I had almost forgotten—he was the Alpha of the Moonwind Pack, possessing the power to command the wind.Edward remained composed. "Apologies for the interruption. Let the ceremony proceed."He took my hand, silently commanding me to stay still. His gaze carried a single message. "Trust me."And so, beneath the blood-red full moon in the Moonlight Forest—the very place of my birth—we completed our bonding ceremony and marking. The crimson moonlight once again bathed the forest, just as it had on the night of my birth.Later, when we were alone, I wanted to apologize to Edward.I had not fully resolved my past with Andrew, and because of that, our ceremony was marred by an utterly humiliating scene. But Edward only shook his head. "This was my fault, Bella. I failed to ensure tighter security and let you be startled. I've already had the guards escort him back to the Celestial Tribe. He won't be bothering you again.""Do you think my past with Andrew embarrassed you? Our cere
"Ms. Venus, Alpha said he forgot something important earlier, but he's too busy to come himself, so he sent me to bring you this cake."Still in surprise, I suddenly received a call from Edward.I picked up but remained silent."Bella, are you sniffling? Were you crying?""No, I just thought… after what happened at the bakery today, you—""You thought I was ignoring you?" He chuckled on the other end. "I saw how you dragged me away and told me to go back to work. You were as decisive as a war goddess. I figured you didn't need my help."Tears welled up again, but I laughed. "You trust me?""Of course. How's Mrs. Venus? I might be tied up until midnight, but I'll come see you both after.""She hasn't woken up yet. We're still at the hospital. I have some Moonveil Elixir left, though not much, but it should help my mother recover.""Moonveil Elixir? That's not a big deal. If you want more, I'll have some sent over."After hanging up, I opened the cake Edward had sent me, cut a
From my window on the second floor, I saw Andrew standing in the rain, drenched from head to toe."Bella, if you don't forgive me, I'm not leaving!"Beside me, Mom gasped in shock. "Andrew Claude? The Alpha of the Celestial Pack—our rival? Why is he here, looking so miserable and refusing to leave?"Upon realizing I couldn't hide it anymore, I had no choice but to confess everything."But Mom, it's over now. Andrew and I are finished."She studied me, worry clouding her eyes. "As long as you've made peace with it, I'm relieved. But if the Quinns find out, will they still agree to this marriage alliance?"Suddenly, she clutched her chest, and my stomach dropped—she was having a heart attack!I quickly gave her a Moonveil Elixir and called for the butler to help get her to the hospital.Thankfully, we got there in time. Sitting by her bedside, I waited anxiously for her to wake up. Dad arrived shortly after, worry written all over his face. "What happened? Why did she have a he
Andrew had been acting like a madman for the past few days—calling me non-stop from different numbers. I hung up every time, blocking each new one.When that failed, he turned to my social media, flooding my posts with comments. The threats came first, then the desperate pleas. "Bella, I've thought about it. I admit I wasn't perfect either. Just pick up my call. Let's talk, okay?""Bella, there aren't many Alphas as self-aware as me. If you let me go, you'll never find a better Alpha."I simply stopped checking my social media altogether. I had better things to do. Each day was packed with preparations for the ceremony. I had to try on dresses today, and tomorrow I'd be selecting the venue, and finally on the day after tomorrow, I'd be finalizing the invitations. With Edward busy with work, I handled everything with his parents. At first, I thought someone as proud as Edward must have even more demanding parents. To my surprise, they were nothing but considerate. For the l
As soon as I arrived at the estate, I spotted my parents waiting for me at the entrance with another couple.The moment Mom saw me, she pulled me into a tight embrace, her voice thick with emotion. "My baby has finally come home."Dad beamed with joy. "It's good to have you back. You've been away for three years, and your mother was convinced some scoundrel would steal you away."Mom shot Dad a sharp glare, and he wisely clamped his mouth, shifting instead to introduce the other couple.As expected, they were Edward's parents.When they heard of my return, they came to welcome me. To my surprise, Mrs. Quinn presented me with a delicate velvet box. "This is a Quinn family heirloom. It's a gift for you, Bella."Surrounded by everyone, I found myself at a loss for words as they ushered me into the grand hall. We settled onto the couches, chatting for a while. It was clear my parents and the Quinns shared a close bond, which explained their enthusiasm for this marriage alliance. Ho
The sea was calm that day. I went up to the deck to bask in the sun as I gazed at the endless horizon where the ocean met the sky. The thought of finally returning home filled me with excitement.But then, I remembered my impending marriage, and nerves took over.My betrothed, Edward Quinn—I had only met him twice before, both times at gatherings for Alpha heirs in Sundara. He always remained in a corner, silent and expressionless, never speaking a word.Though cold, Andrew still tried to socialize at such events. But Edward was different. He never interacted with anyone.Given that his pack was the most powerful in Sundara, many assumed he simply saw no need to mingle with the rest of us. I had never spoken a word to him, yet he had still proposed to my parents. I could only assume he was like everyone else—acting on the elders' prophecy.Lost in thought, I suddenly overheard a group of travelers gossiping nearby on the deck."Did you hear? There's a scandal from the Celestial P