หลังคู่หมั้นไปมีลูกกับผู้หญิงอื่น ฉันก็อุทิศตัวให้กับการวิจัย

The annual ranking of the most popular Werewolf Academy professors had just been released and, once again, my Alpha mate, Trevor, took the number one spot.

In an interview with The Wolf Tribune, he touched the bond ring on his hand and gave a helpless smile. “If my Luna sees this, she’s probably going to get jealous again tonight.”

Everyone said that he was hopelessly in love with me.

However, in the blink of an eye, rumors about him and one of his students, Rin, were spreading through the entire pack like wildfire.

Trevor kissed me, coaxed me in bed, swore that he only admired Rin’s talent and promised to let me decide her fate.

Hence, I arranged for Rin to study abroad in a neutral territory.

Who would have thought that she would be ambushed at the border by rogue wolves on her second day away from the pack. Her wolf spirit was shattered and she was left a broken shell of herself.

The whole pack was rife with rumors that I had set a trap out of jealousy, trying to destroy her because she was close to my Alpha.

Even Trevor did not trust me. He rushed off to be by Rin’s side that very night.

When he came back, he had already removed his name from our mate registry and instead registered himself with Rin.

I uttered the words, one by one, “Trevor, let’s end our bond.”

...

When I said I wanted to end our bond, Trevor froze for a moment, standing in the doorway. His eyes darkened with displeasure.

“Lara, what nonsense are you spouting now?”

Behind him was his student, Rin. Her eyes shimmered with tears and her voice trembled as though she would shatter at the slightest touch.

“Luna, please don’t misunderstand Professor Vale. I just came back from the border. I have no parents, no home… nowhere to go. Please let me stay just for one night.”

She tried to bow to me, but before she could bend forward, she stumbled to the side, looking as if she might collapse at any moment.

I instinctively reached out to steady her. “It’s fine. I don’t mind. You can stay here for now…”

Smack!

Trevor’s hand came down hard, slapping mine away.

“Don’t pretend to be some saint. Weren’t you the one who caused all those injuries in the first place? And now you dare speak to her with that tone, like you’re being kind?”

He brushed past me, dragging her suitcase along.

The bond that once warmed me now felt cold as ice.

When he turned to Rin, his voice softened.

“Rin, don’t pay her any mind. You still smell of blood. Go wash up. Your wounds aren’t healed yet. I asked the healer to prepare a bath with moonflowers. It’ll help.”

She nodded obediently and slipped into the bathroom. Soon, her timid voice drifted out from the half-open door.

“Professor… I don’t want to be alone in here. I’m afraid my wolf spirit will collapse.”

“It’s all right,” Trevor answered in a low voice. His patience was so palpable it made me hold my breath. “I’ll wait right outside. Call me if you need anything.”

I watched him close the door behind her with tender care, only for his eyes to turn ice-cold the moment they met mine.

I parted my lips. There were a thousand words on the tip of my tongue, but in the end only one line came out.

“Trevor… let’s end our bond.”

A short, mocking laugh escaped him, like I had just told a joke.

“Lara, you made a mess of everything and think you can just walk away? If you hadn’t let jealousy cloud your judgment and sent her off, she never would’ve been attacked at the border. Do you even know what I saw when I found her?”

His voice grew louder, with every word lashing me like a whip.

“She was covered in wounds. Her clothes were soaked red with blood, even her wolf spirit was whimpering in weakness. How much more do you plan to torment her?”

The weight of his disappointment and blame made my ears ring. I had no strength left to argue.

Silence hung heavy until the sound of running water stopped. Then Rin’s voice rang out again.

“Professor Alpha, I’m done washing and I’m putting on the medicine… but I still can’t get to the injuries on my back. Could I trouble you again?”

My eyes widened in disbelief.

Before I could turn to see his expression, something struck my forehead with a dull thud. It was a jar of expensive healing salve.

Trevor’s brow was furrowed with irritation.

“Lara, what’s that look for? There’s nothing sordid between me and Rin. Go on. Help her yourself.”

He stormed off, leaving me standing there. It took several deep breaths before I forced myself to open the door.

Rin sat in the tub, a towel pressed to her chest and her back bare under the light.

My eyes fell on her skin. There were no burns or knife wounds, nor the vicious claw marks I had imagined.

Instead, scattered across her shoulders and back were red marks. Some were faint and some were deep.

Were those… Kiss marks?

My hand shook as I dipped my fingers into the cold salve.

I tried to be gentle, but the moment I touched the faintest mark, she shivered as though she was struck by lightning and let out a soft, stifled moan.

“Professor, it hurts.”

The words cut through me like a blade.

I remained silent.

When no reply came, Rin suddenly turned.

When she saw me, the look on her face changed. She bit her lip and shrank back towards the corner of the tub.

“Luna…? I thought you were resting… that’s why I called the professor! Please don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing between us!”

Her slight movement revealed more of her bare skin and the telltale signs of something far too intimate.

My gaze remained locked on her, unable to turn away. A painful suspicion clawed at my heart, but I did not even have the courage to say it aloud.

Finally, with a raw, hoarse voice, I forced the words out, “Tell me… has it always been Trevor who tended to your wounds?”