Chapter 2

The next evening, I smoothed my dress and said to Kael, “Let’s go. We’re attending the banquet together.”

His expression froze, but he quickly put on a gentle, considerate face. “Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t go?”

I knew he didn’t want me there—afraid that I’d disturb Selena. But I just wanted to see the pack one more time.

Soon I would leave, and I wouldn’t come back.

“I am the pack’s Luna. I have to show my face.”

Reluctant as he was, he had to agree. “Fine. We’ll just present our gift and leave early.”

At the feast, Selena was already seated at the high table, receiving blessings from the pack and guests.

Everyone praised her perfume, saying it would surely win the Best Fragrance Award—then the whole world would beg to buy it, bringing fortune to the pack.

They also mentioned that the pup in Selena’s womb would become the finest heir the pack had seen in a century, bringing glory to all.

When she saw me walk into the hall, Selena’s expression stiffened. Her nails dug into the armrest, but she quickly suppressed her grimace.

I smelled the fragrance filling the hall, and I understood exactly why they hadn’t wanted me to come.

This was my perfume—a blend of rain?soaked pine needles and moon?flower, my own innovation.

How did my creation end up here? And how had it become hers?

Selena noticed my confusion. She lifted her glass, smiled, and walked toward me, her tone sweet yet laced with mockery.

“Evelyn, do you like the scent? It has a special effect. Close your eyes, and it brings back memories of your beloved.”

That I had prepared it for our wedding anniversary.

Kael loved the scent of moonflower best; he said he liked its meaning—never forgetting one’s beloved.

So I had chosen that fragrance on purpose.

No one had ever made perfume from moonflower before; I toiled for three months, trying countless formulas, before I finally succeeded.

I had planned to recall the time we had spent together on our anniversary.

How ironic—‘never forgetting one’s beloved’ actually meant Selena.

I stared at her coldly, about to demand an answer.

She leaned close and whispered softly, “Moonflower is my favorite scent—thank you for making it especially for me.”

I could no longer feel heartbreak, only numbness.

I didn’t want to say more to her, to avoid any mishap before I faked my death and left.

I turned to leave, but I never expected—

When suddenly she shrieked,

“Help!”

Before I could react, she fell backward, landing on the ground.

Her wine glass shattered, staining her white dress red. Clutching her belly, she wore a pained expression and tears streamed down her face.

The hall erupted.

“Oh my God—!”

“She’s pregnant—the hope of the pack!”

“Someone fetch a witch to heal her!”

Amid the chaos, a single wolf howl cut through—I recognised it instantly.

It was Kael’s. He was worried about Selena.

His wolf was restless—Selena was reaching out to him through their bond.

“Darling, help me—my stomach hurts so much, Evelyn…”

“Don’t be afraid—I’ll help you, and Evelyn will pay for this.”

Through our fated bond, my wolf could feel his anguish. I couldn’t help letting out a mournful whimper.

He finally noticed me.

His tone was extremely anxious.

“Selena carries the pack’s glory. You shouldn’t have pushed her.”

“Don’t you know she’s pregnant? Why did you push her? What has gotten into you!”

“It wasn’t me who pushed her.”

“If not you, then who? Was she going to use her own pup to frame you?”

My heart was bleeding, and tears streamed down my face involuntarily.

I held his gaze, tone was broken:

“First, answer me: why does that perfume smell exactly like the one I made?”

He froze, his eyes darting, then pretended ignorance.

“Just a coincidence. You must have misjudged the scent.”

Then his tone softened, and he explained through our bond.

“I’m sorry I was too anxious just now. If Selena can’t deliver the sacred heir, we won’t be able to leave at all. You understand me, don’t you?”

Leave with me?

I laughed coldly and said no more.

That perfume had been stored in my blending room, which was password?locked.

The only one who knew the password besides me was him—I never kept secrets from him.

The answer to why Selena had my perfume was crystal clear.

But now, our love was a lie; our fate bond was about to end; the gift meant nothing.

I looked at him calmly. He looked anxiously at the witch treating Selena.

Only after the green healing light faded did he relax.

Kael turned back, finally sensing something off about me, and frowned slightly.

“Let’s go home early. I promised I’d spend the evening with you.”

I curved my lips into a faint smile. “

“Let’s go watch the moon at The Eternal Cliff. I haven’t been there in a long time.”

This would be the last time.