Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I had proposed to the chairman of the Werewolf Council, Tyler Kingsley, a hundred times. Each time, I stood at the entrance of the Office of Werewolf Mate Affairs, waiting for him to show up. He would always randomly show up with his lover at a dating hotspot. Sometimes, it was Magic Moon Amusement Park, sometimes the Blood Musical Theatre, and even the Office of Werewolf Mate Affairs. They would be bonded today and have it broken tomorrow, allowing them to experience singlehood and the thrill of quickly gaining a temporary mate. What I dreamed of, others got effortlessly. I turned off my phone and sat by the roadside waiting for a car to leave. After a long time, the car still hadn't arrived, but I received a call from Tyler. As soon as I answered, his voice pierced through the phone like an icy blade. "You're still not home this late? You're my future mate, yet you're staying out all night. Have you even considered how I feel? Where are you right now?" he asked. I stayed silent. In the past, I definitely would have caved and humbly explained my situation. But now, I didn't want to say a word. On the other end of the line, Tyler was clearly impatient. With a hint of anger, he said, "Ginny, are you mute or something?""I'm at the entrance of the Office of Werewolf Mate Affairs," I replied. Tyler went silent. Perhaps he finally remembered that one vow he had personally made—as long as I proposed to him 99 times in front of the Office of Werewolf Mate Affairs, he promised he would appear on the hundredth time, accept my proposal, and hold the marking ceremony with me. But today, he went to a music festival with Vivian Lowe. "Wait… Wait for me. I'll drive over to get you," he said. The call ended, and I canceled my ride. It wasn't because I actually expected him to come, but because the weather suddenly changed, and a heavy snowstorm came down. I stood at the street corner, shivering all over from the cold. Even my phone, due to the sudden frost, died after just three hours. And yet, Tyler never came. Before my phone shut down, the last message I saw was a post from Vivian on the werewolf social networking platform. The attached photo was of her and Tyler at The Sky Restaurant in Centrum City's tallest building. Tyler, dressed handsomely, gazed at Vivian with a gentle expression. The caption read, "Being able to watch the snowfall with you at The Sky Restaurant in the tallest building, overlooking Centrum City, is utterly romantic." When the screen went dark, I smiled. On the very day of my 100th proposal, he chose to attend a music festival with Vivian and dine at a high-end restaurant. Meanwhile, I stood in the snow all night, but he never showed up. I spent the best seven years of my youth waiting for him to fulfill his promise and say, "You are my fated mate. I want you to be my one and only." But in the end, I became nothing more than the most convenient plaything in his life. Tyler, I won't wait any longer. On that rare snowy night, I didn't go home. Instead, I dragged my frozen body and trudged for two hours until I reached the nearest hotel where I could rest. Tyler never sent another message that night. The next morning, I went early to the Werewolf Council Office, ready to hand in my resignation.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Tyler was the highest-ranking Alpha in the Werewolf Council Office and had all of Centrum City under his control, whereas I was just the most insignificant secretary beside him. I had been following him ever since he was just an intern officer at the Council's lowest level, and even now, I remained inconspicuous. Tyler probably wouldn't even notice if I disappeared completely. Just as I was about to sign the final stroke of my resignation forms, Tyler suddenly appeared behind me. His scent was all too familiar to me and my wolf, but I calmly switched screens as if nothing had happened. He stared at me as he coldly asked, "What are you writing?""Nothing. Just some business coordination documents," I replied smoothly. He frowned slightly, seemingly not noticing anything strange, then turned and walked into the inner office. "Ginny, come with me for a moment," he said. As soon as Tyler called me away, whispers from my colleagues began to ripple through the office. "She's done for. Ginny's getting scolded by Alpha Tyler again." Throughout the entire Werewolf Council Office, everyone assumed Vivian was his fated mate. But no one knew, or realized, that during the Moon Goddess Festival, Tyler had personally placed the Ring of Oath on my finger. In the office, Tyler frowned as he looked at me. "So, I didn't pick you up. Was it really necessary to throw a tantrum like this and not even go home?" he snapped. I shook my head slightly. "The snow was too heavy. It was inconvenient to go back." That was both the truth and an excuse. The real reason was that I didn't want to go back anymore. Rather, I wanted to leave him for good. He didn't seem to notice the shift in my emotions. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "Regarding the proposal, I'll say yes." Then, he handed me an invitation. "Let's go together tonight." It was a front-row ticket to the Ancient Silver Strings Orchestra—my favorite. I understood that this was Tyler's attempt at some form of compensation. I hesitated for a moment but still accepted the invitation—after all, it was something he owed me. Upon seeing that I remained silent, he opened his mouth again as if he had more to say. Just then, a sharp ringtone interrupted his thoughts. He quickly answered, and his expression shifted before he rushed out of the office. I knew it was his beloved Vivian calling. After all, only she had the power to make Tyler, chairman of the Werewolf Council, drop everything. After he left, I printed out my resignation, which I had already prepared, and went to find Vice Chairman Carter