Chapter 1

"Luna Seraphina, are you certain you wish to proceed with the breaking of the mate bond? Once we begin the ritual, the bond between you and Alpha Kaden will be gone forever. Your power, your standing, and everything you hold within the pack will no longer exist."

The aged priest of the pack held Seraphina’s hand, her weathered eyes reflecting worry.

Seraphina nodded, her voice unwavering with determination. "I’m sure."

The priest persuaded Seraphina, "The ritual will bring you unimaginable pain, and Alpha Kaden will suffer greatly too. Please, could you reconsider it?"

Seraphina broke the skin of her finger with a silver pen and pressed her blood print on the ancient werewolf script to seal the deal. "Let’s begin."

"Very well. After the ritual, you will forsake the name, Seraphina Mor, and in return, the Moon Goddess will grant you a new life. You will go by Kathryn Flint, is that correct?"

"Yes."

Kathryn would leave and begin a new chapter in a forest. It was a path she had set out for herself.

She was going to leave and break free from the pack that had been nothing but lies.

After the ritual, the priest handed her a new human ID and passport.

"Can I leave the territory now?"

"Yes, you may. The confirmation slip holds the Moon Goddess’s blessing, which has the power to mask your scent from the Alpha seeking to track you, but it can only last for a week."

Seraphina prepared her departure with haste. She would bring nothing else with her, neither her Luna staff nor her registered name on the pack’s records.

Seraphina was leaving with her new passport in a week anyway. The Luna title could remain with the pack for good, for she no longer needed it.

Chapter 1

With a new passport in hand, Seraphina Mor walked out of the altar, right across from the iconic Zenith Tower, the landmark of Silverbend.

Alpha Kaden Crest's exclusive interview played across the building's enormous screen.

Picking up on the alpha's body language, the host asked with a smile, "Alpha Kaden, I notice you've been fiddling with your ring, but it looks just like any other ordinary moonlight silver band. Is there a story behind it?"

With a tender smile, Kaden held up his hand to show the ring to the host. "This is the token that represents my mate bond. Forged from moonlight silver that the Moon Goddess blessed, the material poses no harm to my kind in its purest form. In fact, it can bear the weight of a mate bond."

"Oh? I must apologize. For someone of your standing, I expected something far more extravagant, perhaps embellished with antique gems."

Kaden replied, "I crafted the ring from moonlight silver for my Luna when I shifted for the first time. I spent hours grinding it and engraving our initials on the inner band."

"Oh my, I can see two letters. K and—"

Kaden jumped in. "S. My Luna's name is Seraphina Mor."

"She's one lucky Luna. I bet she must've saved the entire wolf pack in her last life to become your fated mate."

Kaze responded, "I must have been the savior of the entire galaxy to have been blessed by the Moon Goddess with her as my Luna."

The passersby practically sighed in envy.

The only exception was the she-wolf in question.

Seraphina merely smirked.

It was true that she and Kaden once shared a bond. It began the night they met under the moonlight as teen wolves and lasted fifteen years. At the time, they ruled together as Alpha and Luna.

In the eyes of the pack, they were the perfect match blessed by the Moon Goddess.

That was until two months ago.

Through the mate bond, Seraphina picked up on the intense ecstasy from Kaden, a feeling that didn't come from her.

It was an unfamiliar, raw, and primal sensation. Soon after, Seraphina received a magical projection from an unidentified sender.

The footage portrayed Lyra, a young she-wolf. With her lingerie leaving nothing to the imagination, Lyra showed off the bite marks and scratches on her neck and chest. Needless to say, she had just gotten her freak on.

Lyra flashed a peace sign at the camera.

A silver band rested on her index finger. It was clearly a male's ring that was too big for her, and the ring was engraved with the initials "K" and "S".

After that, Seraphina ran into Lyra outside Kaden's office. Lyra had recently been promoted to become Kaden's assistant.

Seraphina's mind went blank right there and then.

Stuck in the moment, Seraphina was tempted to barge into Kaden's office and demand, "Does the job description of an Alpha's assistant include meeting his primal needs?"

In the end, Seraphina gave up on that thought.

That projection featuring Lyra's marked body and the sense of betrayal through the mate bond were all the answers she needed.

