ทะลุมิติมาพร้อมระบบภารกิจเลี้ยงน้องให้เติบโต ยุค 70

My mate, Lucas Belville, video-called me just as I received a notification that my flight booking was confirmed.

I answered his call.

Lucas was standing before a floor-to-ceiling window in the video. The city's dazzling night scenery sparkled behind him.

His smile was as gentle as ever when he asked, "Why are you still awake, darling?"

I remained silent, listening to my wolf whine softly.

"Things are wrapping up here soon," Lucas continued. "I'll be home in the next few days."

My wolf looked up at me at the mention of home. The light had disappeared from her silver eyes.

If I hadn't seen Lucas' posts that numbered in the hundreds on his alternate account, my wolf probably would have been ecstatic to hear that he was coming home.

I looked at Lucas calmly. I didn't interrogate him about the posts. Instead, I asked, "Is there someone there with you?"

"Of course not," he swiftly answered, lifting his wine glass. "Why would there be anyone by my side when I'm about to turn in for the night? Besides, I promised you that I would keep my distance from other she-wolves. Are you overthinking things again?"

Just then, the sounds of a she-wolf's laughter echoed through the receiver. It was so soft that I nearly missed it.

Lucas' eyes widened before he abruptly ended the call. A few seconds later, he sent a message to me.

"A wolf is here to discuss assets, Leah. I'll contact you again later."

My room became eerily quiet after I switched off my phone. I was suddenly bombarded with memories of the past that once made me happy.

Lucas once told me that he didn't want other Alphas to notice me because I was too pure. He kept emphasizing that fact, saying, "I don't want anyone else to know that I have such a beautiful mate. My wolf will always submit to yours. I'll go crazy with jealousy if anyone else knows that you're my mate."

Only then did I learn that the she-wolf who stood by his side had never been me.

I navigated to Lucas' social media account again.

The sea breeze sent the tips of his hair dancing in the air as he leaned down and kissed the she-wolf.

Although Lucas and I had been together for seven years, I had never seen him smile with such satisfaction.

My wolf slowly closed her eyes and refused to speak again.

It wasn't that Lucas didn't want other wolves to know about his mate. It was just that he didn't want me to be his Luna.

Another pack's Alpha left a comment on his post.

"You look like you love your mate very much, Lucas. Have you been together for three years already? The two of you still look like you're madly in love."

"Everyone should know about our relationship. She deserves to have her name known by every wolf in every pack—Maria Anderson!"

So, the other she-wolf's name was Maria Anderson.

I stared at Lucas' reply for a long time.

Although we were mates for seven years, he never once thought about announcing my identity to the world. We once planted roses all over the mountain and spent seven full moon festivals together. When I was sick, he kept vigil by my bedside and comforted me when I had nightmares.

However, he gave the love that he was willing to show off to the world to Maria.

As for me, he treated me like an old toy that had to be hidden away in a dark corner. He would only pick me up when he needed me. When he didn't, he would leave me to gather dust.

My mating mark began to burn again.

Lucas sent me another message.

"Rest soon, darling. Don't overthink things. I love you forever."

He used to say that last sentence to me all the time in the last seven years, but the words felt a little foreign to me at that moment.

I placed my phone down and padded to the walk-in closet to pack my clothes. I immediately spotted the protection charm that I had personally made for Lucas. My eyes stung as I looked at his name that was carved on the charm.

I had prepared the charm to give to Lucas as his birthday present. However, he never showed up despite how I waited the entire night for him.

Lucas told me that a last-minute Alpha meeting had been called, so he couldn't rush home in time. But after looking through his secret social media account, I discovered that he and Maria had gone to a ski resort that day.

I grabbed the protection charm and locked it in the safe.

I didn't have anything else to take with me other than my ID, a travel pass, and my personal bank book. Although I had lived here for seven years, the things that truly belonged to me could only fill a single suitcase.

My wolf stood up when a notification popped up on my phone, informing me that my flight booking had been confirmed.

"We're leaving together this time," I said.