Chapter 4

When I turned, Celine was suddenly there.

I sneered. "Eavesdropping, Celine? Not exactly a noble habit. And here I thought you were too weak to even stand on your own."

"I... I saw you hadn't come back for a while, and I got worried, so I..." Her voice trembled as tears welled up. Then she tilted sideways and collapsed dramatically into Caesar's arms.

He looked down at her with pure concern, eyes soft with affection. Watching them pressed together again, I felt something inside me snap.

I stepped forward and yanked her back—not hard, but enough. Still, she fell to the ground as if I'd thrown her. A small cry escaped her lips, and tears streamed down her face.

Caesar's fury was instant. "What the hell are you doing?"

He shoved me away, pulling her up protectively. I stumbled, hitting the corner of the table hard enough to make my ribs ache.

I forced myself upright and swung my hand at Celine.

She screamed, "Are you insane?!"

I didn't answer. My expression stayed cold as I lifted my hand again, deliberately slowing the motion, giving Caesar time to react.

He did. He stepped between us.

My palm cracked across his face.

The red mark bloomed instantly on his cheek—the great Alpha, struck by an omega. His pride took the blow worse than his skin did.

His expression darkened like a storm. "Don't forget, I gave you the Luna title." His voice turned to a growl. "And I can take it back."

I smiled faintly. "You couldn't go against Miron back then. What makes you think you can now?"

Then I pulled out the scroll I'd been keeping for this very moment. "How about it, Caesar? Do you dare?"

I'd sought out a witch and prepared the bond severance scroll long ago—ever since I first saw the way he looked at Celine.

Her eyes filled with tears again, her lips trembling. "I'm sorry..."

That word hit him harder than my slap. It brought back the memory of her leaving him years ago—because he hadn't been able to defy Miron and claim her as Luna.

Caesar's face turned black with anger. Nearly shaking with rage, he snatched the pen and signed on the scroll. "You'll regret this."

Done.

The pain of the mate bond severing tore through me like fire. My body went cold, my breath caught. Caesar's face went pale too—we both felt it.

But I didn't flinch. That kind of pain was nothing new. I'd felt it long ago, the first time I realized how deeply he'd betrayed me.

Celine fought to hide her smile, her voice quivering in mock sorrow. "Rena... why can't you just trust Caesar?"

I looked at her blankly. "Doesn't matter. He's yours now."

My purpose was complete. I didn't need to keep acting anymore.

Caesar studied my calm face, something uneasy flickering behind his eyes. He stepped forward, lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out.

I didn't notice. I just turned away, wearing the same wounded expression I'd perfected over the years, and walked back to the villa.

'Once the mate bond is dissolved, you're no longer his Luna,' my wolf whispered.

"Exactly," I murmured. "He can't sense me anymore."

I gave one last look at the villa. "Now I can die in peace."

I'd already dismissed all the servants.

When one of them finally went to Caesar, he was sitting by Celine's bedside, reading her a bedtime story.

"Alpha," the servant stammered, "the Luna... she looked so sad. She dismissed everyone from the villa—"

"She's just throwing another tantrum," Caesar interrupted, annoyance sharp in his voice.

"But Alpha, the Luna, she seems—"

He waved the werewolf off. "Enough. I don't want to hear it."

Celine reached out to him, her tone soft and full of concern. "Maybe you should go to her. I think she really misunderstands us."

Caesar sighed. "She's always been like this—spoiled, arrogant, playing the Luna as if the world revolves around her. Not like you... you're gentle and understanding."

Celine's eyes glinted as she smiled faintly. "Let's not talk about unpleasant things. I want you..."

Caesar's expression softened. The warmth between them returned, drowning out the rest of the world.

Outside, werewolves ran back and forth, knocking on the door. Each time, Caesar ordered them away until finally, Celine fell asleep.

He closed the door quietly, irritation creeping back into his tone. "What is it now? Did Rena change her mind? Tell her this time, I won't—"

"Alpha!" the servant burst out, voice shaking. "The villa's on fire! The Luna's trapped inside!"