Amidst the gasps of amazement and envy, Seraphina spun on her heel and strutted into an antique jeweler's workshop.

When she removed the ring from her left ring finger, she could feel a piece of her soul being torn away.

"How can I help you, ma'am?"

"Please melt this ring down for me."

"But this is a bond token made from moonlight silver with an engraving, no less. It must hold a sacred meaning. Are you sure you want to melt it?"

"Yes, and please make it quick."

Half an hour later, Seraphina arrived home with a jewelry box crafted from obsidian, an element that could mask any scent.

It was well into the night when Kaden came home.

He held a bouquet of moonlight flowers. "I'm sorry, Sera. Things have been hectic in the pack, and I haven't been able to spend time with you. I brought you your favorite flowers. Do you like them?"

As Kaden leaned in, Seraphina caught a whiff of Lyra's sickly sweet and cheap scent on him.

Tilting her head, Seraphina noticed the faint row of teeth marks on Kaden's Adam's apple. His shirt collar bore a lipstick smudge as well. The vivid red could not be more obvious.

Seraphina let out a smirk, wondering if he was tied up with pack duties or simply "preoccupied" with Lyra.

"Why the silence?"

Seraphina pushed him away. "I'm just a little tired."

"Shall I carry you back to the room?" Kaden bent down to scoop Seraphina into his arms.

Seraphina pushed him back once more. "You must be worn out. Go take a shower and get some rest."

Kaden took her hand, a thought slamming into him. "Sera, where's your ring?"

Chapter 2

"I took it off."

"I crafted the ring as a symbol of our bond. Why did you remove it?"

Seraphina brushed Kaden off. "I haven't been feeling well lately. The ring doesn't fit right anymore."

With his grimace easing up, Kaden was back to smiling. "I'll take the ring to the altar for another round of blessing and resizing."

"It can wait."

"By the way, what's that on the table?" Kaden pointed at the obsidian jewelry box on the table, his expression filled with joy. "Is that for me, Sera?"

Seraphina nodded. "That's right."

The box contained a tiny piece of silver, devoid of body heat and spiritual essence. Seraphina had the token of their bond melted down to its core and sealed the remnants in the jewelry box.

Kaden was ecstatic. "What’s the special occasion that would make my dearest Luna go out of her way to get me a gift?"

Once again, Seraphina's heart sank to the pit of her stomach. "It's the anniversary of our mating ceremony today."

Kaden looked like he was in distress.

He tried to smooth things over with Seraphina in an almost pleading manner. "I'm sorry, Sera. Things have been overwhelming lately. Why don't we go out tonight? We should head to Moonspire Lake—"

"That's alright. I'm not in the mood."

"How about a trip up the mountain to watch the stars?"

"I'm tired. I want to go to bed."

Kaden ingratiatingly slipped his arms around Seraphina's waist from behind. "Come on, Sera. It's been a while since we had a stroll together. I can't shake the feeling that you've been distant. At this rate, I'm starting to think that you've fallen out of love with me."

Had she pulled away, though?

Kaden was the first to betray their bond. His heart was no longer Seraphina's, to begin with.

This time, Seraphina was determined to withdraw from their bond, reclaiming herself and everything she had given him.

Behind the wheel on their way out, Kaden chatted happily about the recent pack gossip.

Seraphina sat in the front passenger seat, her head facing the window in a bid to shut him out.

While fastening her seat belt earlier, she had fished out a female's stockings stuffed in the narrow gap of the passenger seat. The heavy stench of a she-wolf lingered in the fabric.

Seraphina quickly slipped the stockings back into the gap, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Now that her mind was set on leaving, Seraphina didn't want to waste her breath with Kaden. She stood to gain nothing but pointless lies. Since she couldn't get the truth out of Kaden, she was done asking.

Once they arrived at the lake, Kaden got out and went to open the door for Seraphina. "Here we are, Sera."

Seraphina wasn't keen on the walk, but Moonspire Lake was their usual spot for a stroll ever since they mated. It was time to come full circle and finish where they had started.

"Oh, my Moon Goddess! Isn't that Alpha Kaden? He's the one who crafted the bond ring with his own hands."

"I remember him! He's the most devoted Alpha."

"He held his hand up to make sure the Luna doesn't bump her head on the car roof. That's so sweet of him!"

