Chapter 3

Walking along the night path, Kael reached for my hand as he always did, but I gently pulled away.

After a long silence, he spoke of tomorrow’s plans: “I’ve prepared a surprise for our anniversary. Once this busy period is over, we can start trying for a pup, alright?”

I listened quietly, my gaze fixed on the rising moon above. I said nothing.

When we were near The Eternal Cliff, Selena speak through the bond again.

“My little pup is feeling unwell; please come stay with me, I’m worried about the pup.”

He paused, looking at me with hesitation.

I nodded calmly. “If you have something to attend to, go ahead. I’ll go up alone.”

He kissed my cheek to soothe me, saying, “I’ll just check if Selena is okay; I’ll be back quickly, wait for me.”

Clearly in a rush, he shifted into his wolf form, and loped back.

I climbed The Eternal Cliff alone and looked toward the pack’s territory.

The pack was singing and dancing, lively and joyful.

My wolf let out another mournful howl, as if urging me to go bring him back.

But I didn’t; I didn’t dare to go, nor did I want to see those blinding scenes ever again.

I was the princess of the Golden Wolf pack. Once I was up at Eternal Cliff, just watch the the moon, when a band of rogues ambushed me.

I was bolting for my life, completely terrified. Suddenly Keal appeared out of nowhere. With one single swipe of his claws, he tore my fear to shreds.

I thought he was exactly my Prince Charming, emerging from the shadows.

That night, bathed in moonlight, I mistook him for a gift from the Moon Goddess.

My Alpha father said I should marry an Alpha heir, but I didn’t want to. He was just doing it for the benefit of his family.

I willingly chose to be marked by Kael and sealed our fated mate covenant, regardless.

But what use would I be? All these years of companionship, love, promises—they were nothing but lies.

It was just because he couldn’t openly long for his brother’s widow.

But it didn’t matter; as long as I jumped, the people my father had arranged would catch me…

Far away from here.

The moon view from The Eternal Cliff is the most beautiful in the world.

Legend says that any couple who climbs it together will be blessed by the Moon Goddess.

We had climbed it many times together—surely the Moon Goddess blessed him. So that he can be with his true love

As I stood lost in thought, my phone received a text message from Selena.

[I know you can hear me—he won’t come to you tonight.]

[Let me show you something good.]

Afterward, she sent several photos, covered in dark brown hickeys and red marks of lust across their bodies.

Their wild passion was painfully obvious.

[He couldn’t even hold back while I’m pregnant; just how dependent on me is he?]

[Can’t even keep your man? You should leave on your own and stop bothering us.]

I calmly looked once more toward the moon, praying. May the Moon Goddess bless me too.

It made me see this man clearly.

My covenant tattoo began to burn again, my wolf grew restless.

The tattoo blazed, and my entire body felt engulfed in flames.

The moon gradually sank, and the sun began to rise.

Throughout the entire night, he indeed did not come.

He had abandoned me once again.

I sat on the cliff, gazing up at the moon with hollow eyes, as years of memories flashed through my mind.

Every sweet word, every promise—they were all hollow lies.

I stored all the video evidence in the Crystal of Fate and left it on the cliff.

The people sent by my father were already standing behind me; I nodded at him, and then jumped off the cliff.

Then I leaped off The Eternal Cliff without hesitation—the wind howled past my ears, and all I felt was freedom.

On the other side, Kael was jolted awake by the howl, and only then did he remember he had promised to stay with me last night.

He pushed Selena aside: “I have to go—today is our anniversary, and I promised to be with Evelyn last night.”

Selena got up discontentedly and whined.

“But I need you too…”

He shook his head and refused: “No, I promised her today.”

He had just stepped out when his Beta rushed over: “Alpha! Bad news!”

“Evelyn… Evelyn… was attacked by rogue wolves and fell off Eternal Cliff.”