(Eirene’s POV)
Sadly, the world of adults was never that simple.
After dinner, I noticed a post on the MoonNet from one of Layton's so called pack brothers and my eyes narrowed immediately.
The ceremonial mating robe photos did not show his face, but the tiny red mark near the neck was impossible to mistake.
Layton had the same mark.
In another image, a man and woman held hands beneath the moonlight, fingers tightly linked together. On the man's finger was a pale mark left behind by a ring.
The moonstone watch on his wrist was familiar.
It belonged to Renzia.
The caption read: "The moon I once lost has returned to shine on my world again."
Those words looked painfully familiar.
I hurried into the study chamber and pushed aside Layton's magic tablet. Beneath it rested an old journal.
The moment I opened it, I saw the exact same sentence written across the page. Every clue led to the same answer.
This account did not belong to one of Layton's friends. It was Layton's own secret account.
"A journey to the Northern Moon Kingdom. A fake mating ceremony and a false identity. Layton… just to fool me and stay beside Renzia, you truly created such ridiculous lies."
I whispered bitterly to myself before lifting my communication crystal and sending a message.
[Save a place for me in the alliance. And ask your legal mage to prepare a separation contract.]
Months ago, Sven Greymoss invited me to join a trading alliance in the Northern Moon Kingdom. He offered me thirty percent ownership without asking me to invest a single gold coin. The other partners agreed because they trusted my abilities.
But I had a mate and a pup. I only wanted peace and stability, so I refused him again and again.
Now it was time to stop trapping myself.
Near midnight, Layton stumbled into the pack house, smelling strongly of alcohol. He brought no gifts.
His collar hung loose and a bright lipstick stain marked his shirt. He looked terrible.
"Moonlight, you are still awake? Waiting for me again?" He grinned lazily. "You really know how to keep me nervous."
Then he walked straight toward the bath chamber.
Before this, he would always pull me into his arms first.
The thought made my chest ache heavily.
Suddenly, I heard soft crying and quickly rushed toward Elion's room.
"What happened? Did you see a nightmare?"
Elion shook his head. His small finger pointed toward the glowing crystal screen.
I lowered my eyes.
Kiera, Renzia’s daughter, had posted a new update on the crystal network. She sat before a pink enchanted piano while hugging a magic tablet, smiling brightly.
The caption read: Thank you to the greatest father in the world for giving me a custom made moonlight piano.
"Mother, I saw that piano on Father's magic tablet. The crystal tablet too."
That single sentence almost broke me completely. At last, I understood why Elion was crying.
Layton always said, "Male pups must be raised strictly, or they will grow wasteful and spoiled."
Because of that, he treated Elion harshly. Whenever Elion wanted a toy or gift, Layton almost always refused. Even Elion's communicator was an old one I secretly passed down to him myself.
Whenever possible, I would sneak Elion out of the territory to have fun. But every time Layton discovered it, he would become angry with me
That was why he tried to buy Elion's silence earlier with a toy chariot.
And before leaving today, he promised to bring gifts for both me and Elion. Yet he returned with empty hands.
Lying to me was already painful enough.
But how could he shower another woman's daughter with endless love and expensive gifts while treating his own son with such coldness and deception?
"It is alright, sweetheart. From now on, Mother will buy you anything you want."
I stayed beside Elion until he finally fell asleep, then returned to the living room and sat quietly on the couch.
The moment Layton walked out from the bath chamber, I forced down my anger and looked at him.
"Didn’t you promise to bring Elion a gift?"
"Oh, I forgot."
Layton laughed awkwardly before walking over to hug me. "I will get him something next time. Besides, boys should be raised tough anyway."