Kaden's phone rang.

He said apologetically, "You'll need to excuse me, Sera. Give me a minute while I take this call. It's pack business. I'll be right back."

"Do what you need to do."

"Stay right here. Don't go anywhere."

Gasps filled the air.

"The Alpha honestly spoils the Luna like she's a pup. He's worried that she might get lost on her own."

"He's so extra with the pampering."

The whole time, Seraphina stood by the lake, staring at the shimmering water surface under the night sky with a deadpanned face.

Kaden couldn't hide the smile on his face when he saw the caller ID.

It was a look of affection, sweetness, and cheekiness. There was no way that Kaden was engaged in pack business.

However, Seraphina lost the will to call him out.

Since it was chilly by the lake, she decided to wait in the car.

The car's display screen still showed Kaden's social account, which was synced to his mobile phone. As the messages popped up on the screen, the conversation played out right before Seraphina's eyes.

Kaden was texting someone under the name Kitty Lyra.

Kaden: Do you miss me already?

Kitty Lyra: The night feels empty without you, Alpha.

Kaden: We've been at it seven times today, and it's not enough, little kitty?

Kitty Lyra: Not at all. I want more, Alpha.

Kaden: Fine. Meet me in the office tomorrow. You'll get your wish.

Kitty Lyra: Hehe. Expect me in black silk stockings at work tomorrow.

The rest of the exchange between them became more explicit. The messages were filled with obscene language and intense flirting.

Feeling icy to the bone, Seraphina turned off the screen. She shuddered violently, either from the cold or rage, as her nails dug into the flesh of her palms.

Kaden was back about fifteen minutes later.

While slipping into the car, Kaden clutched his chest and let out a massive sigh. "You gave me quite a scare when I turned around and couldn't see you after the phone call. Thank the Moon Goddess that you're alright."

Too disgusted to look at his hypocritical face, Seraphina kept her head down and stared at her fingers.

"It was cold out there, so I came back into the car."

"Right, right. You should be wherever you feel comfortable."

Seraphina looked up out of the blue. Having read the messages between Kaden and Lyra, she was horrified by the implication of his words.

Kaden wanted her to be comfortable wherever she was.

Judging by the stockings tucked inside the gap of the passenger seat, Seraphina could only assume that the cheating couple had been intimate in this very seat.

Feeling sick to her stomach, Seraphina slammed the car door open and threw up.

Chapter 3

Petrified, Kaden was quick to examine Seraphina. "What's wrong, Sera?"

Seraphina retched violently and took a long time to gather herself. She couldn't wrap her head around the matter.

Why would her Alpha, who once vowed his commitment to her before the Moon Goddess, betray their mate bond?

Surely, the wrath of the Moon Goddess meant something to him. Maybe Kaden believed his efforts and power were enough to keep the affair under wraps.

The evening breeze cleared Seraphina's head.

Kaden asked, "Are you alright, Sera? If you're unwell, I'll take you to the pack's healer right now."

"I'm fine. I might have eaten something funny at dinner."

"Come see me at the office tomorrow. We can grab a bite tomorrow."

Seraphina scoffed. She wondered if she was about to get a front-row tour of Kaden and Lyra's escapades on company grounds.

Out of nowhere, Seraphina was tempted to stir mischief.

"Sure, I'll go to the office with you. I'll keep you company while you work. We can have lunch and head home together once you're done for the day."

Caught off guard by her answer, Kaden could barely keep his face straight. "But my work schedule has been hectic lately. I might not be able to stay by your side the whole day."

"Don't let me keep you from business. I'll stick around in your office."

"Very well then."

Back in their residential villa, Kaden offered to draw the bath for Seraphina. Once inside the bathroom, he closed the door behind him for once.

Seraphina took the stairs down to the ground floor and sat back in the car. She started the engine, and the recent chat history popped up on the integrated screen.

Kaden: Change of plans. The office is a no-go tomorrow.

Kitty Lyra: Oh, that's disappointing.

Kaden: Don't feel down, kitty. It'll be a lot more thrilling when I take you on the rooftop terrace.

Kitty Lyra: Hehe. You're the best, Alpha.

Seraphina stepped into the bedroom as Kaden emerged from the bathroom. "The bath is ready for you, Sera. You should take a nice soak."

