Chapter 1 Chapter 1

The day after my first shift, my Alpha mate Marcus Stone couldn’t wait to mark me as his Luna. But later I discovered I was nothing more than a substitute for his childhood sweetheart. Even when I was attacked by rogue wolves and lost our baby, he was by his first love's side. After learning the truth, I decided to leave him completely. He was twelve years older than me, a top-tier Alpha whose territory ranked in the top 5 for power in the Northern Regions. Rumors said he kept his distance from women—almost every beautiful she-wolf in the Northern Regions couldn't shake his cold, commanding presence. Only I was the exception. With me, he acts different. Soft. Gentle. I casually mentioned wanting to see fireworks, and that very night Marcus ordered a sweep of the entire territory for the finest and rarest fireworks. I said I wanted to see the northern lights, but our territory didn't have them. When Marcus found out, he spent 100 million dollars on a luxury private jet, saying he'd take me to Northern Europe to see the aurora. Every anniversary, he would give me an exquisite red haute couture dress and a carefully arranged bouquet of moonflowers. I thought he loved the scent of moonflowers, so even though I was allergic to them, I happily accepted the gifts every time. Until at our mating ceremony anniversary banquet, I saw Marcus's childhood sweetheart Rose wearing a red dress, adorned with moonflower decorations. That's when I realized it was Rose who loved red dresses and moonflowers. No wonder every anniversary, when I wore the red dress he gave me, Marcus would get especially excited and be particularly passionate with me. It was because only dressed like that did I look more like Rose. … So I was just Rose's substitute. This realization left me mentally dazed. On my way home, Marcus's enemies—a group of rogue wolves—surrounded me. Their goal was to kidnap me and use me and the child in my womb to threaten Marcus. They swarmed me, tearing at my arms and legs with their claws. I fought back desperately, but there were too many of them. Soon I was overpowered. The rogue wolves' leader, seeing my fierce resistance would make it difficult to take me quickly, decided to kill me instead. He cruelly drove his claws through my abdomen. Excruciating pain instantly swept through my entire body. In that critical moment, I tried to reach Marcus through our mind-link for help, only to discover the connection was blocked. I immediately called his phone. The call was answered and immediately hung up. But in that brief instant before he hung up, I clearly heard Rose's laughter on the other end. My strength to resist quickly drained away, and I fell unconscious. When I woke up again, the healer sadly told me that my child had been clawed out alive by the rogue wolves and lost his life. I gritted my teeth and didn't cry, but when the healer asked "Do you want to see the baby?" I broke down and shook my head. When I was discharged from the hospital, I immediately drafted a mate bond dissolution agreement. As the pack's Alpha and his mate, we couldn't directly sever the mate bond—we needed to submit a dissolution application that would only be processed after the Alpha Council's approval. Then I called Marcus. Before, he always answered my calls instantly, then asked in a gentle voice: "Baby, what's wrong?" But this time, I called eighteen times, and no one answered. So I went directly to the hunting forest Marcus had mentioned yesterday. Before leaving, he'd told me: "I'm going hunting tomorrow. It's too dangerous there, and you're pregnant, so just stay home and wait for me to come back." At the hunting forest, I finally found him after much searching. Just as I was about to walk toward him, I heard the guard wolves talking: "How destructive is a first love? Rose comes back, and the Alpha immediately abandons his four-months-pregnant mate at home.""Well, his mate is just a substitute anyway. Don't you see how much the Alpha loved Rose back then? When they broke up, he was devastated every day, nearly killed by rogue wolves. He never forgot her all these years, and he brought his current mate back as a replacement.""His mate is still in the dark about it, clinging to the Alpha every day. Last time I saw them embracing tightly, the way she looked at the Alpha so lovingly was really touching. If it were me, I would've forgotten about Rose long ago.""Who can blame the Alpha? He looks cold on the surface, but he's actually a romantic fool who only loves Rose in this lifetime. Look, Rose casually mentioned wanting French food, and the Alpha spent millions of dollars to poach a Michelin three-star chef and created a private kitchen team just for Rose. We get to enjoy the good food too." How ridiculous. I naively thought that chef was specially hired because I was pregnant. I never imagined it was my own wishful thinking—he did it for Rose. I watched Marcus pick up an escargot and intimately feed it to Rose. How laughable—he said he was an Alpha who needed