Chapter 3

Twenty minutes after I started following Adrian's convoy, I saw them pull over at a human park on the edge of pack territory.

It was a neutral zone where werewolves often crossed into human territory. The guards recognized my license plate and gave a respectful nod.

It was empty at this hour of the night. I parked in the lot across the street, watching from my car.

Adrian got out of his car, but he wasn't alone.

The passenger door opened and Zoe, dressed in a tight red dress and stiletto heels, leaped into Adrian's arms like a she-wolf in heat.

I could smell the white musk from fifty feet away.

"Darling, that light show earlier made me so jealous."

Adrian patted her back, his coddling tone turning my stomach.

"Wasn't the meteor shower for your coming-of-age ceremony enough a few days ago? You greedy little thing."

"Baby, you'll have everything you want, but now isn't the time."

"I've promised you, as long as you behave and don't let my Luna suspect anything, all the power and status she has will be yours one day."

Hearing that, my heart felt like it had been pierced by a silver blade dipped in wolfsbane.

I remembered that spectacular meteor shower on the city's outskirts a few days ago.

That night, Adrian had said he had to deal with some urgent border business and didn't come home.

I had been worried sick about him, tossing and turning all night from the unease in our mate bond.

It turned out the Alpha I was so worried about was the very one sleeping with my sister.

He had used the pack's ancient magic to create that illusion just to please Zoe.

And I, his Luna, was the biggest fool of all, completely kept in the dark.

Zoe purred, tracing circles on his hard chest with her fingertip.

"Can't a girl be a little jealous, my Alpha?"

"Alright, you know you're my favorite. So, I have a special coming-of-age gift for you tonight."

Zoe whispered in his ear, then tugged on his tie.

Adrian's wolf eyes instantly burned hot, the amber depths flashing with unconcealed desire.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Tell me what it is."

"You'll find out when we get upstairs. You'll have to 'inspect the package' yourself."

Right there in public, Adrian swept her up in his arms and strode toward his nearby private penthouse.

Zoe let out a sultry cry, but the rest of the sound was swallowed by Adrian's deep kiss.

The elevator doors closed, taking them straight to the penthouse suite.

I sat in my car, watching them disappear.

Five years. Our mate bond was truly worthless in his eyes.

Even though I already knew everything, seeing it with my own eyes was still like a silver blade carving through my heart.

I couldn't tell if it was the mate bond acting up, or just the simple fact that I couldn't accept what I was seeing.

The tears I had been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face.

I remembered how, at our first marking, Adrian had sworn on his wolf soul to the Moon Goddess that he would spend our entire anniversary with me every year.

But now, a single mind-link from Zoe was enough for him to abandon that sacred vow.

I had lost. Utterly and completely.

I took a deep breath, pushing down the turbulent emotions.

Just two more days.

In two days, I would escape all of this for good.

It was two in the morning by the time I returned to the pack house.

I went straight to the guest room and locked the door.

At three-thirty, I heard Adrian's heavy footsteps approaching.

"Camilla? Camilla!"

He was roaring my name in the master bedroom, his voice growing more frantic.

"Damn it! Where is she?"

Then came his enraged Alpha's howl.

"Useless fools! You can't even sense your Luna's presence!"

"Alpha, the Luna's car isn't in the garage. She may have gone out," his Beta answered, trembling.

"Find her! Tear this place apart if you have to, but find her!"

The footsteps grew closer as he started searching room by room.

When he threw open the guest room door, I pretended to have just been woken up by the noise.

The moment he saw me, the fury on his face vanished, replaced by the terrified relief of someone who'd narrowly escaped disaster.

"God, Camilla, you scared me to death."

"Why did you block my mind-link when you came back? Do you have any idea I was about to tear the whole pack apart when I couldn't feel where you were?"

He rushed over and pulled me into a crushing hug, his massive frame trembling slightly.

"I just couldn't sleep, so I switched rooms," I said, gently stroking his back. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just panic when I can't find you."

He buried his face in my hair, his voice thick with fear.

If you really cared, you wouldn't have betrayed our mate bond.

And you certainly would not have touched my sister.

"I wasn't feeling well, so I came back early to rest. I forgot to tell you."

After listening to his lies for so long, I could now spin them just as seamlessly myself.

Still looking shaken, Adrian lay down on the bed and locked me in his arms, holding me tight as if I were a precious treasure.

"Don't do that again. I'll go crazy if I can't feel you."

"You know I'd do anything for you."

I closed my eyes, a cold sneer on my lips.

The next morning, I prepared an exquisite moonstone gift box.

Inside, I placed the moonstone pendant that symbolized my status as Luna, along with a formal Rejection I had drafted and signed overnight.

"What's this?"

Adrian took the box, his eyes full of curiosity.

"Your anniversary gift."

I kissed his cheek.

"But you have to wait two days to open it. Allow me a little mystery."

Adrian nodded obediently. "Alright. Whatever my Luna says."

"You're going to love my gift."

In two days, I would have vanished from his world completely.

By then, this "gift" would reveal the whole truth.

Just as I finished speaking, the butler entered the room respectfully.

"Alpha, Luna, Miss Zoe is here to see you."

The door opened to reveal Zoe's face, tear-streaked and pitiful.