I hadn’t returned to Lunarclaw Manor for three days, and Rowan hadn’t even bothered to check if I was alive. The last time we fought about Selene, I’d stayed at my best friend’s den for a few days, to gather my thoughts. He must’ve assumed I was throwing tantrums, and, as usual, didn’t want to deal with it.

Then Selene called him, her voice trembling through the line. "Rowan, there’s a storm rolling in tonight, and the moon’s hidden. I’m terrified. Can you stay with me? I don’t want to be alone."

I saw Rowan’s grip on his phone tighten, then relax. He said, "Selene, I’m still married. It wouldn’t be right for me to come to your cabin."

For a moment, I thought he might actually make the right decision. But then, like clockwork, he added, "But you could come to Lunarclaw Manor. Luna isn’t home."

Even Selene sounded surprised at that. "Are you sure, Rowan? What if she comes back? How would we explain ourselves?"

I almost snorted. She knew exactly what she was doing, playing innocent like a seasoned actor.

Rowan brushed it off easily. "What would we need to explain? This is my territory, and you’re my friend. Luna doesn’t control who stays here."

He was so sure of himself. "Besides, she’s not coming back."

Selene paused for a beat, her breath catching. "How do you know?" She quickly masked her suspicion, adding, "I mean... did she get mad again?"

Rowan nodded. "Yeah. On our 10th anniversary, I told her I was going to see you."

He sounded exasperated. "I’m so tired of her jealousy. We’re just friends, but she’s always suspicious! I chose her, didn’t I? Married her. But it’s never enough for her. Unlike you, Selene. You’ve put up with so much over the years and never asked for anything. I should be the one apologizing to you."

I could hardly contain my amusement. Who celebrates their 10th wedding anniversary by meeting up with their ex? And to think, that was the day I died.

Next year, Rowan, will you celebrate your anniversary or mark the day of my death?

Selene wasted no time rushing over to the manor, her steps light as she practically threw herself into Rowan’s arms. "Rowan, it’s so dark and eerie outside. I’m scared."

I rolled my eyes from the shadows. It’s dark every night. I had never seen her rattled before.

Rowan held her close, his strong arms reassuring. "You’ve got nothing to fear. I’m here." His hand traced soft circles on her back, trying to calm her down.

To reassure her even more, he pulled out a bundle of candles. "I bought these just in case. Even if the storm knocks out the power, we’ll have light."

Selene sighed dramatically, leaning further into him. "You’re always looking out for me, Rowan. You’re my hero."

It was getting late, and Selene wanted to freshen up before bed. She headed into my bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Of course, she raided my skincare stash, casually using everything I had without a second thought. She left the bathroom a mess, caps unscrewed and bottles knocked over.

She smirked at her reflection. "Luna won’t care. She’s not coming back anyway."

I watched her silently from the mirror, my ghostly form undetectable as she played with my things. Thunder rumbled outside, and with the flash of lightning, a figure shimmered on the floor. Selene screamed, dropping a bottle, and called out for Rowan.

He burst through the door, his wolf senses heightened, ready to protect her like the Alpha he was. He swept her into his arms, holding her close, letting her shake against him.

"Isn’t this a bit... dangerous?" Selene whispered, glancing around the room as if expecting me to materialize at any moment. "What if your mate comes back?"

Rowan shrugged, his gaze cold as he stared at the storm outside. "I don’t care if she does."

The lightning illuminated his face, casting deep shadows across his features. "If she shows up, she’s got no right to say anything. If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t have stayed away, and we wouldn’t have missed all those years together."

He spoke with a certainty that sent chills down my spine. "You don’t have to worry about her, Selene. If she dies out there, it’s no skin off my back."

Alright, Rowan. Your wish is my command. Let’s see how indifferent you truly are when you find out what happened.

It was late at Silverfang Pack headquarters. The task force hadn’t let up on my case, not once, as if determined to solve what had happened to me—or, perhaps, what I had done. They’d been at it for days, scrutinizing every trace, every scent, every lead, unwilling to give up the search. The stale smell of coffee hung in the air, tinged with the scent of stress as Caden finally called for a break. Exhaustion was etched into his face, but Rowan merely nodded, his expression as unbreakable as ever.

Rowan stretched, heading toward the food counter as if on autopilot. Phoenix, one of his colleagues, nudged him with a lopsided grin. “Hey, Alpha Rowan, what’s a big shot like you doing here, queuing up for food with us?” He chuckled, adding, “Where’s your Luna tonight? Didn't she usually bring you something, some home-cooked meal or whatever?”

Rowan’s face twisted, and his grip on his cup tightened. “Why bring her up?” he muttered, his voice barely a whisper. “It’s disgusting.”

The casual banter halted immediately, a shadow falling over the group. Caden, noticing the tension, tried to defuse the moment. “Hey, it’s been a while since we saw her around. I remember she used to stop by whenever you pulled an all-nighter. Used to spoil you with snacks too, right? And half of those snacks ended up here anyway, in my gut.”

Rowan gave him a hard look, one that silenced any further jokes. “Those snacks, huh?” he sneered. “Glad someone enjoyed them.”

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, glancing at Caden as if to say, Did I say something wrong? Then he turned to Rowan, now in a more serious tone. “Alpha, is everything alright? Is she… missing?” The hesitation in his voice betrayed genuine concern.

Rowan let out a snort. “Missing?” He laughed, but there was no humor in it. “If she had even a sliver of fight in her, I might actually respect her. She was like a shadow, an annoying pup always underfoot. But now? Now it’s been two days of blissful silence. I can actually think.”

Little did he know, I was there, watching from the shadows—an invisible figure, no longer bound by the ties that held me close to him. I smiled to myself, imagining the shock that would cross his face when he realized the peace he’d longed for was now permanent.

Just then, a patrol wolf burst into the room, his face ashen, clutching a file to his chest as though it weighed him down. He made his way to Caden, voice almost a whisper. “Sir… we’ve received an identification report on the remains found near the northern border.”

Caden held out his hand, and the patrol wolf hesitated, his gaze flicking nervously toward Rowan. He cleared his throat. “Perhaps… perhaps Alpha Rowan should hear this first.”

Rowan raised an eyebrow, looking up from his coffee. “Me? I have no business with this case. You know that.”

But Caden’s eyes didn’t waver, his expression uncharacteristically tense. “Rowan, when was the last time you heard from your mate? Has she… contacted you recently?”

Rowan waved a dismissive hand, his patience thinning. “She messaged me just a few days ago. Just another one of her nagging texts, I’m sure.” He shrugged, oblivious to the worry etched on his comrades’ faces. “What’s this about?”

Caden took a step closer, his tone grave. “Rowan… has it been more than three days?”

Rowan’s face dropped as the words sank in, like a blow he hadn’t braced for. The realization hit hard, cracking the indifference he’d worn like armor. He straightened, his hands curling into fists. “What are you trying to say, Caden?”