"Luna, are you certain you wish to proceed with the Bond Severance rite? Once it begins, the sacred connection between you and the Alpha will be permanently severed. Your power, your station, everything you hold within the pack—it will all be forfeit." The aged she-wolf priestess held Faye's hands, her ancient eyes clouded with worry. Faye nodded. Her voice was calm. Absolute. "I'm certain." The priestess tried once more. "This will bring you unimaginable pain. And the Alpha will suffer a crippling blow as well. You are the Moon's Heart of this pack, our very pulse. Please, reconsider." "No need." Faye took up a silver stylus, sliced open her fingertip, and pressed a blood print onto a consent form written in the Old Tongue. "Begin." "Very well. After the rite, you will relinquish the name Faye. In return, the Moon Goddess will bestow upon you a new identity. You've chosen... Fern, is that correct?" "Yes." Fern. Fern, flying far away. A new life, reborn in the forest. That was the future she had mapped out for herself. She was going to leave this place for good. Leave this pack drowning in lies. When the rite concluded, the priestess handed her a new set of human documents and a passport. "May I leave the territory now?" "You may. The receipt slip carries the Moon Goddess's blessing. It will temporarily mask your scent, making it impossible for the Alpha to track you. But the effect lasts only one week." Faye had prepared everything at top speed. But the rest—the Luna's scepter, her name on the ancestral scrolls—she took none of it. In a week, she would be gone, new passport in hand. The Luna's identity could be buried here forever. She didn't need it anymore. She stepped out of the sanctuary, new passport in hand. Across from her stood Silvermoon City's landmark—the Apex Group tower. The massive screen on the building's facade was broadcasting an interview with Alpha Kael. The host, sharp enough to catch his small movements, smiled and asked, "Mr. Kael, I notice you keep touching your ring. But it seems to be just a very ordinary moonlace silver band. Is there something special about it?" Kael's smile softened. He raised his hand for the camera. "This is my bond token. Moonlace silver is a special metal blessed by the Moon Goddess. Exceptionally pure. It causes us wolves no harm—on the contrary, it holds the power of the bond." "Oh, forgive me. I assumed someone of your status would have a token set with ancient gemstones. Something far more ornate." Kael said, "I made this myself the first time I successfully shifted. I forged it with my own hands for my Luna, using moonlace silver. I shaped it, polished it, and engraved our initials inside the band." "Oh, there really are two sets of letters. K and..." "S," Kael said. "My Luna's name is Faye." "Goodness. Your Luna is a lucky woman. She must have saved the entire wolf race in a past life to be your fated mate." Kael simply said, "Truthfully, I was the one who saved an entire galaxy in a past life. The Moon Goddess blessed me by making her my Luna." Almost every voice in the passing crowd was full of envy. All except the one person who actually mattered. Faye. A thin, sardonic smile touched her lips. Her bond with Kael had been real once. From their first meeting under the moonlight as juveniles to becoming Alpha and Luna, they had walked fifteen years together. In the eyes of every pack member, they were the Moon-blessed perfect pair. Until two months ago. Through the fated bond, she felt something. A violent surge of pleasure that came from Kael's body, but did not belong to her. It was a strange, feral scent. And then, moments later, an anonymous magic-image arrived. The young she-wolf in the image was Lila. She wore a seductive nightgown. From her neck to her chest, she was covered in bite marks and deep scratches—the unmistakable evidence of a brutal, recent coupling. No guesswork required. She had just come from a "session." She threw up a V-sign at the viewer. And on her index finger, she wore a silver ring. It was a size too large, clearly a man's band. Engraved on the ring was a line of letters: K & S. Later, Faye met Lila in Kael's office. Lila was Kael's newly promoted assistant. In that moment, Faye's mind went somewhat blank. She truly wanted to storm into Kael's office and ask him one question: "Does the Alpha's assistant's job description also cover satisfying his primal urges?" But later, she let it go. That image. The marks all over Lila's body. The raw sense