Chapter 1

Anyone entering a family estate was supposed to sign in, but the guards at Celeste's took one look at Kane and waved him through.

Celeste put on a pitiful expression. “Kane, I think the ward runes in my bedroom have stopped working.”

She hugged the silver plate to her chest and made no move to get out.

“The butler called a rune master, but they can't fix it until tomorrow morning. I'm scared a rogue wolf will break in tonight.”

Kane got out right away.

“I'll take a look.”

He'd taken two steps before he turned back to me in the back seat.

“Ella, just wait in the car.”

He handed me his black coat.

“It's getting colder tonight. Your old injury can't take the chill.”

The bond between fated mates worked in strange ways.

Kane knew when I was cold. He could even sense my mood shift before I said a word.

And yet he could also leave me alone on our anniversary and go to another woman's house.

I used to think the way he sensed my feelings proved he loved me.

Now I knew his love wasn't just for me.

Time crawled by, and there was still no sign of Kane.

I unlocked my phone and pulled up the acceptance letter from Moonstone Academy again.

I was one step away from finishing my enrollment in London. Once I confirmed my flight, I could leave in seven days.

Suddenly, someone pulled the car door open.

Kane didn't explain. He just handed me a box of chestnut cream tarts.

“Last box they had. You said these always made you feel better in winter.”

I stared at the box for a long moment without taking it.

Then Kane noticed my phone screen was lit up.

“What are you looking at?”

I quickly locked the screen.

“Just spam.”

Ever since we became fated mates, I'd never been able to hide my feelings from him.

But now, I was afraid to even let him see my phone screen.

Kane's eyes darkened.

“Ella, you're hiding something from me.”

He was about to push harder when the passenger door swung open. It was Celeste.

“Kane, the rune master says it's a difficult repair. They can't finish it tonight.”

She looked troubled.

“Ella, could I stay at your place, just for tonight?”

She gently squeezed my fingers.

“I won't be in your way for long. I'll move back home tomorrow.”

Back in school, whenever she got into trouble and needed me to cover for her, she would hold my hand like this.

She knew how much our friendship meant to me. When she did that, it was hard to say no to her face.

But this time, before I could even answer, Kane cut in. “Of course. Blackwood Manor has plenty of rooms.”

He turned to me, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Get the guest room next to our bedroom ready for Celeste. She's a light sleeper, so don't go wandering around tonight and disturb her.”

“Not that room.”

I kept my father's manuscripts in that guest room, along with the last moonmark stone he'd made before his death.

When I moved into Blackwood Manor, Kane had helped me sort through the things my father left behind.

He'd told me that room was mine and mine alone.

Now he wanted to hand it over to someone else.

Kane frowned.

“It's just one night. Do you have to make such a big deal out of it?”

Celeste immediately hung her head.

“Kane, it's my fault. I'll call someone else right now and see if I can stay with them tonight.”

She pulled out her phone as she spoke, her eyes filling with tears.

Kane's expression went cold.

“Celeste, you don't have to apologize.”

He turned to me, clearly annoyed. “Ella, today is our fourth anniversary.

“Don't make me argue with you on our anniversary.”