Chapter 3

Ivander seemed to have picked up on my aloofness. When we left the banquet hall, he kept holding my hand the whole time.

"Today is your birthday, Aerith. Let's not spoil your mood over such trivial things, okay? Where do you want to go? I'll go anywhere with you."

"The seaside villa, then."

Ivander agreed with my suggestion immediately. He quickly ordered his men to deliver a bouquet of flowers as well as a cake to that location.

"We'll stay there tonight. Tomorrow, we can watch the sunrise together."

As soon as the car started moving, Ivander received a call. The ringtone happened to be a customized one that he had set for Aemyth's number.

He frowned instantly before shooting me a glance.

I decided to voice out his thoughts before he could do so.

"You should go check on her."

"Aerith, I was just—"

"It's fine. I'll wait for you at the beach."

Ivander lowered his head to plant a kiss on my forehead.

"I'll be back soon. Wait for me so that we can cut the cake together, Aerith."

As I watched Ivander leave in another car, I dug out my phone and shot Martha Silvermist a text.

"Pick me up tonight."

Martha used to be my dance coach. After she retired, she moved to a cottage that was located on the other end of the strait. Yesterday, I had asked her to make the arrangements for my departure.

Soon, I received a reply from her. "Okay."

The flowers and the cake were already positioned on the table in the seaside villa. A birthday card sporting Ivander's handwriting was tucked next to them.

"I hope my Aerith will always be free and happy."

I flipped the card over.

Oh, Ivander… Soon, I'd be free and happy for real.

After the healer redressed my wounds for me, I told her and the driver to leave for the night.

At 11:00 pm, Aemyth sent me a photo. Her foot was propped on Ivander's knee as he wrapped some bandages around her ankle. The familiar lily of the valley tattoo could be seen poking out from beneath his sleeve.

"I don't think he can celebrate your birthday with you in time, Aerith."

Next came a photo of Ivander blowing onto a spoonful of herbal broth and testing its temperature.

"It turns out that he acts like this whenever he takes care of someone. And here I was, thinking that you were special to him."

I called Ivander on the phone right away, but Aemyth was the one who answered the call.

"He's in the kitchen right now. I complained about the herbal broth being too bitter, so he's whipping up some dessert for me right now."

"Tell him to get the phone."

Ivander's voice soon drifted from the background. "Who's that?"

"It's Aerith. She's asking you when you'll be heading back."

A moment later, Ivander said, "Tell her to rest first and not wait up for me."

Aemyth chuckled softly at his words.

"You hear that, Aerith? Even though your injuries are a lot worse than mine, Ivander's more willing to look after me."

I ended the call on the spot. In the end, I never unboxed the cake that was left on the table.

It was 12:00 am right on the dot. My birthday was over.

All Ivander did was shoot me a text. "Are your injuries still hurting? Remember to take your medication."

I replied, "They don't hurt anymore."

After that, I sent an audio recording and the video clip of my full-fledged choreography to Martha.

"Submit this evidence to the organizing committee once I'm gone."

"Alright. Have you packed your identification documents and your medication?"

I checked my handbag properly. "Yup."

When the doorbell rang, I took off the Luna Necklace, which symbolized my status as the Luna. Then, I slotted it and a card that I had already written into the mailbox at the front door.

The werewolf who was here to pick me up asked me in a low tone, "Is there anyone else in the villa?"

"Nope."

The fire that Martha had arranged to break out would make Ivander think that I didn't get to escape the villa in time.

Meanwhile, the real me would leave this place and continue living in this world.

As the car descended the hill, the seaside villa slowly faded into the distance. A short while later, a burst of bright orange flames appeared in the rearview mirror.

I turned off my phone, never sparing the burning villa a second glance.

…

Some time before dawn, Ivander picked up his jacket.

But Aemyth quickly grabbed him by the wrist, not wanting him to leave.

"Are you leaving now? My ankle still hurts, though…"

"The healer will take good care of you."

As Ivander dialed my number, his brows started to furrow into a frown. My phone was turned off, after all.

"But I want you to stay with me…"

"Aemyth, I've already missed out on Aerith's birthday."

Ivander retracted his hand before making his way toward the front door with determination etched on his face.

"At the very least, I mustn't miss out on the sunrise I've promised to watch with her. She's my mate—my Luna; that's why I must return to her side."

But before Ivander could get a few steps in, Timothy, who had always been composed, could be seen rushing into the living room with a panicked expression.

"I got bad news for you, Alpha Ivander! The seaside villa is on fire!"