Chapter 2

As I watched the flicker of smugness crossing Sharon's eyes, I finally understood why she had kept to herself today.

In the past, whenever Vincent and I went out on dates, Sharon would insist on joining us. Today, she intended to ruin my bonding ceremony, too.

I did my best to suppress a choked sob before I questioned her seriously, "Sharon, I just want to know that if someone swaps your ring out for trash during your bonding ceremony, will you still think of it as a joke?"

Sharon just pouted while blinking at me innocently.

"I grew up with Vincent since we were pups. Whenever I climbed onto his bed teasingly, he never got mad at me. Angelica, I only pulled off this stunt because I viewed you as a friend of mine. I never thought you'd be this sensitive toward jokes!"

Sensitive, she said.

Fine.

"Well then, please return the moonstone ring to the ol' sensitive me, then," I stated.

Sharon rolled her eyes at me. Then, she began tugging at the ring on her finger. However, after twisting it a few times, she realized she couldn't get it off at all. Instead, her finger was all red from the pulling.

"Ow! It hurts!" Sharon tugged at Vincent's sleeve pitifully. "The moonstone ring fits me a little too well. I can't take it off right now. What should I do, Vincent?"

Vincent didn't hesitate to take her hand.

"Angelica, since Sharon wants the moonstone ring, let her have it. I'll get someone to buy you a more expensive ring in a while. Let's not ruin the bonding ceremony."

A pang of sharp pain filled my heart instantly. Tears began to well up in my eyes.

I turned to look at Vincent's parents, who had witnessed everything. And yet…

"This is just a harmless joke, isn't it?" Vincent's mother commented with a fake smile. "Just get someone to buy another ring. Now hurry up, Angelica. The guests are all waiting for the ceremony to continue."

At that moment, I felt my blood turn to ice inside my veins. I realized that they never cared about the actual truth, nor the fact that I had been humiliated by Sharon. All they cared about was the possibility of this bonding ceremony continuing its course regardless of the price I paid.

I was the only one who cared greatly about the can tab being used as the bonding ring because of my love toward Vincent.

When I turned around, my sharp sense of smell picked up on the sickly sweet scent wafting from Vincent's form. Slowly, I forced out a bitter smile.

"Let's cancel the bonding ceremony."

As soon as my words fell, the officiating elder's scroll of vows fell to the floor in a loud clatter. All the guests stared at me in disbelief.

A deep frown marred Vincent's features as his hand shot out to grab mine. Then, he pulled me into his arms.

"Don't be like this, Angelica. Now's not the time for you to throw a tantrum. Are you seriously going to destroy our bonding ceremony over a mere joke?"

Destroy, he said.

Apparently, Vincent viewed my actions as acts of destruction. I was the one who destroyed his flawless image, his flawless alliance, and his perfect day.

He had no idea just how much effort I had put into organizing this ceremony.

I spent one whole year on this bonding ceremony. I had invited 187 esteemed guests to this venue. I had custom-ordered a bridal gown of the highest quality and got expensive perfumed orchids imported from other lands. I even researched how to make the most delectable cuisines in preparation for the big day.

On top of everything, I carved the sacred moonstone with my own hands just so I could make it the adorning gem of my bonding ring despite the fact that the moonstone had killed my mother in the past.

My mother had died long ago during a full moon ritual that failed. The energy harbored by the moonstone had lashed back at her, which reduced her body to ashes. During the first few years, I couldn't help trembling in fright whenever the word "moonstone" was brought up.

Vincent was the one who had approached me and pulled me into his strong and safe embrace. He was able to help me escape from the moonstone's nightmare. In fact, he also told me that I was a lot stronger than my source of fear.

On the day I finally mustered all of my courage and touched a glowing moonstone, Vincent picked me up and spun me around three times in a row. Then, he kissed me on the lips breathlessly.

That day was also the day I accepted his confession. Since then, I began fantasizing about the future I'd share with him as his mate. I was willing to give away my resources for Vincent's sake in order for him to be nominated as the next Alpha of the Brownstone pack.

I thought Vincent and I would become the closest of mates. However, everything changed the moment Sharon returned to the Brownstone pack after her trip.

Vincent forgot all about our date, and yet he had time to take Sharon to the forest so that they could watch the moon together. Our romantic candlelit dinner would be canceled at the very last minute because Sharon had told Vincent that she was "feeling a little unwell".

When I tried to celebrate our first anniversary, Sharon insisted on joining us in the celebration. The waiter even thought of her and Vincent as the actual couple.

Every time I fought with Vincent over this matter, he tended to say nonchalantly, "Sharon is like a younger sister to me. We've grown up with each other since we were pups. Don't be jealous of her, okay?"

I'd like nothing more than to believe that Sharon and Vincent's relationship was platonic and pure. That was until I witnessed them walking into a hotel together last month.

On the day before our bonding ceremony, Sharon mailed me a parcel. It was completely stuffed with photographs featuring her and Vincent, where they hugged each other with sweet smiles on their faces, as though they were an actual couple.

The photographs were placed all over my bed. That night, I just sat in the middle of my bed without sleeping a wink.

This bonding ceremony was the final chance that I had decided to give to Vincent. Yet, he never picked up on that fact. All he did was hug me tightly out of pure instinct, as though he was afraid that I might vanish from his arms.

"Angelica, this is a bonding alliance between our packs! You're not the one calling the shots here! I will never agree to the cancellation of our bonding ceremony!"

I slowly pushed Vincent away from me. Then, I glanced over the moonstone ring that Sharon had slid onto his finger.

"I had personally entrusted the ringbox to you before the bonding ceremony, Vincent. If it wasn't for your tolerance toward Sharon's shenanigans, she would never have obtained the ring in the first place."

Every word I said carved a deeper gash into my heart, drilling more pain into my heart.

"That's why we should cancel the bonding ceremony."

I clenched my fists tightly. This was my way of sparing Vincent's pride even at this moment. I hoped that we could part ways amicably in the end.

Vincent just stared at me unblinkingly. He remained silent for a short while.

It was then that a dangerous smile slowly spread across his face.

"I know you're jealous of Sharon, Angelica. That's why you orchestrated this whole thing on purpose just to attract my attention.

"I can forgive the things you've done in the past, but if you keep spouting nonsense about canceling the bonding ceremony, I might as well terminate our packs' alliance altogether. I don't think your pack is capable of paying the price once that happens."