"I'll pass. I just want to lay my head to rest."

"Okay. Rest well. That reminds me. Can I open the gift you left on the table yet?"

Seraphina replied, "Wait a week before you unwrap it."

"Why do I have to wait for a week? I can't wait to see what my Luna has prepared for me."

"Well…"

It would take a week before Seraphina permanently broke the mate bond between them.

"You’ll understand the significance of the gift in about a week."

Kaden gave Seraphina a peck on the forehead. "You're the boss."

Shortly after six the next morning, Kaden's phone went off.

Kaden rejected the call before turning to hold Seraphina close. "Ignore it. Let's get a few more minutes in bed."

However, the ringing was relentless.

Kaden furrowed his brows in annoyance. "It's barely dawn, and the useless council members are already hounding me during these ungodly hours. Mark my words. I'm bound to kick these wolves out one of these days."

He declined the call again.

The third time the call rang, Kaden sprang out of bed in a huff. "Stay in bed, Sera. I'll see what this emergency is all about."

Seraphina murmured, "Okay."

She rolled, having her back toward him.

Kaden grabbed the phone and walked out of the bedroom.

Soon, he showed up outside the front door on the ground floor.

Dressed in a bright yellow uniform, a human deliveryman handed Kaden a package.

Kaden accepted the package, but when he returned to the room, his hands were empty.

Seraphina asked, "Is something serious going on in the pack?"

Kaden answered, "It's nothing critical, Sera. Don't worry. Rest easy while I make you breakfast."

Either out of guilt or concern for her delicate stomach, Kaden went all out to prepare an elaborate breakfast. There was milk, poached eggs, jam sandwiches, and her favorite oatmeal.

"You should be careful with what you eat. I'm hiring a full-time chef to cook for you every day."

"That won't be necessary."

"Come on. Cooperate with me, or I won't be able to work with a peace of mind."

"Kaden, can I ask you a question?"

"Fire away."

Seraphina put down her cutlery and asked indifferently, "Do you really think the curse for breaking a mate bond in the pack is true?"

Kaden pulled a look of contempt. "That's punishment for the weak-minded. I'm not like these wolves. I'm faithful only to my Luna. I will love you, my one and only."

"Am I your one and only?"

"That's right."

"What if you fall for another she-wolf?"

"In that case, let Moon Goddess cast me out, take my powers away, and leave me to howl in eternal solitude."

Seraphina snickered cynically. "Bold words. Aren't you worried they'll come back to bite you?

"I speak from my heart. Why should I be scared?" Kaden uttered, "You should have faith in our mate bond, Sera."

Seraphina simply replied, "Dig in."

"Are you still doubting me? Do I have to rip my heart out of my chest to prove myself to you?"

"You've got someone waiting for you at the office. You mustn't be late."

Feeling assured, Kaden took a seat across from Seraphina. "Let them wait. They can't do anything right. I'll get rid of them sooner or later."

"Are you sure you want to get rid of her?" Seraphina singled out a singular pronoun rather than the plural form.

There was no telling whether Kaden caught onto the difference, but he responded, "Of course. You're the only one I can never let go of."

Chapter 4

After breakfast, the pair made their way to Zenith Tower.

Too put off to sit in the front, Seraphina insisted on riding in the back. "I feel a little nauseous. I'll feel better in the back where I can get a bit of fresh air."

Kaden didn't press on the matter. "Sure thing. I'll try to keep the drive smooth."

Pulling up outside the entrance of the office building, Kaden got out to open the car door for Seraphina.

Seraphina stepped out of the car, only to be surrounded by pack members during the morning rush hour.

Two pack members stepped forward eagerly.

"Luna, it's great to see you. Alpha Kaden often tells us about your love for caramel lattes. I'm happy to grab one for you since I'm on my way out," one of them said with a huge grin.

Another chimed in, "I'll get you something to munch on. Are those red velvet cupcakes still your favorite?"

Kaden chuckled, pulling the Luna closer protectively. He said, "That's enough, you two. At this rate, you're going to spoil her rotten. She has been eating too well lately. Her bond ring is getting too tight for her."

