Chapter 1

When I came across Serena Reed's page, I was preparing our anniversary dinner.

Although Vincent Carter said he would not make it back in time, I knew him well. For every important occasion over our five-year marriage, no matter how busy he was, he always came home.

He had never changed. However, this time, maybe things were different.

I kept calling his number, unwilling to give up. It took a long time before he finally answered, sounding somewhat breathless, "Nina, I'm still busy. I'll be home much later tonight."

Tears slowly filled my eyes, but I still said gently, "Go ahead with your work. I'll wait for you at home."

Vincent came home very late, around 11.30 pm. He held a bouquet of flowers, embracing me with a guilty expression.

"Sorry, there's been so much going on with the patrol team lately. I've been neglecting you, but I brought your favorite lilies. Do you like them?"

He hugged me with practiced ease, his large hand covering my belly as he whispered, "Has the little one been good? Has he been giving you trouble?"

A scent that did not belong to him hit my nose. It was another woman's pheromones mixed with his. I could not stand it and pushed him away, dry heaving twice.

Vincent patted my back, full of concern. "What's wrong? Did you eat something bad?"

It was only then that he noticed the cold dishes on the table, looking uneasy. "You made such a lavish dinner. What's the special occasion today?"

My heart turned cold as ice. Had he really forgotten?

"Today is our fifth wedding anniversary."

Vincent's eyes widened, his face turning an awful shade of pale. After a long silence, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I've been too busy and forgot such an important date. To make it up to you, I'll take you to the night auction house.

"I'll bid on that sapphire jewelry set you liked as your anniversary gift."

Without giving me a chance to refuse, he took my hand and pulled me toward the door. "The night auction will have many rare items. That sapphire set is just one of them.”

"There are many more treasures, and I'll get them all for you! Please forgive me? We can't let the pup sense your anger."

During the drive, Vincent chatted happily about the pup while I sat in the passenger seat with my head down, my long bangs hiding all my emotions.

When I had buckled my seatbelt earlier, I found a delicate bracelet wedged in the seat cushions. The moonstone fragments on the bracelet sparkled under the light, piercing my eyes with their brilliance.

Not long ago, this bracelet had been on Serena's wrist.

I pushed the bracelet back into the gap, pretending nothing had happened. At that moment, I made up my mind to leave Vincent forever.

I would not confront him about anything. It would be completely meaningless anyway. All I would receive would be a bunch of useless lies and excuses. Since his heart no longer belonged to me, I did not want it anymore.

At the auction house entrance, Vincent got out first and opened my door. "Nina, whatever catches your eye tonight, I'll buy it for you!"

"Wow! Isn't that Alpha Vincent from the Shadow pack? His Luna is the envy of every she-wolf in the pack."

"That's right! I heard that the oracle prophesied that the pup his Luna is carrying will become the Alpha King and unite all the northern werewolf packs!"

"That impressive? It’s no wonder Vincent spoils her so much. Last week, he spent a fortune bidding on that limited edition moonstone bracelet for her. Every she-wolf there was green with envy!"

I froze. Were they talking about the bracelet Serena had left in the passenger seat? The bracelet that every she-wolf in the pack desired had been given to another woman by my mate.