Reeves. Carter was visibly shocked by my resignation request. "Ginny, are you resigning because of Alpha Tyler?" he asked. I pressed my lips together in silence, suddenly finding it all a bit laughable. Everyone thought I was resigning because I couldn't handle Tyler's scolding or our private conversation. No one knew about our previous relationship, and that I had chosen to leave only after my love for him had been completely worn away. I nodded silently. After a pause, Carter finally signed the approval. As I left the Werewolf Council Office, I ran into Tyler and Vivian at the entrance. When he saw me, Tyler's gaze turned icy. "Ginny, if there's something you need, wait until after work." With that, he walked past me with Vivian in tow. As he passed, his eyes carried a warning. I simply said nothing. … That evening, I arrived at Silver Strings Theater on time and alone. The theater was packed—except for the seat meant for Tyler, which remained empty. Before this, every time he invited me somewhere, I would always wait for him to arrive before entering together. Now, I no longer waited. I sat down alone and listened as the ancient melodies slowly began to play. Until the final note played, Tyler still never showed up. However, I wasn't angry. Five years had passed since I'd made a mistake, so why should I cling to the last trace of warmth? Whether or not he saw that resignation letter, it wouldn't change my decision to leave. After leaving the theater, I didn't go home. Instead, I wandered around, my wolf with me all the time. The cold wind swept through the night, and the streetlamps cast long shadows under my feet. Just as I looked up and saw the first firework bloom in the sky, my wolf Nini, spoke up. "He's no longer our mate. Let's go. I'll always be with you until we find your true mate." The night sky was blanketed in a rain of brilliant fireworks. I loved to watch fireworks, but right now, I couldn't feel a trace of happiness. Of course, how could it be easy letting go of a man I deeply loved? At that moment, my phone began ringing nonstop.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

It wasn't because Tyler was worried and messaged me. It was because, in celebration of Vivian's birthday, he had set off silver-blue fireworks at the Moonlight Festival that could be seen across Centrum City. It had even made it to the front page of the Werewolf World Council Gazette. … I didn't return home until early in the morning. The lights were on in the living room, and Tyler was fast asleep on the couch. Was he waiting for me? In the five years we had been together, he had always come home completely drunk. I had always feared he might get into an accident while drunk, so I would call him countless times. I would also worry that too much drinking would affect his health, so I always prepared a hangover cure in advance. Tyler had told me countless times that he didn't like me doing these things, his reasoning being that it made him feel like he was getting old. Perhaps he heard the sound of me opening the door, but as I felt my thoughts drift away, he suddenly opened his eyes. The moment he saw me, he leapt up and rushed over, pulling me into a tight hug. "Where did you go? Why didn't you answer me? Did you know I already called the cops?" he questioned anxiously. I froze for a moment, then pulled away from his embrace. "My phone froze and broke that snowy day when I was waiting for you, so I didn't get your call." Upon hearing me mention the snow, Tyler seemed to recall what had happened that day too, and a rare trace of guilt flickered in his usually sharp gaze. He pursed his lips before awkwardly pulling out a wolf fang-shaped jewelry box and handing it to me. I took it instinctively and opened it, only to see a moonstone engagement ring inside. I suddenly froze. Once upon a time, I had imagined it countless times—on a moonlit night, Tyler would appear at the entrance of the Office of Werewolf Mate Affairs, take my hand, and slide a ring onto my finger. But that was in the past. Now, my heart was as calm as a still lake. I quietly closed the lid and placed it on the table, saying, "Thanks." Tyler stared at me, frowning, as if he couldn't understand my indifference. "What's going on…" I glanced at him, somewhat detached. Maybe in his imagination, I should have gasped and cried upon seeing the ring, and then put all my grievances and unhappiness behind me. At that thought, I smiled mockingly and said in a deliberately perfunctory tone right to his face, "Oh wow, I'm so touched. Are you satisfied now?" I thought he would give up at that point, but I didn't expect him to grow angry and humiliated. "Ginny, all I did was take Vivian to see the Werewolf Council Office. Plus, I already agreed to be your mate, so how long are you going to keep making a fuss?" I wasn't intimidated by his stormy expression and stayed calm, replying, "You misunderstood. I'm just tired." His expression finally shifted. It was the first time he truly sensed my distance from him. Tyler bit his lip and reached out to grab my hand, but suddenly, his phone rang shrilly, cutting off his motion. It was a call from Vivian. He glanced at me, about to explain, but I spoke first. "You're busy with your work. There's no need to explain. I understand everything." I sounded so understanding that it caught him completely off guard, unsure how to respond. He gripped my hand tightly, as if trying to figure out what I was really thinking. However, the ringtone kept getting louder and sharper. In the end, under my gaze, he let go of my hand. "For the 101st proposal, I'll go to the Office of Werewolf Mate Affairs in person." With that, he hurriedly left. I went back to my room to rest as if nothing had happened and slept the most peaceful sleep I had had in five years. Once I completed the handover of my duties and left Centrum City's Werewolf Council, he would never be able to find me again.