of betrayal bleeding through the bond. The answers were already written there. Faye turned and walked away from the gasps and envious murmurs of the crowd. She walked into an old jewelry workshop. When she pulled the ring off her left ring finger, she felt as if a piece of her own soul had been ripped away. "Ma'am, what work do you need done?" "This ring. I want it melted down." "This is a moonlace silver bond token. It has engravings on it. It must hold sacred meaning. Are you really sure you want it melted?" "Yes. As quickly as possible, please." Half an hour later, Faye returned home carrying a small box carved from obsidian, designed to seal away aura and scent. It was deep into the night when Kael came back. He held a bouquet of moonlace blossoms in his hand. "Sorry, Sera. Pack business has been overwhelming lately. I haven't had time for you. I brought your favorite moonlace flowers. Do you like them?" He leaned in close. Faye caught a scent clinging to his body—a cloying, cheap sweetness that belonged to Lila. She turned her head slightly and saw a small patch of teeth marks on his Adam's apple. And on his shirt collar, a woman's lipstick stain. Bright red. Unmistakable. Faye let out a cold laugh to herself. Pack business? Or were you just busy plowing Lila's field? "Why aren't you saying anything?" Faye pushed him away. "Just a little tired." "Let me carry you to bed to rest?" He crouched down, ready to scoop her up. Faye pushed him away again. "You're tired too. Take a shower and get some rest." Kael reached for her hand, then suddenly froze. "Sera, where's your bond token?"
"I took it off." "I made that with my own hands. It's the proof of our bond. Why would you take it off?" Faye brushed him off. "I haven't been feeling well lately. The size doesn't fit anymore." Kael's expression eased slightly. He smiled again. "I'll take it to the sanctuary one of these days and have it resized and blessed again." "We'll see." "By the way, what's that on the table?" Kael pointed at the obsidian jewelry box sitting on the desk. A hint of pleasant surprise crossed his face. "Sera, is that a gift for me?" Faye nodded. "Yes." Inside that box sat a small, cold lump of silver. Stripped of all spiritual essence. Dead metal. She had melted their bond token. And placed it inside. Kael, however, was delighted. "What's the occasion? My Luna voluntarily prepared a gift for me?" Another vast stretch of Faye's heart went cold. "Today... is the anniversary of our bond rite." Kael's face crumpled into an ugly expression. He scrambled to placate her, almost fawning. "I'm sorry, Sera. Work has been genuinely insane lately. How about we go out tonight? To the Moonlace Lake..." "No need. I don't have an appetite." "Then let me take you to the mountaintop to see the stars?" "I'm tired. I want to sleep." Kael wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his voice a plea. "Come on, Sera. We haven't gone on a walk together in so long. Lately, I feel like your bond response has been so cold. Keep this up and I'll start suspecting my Luna's heart has strayed." My heart has strayed? Your soul betrayed our bond first. Your heart left me first. And this time, I'm permanently withdrawing my bond. And myself. Both. All of it. On the drive out, Kael took the wheel, talking and laughing the whole way, telling her amusing little stories from the pack. Faye sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window, tuning him out completely. Because earlier, while fastening her seatbelt, her hand had brushed the crevice of the passenger seat. She had pulled out a woman's stocking. It still carried the thick, musky scent of another she-wolf. She had shoved it right back into the gap. And acted as if nothing had happened. She had already decided to leave. She had no desire to argue with him anymore. Nothing to be gained from it, except a fresh load of useless lies. If she couldn't get anything, then she didn't want anything. They reached the lake. Kael got out first and opened her door. "Sera, we're here." Faye hadn't really wanted to come. But this lake—Moonlace Lake—was where they used to go constantly when their bond was newly forged. It started here. So it could end here. "Wow, isn't that Alpha Kael? The one who handcrafted his own bond token!" "I remember, I remember! The most devoted Alpha in our entire race!" "He's even shielding his Luna from the car roof so she doesn't bump her head. Oh my god, that's so attentive!" As they spoke, Kael's