Chapter 2

An attendant pushed open the banquet hall doors, and Kane came rushing out after me. For a brief moment, I thought he had ended that ridiculous ceremony just to look for me.

"The ceremony is over." However, the doors swung open again, and the entrance music Kane and I had rehearsed countless times began to play. For the past six months, whenever that melody reached this part, I would always place my hand in his.

Kane held out his hand. My fingers twitched, and I instinctively placed my hand in his. Just like that, the fear in his eyes immediately vanished. "I knew you were just upset earlier."

His words brought me back to my senses, and I quickly pulled my hand away. He wasn't afraid of losing me. He was certain that I would always find my way back to him, no matter how long he left me standing outside those doors.

Kane handed me his phone. On the screen was our honeymoon itinerary, which he had upgraded for me. Our seats had been upgraded to first class, and our accommodation to a penthouse suite overlooking the mountains. In the notes, two words stood out—Ceremony Compensation.

He said, "You can bring your mother along. I've made sure our suite is filled with your favorite moonlight roses. So, are you happy now?"

I scrolled through the itinerary and noticed another name had been added to the booking information—Beth. I asked, "She's coming along?"

Kane nodded, as if there was nothing wrong with it. "She's been feeling down because of her mother, so I want to take her along to take her mind off things."

I scoffed and tossed the phone back to him. "You can go with Beth. My mother and I won't be joining you."

I was just about to turn away when Kane grabbed my arm. "You can't just decide not to go! If you want to cancel something like this, you need to discuss it with me first!"

"So why didn't you discuss things with me before spending two months arranging for someone else to take my place at our ceremony?" I retorted.

Kane's expression turned grim at my words. "If I had told you beforehand, you would have objected. I was helping your best friend's mother fulfill her dying wish, so you wouldn't end up blaming yourself if she really did pass away one day."

Just then, Beth came rushing out after us, holding up her skirt as she ran. Her eyes were red, and she held the ring that symbolized her status as Luna. "Mia, I only wore it for a little while. I didn't get your ring dirty," she said, holding out the ring to me.

I didn't reach for it. Kane and I had made this ring with our own hands, but now, Beth's warmth still lingered on it.

Beth bit her lip and said softly, "Mom regained consciousness for a little while. She said she wanted to see the new home Kane had prepared for us." Seeing my expression turn grim, she pretended to steel herself. She said, "Maybe I should tell her the truth now. Even if she dies from the shock, I'll accept it."

Kane frowned at me, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We're just going home to record a video to appease an old woman. Don't look so gloomy, as if everyone owes you something. Take your mother home for now. I'll pick you up later."

"No," I refused without hesitation. For the first time, I had firmly said no to him, the Alpha.

Kane finally lost his patience. "I've already agreed to hold another mating ceremony for you! Letting her use the house for a three-minute video doesn't make it hers. Do you really have to push a sick woman to her death?"

Beth chimed in, "Don't blame Mia. She personally oversaw the renovations of the new house. So it's only natural that she doesn't want to lend it out." She sounded gentle, but every word cut like a knife.

After hearing that, Kane shoved the ring into my hand. "Since when did you become so petty? You can't even bring yourself to grant a sick woman's dying wish! What exactly are you so worried about? You're the real Luna of this pack! No one else!"

He added, "I've already made it up to you. You can't expect me to apologize to you in front of the entire pack, can you?"

I threw the ring into a trash can by the roadside, right in front of him. "I don't want your replacement ceremony. Kane Williams, we are over."

Just then, our ride arrived. I helped Mom into the car and heard Kane shout furiously behind me. "Mia, don't you dare regret this!"

Regret it? The only thing I regretted was not leaving him sooner.