Kya POV

I didn’t stay to watch Owen’s performance. Instead, I hurried back home.

I prepared a beautifully decorated gift box, placing all the photos inside before locking it shut.

It wasn’t until 11 p.m. that Owen finally came back, carrying a faint scent of alcohol.

“Kya, I’m sorry I got home so late and couldn’t join you for dinner. You have no idea how busy it is to prepare for the Moon Goddess Festival. I got you a cruise ship—are you excited to see it? ”

He walked over to the bed and kissed me on the forehead, displaying more affection. I forced a faint smile.

Was it really work? Or was he busy tangling up with Lina?

Even though he always shut down our link before meeting her, even though he scrubbed the scent of her roses from his body after every sex.

He couldn’t erase all the evidence of his betrayal.

Sometimes, it was a stray hair on his clothes.

Sometimes, it was a hickey in a private spot.

Even now, when he undressed and headed into the bathroom, I saw a scratch mark on his hip. It was definitely not from me.

After his shower, Owen climbed into the bed beside me. I sat up and handed him the gift box from the nightstand.

“I prepared a gift for you too.”

As I passed him the box, he didn’t notice the missing wedding ring on my finger.

But when he accepted the box, the joy and love in his eyes still seemed real.

“What is it?” He fiddled with the lock, trying to open it.

“It’s a secret. I’ll give you the key on the day of the Moon Goddess Festival,” I said, pressing his hand to stop him.

“Kya, you’re so good to me. I love you.” He hooked an arm around my neck, nuzzling his head against the crook of my shoulder, and drifted off to sleep.

I returned the box to the nightstand.

It truly held a secret.

***

The following day, Owen woke up early, as always. He was brimming with energy.

Yes, full of energy—how else could he manage his double life? Or perhaps it was Lina who had injected excitement into his days?

"Good morning, sweetheart. I made your favorite strawberry cake," Owen said, feeding me a bite and gently wiping the strawberry jam from the corner of my mouth with his thumb.

"Let me take you shopping today. I want my woman to be the most dazzling star at the Moon Goddess Festival."

"Alright."

I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want any dress, but I couldn’t say no.

We walked into a high-end boutique.

"Alpha Owen, Luna Kya," the designer greeted us politely. "It’s been a while since I’ve seen you both."

"My mistake. I’ve been so busy with work this year that I haven’t taken Kya shopping for a long time," Owen replied.

He certainly had been "busy" this year, though not because of work.

Owen’s apologetic tone earned praise from two women in the store.

"Alpha Owen is a role model for all the men in our pack!"

"Exactly! It’s never about men not having time—it’s about not loving you enough to make the time! Even as an Alpha, he still finds time to take his mate shopping!"

Hearing their comments, Owen smiled at me and held my hand tighter.

I glanced at him. Perhaps he was a role model for men. After all, wasn’t having multiple wives and mistresses a dream for many of them?

"This dress matches your red hair perfectly! Try it on," Owen said, holding up an emerald silk gown against me.

He knew my size and preferences perfectly. Who else could know me better than him?

"Alright." I smiled, turned away, and sighed softly.

But any fleeting warmth I felt was quickly interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Hi, Luna Kya."

Lina stepped out of a fitting room, wearing a deep V, seductive red gown, and greeted me proactively.

Lina was a nurse at our pack hospital—sweet-looking and curvy. There was no way her nurse’s salary could afford the clothes in this store. But she had already paid with her body, and the person footing the bill was right here.

Owen was watching me and Lina nervously.

I merely nodded at her and shut the fitting room door, cutting off any chance for her to start a conversation.

When I came out after trying on the dress, I saw Owen helping Lina zip up the back of her gown.

I said nothing, but Owen immediately looked flustered. He hastily pulled his hands away. "Lina’s zipper got stuck, and she asked me to help."

"Why don’t you help me zip it up instead, Luna Kya?" Lina said with an innocent smile, playing coy with me.

"Lina…" Owen pulled her back slightly, likely realizing her request was inappropriate—or perhaps just feeling awkward being caught between his mate and mistress.

"It’s fine, just a small favor," I said, smiling at Owen.

His expression relaxed.

"I don’t know if it’s because my chest is too full or this store’s dresses are only designed for stick-thin models. I’ve tried so many, but none fit properly," Lina said, deliberately puffing out her ample chest.

I knew she was mocking me but didn’t respond to her provocation. Before becoming Owen’s mate, I had spent a short time as a model.

What was there to argue about? In ten days, it wouldn’t matter whether Owen slept with Lina or with someone like her, who had a curvy figure.

When you decide to discard something, there’s no point in fighting for it.

"Do you like this green dress? If you do, we’ll get it. I’ve made a reservation at a restaurant, and it’s almost time for lunch," Owen said, holding me close, eager to leave the store.

