Chapter 2

I waited until the full moon climbed high into the sky. Soft moonlight poured down, wrapping the entire ballroom in a calm yet overwhelming power.

The blessing of the Moon Goddess descended like a tide, warm and gentle, soothing every werewolf present. Couples seized the moment and held each other close, receiving the Moon Goddess's grace.

I stretched my neck, desperately searching the dance floor. What I saw was Apollo's arm tight around Bella's waist as he patiently guided her through the steps.

When the silver light fell, Bella clasped his hand, her smile brighter than the moon itself.

I heard one of his friends call out loudly, "Apollo, it's the moment of the Moon Goddess's blessing! Aren't you going to find Nora and receive it with her?"

Before Apollo could answer, Bella suddenly slipped the ring off his finger and exclaimed, "Apollo, look! The moonstone is glowing under the moonlight! It's beautiful! Can I borrow it?"

Hearing that, my friend spoke up for me. "That ring was hand-polished by Nora herself. It took her a full month to finish. Are you going to give it to her like that? Have you even considered Nora's feelings?"

Apollo paused as he helped Bella put on the ring. After a long moment, he said, "It's fine to let her wear it for a night. Nora's too nice to get upset over something like this."

I didn't listen to anything after that. I turned and left, knowing well he wasn't coming back to find me. The stage was only a few feet away from the corner where I stood, yet he was unwilling to let go of Bella and walk those extra steps to me.

On the way back, I slowly slipped the ring off my finger. This pair of rings had cost me an entire month of effort. Yet, in his eyes, it was nothing more than a toy to entertain Bella.

I should've given up long ago, shouldn't I? It had been three long years. I never should've kept hoping for him to change.

I returned to our villa in a daze. The place was cold and empty. Even the household staff had taken the night off to attend the masquerade. Every young wolf in the Silverfang pack was celebrating beneath the full moon.

Meanwhile, I was here alone, as if shut out from all that warmth and noise.

When my parents first passed away, Apollo stayed devotedly by my side. His eyes had been filled with sincerity as he told me, "Nora, from now on, I'm your family. You'll never be alone again."

Later, we fell in love and formed a mate bond. That was also when Bella forced her way between us.

Apollo never seemed able to say "no" to her. Instead, he would always tell me, "She's still young. Just give in to her."

Compromise after compromise made one thing painfully clear. It was time for me to leave. Perhaps a lonely road suited me better.

No sooner had I made up my mind than my phone rang. It was Apollo calling. I didn't pick up at first, but the screen kept flickering insistently. I sighed and, at last, pressed the answer button.

"Nora, where are you? I can't find you at the ball!" he boomed through the music and shouting from the ballroom. His voice cut through it all like magic, piercing right into my ear.

Before I could speak, I heard Bella's flirty voice on the phone. "Come over, Apollo! You promised to teach me this dance!"

He responded to her without hesitation. Then, almost as an afterthought, he said to me, "Just come to the stage quickly. We still have time for one last dance."

I looked at the call that had just ended and calmly sent him a message. "I don't think it's necessary. I'm heading back. You two have fun."

The last dance, indeed. Little did he know, the mating ceremony scheduled for the day after tomorrow wouldn't happen either. I began packing my things.

After living here for three years, everything in the villa seemed to carry my scent. The cute mural on the living room wall had been painted by the children from the orphanage as a gift for me.

The shoe rack held a matching set of the couple's shoes. The bar counter had a pair of couples' mugs. Even the couch had two oversized throw pillows that came as a set.

Now that I had decided to leave, I couldn't take any of it with me. My heart felt like it was being carved open. I couldn't bear to part with any of it.

Yet, aside from these nostalgic items, my personal belongings were painfully few. A single 20-inch suitcase was enough to hold everything I truly owned.

By the time I dragged the suitcase downstairs, the sky was already bright. An entire night had passed without me noticing.

I looked at everything I once knew so well, my chest aching, tears threatening to fall. As much as I had decided to give up on his bond, my heart still hurt all the same.