Chapter 4

Mom and Connor's father knew Elena was coming over for dinner.

The servants had been bustling around preparing for the feast since noon.

The moment Connor walked in with Elena, the two elders greeted them warmly. Connor's father even personally gave Elena an ancient wolf-fang pendant, a symbol of family acceptance.

I faked being unwell and hid in my room.

But Connor came in with a fancy gift box, locking the door behind him.

He fastened a bracelet set with tiny moonstones onto my wrist; its cold touch made me flinch. Then, he took out a night-star flower, preserved by secret pack methods and still faintly fragrant, and knelt before me on one knee.

He gazed at me with such devotion, his eyes so reverent, as if I were his one and only goddess.

"I know it's unfair to you, being with me like this without any official title. But after the ceremony, I'll still be your closest Alpha. I'll always live next door to you, just like before, wrapping you in my scent every night so you can sleep soundly." His fingertips caressed my wrist suggestively.

"Aria, don't be mad at me, okay?"

I looked down at the moonstone bracelet. The wolf totem carved on it was identical to the one on Elena's moonstone necklace, just smaller and more discreet.

"Okay, I won't be mad," I said softly.

"Go be with your guests. They've been preparing for you for a long time."

Downstairs, glasses clinked and blessings flowed.

Mom stood by the dining table, looking a bit awkward and uncomfortable, facing a beaming Elena and a proud Connor.

Connor, as usual, was telling Mom to get more food for Elena, to adjust her seat.

In that instant, all the hurt, anger, and despair that had been building up inside me erupted like a volcano.

I gathered every single trinket, piece of clothing, and piece of jewelry Connor had given me in the name of being "mates" over the past six years, and without a second thought, I dumped them all into the trash can in the corner of my room.

The moment the trash can lid toppled over because it was too full, Elena appeared in my doorway like a ghost.

She looked at the mess on the floor, at all those items that once symbolized my "intimate relationship" with Connor, and a smug, undisguised smile spread across her face.

"What, can't take it already?" She strolled in gracefully, her Omega scent deliberately wafting around me.

"Aria, you're even… weaker than I thought."

"Then again, what kind of backbone can you expect from the daughter of a traitor and a mistress? It must be tough watching your mother scurry around like a servant downstairs while I, the future Luna, get to enjoy the Alpha's exclusive affection, right?"

I stared at her coldly, my eyes devoid of any warmth.

"What are you trying to say?"

Elena tittered, covering her mouth with her fingertips, her eyes full of scorn.

She pulled out her phone and waved it in my face, showing me intimate photos of her and Connor, and some… X-rated stuff, the kind of private moments only mates share.

"Oh, by the way, you probably don't know this, do you? Every night, during those 'intimate' moments you share with Connor, he sends me some of the more… interesting clips for my 'viewing pleasure.'"

"If those stuffy old elders in the pack saw this stuff, don't you think they'd say your mother failed to raise her daughter right, and despise her even more?"

"One is her own flesh and blood, the other her stepson, heir to a powerful Alpha. And the two of them, sneaking around behind everyone's backs, fooling around every night in the Alpha's residence…"

"You dare!"

I couldn't hold back the fury burning in my chest anymore.

I whipped my hand up and, with all my strength, slapped her hard across her pretty face.

The sharp crack of the slap echoed loudly in the quiet room.

Elena screamed and fell to the ground, her arm knocking over the picture frame on the nightstand.

Bright red blood instantly welled up from her delicate white palm.

Connor burst through the door, his Alpha scent radiating pure rage. He snatched a trembling Elena into his arms, holding her tight.

His eyes, when he looked at me, were filled with undisguised fury and disgust.

"Aria, what are you doing? Are you crazy?!"

"Elena was kind enough to come up and ask you to join us for dinner, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

Connor's father also appeared at the door, his face terrifyingly grim.

My mother hurried forward nervously, trying to explain, "Connor, Aria didn't mean it, there must be some misunderstanding…"

"Aria, quickly, apologize to Elena!"

Elena, eyes red-rimmed, clung to Connor like a frightened deer, her Omega scent thick with distress and fear.

"I'm sorry, Connor, I just wanted to invite Aria to our… our ceremony. I don't know why she suddenly attacked me…"

"Don't blame Aria, she probably… didn't mean it," she said, looking all pitiful, but I caught a flicker of triumph in her eyes.

A cold smile touched my lips. I looked straight at the pair clinging to each other.

He ignored my expression, his gaze cold and hateful, like I was some piece of filth.

"Aria, apologize!" he roared, his Alpha pressure crashing down on me without mercy.