I could feel Lina’s expression darken as she watched Owen wrap his arm around me and lead me out. The hatred in her gaze was palpable.

After leaving the boutique, our driver took us to the restaurant.

I clutched my chest and leaned against the car window.

Even though I’d already decided to walk away from all this, why did my heart still ache so much?

"What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Owen leaned over, cupping my face in concern.

"I’m fine. Maybe I haven’t been resting well lately," I replied.

"I’ll prepare some aromatherapy for you tonight to help you sleep."

The love in his eyes was overwhelming. Maybe he hadn’t fallen out of love—he’d simply split his heart in two.

Just then, Owen’s phone began to vibrate.

He shifted slightly away from me, discreetly replying to the message while stealing glances at me.

The buzzing then became more frequent.

Kya POV

I knew it must be Lina messaging him.

She resented me because Owen still chose me, even now. Was that resentment born from her love for Owen, or was it just the cheap rivalry that sometimes arises between women?

I didn’t know. I didn’t want to dig deeper.

For three months, my anger and hatred had slowly cooled and fermented into numbness.

This is what people mean when they say the heart has died.

In the middle of messaging, now Owen received a phone call. It was Beta Ash.

After a few short exchanges, Owen turned to me and said, "Ash said he caught some rogues. They’re locked in the dungeon now, and I need to go check it out. I’ll have the driver take you home first."

"It seems like there’ve been more rogues recently," I said

"Yes. Ash and I are investigating. We’re not sure why," Owen quickly explained, adding, "But you don’t need to worry about these things. I’ll protect you."

"Go ahead. Be careful!"

Seeing that I wasn’t questioning him, Owen cheerfully had the driver stop the car by the roadside.

Before getting out, he didn’t forget to say, "Wait for me tonight—I’ll join you for dinner."

Once Owen got into another car, I turned to the driver and said, "Don’t head home yet. Follow him."

The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, then nodded. He had been a silent witness to this affair—neither siding with me nor Owen.

Owen did indeed go to the dungeon, but he stood at the entrance without going inside. He was waiting for someone.

I had the driver park the car in a wooded area near the dungeon.

Soon, a black car pulled up at the dungeon entrance. To my surprise, Ash and Lina got out.

She was dressed in a tight black dress and red stockings. The dress was so short that it barely covered her hips. She immediately threw herself into Owen’s arms, clinging to my mate like a limp rag doll.

Owen scooped her up and hurriedly carried her into the dungeon.

I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms.

He certainly knew what spot to pick–who would suspect him of meeting someone in the dungeon?

I let out a cold laugh and used my mind-link to contact a dungeon guard. I asked him to monitor Owen’s actions in the dungeon for me.

I had known this guard before becoming Owen’s mate.

Soon, the guard sent me a video.

When I opened it, I saw a luxuriously decorated room that clashed starkly with the dungeon’s usual gloom.

The center of the room contained a transparent glass shower, a large bathtub, and a massive round pink bed surrounded by whips, ropes, candles, ice cubes, and other things I couldn’t even identify.

Moments later, Owen carried Lina into the room, tossed her onto the bed, and used his teeth to tear off her red stockings.

My hands trembled, and even my teeth chattered. When I heard Lina moan, I quickly closed the video.

"Luna Kya, shall I take you home?" the driver coughed lightly, breaking his usual silence to ask me.

Through blurry eyes, I glanced at the rearview mirror. The driver seemed to want to say more but couldn’t find the words.

"Let’s go," I said.

Shouldn’t I have expected this? Why am I upset?

I rolled down the car window, letting the wind dry my tears. I took a deep breath and gasped for air like a fish about to drown.

So this was the type of woman Owen liked and

I thought Owen was a very traditional man.

***

Three years ago, during the Moon Goddess Festival, when Owen discovered that I was his mate, he didn’t mark me right away or make love.

Instead, he took me for diving to see the stars beneath the sea.

"You’re lying. There are no stars in the sea," I had said, thinking it was just one of his tricks to charm women.

But I still followed him.

When we swam to the bottom of the sea, he took my hand, pointed upwards, and gestured for me to look.

A swarm of glowing jellyfish swam above us, twinkling like a sky full of stars.

I had turned to look at him, and through the visor of my diving mask, I could see the starlight in his eyes.

My tears had blended with the seawater.

A month later, he held a grand wedding for me on a tropical island.

That night, we made love for the first time on a bed covered with flowers.

He marked me and whispered in my ear over and over,

"Kya, you are mine. I love you. I will always love you."

That night, I believed that eternal love was real—just like stars could exist in the sea.

I thought Owen was different from my father.

But after seeing the video, I didn’t know if it was because I didn’t understand men—or because I didn’t understand him.

