Chapter 3

Mom still hadn't returned, so I went back to my room to pack my things. When I reached my door, I found Isla waiting by the window.

"Take this. It has Kaden's schedule for tomorrow."

It took me a moment to understand. Before I tried to win over Bridget, I had put quite a bit of thought into pursuing him as well. I had spent most of my savings gathering information about where Kaden would be, then deliberately arranged encounters just so I could see him and exchange a few words.

I had succeeded several times.

He was polite and gentle. When I dropped my bracelet, he had picked it up and personally caught up with me to return it.

When we met again at a party, I gathered my courage and asked him to dance with me. Beneath the dazzling lights, he looked at me seriously and smiled, asking, "Are you serious?"

Back then, I still thought I could eventually win his heart. Looking back now, I had been so naive that it was almost heartbreaking.

No matter what I did, Kaden would never truly fall in love with me. He would only grow more disgusted by the things I did.

I didn't take the note. Instead, I asked, "How did you find out his schedule?"

"Theo is close with him. He mentioned it casually, and I remembered."

Isla glanced at me and snorted. "What? You don't want it anymore? I saw you running around every day, so I thought I'd help you out. Aren't you desperate to become Kaden's future Luna?"

Yes. At least, I used to be.

I took the note from Isla and tore it into pieces without hesitation.

"I don't need it anymore, Isla. You can just peacefully wait to become Kaden's mate."

I waited a long time, but Mom never came home. Instead, a werewolf from the Glorymoon pack came to get me with a cold expression, saying that Bridget wanted to see me.

I was confused. If Mom had already gone to see her, she should've explained everything. They were close friends that had grown up together. What could they not have been able to discuss that required me?

Could it be that she objected to me being with Rowan?

When I arrived at the moon palace, Bridget immediately called me over and gripped my hand tightly.

"Your mother says you want to be with Rowan. Is that true?"

I nodded. "It is."

Bridget frowned deeply. "Dear, tell me the truth. Is this your mother's idea, or is it truly what you want?"

Mom was beside her, looking awkward.

I nodded again without hesitation. "Luna Bridget, this is what I want. I want to be with Rowan."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Just then, Kaden walked in and heard my words. His brows furrowed as he stared directly at me.

Bridget pressed further. "Do you really not want to form a bond with Kaden and become the future Luna of the Glorymoon pack?"

I replied calmly, "I'm already fortunate enough to be able to bond with Rowan and become part of your family. I'm not someone who has any right to become the future Luna of the Glorymoon pack."

Silence ensued. Bridget stared at me, unmistakable disappointment appearing on her face.

"Serena, is this really what you desire?"

I stood there silently. My desire had once been much greater. I had wanted the freedom to do whatever I pleased, to have whatever I wanted without having to fight someone else for it. But later, nearly every bone in my body had been broken, one by one.

The crushing weight of reality had pressed down on me until it completely shattered my pride and ambition. Even if I became Kaden's Luna, I could only be locked away in a dark room and left at his mercy.

It wasn't that my ambitions had changed. It was that I no longer wanted the things I had once desired.

When I stepped outside the palace, a shadow fell over me beneath the moonlight. I looked up and saw Kaden staring intently at me.

He firmly blocked my path and demanded, "Serena, don't you think you owe me a reasonable explanation? If you want to bond with Rowan, why did you keep approaching me again and again, making me misunderstand your intentions?"

I froze for a moment before realizing what he meant.

In my previous life, at this point, Kaden hadn't hated me yet. He had enjoyed our chance encounters and conversations. Whenever I went to visit Bridget, he would even bring me flowers, just for the chance to speak to me.

But later, he suddenly became distant.

He learned the truth behind the "chance encounters" I had arranged and decided that I was no different from those who approached him for power and status. And after he officially became Alpha, he even went so far as to intend to strip me of every title and position I had.

And now, the young future Alpha had me trapped against the wall, stubbornly demanding an answer.

I simply shook my head.

"Mr. Kaden, you are far too noble for someone like me to pursue. I'm sorry I gave you the wrong impression. From now on, I'll know my place. We won't have anything to do with each other again."