to maintain his dignified image in front of pack members, so he never showed such intimate gestures with me in public. At that moment, Marcus's wolf detected me hiding behind the tree. Marcus suddenly snapped coldly at his Gamma: "Everyone stop talking!" Footsteps approached from that direction, then quickly returned to silence. I crouched on the ground, face buried in my arms, and heard Marcus's voice that I'd been intoxicated by speaking gently from above: "Baby, why are you here? Did you miss me?" I took a deep breath: "I came to ask you to sign the dissolution—" Before I could finish, a woman's voice interrupted: "Marcus, I want steak..." He was silent for a moment, then hurriedly said to me: "Be good, go home first. I still need to discuss the autumn hunt. I'll come back later to keep you company." Then he turned and left. I looked back and saw him walking quickly toward that woman. I smiled. Today finally confirmed my suspicions. After wiping away all my tears, I resolutely went home. Back home, after adjusting my emotions, I prepared two things, both for Marcus. One was the mate bond dissolution agreement. The other was our wolf pup that the rogue wolves had clawed out alive. People who lie to those who love them should suffer. I'm young, but I won't accept this betrayal. I love deeply. But I can also let go completely. I am Serena Cross. I won't keep someone who deceives me. I sat for hours before I finally sent the box by mail. That's when I heard Marcus's car in the driveway. "Baby, why are you still awake?" He took off his jacket and loosened his tie. "What are you doing?" I just looked at him. How was he so good at pretending? Marcus seemed bothered by my silence. He waved to his assistant, who brought out shopping bags. "Didn't you want those purses last week? I bought you the whole set." He pulled out expensive leather bags. Different colors and sizes. All exactly my style. Marcus still knew what I liked. Before today, I would have thought this proved he loved me. Now I knew it was just part of his act. "Why aren't you saying anything? Is the baby making you feel sick?" He reached to touch my stomach. It was flat now. Empty. The baby was gone. I pushed his hand away. I gave him the divorce papers. "Sign these." He looked confused. He was about to read them when his phone rang. Rose was calling. I couldn't hear what she said, but his face changed. After he hung up, he signed the papers without reading them. He grabbed his car keys and headed for the door. "Baby, I have to handle something urgent. Go to sleep." At the door, he turned back. "If you need anything, just ask my assistant. You don't have to find me to sign things. We're mates. What's mine is yours." He signed our divorce papers without even looking at them. I held the signed papers in my hand. I smiled for the first time in days. "Marcus Stone, very soon, we won't be mates anymore."

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

I sent the divorce papers to the Alpha Council by email. For the first time in months, I could breathe properly. My mind went back to when I first met Marcus Stone. I was seventeen. My wolf was new and wild. I couldn't control her yet. During pack training, I ran into a trap made of silver wire. The metal was about to cut into my skin when Marcus found me. He pulled me out just in time. My wolf went crazy for him right away. We looked at each other for what felt like hours. Then I did something bold. I kissed him. He didn't move for a second. Then he laughed quietly. "Little one, you don't know how to do that yet." He put his hand on my neck and showed me how to kiss properly. My heart beat so fast I thought it might stop. That kiss felt like it went on forever. I couldn't breathe. Even now, it seems like something I dreamed up. I woke up with my face wet from tears. Morning light came through my window. I lay there for a long time before I called my dad. "Dad, I sent in the divorce papers." My voice sounded rough. "When the Council says yes, I'll come home to you and Mom.""Did that Stone boy hurt you?" Dad's voice got loud and angry. "You come home right now. I'm a strong Alpha. I can keep my daughter safe.""No," I said, looking outside. "I just don't love him anymore." Really, Marcus didn't love me. And I would never love him again. I didn't say that out loud. The words stayed stuck in my throat like broken glass. After I hung up, someone sent me a friend request. I don't know why, but I said yes. Right away, they sent me a video file. The video showed Marcus in bed. The expensive shirt I made him by hand was ripped up. A button was missing. There were bite marks on his neck. His eyes were closed and he was saying a name. "Rose, don't leave me again." After the video, a photo and long message came. "Hi, I'm Rose. Marcus's real love. I left five years ago, but you can see he still wants me. He remembers everything I like. He breaks his own rules for me. He won't eat with you in front of other people, right? He told me he would only do that