"Don't pin this on us, Alpha. Luna is as stunning as ever. I'm sure the ring is the problem. I bet it shrank in the wash!" The wolf, who offered the latte, refuted in a joking manner.

Kaden smacked the pack member in good nature. "Don't be silly. Shrank in the wash? As if moonlight silver shrinks, but you should get the latte for Sera. Just a small cup will do."

"That's what you're missing, Alpha. You adore your Luna. Her happiness is your whole world. So if she's happy, the rest of us can breathe easy."

Kaden laughed and uttered gleefully, "Right, right. It looks like you've found my greatest weakness."

Every wolf guffawed.

The crowd practically ushered Seraphina into Kaden's office. She was offered fruit, snacks, tea, and everything under the sun.

Kaden took the time to pull up a TV series on his computer for Seraphina. "I should get to work now, Sera. Keep yourself occupied here. Let the assistant outside know if you need anything."

Seraphina asked deliberately, "Where's Lyra, your new assistant? Why haven't I seen her today?"

Kaden replied, "I have no idea. I'll get someone to check up on her in a bit."

Before leaving, Kaden ran his fingers along Seraphina's hair dotingly and murmured, "Wait for me here. We can grab lunch together later."

Kaden took off.

The council elders made their way out shortly after.

Spotting Kaden's phone on the desk, Seraphina rushed out after him and caught the council members talking.

"The rooftop? The Alpha and Lyra are getting bold with their little adventures."

"Well, they can't help it. No one expected the Luna to pay a visit out of the blue. They had no choice but to switch locations."

"Are we making sure that the Alpha is getting his contraceptive supplies?"

"Don't bother. I noticed that the Alpha had several boxes tucked away in his pocket when he was heading up."

"Heh. Alpha Kaden sure is something else to buy protection right under the Luna's nose."

"He adopted a human to run the errand. It's handy to have these runners around. You can get just about anything."

A realization dawned on Seraphina. The relentless calls this morning were from the human courier.

Kaden had placed an order first thing in the morning, instructing the runner to buy protection. He must have been looking forward to the rooftop rendezvous if he was making sure everything was in order so early.

"I wonder if he has bought enough with him. Last time, Alpha Kaden messed around with Lyra in the car all day. Lyra was walking funny when she came to work the following day.

"We can always send more when he runs out. Our job is to keep the Alpha happy anyway."

"Weren't you talking about putting the Luna's needs above everything else?"

"Tsk, what does she know? A cup of coffee and a sweet treat can keep her happy. Given the Alpha's standing, it's no surprise that he keeps a few she-wolves on the side. With his power and influence, he's free to sleep around so long as the Luna is kept in the dark."

"That's true. She looks naive, so keeping this from her should be a cinch."

As the conversation went on, Kaden arrived. "Keep your mouths shut around Sera, you hear me?"

The council elders nodded. "Got it, Alpha. You don't have to tell us twice."

One of them asked, "Why did you bring the Luna here today, Alpha Kaden? You and Lyra have to hide out on the rooftop, and we have to watch what we say."

Kaden shot him an angry look. "Seraphina is the pack's Luna. She has the right to be here. Don't question her presence."

"Yes, of course."

Kaden issued a warning with a scowl, "Take good care of Sera. She wasn't feeling her best yesterday, so don't give her anything cold or raw. One more thing. Not a word about Lyra and me, or you are out of the pack. Have I made myself clear?"

The council elders nodded with anxious grins. "Crystal."

Seraphina didn't stick around to hear the rest of the exchange. She swiftly returned to Kaden's office and placed his phone in a pile of snacks.

Moments later, Kaden entered the room. He was as refined and gentle as ever. "What are you chowing down with such delight, kitty?"

The pet name "kitty" made Seraphina's stomach churn.

Fighting back the nausea, Seraphina asked, "Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting now? What brings you back?"

"I left my phone here. Have you seen it?"

Seraphina shook her head. "No."

Kaden rummaged through the pile of snacks and retrieved his phone. "It somehow fell in the pile. Enjoy your treat. I should get going now."

Ring.

This time, the ringing came from Seraphina's phone. She took the call.

"Hello there, may I speak to Ms. Flint?"

"Yes, this is she."

"Ms. Flint, we've issued the ticket for your flight, departing a week from now. Please present your passport at the time of boarding."

