Chapter 6

Melanie's POV

I woke up the next day feeling terrible.

The pain from the tearing mating bond was still affecting me. Frost was curled up in my mind, sometimes letting out painful whimpers.

After the divorce from Archer, we would have to reject each other.

Since I would have to face the pain eventually, I chose to face it now.

After work that evening, I went to the supermarket, bought groceries, and a few potted plants for the apartment.

After dinner, I looked up information about a technology expo. Once I finished, I called a number. "Could you save me a ticket for next month's tech expo?" I asked the person on the other end.

"Are you serious?"

The voice on the phone was cold. "You asked me to save tickets the last two times, and you never showed up. Those tickets were wasted when so many people wanted them."

The annual tech expo was a major event in the industry. Tickets weren't easy to get.

Archer's company had a few spots for exhibitors. Many core team members wanted to go. Every spot was precious to everyone.

"If I don't go this time, I won't ever bring it up again," I said, my voice normal.

The person on the other end hung up without another word.

I knew that meant yes. I smiled.

What I hadn't told him was that I wanted to go back to my own company.

As a partner, I had chosen to step back when the company first started after I mated with Archer. I focused on taking care of him and our daughter, and helping him manage the Razor Pack.

However, my decision completely messed up the company's development plan and made them miss out on many opportunities.

The team back then was angry and frustrated with me. We've barely talked for years. I truly felt guilty about it.

But I'd been away from the industry for too long. I was worried that going back unprepared would make it hard to keep up.

So, I planned to spend some time deeply understanding the current state of the industry before making any concrete decisions.

For the next few days, I focused on work during the day and on my own affairs after hours.

It had been two weeks since I moved out.

I was slowly getting used to living alone, and I was starting to like this quiet, free life.

Not only that, but I noticed Frost and I were improving.

Although the damaged mating bond hadn't healed, I no longer had that obsessive urge to be near Archer when I thought of him.

And moving away from the Razor Pack hadn't made my condition worse.

This suggested that my connection with the Razor Pack was fading.

This was good news. While my Luna aura was weakening, it also meant Razor's control over me was diminishing.

I knew a pack suffered when it lost its Luna. Members would weaken. But I knew Camille would soon become the new Luna.

Today was the weekend. I woke up a bit late.

After getting ready, I pulled back the curtains. The sun was out. I stretched.

I watered my plants, then was about to make a simple breakfast when the doorbell suddenly rang.

It was Mrs. Heath from across the hall.

"Melanie, I hope I'm not interrupting you?"

I replied gently, "Not at all. I'm already up."

"Good."

Mrs. Heath warmly handed me a container. "These are freshly baked blueberry muffins and a ham omelet wrap we made this morning. I brought them over for you to try."

"Thank you. You're too kind."

"My pleasure! If you hadn't saved my Hedwig the other day, I don't know how badly that stray dog would have hurt her."

Mrs. Heath smiled and sighed. "I've been meaning to thank you properly for days, but my husband and I have been so busy with work. I feel awful that I haven't made time."

"It was nothing, really. You don't need to worry about it."

After a little more small talk, Mrs. Heath left.

I held the warm container and went back inside. I ate breakfast while reviewing the algorithms I was currently studying.

That afternoon, a news alert about UCLA Centennial Anniversary popped up on my phone.

I paused, realizing today was indeed the university's anniversary.

The event had a high profile for two reasons. First, UCLA was a top university. Everything it did was highly watched. Second, this was its first centennial. An exceptional number of honorary alumni—all big names in their fields—were invited back.

I stared at the screen for a long time. When the camera showed a few familiar faces, my hand holding the phone trembled.

Memories of my time on campus flooded my mind. My heart suddenly felt unsettled.

If I hadn't gotten mated right after graduation, maybe I would have been one of the honorary alumni invited back today?

I didn't regret my choice initially. But now, thinking back on the past few years of my life, a bitter taste filled my mouth.

I closed my laptop, grabbed my car keys, and drove toward UCLA.

I arrived in the afternoon. Many of the important invited guests had already left, but the campus was still crowded.

I walked aimlessly through the grounds. When I reached the familiar science building, a familiar voice suddenly called my name, "Melanie?"