with one person in his whole life. Me.""We look the same, don't we? You're just someone to fill my place. Marcus only kept you because you were pregnant. But I'm back now." I read the whole message. My heart hurt so much I couldn't feel anything else. I only wrote back: "What do you want?" She didn't answer for a while. When she did: "I want you to leave him. He loves me. He's going to wake up soon. I bet you one thing - if I ask him to, he'll spend all his time with me. He won't even call you." I didn't write back. Ten minutes later, Marcus texted me: "Baby, there's fighting at the border. I have to patrol for a few days. Call my assistant if you need anything. Take care of yourself and our baby." I looked at my phone and started laughing. Tears ran down my face while I laughed. For seven days, Marcus didn't call or text me once. But Rose never stopped sending messages. "Serena, I know you like fireworks. Sorry you missed the special ones Marcus lit for me today.""He wanted to fly me somewhere to see pretty lights, but I said no. So he got rid of the expensive plane. I guess you can't use it anymore.""Marcus showed me how to catch white rabbits in the snow. We danced together on a frozen pond. He carried me when we jumped over rocks." The message kept going. "He took you to these same places when he was pretending to love you." I stared at all her messages. I realized the fireworks, the plane, the trip - none of it was really for me. The snow fields, the pond, the rocks - I never liked those places. I just pretended to be happy. These were all places Rose loved first. "Serena, so what if you're his wife? The Alpha loves me, not you. His heart belongs to me.""Sorry you have to stay home alone while you're pregnant. After your baby comes, at least you'll have something to keep you busy. Then you won't be so lonely." I read every message she sent. I never answered back. But they made me more sure that leaving was right. On the seventh night after Marcus left, I started packing my things. The matching jewelry he gave me, the gifts from every holiday - everything that meant we were supposed to be together forever - I threw it all in the fire. When Marcus came home, covered in dirt from traveling, half the house was empty. He looked shocked. "Baby, what are you doing?" I didn't look at him. "Nothing much. Just getting rid of old stuff." Marcus didn't seem worried. "You shouldn't do work like that. The servants can do it. I'll get you more help tomorrow." He smiled and gave me a fancy bag. It had cookies from the bakery I liked. I mentioned wanting them once. He remembered. Still being nice and caring. But it just made me sick. "Baby." He put his arms around me. His big hand touched my stomach. "Have you been feeling sick? You have a doctor visit tomorrow. I'll come with you.""No," I said, pulling away. "You don't need to anymore." Marcus finally noticed something was wrong. "What do you mean I don't need to? Are you feeling bad?" One of the servants said, "The Luna hasn't been eating much. She barely touched her food all week." Marcus started taking off his tie. "What do you want to eat? I'll go buy food and cook for you. Please, eat something." As he walked away, he told the servants, "Watch her carefully. Don't let her get hurt or fall down." The servants whispered to each other. "The Alpha is so good to the Luna.""When you look for a husband, find an older man who knows how to take care of you." I listened to them talk. I almost wanted to laugh at how wrong they were. I used to think I had found the perfect love story. Now I knew it was all just a game where I was pretending to be someone else.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Marcus had just left when I heard the doorbell ring. I opened the door and saw a woman with long black hair. She wore a blue dress with white flower pins and held a fancy box of sweets. "Hi, I'm Rose. The one who's been texting you." Four big men in guard uniforms stood behind Rose. These were Marcus's special guards. I only had two guards, but Rose had four. That told me everything about who mattered more to Marcus. Rose smiled in a fake sweet way. "Marcus has been staying with me all week. He forgot something at my place, so I'm bringing it back. You won't be rude to a guest, right?" She pushed past me and walked into my house without being invited. When she saw the white flower garden, she got excited. "My favorite white flowers! Marcus grew so many just for me!" I looked at the red bumps on my arms from being allergic to these flowers. Then I went back inside. I thought Marcus just liked these flowers. But really, he liked the girl who loved them. By the front door, some small birds sat in the sun. "Oh, they're still here!" Rose sounded happy. "I got these birds when I was young. I moved away and thought they died. Bella will be so excited to see them when I bring her next time." She looked at me. "Bella is my cat." I remembered how Marcus fed these birds every single day. My chest hurt. In the living room, Rose