"Are other forms of identification required besides the passport?"

"No, your passport is all you need."

"Thank you."

Kaden looked confused when Seraphina ended the call. "Passport? What do you need your passport for?"

Chapter 5

Seraphina said, "A human friend of mine lost her passport and asked me the steps to get a replacement."

Kaden took quick paces ahead and held Seraphina tight in his arms. "You nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought you were going abroad without me."

Seraphina turned her head away and threw up again.

Kaden carried the thick, sickly-sweet scent of Lyra after their private encounter. He patted her back in distress. "What did they feed you? I gave them specific instructions to look after you since you have been having an upset tummy. Wait here while I sack them."

It took everything in Seraphina to push Kaden away. "You can fire anyone for all I care, but stop using me as an excuse!"

Her outburst threw Kaden off. "Sera, are you mad at me? Is it because I have been too occupied with my pack duties to spend time with you?"

He added. "Why don't I clear my schedule for tomorrow and make sure I shower you with all my attention?"

Seraphina smirked in rage. "So I'll have you all to myself?"

"Yes, that's right."

Seraphina took a deep breath before uttering, "Let's hope you keep your word."

For some reason, there was a sudden downpour that night.

Seraphina did not stop retching from the moment they got home.

Despite Kaden's attempt to get close to her, she turned him away. "Don't come any closer. The stench on you is making me sick all over again."

Kaden sniffed his sleeve and replied, "I guess my cologne disagrees with you. I'll switch to something different."

"Kaden, you know full well that the cologne isn't the issue."

"Okay, okay. Don't be upset. I won't wear any fragrance anymore, alright?"

Seraphina splashed cold water on her face and looked up at her reflection in the mirror.

Outside the bathroom, Kaden stood anxiously with a basin of hot water.

Seraphina couldn't understand how Kaden could still stand there, playing the role of a devoted mate with Lyra's intimate scent clinging to him.

Somehow, Kaden looked like he cared a lot about her. Yet, he had no qualms about betraying their mate bond.

Maybe the council member was right. An Alpha with power could get away with messing around so long as his Luna never found out.

He got one thing wrong, though. Seraphina was not naive. She was not one to compromise her dignity and self-respect.

Since the mate bond did not come with Kaden's full devotion, Seraphina wanted no part of it.

Early next morning, Kaden took Seraphina to the pack's healer.

After a thorough examination, the healer offered a diagnosis. "Luna Seraphina's intense mood swings have likely weakened the mate bond and led to her physical symptoms."

Kaden muttered, "Intense mood swings?"

"That's right. Luna has been feeling emotional lately. Some recent trauma must have hit her hard enough to cause the violent nausea."

Kaden asked Seraphina, "Has something been troubling you, Sera? Just tell me. I might be able to help you."

Seraphina looked away, refusing his touch. "You can't fix it."

"Just talk to me. There's very little I can't set right in the pack."

He had a point. Ironically, Kaden was the key to making the problem go away.

Seraphina was tempted to ask Kaden who he'd choose to save if she and Lyra were drowning at the same time.

On second thought, Seraphina could never place her own destiny in the hands of another. No one could save her but herself.

She knew how to swim. She could save herself.

Seraphina had no need for Kaden anymore.

She applied to an art school abroad under the name Kathryn Flint.

Back then, Seraphina had once set aside her dream of pursuing art to become a Luna worthy of standing beside Kaden. Now, she would only live for herself.

"Shall I take you to the movies this afternoon, Sera? There's a new comedy playing, and it should cheer you up."

"This afternoon? Aren't you supposed to be occupied with pack duties?"

"Didn't I promise that we'd have the whole day together? I'm a man of my word. I don't break my promises."

The next moment, his phone rang. He was about to refuse the call, only to stop short when he glanced at the caller ID.

Seraphina watched as his expression shifted from annoyance to distress.

She grinned. "Just take it. Duty calls."

Kaden replied, "I'll be quick. I'll be back in five."

"Sure."

As Kaden headed out with his phone in hand, Seraphina called him back. "You can answer the call here. I don't follow the pack business, so there's no chance I'll let anything slip."

He stopped in his tracks awkwardly.

After a brief hesitation, Kaden took the call with furrowed brows. "Didn't I tell you not to call me today? What on earth is the emergency?"

