Chapter 4

The next morning, Vera and I walked to the edge of the pack lands and looked back one last time at the place we'd called home for so many years.

A mind-link suddenly buzzed in my head. Kevin.

The second it connected, his voice came through, barely containing his fury.

"Katherine, where the hell did you run off to? The ceremony's about to start—why aren't you here backing me up?"

"Today's the last day. Are you really going to watch years of our hard work go down the drain?"

Listening to that entitled tone, I couldn't help but laugh.

He probably thought that with Vera's and my strength, we'd have driven off those rogues easily.

Then we'd go back inside and keep slaving away on his campaign.

And he'd keep shamelessly cozying up to Lilian, paving his way to the election.

Except he had no idea—when he finally remembered I existed after a whole week—I no longer wanted him.

When I didn't answer for a long while, Kevin's voice softened.

"Katherine, I had people scout the back mountain. There's a spring there—warm, crystal clear. Perfect for a healing pool."

"I never forgot what I promised you."

"I used to say I was too busy. Now I swear—once I'm Alpha, I'll build you that healing pool right away. Katherine, just bear with me one more day, okay?"

Listening to him, I felt dazed.

This was one of the rare tender moments he'd shown me in years.

A few years back, my body developed a strange condition—I'd feel cold for no reason.

Even under the June sun, I'd shiver uncontrollably. The healer was helpless.

Back then, Kevin had just gotten tangled up in the power struggle, and there was still some warmth left in him.

He'd pull me into his arms and stroke my forehead.

"Katherine, don't be scared. I'll always protect you."

"I heard the spring on the back mountain has healing properties. Once things settle down, I'll build you your own private pool there."

Until then, Kevin had never broken a promise to me.

But as power blinded him, he had less and less time for me.

He always used the election as an excuse, pushing that promise back again and again.

Because I couldn't bear to add to his exhaustion, I got used to enduring the occasional chill. I never brought it up again.

I never expected Kevin to actually remember.

"Kevin..."

His name slipped out before I could stop it. My mind went blank—I didn't know what to say.

"Okay, Katherine, just get over here."

"Lilian's injury hasn't fully healed. I'm going to go check on her again."

With that, the link went silent.

Beside me, Vera patted my shoulder and cut off my link.

She said flatly:

"Let's go. No more wasting words on people who don't matter."

Then we gritted our teeth and drank the potion the witch had given us, the one that could sever the bond. When the pain finally passed, we left and never looked back.

At the same time.

After leaving Lilian's room, Kevin—just about to step onto the stage—felt a sudden, searing pain.

His chest, his bones, his organs—everything felt like it was being carved apart.

And his heart—it felt hollow, like some part of him had been ripped away forever.

He stood frozen, not understanding what had happened, until his hand drifted to his neck. The mate bond between him and Katherine was gone.

"Katherine... how? She was fine just a minute ago."

"Why would you do this to me? This is the most important day of my life!"

He collapsed to the ground and didn't move for a long time.

In the distance, Simon came stumbling over, stopping in front of Kevin, unable to speak.

After a long pause, he forced the words out.

"Kevin... it's bad..."

It was the first time in two years Simon had called Kevin by his name to his face.

The pack members watching froze. The crowd went dead silent.

"The rogue attack—there was something off about it after all..."

"The Council finished the investigation. The leader of that rogue pack was Wayne—the pack's former top warrior, the one we exiled. They came specifically for revenge on Vera and Katherine."

"The elders also said... they were both badly wounded. Our pups... they lost the babies."

Kevin went rigid.

He'd thought it was just a minor border skirmish—a few rogues couldn't possibly break through the pack's defenses.

He'd even convinced himself Katherine was just jealous, using an "attack" as an excuse to drag him back.

Then it hit him—after the attack, he'd been so busy courting Lilian, he never once went home to see Katherine.

Kevin collapsed, his whole body shaking.

"What the hell happened? Katherine, what the hell happened?!"