looked at the books on the shelf. "These are all books I love to read. I can't believe Marcus saved them for me for so long." She looked around the room. "White couch, brown tables, gray chair - everything matches perfectly. Just like I told Marcus I wanted. Light colors that go together nicely. This looks exactly right." No wonder Marcus picked all this furniture when we went shopping. I kept saying I didn't like it. He always said, "Try something new. You'll learn to like it." But I still hated all this light-colored furniture. Walking behind her felt like stepping on broken glass. This house I'd lived in for two years suddenly felt like it belonged to someone else. In the bedroom, Rose touched the shirts and ties in the closet. "All of these are presents I gave him. He's taken such good care of them." I remembered Marcus washing and hanging these clothes carefully every day. My throat felt tight. So he never let me wash them - not because he was worried about me working too hard, but because these clothes were from Rose. Marcus's voice came from downstairs. He walked in fast, looking upset. Rose put on a sweet smile right away. "I made some cookies and came to share them. Serena was so nice to invite me in. She even asked me to stay for dinner." Marcus looked less worried and said, "This is Rose. She's like my little sister. We grew up in the same neighborhood. She was living in another country and just came back, so you haven't met her yet. Rose, want some tea?""That sounds nice," Rose said. I watched him go to the kitchen and make tea. He knew exactly how to make it, even making the tea look pretty with foam on top. Rose smiled when she took the cup. "Your tea still tastes exactly how I like it. You remember after all this time." All these years, Marcus never forgot Rose. Standing there, I felt like I didn't belong. I looked stupid and out of place. Rose kept playing along with his lie. "Yes, Marcus always looked after me when we were kids. I was sick a lot and got hurt often. I spent lots of time in the hospital. Marcus was afraid my muscles would get weak, so he learned how to do special exercises from the pack doctor. He came to help me every day." My nails dug into my hands. It hurt, but not as much as my heart. After I got pregnant, Marcus did exercises with me every day. He was really good at it. I thought he learned it just for me and the baby. But it was all for Rose. I tried to smile but couldn't. So I said I felt sick and went upstairs. A little later, Rose knocked on my door and came in with a bowl of soup. "Marcus said you haven't been eating much. He had the cook make chicken soup and asked me to bring it up." She smiled like she was being helpful. "Drink it while it's warm." I took the bowl. The smell was strange and bitter. "Oh, one more thing," Rose said suddenly. "You didn't pick the names David for a boy and Emma for a girl, did you? Those are names Marcus and I chose a long time ago." My hand shook and I almost dropped the soup. Those were exactly the names Marcus picked when I first got pregnant. So even my baby would have been used to remember Rose? I lifted the soup and drank it, but right away I knew something was wrong. There was silver dust in it - it burned my throat and made my wolf go crazy inside me. When I saw Rose's big smile, I knew she put something bad in the soup. My stomach started hurting really bad. I fell on the floor and couldn't move or call for help. She wanted to kill my baby, but she didn't know my baby was already dead. Then Rose picked up the rest of my soup and drank it all at once. She fell down next to me and started screaming. The hair on my neck stood up. I felt danger coming, but before I could turn around - Downstairs, Marcus heard the screaming and ran up fast. When he saw us both on the floor, his eyes got really big. "Rose!" He ran to catch Rose when she almost fell, checking her all over. "Are you okay?""I'm... I'm fine," Rose said in a weak voice. "Quick, help Serena..." Then Marcus looked at me lying in blood on the floor. But Rose suddenly "passed out" in his arms, crying, "There was silver dust in the soup. Someone tried to hurt both Serena and me. Marcus, please save us. What do we do?" His voice was scared and worried as he picked up Rose and carried her outside. He didn't even look at me again. I watched them leave as everything went dark. When I woke up, bright white lights hurt my eyes. The doctor was checking her while Marcus stood close by, looking serious. "How is the baby?" he asked the doctor. The doctor looked confused. "The baby? What baby, Luna…"

