For the next seven days, Raelor truly did not return, just as he had said.

Nevertheless, I still knew exactly where he was. Seraphine’s pack forum was filled with updates.

Aside from attending prenatal guidance sessions, the two of them checked in at various scenic spots, tasted desserts Raelor had once claimed he disliked, and stood side by side watching the sunrise.

I saw a version of Raelor I had never known.

He behaved like an ordinary male wolf. He would smooth her hair back into place, bend to tie her shoes, show not the slightest impatience, and never once carry that air of superiority he always wore.

So it was never that he did not know how to do those things. He simply did not want to do them for me.

With a bitter smile, I shut off my communicator.

The faint warmth still lingering in my chest finally cooled completely.

…

I had not been idle these past few days.

Raelor and I had lived together for years, and there were countless belongings. I spent three full days clearing everything out.

During that time, I also returned once to my old home in the outer territory and told my parents that I would be leaving for the Obsidian Pack’s Nightfall Healing Order. For the next few years, we might not be able to stay in contact.

After hearing this, my father, Brennar Ashwyn, set down the tools in his hands, his brows tightly drawn. "Isn’t your Marking Ceremony with Raelor next week? Leaving now means giving up the position of Luna."

My mother, Elira Ashwyn, held my hand with worry in her eyes. "Freya, think this through. Raelor is the Alpha. If you disappear without a word, he may issue a pack search order. He might even sever ties with you completely."

I understood their concern.

For the past twenty years, my devotion to Raelor had been known throughout the pack. More than once, my parents warned me that Raelor’s ambition outweighed his affection. They told me to leave myself a path of retreat.

Back then, I believed that as long as I did well enough, he would eventually look back at me.

Now, I was the one choosing to let go.

I did not mention Seraphine being marked or carrying a pup. I only said that I wished to pursue higher healing arts.

In the end, my father lowered his head and patted my shoulder. "As long as you don’t regret it."

After returning to the residence, I asked my friend, Lyndra Shadowfen, to help me move the packed belongings.

We made several trips, carrying everything to an abandoned mine pit and throwing it all in. The residence became empty.

Lyndra stood still, staring at the bare walls. She remembered the night Raelor announced he would hold the Marking Ceremony with me. I had dragged her to the bonfire and drank with her until dawn, saying my wish had finally come true.

Now, so soon after, I was preparing to vanish completely.

"Are you serious?" she asked, her face full of worry. "I thought you were just speaking out of anger when you said you were canceling the ceremony. You chased him for twenty years. Now you’re suddenly letting go. What happened?"

I told Lyndra everything that had occurred over the past month: the marking, the pup.

Lyndra kicked at Raelor’s portrait with force. "Ungrateful dirtbag!

"You saved his life more than once. You helped him all these years. And before your Marking Ceremony, he goes and marks another she-wolf? And expects you to accept it? What the hell is he thinking?"

I looked around at the hollowed-out home. Something inside me felt hollow, too.

Five days remained before the marking.

I submitted my resignation letter to the elder in charge of the pack’s Healing Sanctum.

To stay by Raelor’s side, I had once given up the opportunity to study at Obsidian and remained in this remote Silvermoon Pack as an ordinary Healer.

The other Healers were shocked when they heard I was leaving.

"Why so suddenly, Freya?"

"Just a few days ago, you were giving us gifts. Are you planning to focus on being Luna and stop practicing medicine?"

Holding the wooden box that contained my notes, I shook my head. "No. The ceremony has been canceled."

Their mouths fell open in surprise. They tactfully asked no further questions, but the pity in their eyes stung.

By the time I returned to the residence, night had fallen. I pushed the door open.

Raelor and Seraphine were back.

They were sitting on the sofa, speaking in low voices. Seraphine laughed brightly, her smile blooming like a flower.

Raelor noticed the wooden box in my hands and asked instinctively, "What are you carrying that box for?"

"Just some discarded medical records," I replied casually. "I brought them back to burn."

Raelor nodded. His gaze swept across the now-empty room, confusion flickering in his eyes. "I’ve only been gone a week. Why does it feel like so many things are missing?"

I placed the box in the corner and answered calmly, "I just cleared out some unnecessary clutter."

Raelor seemed about to say something, but Seraphine spoke first, "Freya, thank you for being so generous. Thank you for agreeing to let Raelor accompany me to human territory, and for letting him try on the ceremonial robes with me. You helped me fulfill a dream."

There was a faint trace of pride in her tone.

"To thank you for taking care of us, I’d like to treat you both to slow-roasted stag haunch tonight. Oh, and Raelor asked me to move in. I hope we can get along well."

I glanced at the luggage stacked in the corner. I had only just emptied the space, and she was already moving in.

My nose stung slightly, but I still nodded. There was no point in engaging in meaningless conflict.

In five days, I would be leaving this territory forever. Right now, I only wanted to finish the loose ends before I left.

Seeing my silence, Seraphine’s eyes reddened instantly. Tears shimmered along her lashes.

"Raelor, is Freya upset? If she doesn’t want to join us, it’s fine. After all, you two are about to complete your Marking Ceremony. It really isn’t appropriate for me to move in…"

At her words, Raelor’s brows drew together at once. He looked at me with displeasure. "Seraphine sincerely wants to thank us. Why are you making that face? It’s just a meal. She can’t handle emotional stress in her current condition."

Before I could even speak, Raelor had already judged me guilty.

In the end, he dragged me along to the pack’s grillhouse.

The server came to ask what cuts of meat we preferred.

Before I could open the menu, Raelor spoke first, "No strong herbs. Cook the meat thoroughly. And none of the dishes should be bitter."

When the dishes were served, Raelor carefully cut Seraphine’s meat into small pieces with a knife. Then he pushed a plate of freshly grilled fish toward me.

