Chapter 4

Anna looked up, her eyes sparkling with cautious, calculated curiosity.

“I have always wanted a dress like this. August, can I try one on?”

She looked at August with care. Sure enough, August would never say no to her.

Everything just fell into place.

She tried one dress after another while August kept all eyes on her, offering suggestions and straightening out her train at times.

The VIP room was filled with their laughter and the staff’s compliments. It was as if Anna were the star of the show all along.

I quietly sat in a corner like a spectator through and through.

Exhaustion weighed down on me. However, I wasn’t the least bit upset or annoyed by their interaction.

I was overcome with boredom, waiting for everything to be over.

My presence must have hit August because he grabbed a few gowns and approached me awkwardly.

Not that I wanted to hear his ridiculous excuses, I didn’t wait for him to speak.

I picked out the plainest dress.

The dress wouldn’t be of any use to me anyway.

No surprise there.

That night, Anna and I were abducted and taken to an abandoned warehouse.

After much hesitation, I decided to mind-link August, telling him that I had been kidnapped.

Though I braced for indifference and doubt, his anxious voice rings out. “Hang in there. I’m coming for you!”

I was taken aback.

When I turned around to find Anna tied up, reality sank in.

It appeared Anna had been in touch with him, too.

A brief moment later, August arrived at the warehouse.

His eyes widened when he saw me sprawled helplessly across the floor.

“Sophina!”

Meeting August’s menacing gaze, the abductor uttered with a smile, “Let’s play a game, August. You can only save one of them. Who are you choosing?”

August finally noticed Anna.

In the past, August would’ve picked Anna without a second thought.

Yet now, he felt bad as I was in such a state.

Amid August’s hesitation, Anna smiled weakly. “Save Sophina. She’s your Luna…”

With a hardened resolve, August held Anna in his arms.

Despite anticipating August’s decision, I was still hurt.

I didn’t want to die, especially when I hadn’t found my freedom yet.

With that, I started putting up a fight.

“Save me…”

As my consciousness slipped away, August’s cracked voice boomed across the room.

“Wait for me, Sophina! I’m coming back for you!”

Not once did he look back, though.

Giving in to the darkness, I passed out.

…

When I finally came to, it was the afternoon of the next day.

I wasn’t dead.

Sitting next to me, August struggled a while before finding the words.

“Sophina, Anna is really shaken up by the kidnapping. I promised to take her away for a change of scenery.

“I’m afraid I need to move tomorrow’s ceremony to a different date. You won’t mind, would you?”

Tears welled up in my eyes.

August scrambled for excuses.

“Don’t worry. This is the last time. You have my word. It will never happen—”

I lifted my arm and interrupted him. “Go. I’m honestly not bothered, really!”

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

The tears didn’t come from a place of sadness.

This was the hundredth time August delayed the mating ritual.

I was free at last!

As August walked away in relief, I breathed easy.

Never again would I have to watch them wrapped up in their affection.

My world no longer revolved around August.

I didn’t have to play the part of his loving mate, bending to his will.

Finally, I had the choice to say no and be free from the three-way farce.

I could finally be myself, completely unshackled.

‘August, may our paths never cross again.’