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I quickly pushed the medicine tray off the bedside table. The crash of pills and bottles hitting the floor made Marcus turn around fast. He forgot all about the doctor and rushed to my bed, looking scared and worried. "Serena, you're awake? Are you in pain?" I shook my head a little and looked past him at the doctor's nervous face. Marcus relaxed then and turned back to the doctor. "Doctor, what were you saying before? I didn't hear you." He felt like he missed something important. The doctor was about to talk when I looked at him and shook my head just a tiny bit. The doctor understood. He just sighed and said, "The patient needs to rest more," then left the room. Now it was just Marcus and me in the hospital room. Marcus looked worried and tried to touch my face. I turned my head away. He seemed to get it and started saying sorry right away. "I'm sorry, Serena. This is my fault. It must have been people who hate me who put poison in the soup. They hurt you and Rose.""Thank God you and the baby are safe. If something happened to you, I could never forgive myself. I promise this won't happen again. Please don't be mad at me, okay?" I looked into his eyes. They looked really scared and sorry. Right then, I felt like laughing at how fake everything was. Everything he said sounded so nice, but what was real and what was lies? "I'm tired." I pulled my hand away and closed my eyes. I didn't want to play this stupid game anymore. While I was in the hospital, Marcus stayed with me all the time. He made food for me himself and fed me with a spoon. He came to every doctor visit and wrote down everything they said. If I moved even a little at night, he'd wake up and ask what I needed. He rubbed my back and arms to make me feel better. But all of this just made me remember what Rose said before: "Yes, Marcus always looked after me when we were kids..." Even the nurses said they never saw a husband take care of his wife so well. But I stayed quiet and sad, looking out the window a lot. Marcus thought it was because of being pregnant and tried even harder to take care of me. On the day I left the hospital, Marcus had made big plans. He had closed off his private hunting area so no one else would be there. His guards stayed far away so I could breathe the clean mountain air freely. In the afternoon, he walked with me through the whole forest. When I looked at pretty flowers for more than a few seconds, he secretly marked the spot. He said he'd move those flowers to my garden the next day. When it got dark, lights suddenly lit up the open area by the rocks. They spelled out "My Only Love" in the dark sky. "Do you like it?" Marcus held my arm from behind. I looked at all the lights in the sky and for a moment felt like I was back in the old days. Back then, Marcus did things like this to make me happy. I felt like the luckiest person alive. But when my hand moved to my empty stomach, all the good feelings went away. "What's wrong?" Marcus felt me get tense and turned me around to look at him. "You've been sad lately. I'm really worried." He held my face and rubbed it gently with his thumb. "Should we talk to a doctor about your feelings? Being sad when you're pregnant is normal. You don't have to handle it alone. You can tell me what's bothering you." Looking into his honest-looking eyes, I suddenly asked, "If I tell you the truth about something, will you tell me the truth too?" Marcus looked surprised for a second, then smiled. "Of course, baby. We're married. We should always be honest with each other." I took a deep breath. "Then let me ask you something. I heard you have someone who really matters to you. A woman you've been close to for a long time." I looked right into his eyes. "So why did you end up marrying me instead of her?" Marcus's expression instantly froze.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

His fingers tightened, knuckles turning white, but in an instant he recovered and gave me a gentle smile. "What are you talking about? You're my destined mate. I love you. I've long since moved on from past relationships." A bitter taste filled my mouth. He lied so skillfully, without even a furrowed brow. He reached out to touch my face, and I turned my head away. This action made his brow furrow slightly. This was who knows how many times I'd instinctively rejected his touch. "Who told you all this?" His tone suddenly turned serious. "Is this why you've been unhappy lately?" Just as I was about to speak, his phone's harsh ringtone suddenly rang out. Marcus glanced at the caller ID, fell silent for a few seconds, then finally chose to answer. As soon as he picked up, Rose's tearful voice came through the speaker: "Marcus! I'm surrounded by rogue wolves. I'm so scared..." Marcus's expression changed drastically: "Send me your location." He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door, not even glancing at me: "Baby, there's urgent pack business to handle. Take a cab home yourself." Driven by some inexplicable force, I followed him. At the edge of pack territory, I watched Marcus shield Rose behind him as he faced four or five rogue wolves alone. He released his Alpha wolf and attacked the rogues, his claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. Each strike carried lethal force, nothing like his usual gentle human appearance. One rogue wolf, driven back by his assault and covered in wounds, suddenly