phone rang. He gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry, Sera. Give me a second. Pack business. I'll take this call and be right back." "Go ahead." "Wait for me right here. Don't wander off." The surrounding crowd, naturally, erupted in another wave of sighs. "The Alpha treats his Luna like a daughter. He's actually afraid she'll get lost." "Too doting!" Faye alone stood there, face utterly blank, standing at the lake's edge, gazing out at the moonlit ripples on the dark water. Just now, when Kael saw the caller ID, the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips had been impossible to suppress. Doting. Sweet. Laced with a hint of mischief. Pack business? She couldn't even be bothered to expose him anymore. The lakefront was chilly. She decided to head back to the car and wait. The in-car screen was still on. Kael's social account hadn't been logged out. It was synced with his phone. Messages were scrolling up, one by one. The contact on the other end was named [Your Little Wildcat Lila]. Kael: Miss me? Little Wildcat Lila: Nights without my Alpha feel so empty. Kael: Little wildcat, I had you seven times today. Still not enough? Little Wildcat Lila: Not enough. Alpha, I want more. Kael: Fine. Tomorrow. My office. I'll satisfy you. Little Wildcat Lila: Heehee. I'll wear black stockings to work tomorrow then. The chat history that followed was even more revolting. Filthy words. Graphic flirtation. Faye felt a wave of cold sweep through her entire body. She shut off the screen. Her whole body was trembling. She couldn't tell if it was from the cold or from pure rage. Her nails bit deep into her own palms. Kael returned quickly. About fifteen minutes. He slid back into the driver's seat, clutching his chest, letting out a heavy breath of relief. "After I hung up the phone, I turned around and you were gone. Scared me to death. Thank the Goddess. You're okay." Faye couldn't bear to look at his hypocritical face anymore. She stared down at her own hands. "It was cold outside. I came back to the car." "Of course, of course. Wherever you like, that's where you should be." Faye's head snapped up. After reading their chat history, that phrase hit her with a second, much darker meaning. Wherever you like. That's where you should be. The stocking. In the crevice of the passenger seat... Could it be... they had done it in this seat too? A violent wave of nausea hit Faye. She shoved the car door open and threw up.
Kael panicked, rushing over. "Sera, what's wrong?" Faye vomited until she was completely wrecked, unable to pull herself together for a long while. She didn't understand. Why? Why would the Alpha who once swore before the Moon Goddess to remain loyal to her forever betray their bond? Did he not fear the Goddess's punishment? Or did he think he was clever enough, perfectly capable of keeping her in the dark forever? A night breeze blew past. Faye's thoughts cleared considerably. Kael asked her, "Are you okay, Sera? If you're not feeling well, I'll take you to the pack healers right now." "No. It's probably just something I ate at dinner." "Then come find me at Apex tomorrow. We'll eat together." Faye let out a cold, silent laugh. Go to Apex and watch you and Lila tumble around your office? A sudden impulse for mischief seized her. "Alright. I'll go with you to Apex tomorrow morning. Keep you company while you work. Then we'll have lunch together. Then we'll come home together at night." Kael clearly hadn't expected her to agree. His expression stiffened, strained. "But... my schedule's packed. I might not be able to stay with you the whole time." "You do your work. I'll just wait in your office for you to come back." "...Alright." Back at their villa, Kael offered to run a bath for her. He went into the bathroom and, unusually, shut the door behind him. Faye, meanwhile, went back downstairs alone and got back into the car. The moment she started the engine, the screen lit up, displaying the latest messages. Kael: Change of plans. Tomorrow, we can't use my office. Little Wildcat Lila: Aww, that's disappointing. Kael: Don't be disappointed, little wildcat. I'll take you to the rooftop terrace instead. Even more thrilling. Little Wildcat Lila: Heehee. Alpha is the best. By the time Faye returned to the bedroom, Kael was just stepping out of the bathroom. "Sera, your bath's ready. Go take a nice soak." "No. I want to rest." "Alright. If you're tired, sleep. By the way, that gift you put on the desk... can I