It was unclear what was said on the other end of the line.

However, Seraphina could make out mournful cries of a she-wolf.

Kaden spoke cautiously in Seraphina's presence, "I understand. I'll be there in a moment."

After the call, Kaden told Seraphina apologetically, "I need to sign off on an important document for the company, Sera. The council elder has arrived with the papers. He's in the lobby as we speak. I'll be back in no more than half an hour."

Seraphina gave a nod.

Kaden basically sprinted out of the consultation room.

The healer uttered with a smile, "Alpha Kaden only has eyes for you, Luna. He drops his responsibilities with the pack just to attend to you."

"Oh, really? Excuse me while I use the washroom." Seraphina smirked.

Out of the consultation room, Seraphina caught Kaden ditching the elevator to take the stairs down.

Sure enough, he went downstairs—to the pack's birthing center.

Buzz.

Her phone vibrated.

Lyra texted, "I'm terribly sorry, but the Alpha probably can't spend time with you today. All it took was one call for him to rush straight to me."

Chapter 6

The messages from Lyra kept pouring in.

She wrote, "Before I forget, check this out. Here is my ultrasound. I'm carrying a pup."

Seraphina zoomed in on the image and read the tiny print at the very top of the medical report.

"8-week gestation pup; showing potential miscarriage indicators."

Lyra texted, "We were at it all day on the rooftop yesterday, trying every position. I guess the Alpha was pretty rough, so my pup is at risk of miscarriage. Well, that's on him. He mentioned that you were a total bore in bed, so he came to me for the thrill.

"The healer needed the signature of the pup's father to proceed with abortion or treatment, so I had to call him over. The survival of his bloodline compared to your little tummy issues takes precedence, don't you think?"

Seraphina hailed a cab and left the infirmary. She went to a law firm run by a human attorney.

In a blended society of werewolves and humans, the union between werewolves requires not only a mate bond but also registration of their marriage.

"Hello, I wish to engage your services to draw up divorce papers."

She asked for no assets, and the lawyer was reliable.

Within half an hour, Seraphina received the final draft of the divorce agreement.

The lawyer advised, "By human law, the separation is considered official even without your mate's signature if you live apart for two full years."

Kaden's call came in when Seraphina walked out of the firm with the papers.

"Where are you, Sera? I've searched the entire medical center, but I can't find you."

Seraphina answered, "You were away for too long, so I went ahead to go home."

"I'm just relieved that you are home safe and sound. I'm sorry, Sera. I'm honestly tied up with pack business. I may need to travel to another territory in the next few days. Take good care of yourself. Give me a week. I'll cancel everything just to be with you."

Seraphina let out a heavy sigh.

A lie told too many times could fool no one. He could no longer get a reaction out of her.

"Don't let me keep you."

"You're always so sensible, Sera. Stay put, and I'll be back tomorrow with moonlight flowers."

Seraphina asked, "Sensible? Kaden, are you into simpering, clingy she-wolves? Am I too sensible that I bore you?"

Kaden was taken aback. "Of course not. I love you the most. I love you the way you are."

"Will you ever fall for another she-wolf?"

"Never."

"I will walk away and never come back if you ever betray our mate bond."

Kaden snorted. "You can run, but you can never hide from me. I have the power to shut down the entire territory, and that includes every human airport and train station. So long as you walk this earth as Seraphina, I will never let you leave me."

The problem was that she was no longer Seraphina Mor. Her name was Kathryn Flint.

Thanks to the Moon Goddess's blessing, she could mask my scent for a while.

Seraphina reiterated, "I'm serious. I have the means to leave you and make sure you will never track me down."

Keeping the grin on his face, Kaden dismissed her. "Very well. You get a head start. You have three days before I start the hunt. As I said, so long as you remain Seraphina, I will always find you. You can't get rid of me."

Kaden was rather full of himself.

Seraphina curled her lips.

Well, let the games begin.

Chapter 7

The countdown was down to three days before Seraphina's flight took off.

Lyra sent Seraphina a picture of Kaden having a barbecue by the beach.

She texted, "Alpha Kaden booked us a trip to celebrate my pregnancy. He just wants me to relax and take it easy while carrying his pup."