lunged viciously toward Rose, jaws wide open— "Rose!" Without any hesitation, Marcus threw himself forward, using his own body to shield Rose. The rogue wolf's fangs sank deep into his chest, blood immediately spurting out. "Marcus!" Rose rushed over and embraced him, crying hysterically. "Don't be afraid..." Marcus endured the excruciating pain, his eyes full of tenderness and determination. "I promised... I'd always protect you... I'll never break that promise..." Standing at the end of the alley, watching this scene, I felt my heart hurt so much I couldn't breathe. As Alpha of Bloodclaw Pack, he'd always been careful with his body because he bore the weight of the entire pack's responsibility. Even I had shielded him from assassination attempts before. But when Rose was in danger, he completely disregarded his own safety, not even calling for his Gamma guards. Outside the operating room, Rose was in tears: "He's always been like this... Whenever I'm in danger, he appears immediately to shield me. Even when he's covered in wounds, he protects me... When I was sick, he stayed by my bedside for three days and nights without eating or drinking. He's so good to me..." I leaned against the wall, listening quietly. So Marcus, an Alpha who always prioritized the greater good, seemed to care nothing about his mate, child, or even his pack responsibilities when it came to Rose. "One millimeter closer and it would have pierced the Alpha's heart." The healer emerged from the operating room. "Is Ms. Rose here? We need a family member to sign for the surgery." Rose shook her head through her tears: "I'm not family... His mate is over there." The healer looked at me in confusion: "But the patient kept calling out 'Rose,' and when he made his will just now, he said he was leaving pack management rights to Ms. Rose..." She realized her slip and stopped awkwardly. I smiled. Under the nurses' pitying gazes, I signed my name and turned to leave. "Wait!" Rose called out to me. "Aren't you his mate? He's not out of danger yet. Won't you stay to take care of him?" I stopped walking but didn't turn around. "You're the one who should stay and take care of him." My voice was terrifyingly calm. "We're no longer mates. I've already applied to dissolve our mate bond."

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

After returning home, Serena began methodically packing her belongings. She sorted through everything that belonged to Marcus and the Bloodclaw Pack. The armband symbolizing her status as the pack's Alpha's mate, the mate ring worth 100 million dollars, and that mate bond dissolution agreement Marcus had signed himself—all laid out on the table like settling accounts for an absurd dream. Three days later, Marcus was discharged from the hospital. He'd returned to being the cold, commanding Alpha, appearing at the door in an impeccable suit with his tie knotted perfectly. He showed no signs of having been severely injured and near death. "Baby, pack affairs have been so busy lately, I haven't had time to spend with you." He concealed his injury and hospitalization, approaching to embrace me while carrying the faint scent of medical treatment. I knew he was afraid of arousing suspicion, not knowing how to explain, which was why he'd rushed to discharge himself. But what he didn't know was that I'd witnessed everything. I'd clearly seen how he'd risked his life for another woman. "How's the baby been lately?" Marcus suddenly asked, his gaze falling on my abdomen. "Have you been taking your supplements and vitamins on schedule? Your belly seems... smaller somehow." He reached out to touch my stomach, and I instinctively rejected his touch. "I'm not feeling well. Don't touch me." My voice was cold. Marcus frowned deeply and immediately called over an omega servant to ask about my recent condition. Learning that I hadn't been taking the supplements and vitamins, his expression changed dramatically, and he personally went to prepare them for me. "Baby, be good." He held the medicine bowl, his tone so gentle it could melt water. "For a smooth delivery, drink this. It'll prevent suffering during labor." I looked at the pile of supplements and vitamins, about to find an excuse to refuse, when the doorbell suddenly rang. It was Marcus's beta assistant with several Gamma guards, all looking urgent. I recognized them as the Gammas Marcus had specifically assigned to protect Rose. Seeing this, he instructed me to rest well and took them to his study. After the footsteps faded, I immediately poured the supplements and vitamins down the sink. I was about to go back to the bedroom when I heard heated discussion coming from the study. "Alpha, Rose has been poisoned with silver. The healer says she won't last more than a month! Her family has locked her up to wait for death! Her final wish... is to have a Mating Ceremony with you!""Crash"—the sound of a teacup shattering. After an unknown amount of time, Marcus's cold and indifferent voice came through: "I understand.""What do