The ballroom air froze.

Ansel shielded me behind him, his Alpha pheromones surging like a storm toward the man at the door. But the man stood like a mountain on a frozen plain—unshaken.

“An arranged bond?” Ansel’s voice shook with suppressed rage, tinged with disbelief. “How is it I know nothing of this? Leah is mine.”

“That’s your concern.” Andrew’s tone was calm, factual. “I’ve already reached an agreement with Marcus Redwood, Leah’s father.”

His meaning was clear: he negotiated with the one who had authority. And that wasn’t Ansel.

“Bullshit!” Ansel roared. “Leah will never leave with you!”

My wolf, Lilith, howled in excitement inside my head.

“Whoa! This one’s strong, Leah—I like him! Look at Ansel’s constipated face, ha! Let’s go with him, now!”

I looked at Andrew, my supposed fiancé.

Tall, broad-shouldered, his strong frame exuded reliability. Long legs, model-like build, sharp features, and those deep gray eyes that carried an air of mystery.

His gaze rested steadily on me—calm, unfathomable. His composure unsettled me.

Just then, a delicate voice broke the standoff.

“Ansel?”

Nancy.

She walked in wearing a white dress, hair flowing over her shoulders. Rushing forward with just the right amount of worry and urgency, her eyes bypassed everyone else to land solely on Ansel.

“I called, but you didn’t answer. I was so worried… What’s going on here?” She hurried to his side, naturally clinging to his arm. Only then did she pretend to notice me, covering her mouth in feigned surprise. “Leah? You’re here too? Today’s your birthday, isn’t it? I’m sorry, I didn’t know Ansel was throwing you a party, otherwise I…”

Her words trailed off deliberately, each syllable a needle pricking my heart.

Ansel’s face softened with Nancy’s arrival.

Her gaze shifted to Andrew, sizing him up politely before offering a harmless smile. “Hello, I’m Nancy, Ansel’s friend. And you are?”

Andrew’s eyes flicked over her face for less than a second before moving away.

The public dismissal flushed her face crimson. Her lips trembled, tears welling quickly as she looked pitifully at Ansel.

“Ansel…” Her voice quivered as though she’d suffered unbearable humiliation.

His protective instincts ignited instantly. He snapped his head toward Andrew, eyes blazing. “You’d better show some respect! Apologize to Nancy!”

Andrew’s reply was glacial.

“I don’t speak to irrelevant people.”

That hurt worse than any insult. Nancy was beneath even the effort of words—like a stray mutt.

“Ah!” Nancy broke down, covering her face, sobbing for all to see.

The crowd murmured, their expressions gleaming with gossip-fueled excitement.

“Enough!” Ansel wrapped his arms around Nancy, soothing her softly. “Don’t cry, Nancy. It’s not your fault.”

He held her like she was a priceless treasure. Then he turned on me, his gaze filled with hate.

“Leah, is this what you wanted? To humiliate me in front of everyone?”

My birthday party—a stage for his declaration of ownership.

I looked at Nancy in his arms. Through her fingers, I caught the glint of smug triumph. She was taunting me.

“Ansel,” she sobbed, “let’s go home. I don’t want to stay here…”

“Alright, let’s go home.” He agreed instantly, not sparing me a glance, holding Nancy as he turned to leave.

I drew in a breath, stepped forward, and shoved the couple’s ring from our first anniversary into his pocket.

“Go,” I said. “Take her home.”

He stared at me in disbelief.

But in the end, he left with Nancy in his arms.

The ballroom atmosphere twisted into awkwardness and unease. Beneath the loud music, whispers flew about what had just unfolded.

Lilith snorted in my mind. “Serves him right! Scum with a green tea bitch—perfect match! Leah, let’s go with the tall one!”

Footsteps sounded behind me.

Andrew walked firmly to stand before me.

He carried a unique scent, unlike Ansel’s invasive cedar. His was colder, cleaner… like the first breath of wind across the ice fields after a blizzard, laced with the salt of the sea.

“It’s the sea!” Lilith exclaimed. “Leah, it’s fresh sea air! Not cedar mixed with rotten strawberries!”

“Miss Leah,” Andrew extended his hand in a formal gesture. “Would you dance with me?”

I stared at his hand—broad, with defined joints, warmth etched in its lines. After a moment’s hesitation, I placed mine in his.

His grip was steady, dry, and strong. He guided me smoothly into the dance. My steps were stiff at first, but his lead was sure, and I soon found the rhythm. We were close—so close I could feel the vibration of his chest against me.

The murmurs around us quieted. All eyes were on us.

When the music ended, he didn’t release me. He looked down, gray eyes unreadable.

“The air here is poor,” he said. “Let me take you somewhere else.”

I nodded.

He pulled me through the crowd, straight out of the ballroom.

His car was parked at the gate of the estate—a black Land Rover, still dusted with traces of a long journey. He opened the passenger door for me, waited until I sat, then walked around to the driver’s side.

The vehicle slid into city traffic.

“Where do you want to go?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” Today had been chaos—I couldn’t think.

“That’s fine. I’ll take you somewhere you’ll like.”

He drove to the city center, stopping before an upscale luxury mall.

“Come on. We’re here.”

I followed him into the mall, straight into a high-end jewelry boutique.

The staff greeted him with immediate respect.

