. I didn't even stop for anything.

The car drove out of the borders at 10:00 am later that day. I shut my eyes and shut out everything that was related to this territory and this pack.

From now on, Kalev could use his pheromones to soothe Freya for as long as he wanted to. I just wouldn't be waiting for him at home anymore.

…

At 3:00 pm, Kalev pushed open the front door of the villa, carrying several portions of freshly grilled barbecue meat.

He was still mulling over yesterday's conflict, wondering how to win me back with a lavish dinner tonight.

"Ariel, I brought back your favorite barbecue for dinner. Come eat it while it's hot…"

His voice trailed off as he came to an abrupt halt.

The house was too quiet. The only sound he could hear was the crackling of dying embers in the fireplace. However, what terrified him even more was the scent in the air.

The cool, crisp cedarwood scent that belonged to me was rapidly dissipating, and it was quickly getting replaced by a lifeless, hollow void.

He glanced at the entryway and saw that the soft-soled boots I usually wore were gone.

He snapped his head up and saw that my wool blanket was missing from the couch. The trinkets I had kept scattered around the shelves had also vanished.

Even our portraits on the wall—depicting the two of us on a hunt—had been taken down, leaving behind only a pale, faded mark.

Kalev's heart clenched violently as an inexplicable chill washed over his entire body.

"Ariel! What the hell are you playing at this time?"

He strode into the master bedroom and yanked open the wardrobe doors, realizing that not a single item of my clothing was left. There were just a few of his black coats hanging inside, looking forlorn and rather solitary amidst all the space.

He turned and rushed back to the living room, finally noticing the items resting on the coffee table—the two brass keys and the Luna necklace, glimmering coldly and harshly in the light.

The barbecue meat he'd been holding dropped onto the wooden floor, splattering grease everywhere.

Suddenly, the front door was pushed open from the outside. Kalev whipped his head around at once, his eyes flashing with joy that somewhat bordered on a certain kind of madness.

"Ariel? You're back—"

However, the wolf walking in was that strange she-wolf from the day before.

Debbie was bringing in the cleaning supplies when she froze in terror the moment she saw Kalev.

"A-Alpha Kalev?"

Kalev's face was deathly pale. His Alpha aura spilled out uncontrollably as he demanded, "Who are you? What are you doing in my and Ariel's home?"

Debbie's legs buckled under the crushing pressure of his aura, bringing her to the verge of collapsing onto her knees.

Trembling, she pulled the stamped transfer deed from her bag and replied in a quivering voice, "Alpha… Ms. Whiteclaw transferred this property to me yesterday… She's already left the pack early this morning…"

My signature on the transfer deed made the world go black before Kalev's eyes. He staggered backward, knocking over a floor lamp. It wasn't until then that the realization hit him with jarring clarity.

My answer yesterday hadn't actually been a compromise on my part. Rather, it had been a verdict instead.

So, the unfamiliar scent in the house from before hadn't been from a repairman. It had been from a buyer all along. I had planned every step of my departure long ago, waiting only for the right moment to completely excise him from my life.

Kalev's legs gave way, and he collapsed heavily onto his knees before the coffee table. He picked up the Luna necklace with trembling hands—the one that he had personally fastened around my neck years ago as a symbol of his lifelong vow.

But now, it felt bitterly cold in his hands, completely devoid of any trace of my warmth.

"Ariel…"