open it now?" Faye said, "Open it in one week." "Why wait a week? I want to see right now what my Luna has prepared for me." "Because..." Because in one week, I will have permanently severed our bond. "Because in one week, this gift will have meaning." Kael pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Fine. As you wish." The next morning, Kael's phone started ringing just past six. He silenced it, then turned and wrapped his arms around Faye. "Ignore it. Sleep a little longer." The phone rang again. Insistent. Kael frowned, irritable. "It's not even time for work yet. Pestering me this early. Sooner or later, I'll make every last one of those useless Council elders disappear." He silenced it again. When the phone rang a third time, Kael got up in a huff. "Sera, sleep a while longer. I'm going to go find out what kind of earth-shattering emergency they've got." Faye gave a soft "Mm." She turned over. Her back to him. Kael took his phone and left the bedroom. But moments later, his figure appeared at the front gate, one floor below. A human delivery driver in a yellow uniform stood outside. He handed Kael a package. Kael took it. But when he came back inside, his hands were empty. Faye asked him, "Is the pack situation serious?" Kael said, "It's manageable. Sera, don't worry. Just rest. I'll go make you breakfast." Whether it was guilt or genuine concern about her upset stomach, Kael made an elaborate breakfast. Milk. Eggs. Toast. Jam. And her favorite oatmeal. "From now on, no more eating random things. I'm going to hire a private chef for you. Someone to come cook for you at home every day." "No." "Be a good girl. My Luna needs to listen. Otherwise, I'll be worried sick about you while I'm at Apex." "Kael, can I ask you a question?" "Ask." Faye set down her fork and knife. Her voice was flat. "Among our kind... the curse for betraying a bond. Do you think it actually comes true?" Kael instantly put on a deeply righteous, disgusted expression. "That's a punishment for the weak-willed. The faithless. I'm different. I will be loyal to my Luna for life. I love only you." "Love only me. For life." "Yes." "And what if you fell in love with another she-wolf?" "Then may the Moon Goddess forsake me. Strip my power. May I howl in solitude for eternity." Faye's smile was pure mockery. "Such a heavy vow. Aren't you afraid it might actually be fulfilled?" "What I speak is the truth. Why should I be afraid?" Kael said, "Sera, you need to trust our bond." Faye simply said, "Eat your breakfast." "You still don't believe me? Do I need to carve out my heart and show it to you before you'll trust me?" "People are waiting for you at Apex. Don't be late." Kael finally relaxed, sitting down across from her. "Let them wait. A bunch of worthless creatures. I'll replace them all eventually." "Replace *her*. Could you bear to?" Faye had said "her." Not "them." She didn't know whether Kael caught it or not. All she heard was him say, "Besides you, there's no one I couldn't bear to lose."
After breakfast, the two of them headed to Apex together. But Faye was utterly repulsed by the passenger seat. She insisted on sitting in the back. "I'm feeling a little carsick. The back's more comfortable. I can get some air." Kael didn't press further. "Alright. I'll drive as smoothly as I can." At the entrance of Apex Tower, Kael jogged around to open her door. The moment Faye stepped out of the car, she was once again swarmed by pack members in the thick of the morning rush. Two of them strode up quickly, faces glowing with eager warmth. "Luna, it's so good to see you!" one of them said, grinning. "Alpha's always talking about how much you love caramel lattes. I'm heading out on an errand anyway. I can grab one for you." The other chimed in immediately. "Then I'll go get pastries. Still those red velvet cupcakes you like?" Kael let out a soft laugh, pulling Faye closer, his arm protectively wrapped around her. "Alright, you two. You'll spoil her at this rate. Her appetite's been so good lately, she can barely fit her bond token anymore." "Hey, Alpha, you can't pin that on us," the first one shot back, joking. "Luna looks as radiant as ever. Must be the token's fault. Maybe it shrank in the wash!" "Get out of here," Kael said, slapping him good-naturedly on the arm. "Shrank in the wash? Moonlace silver doesn't shrink, you idiot. But fine, go on. Just a small latte." "You just don't get it. Alpha loves Luna so much. If Luna's happy, Alpha's happy. And if