Chapter 4

One day left until I leave.

On Saturday morning, I retrieved the revision history of the brochure.

The medical proposal had always been stored in the project directory I managed. The original drafts, every single revision, and all approval comments were properly archived.

The initial deion was clear. "The medical program was designed by Irene Vale, with Livie Grant responsible for public outreach."

It was Leon who had requested the change.

In the feedback column, he wrote, "Highlight Livie's personal contribution to avoid the public viewing the foundation as an affiliate of the Luna."

I redacted the personal details in the case studies, sent the revision history and the original drafts to the board, and requested a correction of the author credits.

After processing the last piece of paperwork, I returned to the bedroom to pack my luggage.

The long dress I wore at our mating ceremony still hung deep inside the closet.

I left the dress right where it was. Instead, I packed my IDs and manus from the drawer into my suitcase one by one.

I placed the application receipt at the very top of my luggage, tucked the suitcase back into the wardrobe, and booked a car for the morning.

At 8:00 pm, Leon brought Livie home.

She sat at the edge of the living room, her fingers twisting the strap of her bag. "Irene, I didn't know they would introduce it that way. I just wanted to get Troy's foundation running right."

I didn't ask how much she actually knew. "The original files have been handed over to the board. They'll verify them."

Livie looked toward Leon.

He stepped forward, blocking her view of me. "The credits can be changed. Can we just let tomorrow's event proceed normally, please?"

"I didn't ask to cancel the event," I argued.

"But the materials you sent the board will make everyone think she stole your work."

I looked at him. "Which part of that isn't true?"

His jaw tightened.

Livie murmured, "Maybe I should just step down. I don't want you two fighting over me…"

"This isn't your fault." Leon was quick to step in. "Irene, I was the one who approved it."

His tone softened. "I thought we were a family, so we didn't need to divide things so clearly. Making the foundation succeed is a win for our pack too."

"Then tell the board the truth, that you're the one who changed it," I said.

He glanced at Livie. Her face was pale, and her eyes were already red.

"After tomorrow," he said.

I nodded. "You can choose the time. I'll have the driver pick you up tomorrow morning. You don't have to speak. Just attend with me."

I didn't bring up the dissolution application.

Finally, he said, "See you tomorrow."

The day of departure had arrived.

At 7:00 am, I turned off the morning wake-up reminder I had set for Leon.

A final handoff list was stuck to the refrigerator, detailing Martha's physical therapy contacts and the household services that needed renewing.

There was no farewell letter.

I took off my wedding ring and left it in the entryway tray along with my Luna badge.

I dropped the keys into the hallway tray, pulled my suitcase, and stepped into the elevator.

My phone chimed with a message from Leon. "Your seat is still next to mine. Don't forget to wear your Luna badge."

As the car drove through the rain-washed streets, Nora didn't turn back to search for his scent for the first time.

She asked me if the apartment in Bordevia had windows.

"It does," I said, looking at the photos on my phone. "Right by the bed. It gets the morning sun."

At 9:00 am, the car heading to the airport was crossing the overpass.

The mark on the side of my neck suddenly flared with heat, and a sharp pain tore through my chest. I doubled over, gripping my coat.

Nora whimpered deep in my consciousness.

I had the driver pull over, took the medication the healer prescribed, and waited out the worst of the wave.

Just then, my phone lit up. A single line of text flashed from Werewolf City Hall. "The mate bond has been successfully dissolved."

Immediately after, Leon's call came through.

I didn't pick up.

Another text popped up. "The driver says you're not home. Irene, where are you?"

I silenced my phone and dropped it back into my bag.

When my breathing finally steadied, I buckled my seatbelt again. "To the airport."

…

At the same time, at the foundation venue, Leon clutched his chest, repeatedly dialing the number that kept ringing out.

Noah hurried over. "Alpha Leon, the board has suspended the promotional video. The original drafts sent by Luna Irene have been verified, and you need to explain the order to alter the author credits."

Livie called out to him in a soft voice.

This time, Leon didn't answer her.

On his phone, the driver had just sent a photo.

In the entryway tray, right beside the keys, sat the wedding ring and the Luna badge.

Popping up right beneath it was the dissolution notice from Werewolf City Hall.

The applicant's name was Irene Vale, and the application date was seven days ago.

Leon jerked to his feet, trying to reach me through the mind-link.

But the link—the one that always used to have someone waiting to answer, no matter how late it was—was completely dead.