***

"Stop here."

As we neared home, I asked the driver to pull over.

"Luna Kya..." the driver began.

"Just go back, I have something to take care of," I interrupted.

I got out of the car, feeling disoriented and nearly losing my balance. Then, I hailed a taxi.

"Take me to the used car market," I said.

Kya POV

When I returned home from the used car market, the servants had already prepared dinner.

Owen didn’t come home for dinner as promised but called me. He always called ahead when he came home late.

As an Alpha, he always had various excuses. Now, I could no longer tell which ones were legitimate or just excuses for his affairs.

"Kya, the rogue attacks have increased these past few months, and the crime rate is rising. The dungeon rooms are running out. Ash and I are working on expanding the dungeon. I’ll be home later tonight, don’t wait for me." Owen said sincerely on the phone.

He was indeed busy expanding the dungeon but not to imprison criminals—to create a hidden and thrilling place for his affairs.

"Mm, you handle your things." I replied plainly.

"Kya, you’re so understanding. I love you."

His words made me feel sick to my guts, thinking he might be in the dungeon right now with Lina in his arms. It felt like her scent was seeping out of the phone, making me so disgusted that I almost threw up.

I quickly hung up the call.

Later that night, Owen sneaked back home.

When he opened the bedroom door, I was lying in bed, wide awake.

"Why aren’t you asleep?" He seemed a bit flustered.

This fluster came from guilt after his affair and maybe also from some concern for me.

I stared at him intently, and he sat on the edge of my bed, gently touching my face.

"You said you’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, right? After finishing my work, I specifically went to get this water lily aromatherapy for you. The scent specialist said it takes a thousand water lilies to make this small bottle. I promise you’ll sleep well tonight."

He pulled an aromatherapy bottle from the box, lit it, and placed it on my nightstand.

A half-truth is always easier to deceive with than a pure lie.

He surely didn’t go to buy it. His Beta did when he might be busy fucking Lina.

"Would you like me to massage your shoulders?" Owen continued trying to please me.

"No, the aromatherapy smells nice. I already feel sleepy." I closed my eyes, but only until Owen fell asleep.

After that, like many other nights, I just stared at the ceiling until dawn as if my fate had been written there.

***

"Did you sleep better last night?" Owen asked as soon as he rose.

"Mm," I smiled and nodded.

"I told you the aromatherapy would work. I'll buy more today. Or maybe I should just open an aromatherapy store for you," Owen said, doting on me.

"No need to go through so much trouble."

In five days, I wouldn’t need any of this.

"Kya, doing anything for you is never a hassle! It only makes me feel happy."

I suddenly remembered something my mother once said: if you can deceive someone for a lifetime, that might be love.

When I first found out about Owen’s affair, I had tried to convince myself of the same thing. But I couldn’t do it.

After breakfast, Owen mentioned that Alpha James and Alpha Travis would be coming to Pack today to discuss a business collaboration project.

"They specifically asked me to take you to play tennis this afternoon. You should really get out more and exercise."

Later in the afternoon, when I arrived at the tennis court in my baseball skirt, James and Travis waved excitedly at me.

"Kya, still as radiant as ever!" James said.

"You look so beautiful today!" Travis said, even more enthusiastically kissing my cheek, only to be pushed away by Owen.

"Go kiss your own mate, Kya is mine!" Owen held me tightly in his arms like a trophy.

James and Travis were my groomsmen at the wedding. They had even written a song and choreographed a dance for it.

Those warm memories brought a little life back to me.

But perhaps because of my emotional state, my wolf had become very weak recently.

Less than half an hour into the match, I tripped and fell.

"Kya, are you okay?" Owen quickly dropped his racket and rushed over to me.

"I'm fine, just a little scrape on my knee," I smiled.

Owen immediately hugged my right leg and blew on my knee.

"I'll take you to the hospital."

"No need, it's just a small scratch. Don’t you remember, I have Alpha blood in me, it’ll heal quickly."

James and Travis also came over.

"You guys please keep playing, I'll just head home and rest for a bit."

"I'll take you home," Owen said, picking me up.

"No, James and Travis rarely get together, you stay and play with them."

"Owen is still so considerate! You two are still so in love," Travis patted Owen on the shoulder.

Is that so? I sneered inside but didn’t say anything.

My marriage with Owen is nobody else’s business, and I didn’t feel like explaining anything to Travis.

The driver took me home, but halfway there, I realized I had left my phone in the tennis court’s changing room.

I asked the driver to turn around and return to the court.

As I walked into the changing room to get my mobile, I I heard Lina’s sharp laugh from the lobby area.

I wanted to avoid her, but other voices, along with her, compelled me to peek out.

To my surprise, it was none but Owen, James, and Travis. Owen had his arm around Lina’s waist.