Alpha's happy, we all get an easier life, right?" Kael laughed, his tone good-humored. "Fine, fine. You've all got me figured out. You know exactly where to press." The group burst into laughter. Faye was practically escorted into Kael's office. Fruit. Snacks. Bubble tea. Everything imaginable. Kael even pulled up a drama series on his computer for her. "Sera, I've got to get to work. Just hang out here. If you need anything, tell the assistants outside." Faye asked him, deliberately casual, "What about that new assistant of yours, Lila? I didn't see her today." Kael said, "I don't know. I'll have HR call her later to check in." On his way out, Kael gave her hair an affectionate stroke, murmuring softly, "Wait for me to come back. We'll have lunch together." Kael left. The Council elders left too. Faye spotted his phone lying on the desk. She hurried out to catch him, but as she reached the door, she caught the tail end of the elders' conversation. "...Rooftop terrace? Alpha and Lila are getting more adventurous by the day." "What can you do? Who knew Luna would suddenly show up at Apex today? They had to relocate." "So, are we still supposed to deliver condoms to Alpha today?" "No need. I saw him heading up earlier. He had several boxes stuffed in his pockets." "Heh heh heh. Alpha's something else, isn't he? Ordering condoms right under Luna's nose?" "Human courier service. Those apps are so damn convenient now. You can get anything delivered." A cold, sudden clarity washed over Faye. So that's what it was. Those insistent, unrelenting calls this morning. They were from the human courier. He had placed the order first thing in the morning. Had the courier buy him condoms. Clearly, he had been very much looking forward to today's rooftop rendezvous. Preparing since dawn. "...Wonder if a few boxes will even be enough. Remember that time Alpha and Lila went at it in the car for a whole day and night? The next day, when Lila came to work, the way she walked was... off." "If it's not enough, we'll just deliver more! Isn't it our job as subordinates to serve the Alpha well?" "Didn't you just say we should serve the Luna well too?" "Tch. What does she know? A cup of coffee, a couple pastries, and she's pacified. A man with Alpha's status and power... who doesn't have a few lovers on the side? He's got power and money. Playing around with women is perfectly normal. Just gotta keep it from Luna." "True. She seems so naive. Keeping her in the dark shouldn't be hard." Just then, Kael appeared. "Don't any of you go running your mouths in front of Sera. Understood?" The elders nodded frantically. "Understood, Alpha. We know how to handle it." One of them asked, "Alpha, why did you bring Luna today? Now you and Lila have to hide out on the rooftop, and we all have to watch every word we say." Kael shot him a hard glare. "Faye is the pack's Luna. She comes and goes as she pleases. Do you have a problem with that?" "No, no, no..." Kael's face hardened into a warning snarl. "Take good care of Sera. She wasn't feeling well yesterday. No cold or raw food. And one more thing: if a single word about me and Lila gets out, you'll be exiled from the pack immediately. Do I make myself clear?" The elders nodded, their smiles fawning. "Crystal clear, Alpha. Crystal clear..." Faye didn't hear the rest. She had already slipped back into Kael's office at full speed. She buried his phone amidst the pile of snacks. A moment later, Kael walked in. He was wearing that same gentle, gentlemanly mask. "Little glutton. What's got you eating so happily?" The words "little glutton" sent a violent shudder of revulsion through Faye. Suppressing her full-body discomfort, she asked, "Weren't you going to a meeting? Why are you back?" "Left my phone here. Have you seen it?" Faye shook her head. "No." Kael rummaged through the pile of snacks and fished his phone out. "Buried in the snacks. Well, take your time eating. I'm off." Brrrring— This time, it was Faye's phone that rang. She picked it up. "Hello, may I speak to Ms. Fern?" "Yes, speaking." "Ms. Fern, this is a confirmation call regarding your flight to Norway, booked for one week from today. Your ticket has been successfully issued. You may proceed directly to the airport with your passport on the day of departure." "Do I need any other documents besides my passport?" "No. Just your passport will suffice." "Thank you." She hung up. Kael's expression was puzzled. "Passport? Sera, what do you need a passport for?"