you mean you understand?" a Gamma asked. "I mean," Marcus said word by word, "I will fulfill her final wish." The study instantly erupted. "Are you insane? You want to hold a Mating Ceremony with a dying she-wolf?""Alpha! Get a grip! You have a mate, and your child will be born in a few months!""Have you thought about your mate? Why should she tolerate her mate holding a mating ceremony with someone else?""Aren't you afraid she'll dissolve the bond? Leave you completely?" Among all the protests, Marcus's voice cut through decisively, overriding all opposition. "I'll handle it properly. This matter won't reach Serena's ears.""What if she finds out?" His beta assistant still tried to stop him. After a few seconds of silence, his voice came through. "She'll never know. Even if she did, she wouldn't leave me. She became my mate right after she came of age and shifted. I am her everything. Bloodclaw Pack is her home. She has no other choice.""Besides, she's so pure and kind-hearted, she wouldn't compete with Rose." I stood outside the door, my fingertips digging into the doorframe until they hurt, my chest so tight I could barely breathe. But strangely, there wasn't the expected tearing pain. When disappointment accumulates to its peak, even pain becomes numb. In this moment, I felt with crystal clarity that the Serena Cross who'd deeply loved Marcus Stone was dying bit by bit inside my body.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

Marcus had been unusually busy these past few days. I watched coldly as he left early and returned late, never letting his phone leave his side, the lights in his study burning until dawn. I knew he was meticulously preparing for Rose's "final" Mating Ceremony. On the morning the Alpha Council approved the mate bond dissolution application, I left early to collect the approval document from the council. Besides that, I only packed my pitifully few personal belongings. When I returned home, Marcus was adjusting his tie in front of the dressing mirror. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit with a silver badge pinned to his lapel—it matched the one on the red dress Rose had worn before. "Back from your walk?" He saw me in the mirror and smiled gently. "Baby, I need to patrol the border today. I might be back late. Rest well at home and remember to take your supplements and vitamins on time." He turned around, his long fingers gently caressing my abdomen as he whispered: "Baby, come out soon. Once you're born, your Alpha daddy will personally teach you to hunt." Looking at the tenderness in his eyes, I suddenly felt the irony. Daddy? My heart felt like it had been pierced by an ice pick. He was exhausting himself for a "dying" outsider, yet had no idea that the "child" he claimed to care about had already vanished from this world. This belated "fatherly love" built on lies was so cheap it made me sick. I gripped the mate bond dissolution approval tightly: "I have something to tell you." Marcus paused: "Baby, I need to leave right now.""So urgent?" I asked softly. "You won't even spare me five minutes?" Marcus checked his watch and ultimately refused: "Whatever it is, we'll talk tonight, okay?""Is this matter really that important?""Very important." He answered without hesitation, not even giving me a glance. I laughed. I pulled at the corners of my mouth—that smile must have looked terrible, like crying. "Go ahead," I said quietly. "Don't delay your important business." Marcus seemed like he wanted to say something but ultimately just placed a light kiss on my forehead before hurrying away. Watching his retreating figure, I gently closed my eyes and placed the mate bond dissolution approval on the table. When I left with my suitcase, I didn't look back. The airport terminal was crowded with people. Just as the plane was about to take off and I was about to turn off my phone, Marcus's text appeared: "Baby, I left the supplements warming in the kitchen. I'll come home and watch the aurora with you after I finish my business." What a beautiful promise, what a ridiculous lie. Your "important business" is going to hold a ceremony with another woman, fulfilling her "final wish." And I don't even qualify for five minutes of your time. I've already applied to dissolve our bond. From now on, there's nothing between us. I calmly deleted the message. My fingertips were ice-cold, but my movements were remarkably swift. Then came the sweet photos in my phone album—moments I'd once treasured like jewels, now all seeming like mockery. Finally, his name, his number, every way to contact him—I erased them all completely. Last, I blocked our mind-link, severing the final connection between us. The plane bound for the Northern Territories roared into the sky. The massive thrust pressed me against my seat back. I watched the Bloodclaw Pack territory grow smaller and smaller outside the window, watching this place that had buried my youth and love. Marcus Stone, goodbye forever. From now on, you no longer exist in my world.

Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Marcus's head guard, an old wolf who had served him for years, finally couldn't hold back and spoke again, his voice filled with worry and deep disapproval: "Alpha, have you really thought this through? Holding a Mating Ceremony for a she-wolf poisoned with silver and dying? This... this goes against protocol, against your status and position! How will you explain this to your mate?" Marcus lowered his head, and after a long moment said, "Serena will understand. Rose was my childhood companion. We have deep friendship from growing up together. She's been poisoned with silver. She won't live long, and this is her final wish—a... insignificant wish. I can't let her leave with regrets." He paused, seeming to convince himself as much as giving the guard an explanation, his tone carrying a forceful, almost self-deceptive certainty. "As for Serena... she has a gentle nature and is most reasonable. She will... understand my difficult position. She'll comprehend." Seeing the guard wolves about to say something more, Marcus's voice turned angry. The overwhelming pressure of a top-tier Alpha instantly filled the entire vehicle, carrying icy fury: "Enough! If you don't want to come with me, get out of the car now! I'll handle Serena's side myself! You don't need to worry about it!" The guard wolves fell silent under his rage, forced to swallow all their doubts and unease. In the car heading to the luxury banquet hall that had been hastily converted into a "ceremony venue," Marcus felt an inexplicable panic. My morning appearance clutching a document folder, wanting to speak but stopping, and my cold words "Don't delay your important business" kept flashing through his mind. Thinking of the guard wolves' words, Marcus felt guilt rising in his heart. He pulled out his phone and sent me a message: "Baby, I left the supplements warming in the kitchen. I'll come home and watch the aurora with you after I finish patrolling the territory." I used to reply to his messages immediately, but this time Marcus stared at his screen for a long time without getting a response. The unease Marcus had barely suppressed surged up again. Just as he was about to contact me through mind-link, the car stopped. "Alpha, we've arrived." Hearing the guard wolf's voice, Marcus immediately put down his phone. He would explain everything to me later. Rose didn't have much time left, and her "final wish" was urgent. Right now, Rose was more important. Rose's family servants didn't seem surprised to see Marcus. "Alpha, are you here to see the young miss? She's been unwell lately and isn't convenient to see visitors." Hearing "unwell," Marcus's eyes darkened, his tone turning cold. "Lead the way. No more nonsense." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the Alpha's irresistible pressure. The servant didn't dare block him further and immediately led the way. In the main hall of the Rose family estate, Rose looked at her wedding dress with no sign of weakness from silver poisoning on her face. "Rose, will this really work? You're pretending to be dying to trick the Alpha into holding a mating ceremony with you. If we're exposed, we'll be punished by the Alpha." Rose's father looked worried, seeing no movement until now. Just then, a servant came to Rose's side and whispered something. Rose's face showed a triumphant expression. "Dad, don't worry. The Alpha is here. Once we drive Serena Cross away, the Alpha's mate position will be mine." Hearing Rose's words, her father nodded in relief. "The Alpha is here to see the young miss." The servant's announcement rang out, and Rose quickly put on a sickly appearance, her eyes filling with tears. Just then, the door opened and Marcus's voice came through. "Rose, I've come to take you to hold the mating ceremony. Don't worry, I've arranged everything properly." Rose's father, getting Rose's signal, immediately grabbed Rose's hand and deliberately raised his voice: "Alpha, why are you still coming here? Rose was injured by your political enemies and poisoned with silver. Her life is ending. It's all because of you." Rose's father extended his hands as if to drive Marcus away. Rose struggled to stop him, "Dad, don't blame the Alpha. I don't blame him. I asked him to come. My dying wish is to hold a mating ceremony with the Alpha. As long as the Alpha fulfills this wish, I'll die without regrets." Seeing Rose's condition, Marcus immediately rushed forward and pulled Rose into his arms. "Don't say foolish things. You'll be fine. I've already arranged everything." After speaking, Marcus immediately lifted Rose in his arms and strode toward the ceremony venue. Marcus arranged a grand mating ceremony for Rose. They kissed like true mates, marked each other behind the ears, and even completed the vows. When the ceremony ended, Rose seemed to suddenly remember something and said with feigned surprise: "Marcus, you held a mating ceremony with me. Serena won't be unhappy, will she? It's all because of me, and she's carrying your child. Should I come back with you to help explain?" Marcus thought of my previous questions about Rose. He was afraid I would misunderstand. "No need. You're tired today too. Rest well. Serena isn't the type to be unreasonable. She'll understand my position." Since Marcus said so, Rose couldn't say more. Though she really wanted to see my expression when I learned that Marcus had held a mating ceremony with her. After sending Rose home, Marcus deliberately detoured to the territory's edge to buy my favorite premium venison from an old hunter before walking into the living room. "Look what I brought you? Fresh deer meat, later we can..." His voice stopped abruptly. The living room was completely empty. The lights were pale, illuminating a room of silence. The figure he expected to see was nowhere to be found.