"Seraphine can’t have river-caught fish while she’s carrying. I ordered this for you."

I looked at the steaming plate and set down my fork.

"I’m allergic to river-caught fish," I said.

Raelor’s hand froze midair.

In the five years we had been together, I had broken out in rashes more than once from accidentally eating river-caught fish. Once, I even went into shock. Each time, I treated myself.

I thought he knew. Now I understood. He had never remembered.

Yet he knew Seraphine’s dietary restrictions by heart. Even small details like avoiding bitter food were etched into his memory.

How ironic.

Raelor hesitated. When he looked at me, a trace of awkwardness flickered across his face. He called the server back and ordered several more dishes.

I did not touch my fork again and simply drained the water in my cup.

Raelor assumed I was sulking and did not bother with me.

After the meal, we walked out of the grillhouse.

The wolf communicator at my waist vibrated.

It was Master Eryndor.

"Freya, I need to confirm once more. Have you decided to participate in this research as planned? This project involves countering the damage silver weapons cause to werewolves. If successful, you will be remembered in our history. But the cost is that you will have no contact with the outside world for six months."

My gaze settled on the two figures walking side by side ahead of me.

Raelor was carefully guiding Seraphine down the steps, his hand hovering protectively at her waist.

My voice was calm. "I’ve decided."

Eryndor exhaled in relief. "Good. I was worried you wouldn’t be able to part from your Alpha."

I withdrew my gaze and turned in the opposite direction. "I haven’t told you yet. The Marking Ceremony has already been canceled. I’m ready to leave."

The words had barely left my mouth when a confused voice sounded behind me.

"Who’s leaving?"

Raelor had just helped Seraphine into the carriage and happened to walk back in time to hear my last sentence.

Raelor’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

I realized he hadn’t heard what I said earlier, so I made up a reason on the spot. "Lyndra will be leaving the pack soon to travel."

Raelor nodded and did not ask further questions. It was clear he did not care about the answer. In his mind, my social circle, especially my friends, had never mattered.

Four days before the ceremony, a human photographer sent Raelor the edited travel footage of him and Seraphine.

On the sofa, the two of them leaned against each other like intimate mates.

"Raelor, does this shot look good? The lighting feels like the Moon Goddess’s blessing," Seraphine said softly.

"Mhm. The photographer handled the light well. It looks sacred. It suits you," Raelor replied in a low voice indulgently.

Just then, I returned from outside.

When Raelor saw me, he hurriedly pushed Seraphine away. His movements were slightly flustered. A trace of awkwardness flickered through his eyes before he quickly regained composure.

"Freya, you’re back just in time. Take a look at the video we filmed." Seraphine blinked at me with wide, innocent eyes.

I glanced at the floating projection.

In the footage, Raelor was wearing the ceremonial robe meant only for a Marking Ceremony. He looked handsome and imposing, while the she-wolf beside him nestled into his arms with a radiant smile.

I forced a faint smile. "It does look good."

That photographer and tailor were the very ones I had worked hard to secure. Now they were dressing someone else as the bride.

Raelor froze. He had not expected me to show no jealousy at all, much less praise Seraphine so generously.

Seraphine continued chattering.

Raelor, however, fell silent. His gaze remained fixed on me because he suddenly realized that I had not taken the initiative to speak to him for a long time.

During the week he and Seraphine stayed in Spring Valley, I had not sent a single message. I had not even used the Mind Link.

I had been too quiet. Unnaturally quiet.

Seraphine was still talking excitedly on the projection, but Raelor’s attention was entirely on me. An inexplicable unease rose in his chest.

Two days before the ceremony, I went to the Healing Sanctum to collect some spare moonlight herb.

I did not expect to run into Raelor and Seraphine in the rest chamber. She had just finished a pup examination.

Raelor stepped out to speak with Chief Healer Halven Gray. Only Seraphine and I remained inside.

Seraphine looked at the cup in my hand. It held Moon Spring water supplied exclusively to the pack.

"Freya, I heard Moon Spring water is good for the pup. May I have a sip?" she asked gently.

I did not wish to create trouble, so I handed the cup to her. She took it and turned her back to me to drink.

I had not even had time to leave when suddenly she clutched her abdomen. The cup fell from her hand and shattered against the floor.

"Ah! It hurts! My stomach!"

Her shrill scream drew Raelor in immediately.

He rushed inside and saw Seraphine collapsed on the floor while I stood nearby.

Seraphine was drenched in cold sweat. She pointed weakly at the spilled water. "Raelor… the water Freya gave me… it smells like wolfsbane… save our pup…"

Chief Healer Halven followed closely behind. He dipped a finger into the water on the ground. His fingertip instantly blistered and decayed.

"It is wolfsbane! How could wolfsbane appear inside the pack?!"

Every gaze in the room locked onto me.

Seraphine pointed at me, her expression full of pain and accusation.

Before I could defend myself—

Smack.

A loud slap struck my face.

Raelor’s palm stung from the force.

I staggered backward several steps. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. My cheek burned.

In the twenty years we had known each other, this was the first time he had ever laid a hand on me, and for another she-wolf.

Raelor’s eyes were bloodshot as he shouted at me, "Freya! How can you be so vicious?! I knew something was wrong with you these past few days. So this is what you were waiting for!

"I’m warning you now. If anything happens to Seraphine or the pup, I will make you pay with your life!"

He lifted the unconscious Seraphine and rushed toward the emergency chamber like a mad wolf.

Before leaving, he turned back to look at me. There was nothing in his eyes but disgust and hatred, not a trace of the affection that once existed.

I covered my swollen cheek and stood there with reddened eyes, and then, unexpectedly, I laughed.

Good.

Very good.

That slap severed the very last thread tying my heart to him.