He didn’t browse the glittering displays. Instead, he pointed to the necklace at my throat. “Take it off.”

I froze, instinctively touching the diamond necklace Ansel had fastened around my neck earlier.

“I don’t like my fiancée,” Andrew’s tone was calm but commanding, “wearing another man’s gift.”

Heat crept up my face. Silently, I unclasped the necklace.

He took it from my hand and casually passed it to a clerk—like tossing away trash.

“Dispose of it.”

Then, pointing to a sapphire necklace that shimmered like a river of stars, he said, “That one.”

The clerk carefully brought it out. Andrew took it and fastened it around my neck himself. The gems were cool against my skin, yet unlike Ansel’s diamonds, they didn’t sting.

“This suits you better,” he said.

After that, he led me through nearly the entire mall—clothes, shoes, bags. If he liked it, he had it wrapped without glancing at the price. Most of the purchases were sent to a new address.

He explained the villa at that address was something he had bought in haste for me. Maybe not perfect, but well-equipped, in a good location—a temporary home.

“That’s enough for today,” he said, glancing at my stiletto heels.

When we stepped out, the evening breeze cleared my muddled head.

My hands were empty. He carried all the shopping bags in one hand, the other in his coat pocket. Under the neon lights, his profile looked particularly sharp.

“Why?” I finally asked. “Why are you doing all this?”

He stopped, turning to meet my gaze. For the first time, his gray eyes revealed an emotion I could read—the look of a man in love.

“Whatever Ansel gives you, I can give you something better.” He paused, voice low and steady. “And whatever he can’t give you—I can.”

His words crashed into my mind like a stone thrown into still water, sending ripples spreading endlessly.

“We’ll go back together,” he finally broke the silence, carrying the shopping bags toward his car.

I followed but said, “I still have things to finish. I can’t stay in the villa you bought.”

He stopped, nodded, and accepted my excuse.

“Alright. Then I’ll take you back to your place.”

I didn’t refuse. I needed time to process everything that had happened tonight.

The car started and glided steadily through the night. My thoughts were in chaos—Ansel’s betrayal, Nancy’s provocation, Andrew’s sudden appearance, and his promise.

In my mind, Lilith whispered her fondness for him: “Leah, I like him. His scent is like the clean sea breeze—it makes me feel safe.”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I gripped the sapphire necklace around my neck, the icy touch clearing the fog of my thoughts.

The car stopped at Ansel’s villa. It was completely dark inside, of course—he wouldn’t be here. He was with his beloved Nancy.

I was about to get out when Andrew called softly, “Leah.”

“Can I… hold you for a moment?” he asked, tentative and cautious.

My heart skipped a beat. Lilith squealed in my head, “Say yes! Say yes! Let him hug you!”

Almost against my will, I nodded.

We stepped out and stood in the darkness by the villa. He opened his arms and gently pulled me against him.

I buried my face in his coat, greedily breathing in his scent.

I felt his arms tighten around me. His breath warmed the shell of my ear, and before I could react, his lips pressed down on mine.

The kiss was light, gentle, carrying the weight of something precious. His lips brushed mine slowly, tenderly.

Then it happened—a surge of indescribable energy exploded where our lips met, racing through every vein, every bone. My mind went blank, my body trembling with awe and ecstasy.

“It’s… it’s our Mate!” Lilith’s voice rang out in my head, frantic with joy. “Leah, it’s him! I can feel his wolf—so strong, so warm. I love him! I love this feeling!”

I felt it too. That pull, ancient and undeniable—the Moon Goddess’s blessing itself. So this was what it meant to meet a true Mate: the overwhelming joy of being whole, complete.

Andrew felt it as well. His kiss deepened, growing urgent, as though he wanted more. I didn’t resist. I opened to him, responding instinctively. We clung to each other, lost in that moment, until the violent tremors of our souls finally subsided. Breathless, we pulled apart.

“Leah…” His voice was husky as he spoke my name.

I looked at him, speechless.

He gazed at me one last time, then loosened his hold and stepped back.

“Rest early,” he said quietly. “Call me if you need anything.”

Then he turned, got into his car, and drove off. The black Land Rover soon disappeared into the night.

I stood there, touching my burning lips, stunned for a long time.

Back inside the villa, I went straight upstairs, collapsed on the bed, and pulled out my phone.

I only meant to check the time, but the notification on the screen stabbed my heart like a knife.

[Rising Painter Nancy Seen Crying at Midnight—Trouble in Paradise?]

[Blood Tribe’s Future Alpha Heir Ansel Comforts Mystery Woman—Official Girlfriend’s Place at Risk?]

I clicked in. A blurry photo showed Nancy, covering her face, crying pitifully. Ansel stood by her side, holding her waist, his gaze filled with tender concern.

The comments section was already in flames. Fans and trolls alike flooded in.

“Oh my god, what happened to our Nancy? Who bullied her?”

“It must be that Leah woman! Using Ansel’s girlfriend status to push Nancy around!”

“I always knew Leah was trouble. She must have tricked Ansel, poor Nancy!”

“She’s just an Omega! What kind of tricks did she use to seduce an Alpha?”

Every word was venom. My name was bound with “shameless,” “mistress,” “homewrecker,” as they tore me apart with their malice.

I stared at the screen, then suddenly laughed.

Ansel. Nancy.

Is this what you wanted?

Fine. Let’s play. This show is only just beginning.