My nails dug deep into my palms, tiny beads of blood seeping out from between my fingers.

"I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?" My voice was quiet but incredibly firm.

"You're the ones who should be apologizing!"

Deep disappointment welled up in Connor's eyes, along with a hint… of barely hidden satisfaction.

"Aria, when did you become like this? You're being… completely unreasonable!"

Before I could say anything else, Connor's father stepped forward and carefully helped Elena up from Connor's arms.

"Let's get Elena to the treatment room first. The scent in here is too chaotic; it's not good for an Omega. I'll handle things here."

Connor carried Elena away, not even glancing back, his soft reassurances to her echoing down the hallway.

My mother trailed after Connor's father, apologizing over and over, humbly.

Six years of fake love, six years of meticulous pretense, all torn to shreds in that moment, gone up in smoke.

With the small bag I'd already packed, I left that house full of lies and humiliation and checked into a rundown inn on the outskirts of pack territory.

Before I left, I mailed Connor the pack talisman he'd given me, the one that symbolized his Alpha protection, along with the surveillance camera I’d pulled out of the teddy bear.

Figured he'd get this "congratulatory gift" right on the day of the Marking ceremony.

I thought that with my complete disappearance, this whole farce would finally be over.

But that night, Connor sent me an encrypted message, his tone a mix of his usual bossiness and "reassurance":

"Elena agreed to play along with me for this ceremony. It's what the pack needs, and it's also a small way to repay her for her help before. You hurt her, which made things a bit awkward for me with the elders. Making you apologize was just to smooth things over, to stop those old geezers from causing trouble for your mother. Don't overthink it."

"Get some rest. I had a gown custom-made for you; you'll wear that on the day of the ceremony. Be good. Remember, no matter what happens, I am your only Alpha. That will never change."

But I knew this show wasn't for those so-called elders.

It was for me.

Only my complete disappearance could truly end this ridiculous revenge.

For the next two days, I didn't go back to that so-called "home."

He didn't contact me again either.

He was probably busy preparing for that grand Marking ceremony.

Busy choosing jewels and fine clothes for his precious Omega, Elena, tokens of a Luna's honor.

I didn't receive the "gift" he promised.

All I heard was that, to soothe a frightened Elena, he'd splashed out a fortune on a piece of land near Moon Lake, a territory teeming with spiritual energy, to be the future Luna's exclusive estate.

It was a sacred place all werewolves longed for, said to boost an Omega's fertility.

On the morning of the Marking ceremony, I made one last call to him.

He seemed to be busy giving instructions to his Beta, Marcus, his voice a mix of impatience and excitement. He didn’t pick up right away.

"Is all that footage ready? Remember, as soon as that traitor's daughter walks in, start playing it. I want every werewolf to see her true colors, and the 'crimes' of her father and mother!"

"Are you sure about this? Once this footage is public, there's no going back for you. And… this is too cruel for Aria," Marcus's voice was hesitant.

"Just do as I say! I've waited six years for this day!" Connor's voice was hard as iron.

"And keep a close eye on her good-for-nothing mother. Make sure she doesn't try anything desperate at the ceremony!"

Only after Marcus left did he finally remember the missed call and pick up.

"Aria? The ceremony's about to start. I'll drive over to pick you up myself. Wait for me at home." There was a hint of anticipation in his voice I almost couldn't place.

"Let me tell you a secret. In ancient pack tradition, the only one an Alpha personally escorts to the ceremony is his one true Luna. Doesn't it feel like… I'm officially marrying you all over again?" His tone was teasingly gentle.

"Don't be upset anymore, hmm?"

I looked at the international flight ticket in my hand, the one that would take me far away from all this, and a sarcastic smirk played on my lips.

"Connor, congratulations to you and your Omega on your wedding."

He seemed stunned for a moment, then chuckled, as if he'd heard a funny joke.

"Why are you calling me that all of a sudden today? I still prefer it when you… call me by something more intimate, honey."

"Wait for me, I'll be there soon."

He hung up. I turned and resolutely boarded the plane that would take me to another country.

At the same time, I wiped out every contact trace linking me to him.

The Marking ceremony was about to begin.

My short, calm call kept replaying in Connor's mind, and that nagging unease grew stronger.

Just as he was about to leave to "pick me up," Marcus burst in, looking frantic, clutching the now-dull pack talisman I'd mailed back.

"It's bad! Connor! That talisman you gave Aria, she sent it back! And… it looks like Aria found out about the footage too!"

"She left on a long-haul flight early this morning! But… but that flight, it was just reported… it ran into an energy storm mid-flight… it crashed… went down!"