Faye said, "A human friend of mine. She lost her passport. She was asking me how to get it replaced." Kael strode forward and wrapped her in a tight embrace. "You scared me to death. I thought you were planning to go abroad without me." Faye turned her head away and retched. He reeked. The thick, cloying, post-coital scent of Lila was all over him. Kael's face creased with concern as he rubbed her back. "What did they give you to eat this time? I specifically told them your stomach's been fragile. They needed to take care of you... Just wait. I'll fire every last one of them!" This time, Faye shoved him away with every ounce of strength she had. "Fire whoever you want! Just stop using me as your excuse!" Kael was momentarily stunned by her sudden outburst. "Sera, are you angry with me? Because I was busy with pack business all day and couldn't be with you?" He said, "Alright, then. Tomorrow, I'll push everything aside. I'll spend the entire day with you. Just you. Okay?" Faye let out a humorless laugh. "Just me?" "Yes. Just you." Faye drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let's hope you mean that." That evening, out of nowhere, a downpour began. Faye had been vomiting nonstop from the moment she got home. Kael tried to get close to her. Faye rejected him harshly. "Don't come near me. The smell on you makes me vomit even worse." Kael sniffed his sleeve and said, "Maybe you've developed an aversion to my cologne. I'll switch to a different scent next time." "Kael, you know perfectly well. Cologne has nothing to do with it." "Alright, alright. Don't be upset. I won't wear any cologne from now on. Is that better?" Faye splashed cold water on her face and looked up, staring at her reflection in the mirror. And behind her, just outside the bathroom, Kael stood holding a glass of hot water, his face etched with frantic worry. She just didn't understand. Why, when he was drenched in the scent of his intimacy with Lila, could he still put on this flawless performance of loving her? She didn't understand. Kael clearly seemed to care about her, yet he still brazenly, recklessly betrayed their bond. Was it really true, what those elders said? A powerful Alpha playing around with women on the side was nothing, as long as he kept his Luna at home in the dark? He had misjudged her. She wasn't that naive. She wasn't that easy to fool. And she would never abandon her bottom line. Since the bond was no longer wholehearted, she didn't want a single shred of it. The next morning, Kael took her to see the pack healers. After a series of examinations, the healer concluded, "The Luna appears to be suffering from extreme emotional turbulence. It's destabilizing the bond, which in turn is manifesting as physical distress." Kael asked, "Extreme emotional turbulence?" "Yes. The Luna has recently undergone a severe emotional shock. A massive impact. That's what triggered the vomiting." Kael turned to Faye. "Sera, have you been dealing with something upsetting lately? Tell me. Maybe I can help fix it." Faye turned her face away, dodging his proximity. "You can't fix it." "Just try me. There's very little in this pack that I can't fix." Right. And this was one thing that only he could fix. For a split second, Faye almost wanted to ask him. If she and Lila fell into the water at the same time, who would he save first? But then she thought— A person shouldn't place her fate in someone else's hands. Lean on a mountain, the mountain crumbles. Lean on a man, the man runs. She knew how to swim. She could save herself. She no longer needed Kael. In Norway, she had applied to an art school under the name Fern. Years ago, to become a worthy Luna, to support Kael, she had abandoned her dream of painting. From now on, she was going to live for herself. "Sera, how about I take you to a movie this afternoon? There's a new comedy out. It might cheer you up." "This afternoon? Don't you have pack business to handle?" "Didn't we agree? The whole day today, I'm all yours. I'm a man of my word. I never go back on a promise I've made." The next second, his phone rang. He moved to silence it, but after staring at the caller ID for a beat, he hesitated. Faye watched his expression shift in real time. From irritation. To conflict. She smiled. "Take it. Pack business is important." Kael said, "It'll be quick. Just give me five minutes." "Mm." Kael moved to take the call outside. Faye stopped him. "Take it here. It's not like I'd understand your pack business anyway. No need to worry about me eavesdropping." Kael froze, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his