Chapter 2

"Kyle, even if the crown had to be thrown away, you shouldn't have been the one to do it!" Rosa screamed herself hoarse.

In that moment, it was as if she had forgotten her status as the noble and dignified Luna. She couldn't even hear the pack's collective gasp as she charged straight toward the flames to grab the already warped metal crown with her bare hands.

The smell of burning flesh filled the air. Though the pain was excruciating, she didn't loosen her hold.

Looking on, Kyle was taken aback for a moment before Ivy's quiet cough snapped him out of it. Ivy seemed to have choked on the smoke. She held her chest, and her brows were slightly furrowed.

Kyle immediately looked away from Rosa and gently patted Ivy's back, not sparing Rosa another glance. He softly said, "Since it's trash, we don't need it. I'll have someone make you a new crown, one that'll only belong to you."

"Alpha Kyle, please refrain from saying things that can cause misunderstandings in the future."

Ivy turned and walked off, prompting Kyle to trail after her all obsequiously like a pathetic mutt.

Late that night, in the pack's healing hall, Rosa stared quietly at the moon outside the window while cradling her bandaged hand.

From the corner of the hallway came the hushed whispers of two healers.

"Alpha Kyle's gone crazy over that outsider Omega. He even destroyed the Luna's crown."

"Tell me about it…"

"I heard back then, when he wanted to become mates with Luna Rosa, he knelt in front of her father for three days straight, swearing to give her his life."

"It hasn't even been that long. How did things turn out like this?"

"Maybe he's grown tired of her. Lost the thrill, you know?"

Their voices faded down the corridor.

Rosa looked down, stroking the charred crown with her uninjured hand.

Her thoughts drifted back to three months ago. Kyle had won a massive victory in a territorial battle. Most of the captives chose to submit. Only Ivy didn't.

She got rid of all of Kyle's gifts, lifted her chin stubbornly, and shouted, "I don't want your charity. Just kill me. I will never submit!"

The way she stubbornly held her ground was just like Rosa back in the day.

It was then that something changed in Kyle. He then began chasing Ivy like a man possessed.

The pack members all said the same thing—that Kyle had fallen out of love with Rosa.

Rosa had confronted him with reddened eyes. "You swore before that you'd only ever have one she-wolf. Me."

In a casual tone, Kyle had replied, "That was before. I'm the Alpha of the pack. Having a few she-wolves by my side is normal."

He took Rosa's hand in his before speaking in a voice gentle enough to soothe a pup, though his every word cut deep.

"Rosa, take a page from the Lunas of other packs. Don't be so small-minded."

Rosa forcefully shook off his hand. "I can't accept this! Kyle, there's no place for a third person in our relationship!"

"Do you seriously want to hear the truth?"

His voice turned cold, and his tone was impatient. "We've been together for nine years. Seeing the same face and body every day is boring. But Ivy's different. She's unfamiliar, new. You can't give me that."

"So, to sum it up, you're just tired of me."

Rosa closed her eyes as tears streamed down her face.

Kyle reached out to wipe her tears. In a softer tone, he said, "Dummy, what's there to cry about? To me, Ivy's just a plaything. Once I'm done with her, I'll reestablish our mind-link.

"You're my only Luna. You don't need to take her so seriously."

Pulling herself back from her thoughts, Rosa stared at the scorched crown in her hands. "Five more days."

She whispered to herself, "After five days, I will have nothing to do with you anymore, Kyle, no matter what you do."