I emerged with the document signed by the Dycan King and handed it to Byron.

He shot me a scornful glance, clearly assuming I had successfully invited the King, and reached out to open it.

But I placed my hand over his, smiling gently. "Look at it tomorrow. It’ll be a surprise."

Byron glanced at me. "How boring. Whether I look today or tomorrow, it's all about our bonding ceremony, isn't it?"

"You're acting strange today. Are you so excited about becoming my mate that you've lost your mind?"

I was, in fact, very happy.

Because I can finally see you alive again.

I smiled. "I think you're the greatest wolf in the world. Any she-wolf would be happy to be your mate."

"Let's go home," he snorted, turning to leave.

If I didn't know the truth, I might have thought he was being shy.

On the drive back to the Ironwood Pack, we passed through the bustling commercial district.

I rolled down the window and heard a few she-wolves on the roadside excitedly discussing something.

"I heard today is the day of the Moon Goddess's blessing! You can see a once-in-a-century aurora from the observatory on North Mountain Peak!"

"Legend says that mates who see the aurora together will be blessed by the Moon Goddess with a lifetime of health, peace, and love!"

This brought back a memory from my past life.

I had heard similar news and had eagerly asked Byron to take me to the observatory.

Back then, Byron had looked at me with a cold, mocking gaze.

"Those are just stories for pups."

"How old are you? You still believe this stuff?"

"Do you think two complete strangers who happen to see the aurora together can stay together for life?"

"There's nothing between us but profit and coercion. There's no love."

"The Moon Goddess will not bless us."

Those words shattered my beautiful fantasy.

That icy glare from my past life still sent shivers down my spine.

I silently rolled up the window.

But this time, Byron spoke in a flat tone.

"Want to go?"

"I can take you to the observatory to see the aurora tonight."

"After we bond, I'll be busy with Pack affairs and probably won't have time to visit your parents' graves with you. Consider this compensation."

I looked up at him in surprise.

It was unexpected, yet perhaps not so unexpected.

Byron had always been like this—all harsh words and a surprisingly soft heart.

Even though he didn't love me, he had still risked his life to save me three times.

The first time was right after my first shift.

I couldn't fully control my wolf yet and nearly fell into a hunter's trap lined with silver spikes.

Byron saved me but fell in himself, suffering grievous injuries.

The tendons in his right leg were corroded by the silver.

To save his leg, the healer had to cut away the rotted flesh, and he almost lost his right to inherit the Ironwood Pack because of it.

The second time was while we were inspecting new territory.

I was swept away by a mudslide containing silver ore.

Byron rushed into the danger zone and tore apart giant logs with his bare hands to save me, only to be buried by a second collapse.

If the patrol team hadn't arrived in time to dig him out, he would have died.

The third time, a rival Rogue pack invaded the core territory of the Ironwood Pack.

He took the blow meant for me.

I escaped without a scratch, but the Rogue wolf's claws pierced his chest.

Byron was so good to me, but he didn't love me. That was the cruel truth.

I knew that after today, our paths would never cross again.

Even if we saw the once-in-a-century aurora together, the legend wouldn't come true for us. We wouldn't spend a lifetime together.

But I held back the tears welling in my eyes and forced the brightest smile I could muster.

"Okay, let's go see the aurora together."

Halfway home, someone stopped our car.

It was Caleb, the Gamma Byron had assigned to look after his first love, Cassia.

Caleb walked toward our car, his face etched with panic.

"Alpha, Cassia got hurt in a fight at the bar. She's asking for you."

Byron's brow furrowed immediately, and he got out of the car without hesitation.

"Cassia is hurt and needs me. You go home first. I'll pick you up for the observatory tonight."

I nodded. "Okay."

He seemed a little surprised.

"You used to hate it when I went to see her. Why so understanding now?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but he sneered before I could speak.

"Right, I forgot."

"We're about to have our bonding ceremony. I guess she's no threat to you anymore."

He got out of the car and walked away, his back hiding the pain I knew was in his eyes.

In truth, I had never really stopped him from caring for Cassia.

There was only that one time.

Byron's parents and I had personally witnessed Cassia kissing a strange, middle-aged wolf on the street.

Afterward, they went to a motel together.

Later, I used the Dycan King's intelligence network to find out that Cassia had been privately embezzling Pack funds.

She was not the innocent, harmless she-wolf Byron thought she was.

That was when I started desperately trying to keep Byron from getting too close to her.

But he knew none of this.

In my past life, she'd harmed herself, causing her wolf to weaken until she finally died. He grieved her for ten years.

If I had to choose, I would rather see him happy with Cassia than watch him endure endless torment and ultimately die for me.

I submitted my application for a travel permit.

As a core member of the Ironwood Pack, I needed official documents to travel freely to other territories.

Only then did I go home.

My adoptive mother, Marian Ironwood, had personally prepared dinner, a whole table of my favorite dishes.

I habitually took off my coat and draped it over Marian's shoulders.

"It's getting cold, Mom. You need to take care of yourself."

Marian looked at me, beaming.

"Althea, you're always so thoughtful."

"Did you tell the Dycan King that you and Byron have set a date for the bonding ceremony?"

"We've waited for this day for so long. You're finally going to bond with Byron. Soon, I'll be able to officially call you my daughter."