Chapter 3

By afternoon, Damon returned.

The moment he pushed the door open and saw the open luggage on the bedroom floor, he froze.

"What are you doing?" He hurried over, his brow tightly furrowed and a flash of anxiety breaking through his voice. "Where are you going?"

I closed the suitcase, rolled it into the corner, and answered him casually, "It's nothing. Just clearing out some old clothes I don't need anymore."

Damon’s eyes drifted toward the trash can. Lying inside was a wolf-tooth pendant, the very token from the first hunt we had ever done together.

His face instantly darkened. "Aria, you're throwing this away too? You used to love it more than anything and wore it every single day.

"Is this still about the moonstone necklace? Are you really still throwing a fit over that?"

"No. It's just old, and I don't want it anymore."

Damon clearly didn't buy a word of it. "You're even throwing this away?" He stared at me, his voice sharp. "Are you going to tell me next that you're planning on leaving?"

I stood up and met his gaze with absolute calmness. "Yes."

Damon blinked, stunned for a fraction of a second, before a mocking laugh broke from his lips.

"Right. Look at you, all grown up now," he said, taking a seat on the couch. He leaned back in a relaxed pose, but his expression turned cold.

"And where exactly do you think you can go?

"Aria, can you stop acting like a dramatic pup threatening to run away every time you get upset? You say you're leaving, but have you ever actually left this territory?

"Do you think if you leave for a few days, I'm going to come groveling at your feet to beg you back? Outside our pack, nobody is going to shelter a rogue half-breed like you. You'll freeze to death out there."

His voice carried a heavy warning, but beneath it was absolute conviction. He was absolutely sure I would never leave.

In his mind, I had long been trapped within this territory, bound to him. He was convinced that everything I owned was right here, so where could I possibly go?

I didn't bother to argue. "Think whatever you want."

Seeing how undisturbed I was, Damon grew visibly impatient, though he stopped pressing the issue.

"Alright, that's enough," he sighed, standing up and walking over to me.

His tone softened slightly, as if he were trying to appease a thrown-off pup. "If you don't want the pendant, fine. I'll get you new ones another day.

"Tomorrow is our fifth anniversary. I reserved a brand-new hot spring clearing just for you, and it'll be your very own private spot. I'm having a roast feast and mead prepared by the water, and there will be fireworks after dinner.

"I'll even handcraft a necklace just for you. How does that sound?"

He made it sound like such a grand gesture, as though the mere fact that he was willing to lower himself once meant I should be brimming with gratitude. In his eyes, this was already the ultimate concession he could offer as an Alpha and my mate.

I looked at his face and let out a small smile. "Okay." I nodded softly.

Damon let out a visible sigh of relief. He reached out, casually ruffling my hair with a triumphant smile playing on his lips.

"See you tomorrow then. That's my girl. I always knew you couldn't bear to leave me."

He had no idea that tomorrow night, the Northern Pack would be arriving to take me away.