Chapter 3

That night, faint sounds came from the next room.

I lay in bed, staring into the darkness.

The subtle noises, like sharp stings, pierced my ears again and again.

Rebecca's delicate laughter, Jason's low responses, and the faint creak of the mattress.

But even sharper was the blurred sensation transmitted through the Mate Bond—ripples of pleasure, the intertwining of their scents.

The spot where Jason had left his Mark began to burn with excruciating pain.

I clutched the sheets, my nails digging into my palms.

A sharp agony erupted from the depths of my soul, instantly spreading through my limbs.

My Alpha, my Mate, was at this moment, in my house, next door, entwined with another woman.

I rushed into the bathroom, dry-heaving, but nothing came up.

In this vast mansion, they were just a wall away.

I grabbed my jacket and drove to the lakeside villa.

It was a home my mother had left me.

I wasn't sure if this distance would stop the pain from the Mate Bond, but at least here, I wouldn't feel sickened by their affair.

Sitting by the cold lake, the night wind made me shiver, but it brought a slight relief to the burning in my chest.

I felt a little dazed.

Once, if I merely turned over in bed, Jason would immediately wake up, pull me into his arms, and ask, "What's wrong? Had a nightmare?"

If I said I couldn't sleep, he would get up to warm me a glass of milk, or simply chat with me until I felt sleepy again.

I also remember the year my mother first died, my wolf soul was often restless.

He would wrap me in his scent, patiently comforting me.

He truly loved me then.

But that love had still vanished.

Perhaps I was too busy, too busy to respond to his every approach.

I remember the last time Jason and I argued. It was when I had worked for several days straight on a project and missed a long-planned trip.

He lashed out at me for the first time, calling me a cold-blooded work machine, saying I only cared about work, didn't need a partner, and wasn't worthy of being his Mate.

I was somewhat bewildered then.

I was just trying to make things better for them, to make our two Packs stronger, just like my mother did. What was wrong with that?

Isn't that what a competent Luna does?

Supporting two Packs was busy and exhausting. Everything left no room for me to overthink.

By the time I came back to my senses, everything had become like this.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Jason: "My father and I took Rebecca on vacation to relax. Transfer six million over to me."

I replied "Okay," as I always had.

Then I messaged Sarah Jenkins, the financial assistant for the company, giving them unlimited spending authority.

Since I would no longer be the company's manager, whether they spent all the money was no longer my concern.

The night wind was cool. I hugged myself.

From now on, I would only live for myself.