(Eirene’s POV)
I was packing my things inside the Blackhollow Pack Hall when Renzia stepped into the chamber.
“Tonight, I’m treating the whole pack to a feast. You should come too!”
She smiled proudly.
“I’m busy,” I answered calmly, picked up my belongings and turned to leave.
Behind me, Renzia’s voice followed, “You stayed beside him for ten years, yet it means nothing. One look from Alpha Layton is worth more than all your years together.”
This time, I stayed quiet.
That afternoon, Renzia sent a message in the Alpha Council group.
[I finally became Luna Advisor today! Feast is on me tonight, everyone!]
Layton did not stop her. Instead, he was the first to answer. Soon after, he sent me a private message.
[Do not think too much about it, Moonlight.]
I never replied.
That night, Layton and Renzia celebrated with the whole pack. Meanwhile, I was inside our territory manor, packing suitcases.
“Mother.”
Elion ran toward me and pulled my hand. “Mother, are you leaving? Can you wait a little longer?”
“Tomorrow is my birthday. You promised there would be a big surprise, remember? I’m going to wish for you and Father to stay together forever. And for Father not to choose Aunt Renzia as his Luna. He’ll agree. I know he will!”
His little face was full of fear as his words came out in a rush.
“Okay.” I nodded softly.
But Layton never returned that night, while Elion and I stayed awake the entire time.
“Father must be preparing my surprise.”
Elion stared outside the window while pale moonlight slowly faded into dawn.
But one hour passed. Then another. The sun rose and fell again and darkness covered the territory once more. Layton still did not come home.
At last, I could not hold back anymore and called him.
“Today is your son’s birthday. Where is the surprise you promised him?”
“Oh, right… Look inside the drawer beside the bed. There are portal tickets to the Northern Moon Kingdom. Take Elion there for a trip!”
Layton laughed lightly. “I’m overloaded with pack matters today. I have to go.”
The crystal call ended immediately.
I turned around and pulled the tickets from the drawer.
So this was the truth. Elion had already become another obstacle standing between Layton and the life he truly wanted.
At nearly the same moment, Layton’s secret account updated again on MoonNet.
[Engaged! When you truly love someone, you give her everything she desires.]
Attached was a picture of a territory transfer contract.
My hands tightened into fists.
Ten years…
For ten whole years, I exhausted myself for the Blackhollow Pack, carrying the burden of ten council divisions alone. From pack laws to kingdom expansion plans, from choosing allied packs to searching for silver mines and sacred lands, I gave every piece of my soul to build everything.
Yet all I ever received was the pay of an ordinary council manager.
And now, everything I created was handed directly to Renzia, a woman who contributed nothing at all.
“Mother, Father isn’t coming back, is he?”
My son’s crying voice pulled me back.
I turned around. Elion was holding his crystal communicator with shaking hands. On the screen, Renzia’s daughter Kiera had updated her MoonNet page too.
[Thank you, Father, for the little mooncake you baked for me yourself!]
For a pup, it was a cruel wound.
“Mother, I don’t want to stay here anymore. Please take me with you?”
Elion wiped away his tears while speaking.
“Okay, Son.”
I nodded through my own tears, finished packing everything, left the mating bond dissolution papers on the table and walked out of the manor with Elion.
We boarded the portal carriage bound for the Northern Moon Kingdom.
***
Layton and Renzia held their mating ceremony, spent several days on their moon blessing journey and never bothered returning home afterward. Instead, he went directly back to the Alpha Hall for a regular council meeting.
His eyes swept across the room before he frowned.
“Where is my Luna? Why isn’t she here?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“She probably lost track of time while traveling through the Northern Moon Kingdom.”
Layton muttered to himself, stood up, walked out of the council chamber and activated his communication crystal.
“Hey, Moonlight. You’ve never missed a council meeting in your life. Why aren’t you here? Are you still not back from the Northern Moon Kingdom?!”
