Chapter 2

The backseat of the taxi was dead silent except for the rhythmic scraping of the windshield wipers.

Her phone buzzed again. An encrypted call popped up.

"Rae, this is the Council Director," a solemn, cold voice said from the other end. "The Mate Bond Dissolution Agreement is in its final review. You need to confirm one last time. Once the process starts, you will lose your mate bond with Alpha Colton of the Silver Crest Pack forever. Are you sure you won't reconsider?"

Rae looked at the blurry neon lights outside, her voice without a trace of hesitation. "I'm sure. I'm not turning back."

"Alright. We will pick you up in three days."

Hanging up, Rae leaned back against the seat, completely exhausted.

Eight years ago, nineteen-year-old Rae fell in love with Colton at first sight at a werewolf gala. He was a high-and-mighty Alpha, and she was just a fiercely ambitious actuary trying to make a name for herself.

Back then, Colton only had eyes for Tessa, a spoiled high-society heiress. It wasn't until Tessa tore up her engagement with him for the sixth time and flew off to Paris that Colton was forced by his family to find a replacement.

To stand by his side, Rae put on a gown in Tessa's favorite shade, swallowed all her pride, and willingly became his obedient substitute.

In their four years of marriage, she hid her sharp edges, running his family's business empire and enduring his cold stares, all hoping to melt the ice in his heart.

Until two months ago, when she was four months pregnant. Tessa suddenly barged into the mansion, smashed a tea set right in front of Colton, and screamed, falsely accusing Rae of pushing her.

"Rae! How dare you hurt her!"

Furious, Colton instantly released a violent, suffocating wave of Alpha aura. He didn't even give Rae a single second to explain. He grabbed her wrist and threw her into the underground panic room.

The heavy metal door locked tight behind her.

The crushing pressure and freezing air left in the room squeezed Rae's fragile body. She clutched her swollen belly and collapsed onto the cold concrete floor. Sharp, unbearable cramps swept through her, and blood instantly stained her white dress red.

"Colton! Open the door! Save the baby..."

Rae slammed on the heavy blast door with all her strength. Her desperate cries echoed through the dead space, getting zero answer. Outside, there was only his gentle voice comforting Tessa, followed by fading footsteps.

Through hours of agonizing pain and despair, her baby's heart stopped beating.

Her wolf whimpered in pure agony, then shut down all senses to protect itself, falling into an irreversible, deep sleep.

When paramedics pried the door open and carried her out, she was covered in blood from the waist down. After three days in the ICU, she barely survived, but her ability to love was gone forever.

On the day she was discharged, Colton didn't even show up. Rae's phone just popped up with a bank transfer alert. He had his assistant send her a massive sum of money with a cold note attached:

[Buy yourself some supplements. Tessa was terrified, so I took her to Europe to clear her head.]

Sitting in the taxi, Rae looked at the faded needle marks on her fingertips. A single tear slipped down her cheek.

She was almost confused by her own reaction. What was this? Why was she crying? Ever since her wolf fell dormant, her emotions had become nothing more than physical reflexes. I guess this is what sorrow feels like...

"Ma'am, we're here," the driver said, bringing the car to a stop.

Rae opened the door and stepped into the rain at Silver Moon Manor.

The second she walked into the foyer, a pair of red high heels that didn't belong to her caught her eye.

On the living room couch, Tessa was wearing Rae's silk robe, curled up tight in Colton's arms. Colton was holding a spoon, patiently feeding her warm soup.

Seeing Rae walk in, Tessa smirked with pure provocation and pulled the robe tight around herself with a soft whine:

"Rae, you're finally back? Sorry about this, it's raining so hard tonight, and Colton insisted I stay over."