Chapter 2

Lily's sobs grew louder as her words trembled.

"Serina, what do you mean... Are you trying to drive me away?"

She turned to Aiden in desperation, her eyes pleading. "Aiden, what should I do? You promised me..."

Aiden's brows furrowed as he looked at me, his tone carrying the weight of an Alpha's authority, though a trace of weariness lingered beneath it.

"Serina, do you really have to escalate this to such an extent?"

Before I could explain myself, the voices of my former companions rose in harsh condemnation.

"Serina! This is too much!"

"Where's Lily supposed to go if you kick her out? An Omega alone out there—it’s too dangerous!"

"What if something happens to her? Can you really live with that?"

Chloe stepped forward, her face full of feigned concern as she pleaded on Lily's behalf.

"Let it go, Serina. Look at her—she’s so heartbroken, so pitiful..."

I looked at Chloe, feeling a cold numbness sweep over me.

I had once risked my life to save her, infiltrating an enemy rogue pack's den to bring her back safely. She had cried then, swearing she would never forget what I’d done for her.

Now, here she was, standing against me, defending the girl who had kissed my fiancé.

"Chloe, no matter how close we were, this is my personal matter. Besides, I'm moving out soon. This house—"

Before I could finish, Aiden interrupted me.

"Enough, Serina. Chloe is only trying to be fair to Lily."

He spoke softly as he comforted Lily, yet his gaze toward me was sharp and accusing.

"In the end, you’re still holding a grudge about what happened between Lily and me. But she’s been through enough. If you have a problem, take it out on me. Don’t make her the target."

The unrelenting accusations drained me of any will to explain myself. I turned to leave, intending to head upstairs.

But Lily suddenly lunged forward, grabbing my arm with tear-filled eyes.

"Serina, please don’t be mad at me anymore. I promise I’ll never speak to Aiden again..."

Her grip was tight, her nails nearly digging into my skin.

Instinctively, I shook her off.

I barely used any force, yet Lily fell heavily to the ground.

I reached out to help her up, but Aiden shoved me back, his voice sharp.

"Don’t touch her!"

It was the first time I had seen him lose control like this. Pain shot through my chest.

"Aiden, my ankle... It hurts. I think I twisted it..."

He cradled Lily in his arms as though she were the most precious thing in the world.

When he turned to look at me, his expression was filled with deep disappointment.

"You know how crucial stable limbs are for an Omega's survival, yet you still let your jealousy hurt her."

Without another word, he carried Lily out of the room, his steps resolute. At the door, he paused, but he didn’t look back. His voice was low and icy.

"Serina, you’re a disgrace to the pack."

It felt as if an icy spear had pierced my heart, the cold spreading through my veins.

I straightened my back, refusing to let myself collapse.

The others exchanged uncertain glances before most of them followed Aiden out.

The last to leave was a young guard who had been one of Lily’s admirers.

As he passed me, he deliberately muttered loudly, "She’s just bitter that Lily’s more popular than she is. A washed-up old woman trying to compete—disgusting."

My eyelashes fluttered as I struggled to maintain my composure.

Later, Aiden called me while I was meeting with the Mayfair Elders Syndicate.

"Elder, I want to apply to leave the clan and join the Lunar Heritage Society," I said.

The elder looked startled. "But aren’t you set to formalize your bond with the Alpha soon? Why would you apply for something like this?"

I forced a bitter smile. "There won’t be a bonding ceremony. Aiden and I... It’s not going to happen."

"What did you just say, Serina?"

I realized my phone call with Aiden had somehow connected.

The elder motioned for me to take the call.

"It’s nothing," I said, trying to sound casual. "Just background noise from a movie."

Aiden was silent for a long moment, as if weighing the truth of my words.

Finally, he seemed to accept it. His tone was calm, yet distant.

"Your silver bullet necklace was left at my house. When are you coming to pick it up?"

Seven years ago, during a mission, he had shielded me from a hunter’s silver bullet, the projectile missing his heart by mere inches.

Afterward, he had crafted the bullet into a necklace and placed it around my neck himself, his voice gentle as he said, "From now on, my heart belongs only to you."

For seven years, I had cherished that necklace as a treasure.

Now, it stirred no emotion in me at all.

"Just keep it for now," I replied indifferently. "I’ll deal with it later."

After hanging up, I resolutely finalized the paperwork to leave the pack and applied for an overseas assignment with the Lunar Heritage Society.

The elders, aware of some of what I had endured, didn’t try to dissuade me.

When I returned home, exhaustion overtook me, and I fell into a deep sleep.

When I awoke, Aiden was sitting by my bed.

His voice was hoarse. "You’re awake? I just wanted to check on you and... bring this."

He gestured to the silver bullet necklace on the table.

I glanced at it but didn’t move to pick it up. "You didn’t have to go out of your way to bring it over so late."

He shook his head. "This necklace is different. It holds meaning."

"Every time I see it, I think about everything we’ve been through together... All the storms we’ve weathered, and now we’re fighting over something so trivial. It’s not worth it."

Memories of the past surfaced.

Him braving a snowstorm late at night to buy medicine for me when I was sick, nearly getting into an accident.

Him rushing back from a border patrol, defying the elders’ orders, just to stay by my side when my father passed away.

Him declaring to the entire clan that I was his pride when I was awarded the Warrior’s Medal.

Those moments had been so beautiful.

I shifted slightly, my body aching with visible bruises and wounds.

But he seemed blind to it, only saying, "Lily’s mental state has been fragile because of the pack’s gossip. She’s unable to fulfill her duties for now."

"Can you go to the elders and explain that it was all a misunderstanding that day? Let her return to her work, please?"

I looked at him steadily. "Aiden, in what capacity would I do that? As your destined mate? Because I no longer wish to marry you."