Instead of responding to Lyra, Seraphina organized a last get-together with her closest friends.

Two days remained until her scheduled flight.

Lyra sent another photo of Kaden reading a book, which was titled "The Guide to Early Pup Education".

She attached a message. "The Alpha's taking fatherhood seriously. The pup is just a tiny bean in my belly, but the Alpha's already talking to it through my stomach every day."

It was still radio silence on Seraphina's end. She went to a human bank and exchanged all her funds in cash before terminating all her accounts.

There was just one day left before the flight departed.

This time, Lyra sent a video clip which featured a beautiful and romantic fireworks display at the beach.

As Lyra cried tears of joy, Kaden pulled her into his arms tenderly, whispering assuringly, "Why are you crying? There will be plenty more surprises to come."

Lyra wrote, "He rented the entire island and bought out all the fireworks in the city to throw me a birthday party."

It turned out that it was Lyra's birthday that day. The birthday and the pregnancy definitely called for a double celebration for the happy couple.

Seraphina simply smiled faintly and contacted the local charity.

"Hello there, I have some clothes I'd like to donate to the underprivileged communities in the mountains."

Soon, a representative from the local charity arrived in a vehicle.

In the days Kaden was gone, Seraphina packed up her belongings into five huge bags of clothes and shoes. She donated every last item to charity, leaving not a single piece behind.

Seraphina took everything tied to her identity as Seraphina, including her ID, the Luna's keepsakes, family records, as well as her daily essentials, to the pack's altar crematorium. She handed the priest some money and had it all burned.

Standing in the home she had lived in for five years, Seraphina had never felt more like a stranger.

She wiped off every trace of her existence in the residence.

All she carried was her backpack. Inside was nothing but her new passport.

The only remaining item from the past she had was the phone.

She booked a ride to the airport through a human car service on her phone.

The driver pulled up at the airport terminal. While paying the fare with a phone, Seraphina got a call from Kaden.

"I'm back from my business trip, Sera. I'm coming home to pick you up. Let's head out for dinner."

He was back, but he was not alone. Lyra was right there with him.

Seraphina sat in the car as Kaden and Lyra walked out of the terminal building.

Kaden wheeled out the luggage cart, stacked with matching blue and pink suitcases. Lyra linked her arm with his, nestling against his shoulder.

"Was the trip tiring?"

"It wasn't too bad. Oh, that reminds me. Didn't you say that I get to open the gift from you today?"

"That's right."

"I can't wait. You made me wait a whole week. You got me guessing for days. I bet it's something significant for our mating anniversary."

"Absolutely. You'll know once you open the gift."

"Great. Wait for me. I'll be back in two hours."

Two hours was more than enough. Her flight would have crossed the country's border by then.

"Alright."

"See you in a bit. Love you, Sera."

Seraphina ended the call and spotted Lyra pouting. Kaden leaned in for a kiss on her lip in a bid to console her.

The driver uttered, "Ma'am, you have not paid the fare."

Seraphina looked away and transferred every last cent of her money.

The driver became flustered. "Ma'am, you've paid the wrong amount. It's $27, not $27,000. I'll refund you right away."

"Keep it. I have no use for the money anyway. Thank you for the ride." Seraphina opened the car door and stepped out. "It's not just a trip to the airport. You've taken me down the road to my future, the beginning of a new chapter."

Once out of the car, Seraphina switched off her phone, removed the SIM card to discard in a trash can, and gifted the phone to a human child.

The child beamed. "Thank you."

Seraphina ruffled his hair with a smile. "My pleasure."

The child's mother felt the gift was more than she could accept. "We can't possibly accept something this expensive."

Seraphina asked, "Are you going abroad?"

"Yes. We are flying to see his father."

Seraphina uttered with a smile, "Keep it. The phone might come in handy once you're there."

"Alright then. Thank you very much."

Seraphina waved them goodbye. "Have a pleasant trip."

The airport announcement played an urgent message. "Final call for passenger, Kathryn Flint. Please report to gate H23 for immediate boarding. Your flight is about to depart."

Clutching her passport, Seraphina took one final look back before strutting to the boarding with determination.

As soon as she passed through the boarding gate, she sensed a profound split deep within her soul.

The invisible mate bond was completely broken.

She was free.