The gifts kept getting more and more expensive, as Leno kept using them to remind himself that it was me he loved.

He told himself he wouldn't become a scumbag like his father. But there was no denying it—he was already drawn to a younger, prettier she-wolf.

I calmly accepted Leno's gifts, even pretending to "accidentally" bring up more of the promises he had once made.

In just two weeks, the gifts I received were worth more than the compensation Elisa paid me.

Leno's guilt toward me slowly diminished with each day's gifts, while his pity for Elisa kept growing. He even started playfully teasing Elisa in front of me.

Elisa, being in her 20s like him, could give him the youthful passion of a peer.

…

"Go from the south side—the guards won't check your luggage," I said as I handed the pass and luggage to Beta Toby, my Alpha father's Beta.

"The Alpha has asked when you'll be coming back," Beta Toby said.

"Next month. Tell my father to convert it into supplies as soon as possible. It has to be fast!" I urged.

After watching Beta Toby leave, I returned from the forest. Inside the luggage I gave Beta Toby were all the gifts Leno had given me recently—each one could be exchanged for significant funds and supplies.

While Leno was still suffering from amnesia, I intended to reclaim every bit of the Black Wolf pack's resources he had taken.

When I returned to the cabin, I happened to catch Elisa clinging to Leno and playing around. The moment he saw me, Leno shoved her away and looked at me nervously.

I avoided his gaze and casually sat by the window, looking out at the scenery.

"Flora, let's go home together tonight. I even got a gift for Lucas," Leno said.

When he mentioned our pup, a cautious smile appeared on Leno's face.

Elisa stared from the side, gaze fixed on us.

"I still have pack duties to take care of. You can give him the gift yourself," I said languidly.

Leno's expression slowly darkened as he stared at me, unwilling to look away. "Flora, I've been trying to win you back for half a month now. Even ice should've started to melt by now," he sneered.

The sudden coldness in Leno's tone reminded me a bit of the man he was before the amnesia.

I shrugged indifferently. "It's not like I asked you to."

Leno kicked over a stool and stormed out of the cabin.

Outside the cabin window, I saw Elisa throw her arms around Leno, refusing to let him leave. Leno lowered his head and gave her a rough, aggressive kiss.

Even though I had decided to give up, that scene still pierced my heart like a blade. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably as I staggered away from the cabin.

The two wolves, locked in their passionate kiss, didn't even notice I had gone.

For 20 whole years, I had poured my heart and soul into helping Leno realize his dream and build a pack of his own.

As the princess of the Black Wolf pack, I gave up a life of comfort to fight alongside him in the forest.

When he was exiled and had given up on himself, I gave him resources and helped recruit people to his cause.

Later, we established a pack together, claimed our own territory, and expanded the pack.

Leno came home less and less often—until the day he asked me to break our mate bond.

In 20 years, we had gone from deeply in love to bitterly resenting each other. We even wished the other would just die.

…

One day, I said, "Leno, let's break the mate bond."