Chapter 4

"Right away, Alpha. I'll have it drafted now," the assistant replied.

Cain stopped him, pinching the bridge of his nose. "When the documents are signed, have them delivered to the first house Lupita and I lived in after we were mated."

In his mind, there was nowhere else I could have gone. I would have to take refuge in the one place filled with our happy memories.

A week later, late at night, Cain finally wrapped up his project and returned to that house, only to find a slender figure in a silk nightgown curled up on the living room sofa.

"Lupita, how many times do I have to tell you? I'll come home when I'm done. You don't have to…"

His weary complaint died in his throat as he drew closer and saw that the woman on the sofa was Elias.

Elias shivered under his silent gaze, her expression a careful mix of hurt and pity. "Cain… Lupita still hasn't come back. I've sent her so many messages, apologizing… but she won't answer. If… if I'm the reason she's angry, I'll leave. I'll stay away from you."

A frown creased Cain's brow at her practiced tears.

"I've been busy. You should be managing your own family's business. I'll have my assistant take you home."

Ignoring Elias’s protests, he sent her away. Then, clad in a bathrobe, Cain leaned against the railing of the balcony and lit a cigarette. He'd quit years ago, but tonight, the craving was undeniable.

As the night wind swept past, Cain tried once again to connect with me through our mate bond.

[Lupita, the Black Moon family gathering is tomorrow. I'm warning you, don't pull any stunts. Don't cause trouble for Elias or the new project.]

But there was no reply.

On the day of the family gathering, Cain made a high-profile entrance with Elias, the very picture of amicable business partners.

He didn't release Elias's hand until Alexander Knight himself entered. Only then did Cain move to his father's side to greet the other high-ranking Alphas.

"Why didn't Lupita accompany you?" Alexander's question was sharp. Cain's lips thinned, and for once, he offered a defense. "My apologies, Father. Lupita has been busy with some family matters. She was exhausted, so I told her to rest. She'll be along later."

Two hours passed. The gathering had moved on to critical pack business, and I still hadn't appeared.

A knot of unease tightened in his chest. He tried the mate bond again. Nothing.

He stepped into a quiet corner and pulled out his phone.

"The number you have dialed is not in service. Please—"

He hung up and redialed, again and again, but was met with the same robotic voice.

Just then, a courier entered the hall and delivered a package addressed to his father.

Under a sea of curious gazes, Alexander opened the box with a grim expression.

Inside lay the heirloom passed down through generations of the Knight family, the one I received at my mating ceremony—the Heart of the Moon.

The moment they saw the shattered necklace, the entire hall fell silent.

Every wolf in the room knew what it meant for a Luna to return the family heirloom.

Before Alexander could recover, Cain, his face ashen, clenched his fists. But when he desperately reached for me through our mate bond, his eyes widened in horror.