face. After a two-second hesitation, he answered. Irritation gathered between his brows. "Didn't I tell you not to call me today? What the hell is it?" She couldn't make out what the other party said. But she faintly heard the sound of a she-wolf crying. Kael, conscious of her presence, spoke carefully. "Fine. I understand. Hold on." He hung up. Facing Faye, his voice was apologetic. "Sera, there's a very important document at Apex that needs my signature. A Council elder brought it over. He's downstairs at the medical center. I'll sign it and come right back. Half an hour at most." Faye nodded. Kael practically ran out of the examination room. The healer smiled. "Luna, the Alpha truly adores you. He's even throwing aside pack business for your sake." "Is that so." Faye's lips twitched. "Excuse me, I need the restroom." She stepped out of the room and saw Kael, too impatient for the elevator, bolting down the stairwell. He had indeed gone downstairs. But the next floor down— Was the pack's maternity and fertility ward. Buzz— Her phone vibrated. Lila: Luna, I'm so sorry. I'm afraid Alpha won't be able to keep you company today after all. One phone call from me, and he'll come running to my side. ;)
Lila's messages kept flooding in, one after another. Lila: Oh, and here. Take a look at this. [Image] My ultrasound report. I'm pregnant. Faye enlarged the image. She finally made out the top line of the report. Wolf pup, 8 weeks. Signs of threatened miscarriage. Lila: Yesterday, we did it countless times on the rooftop. Tried every position. Maybe Alpha was a little too... vigorous. The baby's showing signs of distress. Ugh, it's his fault. He said being with you at home is like being with a block of wood. Boring. With me, he wants to do exciting things. Lila: The healer said whether it's to save the pregnancy or terminate it, it requires the father's signature. So I had to call him down. After all, between your little stomach bug and the continuation of his bloodline, the baby is a little more important, don't you think? Faye took a cab from the hospital. Alone. She went to a law firm run by human attorneys. "Hello. I'd like to retain your firm to draft a divorce agreement." She asked for nothing. The lawyer was competent. Within half an hour, she held the completed divorce papers in her hands. The lawyer explained, "Under human law, his signature isn't required. As long as you live separately for two years, this divorce agreement automatically goes into effect." Faye was walking out with the divorce papers when her phone rang. Kael. "Sera, where are you? I've searched the entire hospital. I can't find you." Faye said, "Waited for you for ages. You didn't come back. So I came home." "Good. As long as you got home safe. I'm sorry, Sera. Some pack matters really did require my personal attention. I might have to travel to another territory for a few days. You take good care of yourself at home. Next week. Next week I'll push everything aside, I promise. Just for you." Faye let out a long, heavy sigh. A lie, told ten thousand times, convinces no one. She felt no emotional fluctuation now. None at all. "Mm. Go ahead." "My Sera. So understanding. Be good. Tomorrow, your husband will be back with moonlace flowers for you." "Understanding?" Faye asked. "Kael, is that what you like? Women who pout and cling and act helpless? Am I too understanding? Too boring?" Kael paused. "Of course not. I love you the most. Whatever you are, that's what I love." "Kael, could you ever fall in love with another she-wolf?" "Of course not." "If you ever betray our bond... I will leave you forever." Kael let out a soft, amused chuckle. "Go ahead and run. I'll lock down the entire territory. Every human airport and train station. As long as your scent still reads as Faye, I will never allow you to leave me." But my passport no longer says Faye. It says Fern. And the Moon Goddess's blessing will mask my scent. Faye's voice hardened. "I'm serious. I have a way to leave you. I have a way to make sure you can't find me." Kael was still laughing, like he was indulging a playful kitten. "Fine. Run, then. I'll give you a three-day head start. Then I'll come find you. I told you. As long as you're still Faye, no matter where you run, I will find you. You can't shake me off." Can't shake you off? Faye smiled. Let's put that to the test, then.
Watch? https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619Nh35Ei4rBv ? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "Novelix" app ? search for "ni874636", and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix