Chapter 2

As soon as Vincent closed the car door, his phone rang.

He glanced at it and said apologetically, "Sorry, Nina, wait for me a moment. It's patrol business, so I need to take this call. I'll be right back."

I nodded, pretending not to see that the caller ID displayed Serena's name. "Go ahead."

He gave me careful instructions before walking away with his phone.

The whispers around us started up again. "The Alpha is so good to his Luna! He even gives her explanations before taking a phone call. He's spoiled his mate rotten."

I stood quietly at the auction house entrance, pretending I could not hear anything.

Fifteen minutes later, the auction had already begun. Everyone had entered the hall, but Vincent still had not returned.

A staff member approached hesitantly. "Luna, would you like me to escort you into the hall? Our auction has already started."

I paused, then shook my head with a bitter smile. "There’s no need. I don't think we'll be attending the auction after all."

Sure enough, Vincent walked over five minutes later, his eyes full of guilt as he looked at me.

"Nina, I've already called my deputy to pick you up and take you back to the villa. I have very important work tasks to handle now. I can't accompany you to the auction today, but I promise I'll go with you to the auction next week!"

He kissed my forehead and hurried off in his car, completely ignoring the fact that I was still shivering in the cold wind.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone. Serena's Instagram had been updated with a new photo showing a man's back as he worked busily in a kitchen.

That familiar shirt was the one I had personally helped Vincent put on this morning.

The caption read: "No matter how late it is, one phone call and he immediately drops everything to come be with me."

Vincent's deputy, Elias Johnson, had already arrived with the car. He respectfully opened the door for me. "Luna, shall we return to the villa to rest now?"

After being out all night, dawn was already breaking. I looked out the window and suddenly said, "No, take me to City Hall first."

By the time we reached City Hall, it was fully daylight. I went inside and filled out an application to leave the Shadow pack and a mate bond dissolution agreement.

The staff member told me, "The pack withdrawal application will take effect in one week. As for this mate bond dissolution, it will take effect once both parties sign, or if you choose to live separately for one year, the mate bond will automatically dissolve."

I nodded, thanked the staff member, put away the agreement, and walked out of City Hall. Afterward, I had Elias take me to a jewelry workshop. I removed the mate ring from my left ring finger that I had worn for five whole years.

"What kind of jewelry would you like made?"

"This ring. Please melt it down and shatter the moonstone."

"Miss, are you sure? This moonstone is priceless. If you shatter it, it won't be worth anything. And there's an engraving on the band too. It must have a special meaning. Are you really sure you want to melt it down?"

I fought back the bitterness in my heart and nodded. "Yes, please do it."

Half an hour later, I held a beautifully packaged jewelry box.

This was my breakup gift for Vincent. In one week, I would leave him forever, so I planned to give him this gift when I left.