Just as Aunt Rosalia stepped out of her cottage to greet me, she stopped in her tracks.
Her sharp eyes moved from me to the two figures standing nearby.
She clearly wanted to ask questions, but I spoke before she had the chance.
"Mother asked me to bring these supplies," I said. "Please sort them soon. Some of the herbs will lose their potency if they're left too long."
I never looked at Adrian.
Over the past few weeks, he had shown me exactly where his heart belonged.
To my surprise, he was the one who broke the silence.
"Seraphina, don't misunderstand. Julian's old cabin was too close to the Rogue Lands. It wasn't safe for a lone she-wolf, so I arranged another place for her. I didn't realize it was this close to your aunt's home."
His eyes drifted toward the wooden crates.
"What are all these?"
I motioned for the pack warriors to carry the supplies inside.
"My mother prepared them," I replied calmly. "We may not return for a long time, so she sent more than usual."
The instant the words left my mouth, I watched the tension leave Adrian's shoulders.
He had misunderstood.
He thought I was only leaving for a while.
The relief in his expression stung far more than I expected.
"The northern hunting lodge isn't far from here," he said. "If you need anything, send word."
He spoke as though nothing had changed between us.
As though we were still close enough for him to care.
What he didn't know was that I wasn't planning to return.
I was leaving his life for good.
And I had no intention of telling him.
Aunt Rosalia finally broke the silence.
She slowly turned the silver mate band around her finger before speaking.
"Adrian, you've known Seraphina for years. Are you really willing to let your bond end like this? It would be a pity to throw everything away over a misunderstanding."
Before Adrian could answer, I shook my head.
"There is no misunderstanding, Aunt."
"Adrian has never ignored one if he truly cared."
"If he still hasn't explained himself, then there is nothing left to explain."
Julian shifted uneasily beside him.
The small movement immediately drew Adrian's attention.
"You don't look well," he said softly.
Concern filled his voice without hesitation.
He turned toward the warriors carrying the crates.
"Leave those for now. We'll take Julian upstairs first."
Watching him fuss over her, I quietly stepped aside.
Adrian hesitated for only a heartbeat.
His eyes lingered on me, almost as though he expected me to stop him.
When I remained silent, he followed Julian into the cottage.
As the door closed behind them, an old memory surfaced.
Years ago, when Adrian first brought me back to Moonfang Pack, he had looked at me with those same gentle eyes.
He had carried every one of my belongings himself.
Holding my hand, he had proudly introduced me to everyone as the future Luna of Moonfang.
Now that tenderness belonged to someone else.
Aunt Rosalia sighed.
"Are you truly all right, Seraphina?"
I smiled faintly.
"What other choice do I have?"
"If that is where his loyalty lies, then I have no reason to hold him back."
After the supplies had been moved inside, I decided to leave before I embarrassed myself any further.
While I waited outside for the carriage, Adrian and Julian remained inside the cottage.
For reasons I refused to admit, it bothered me.
Out of respect for everything we had once shared, I activated my communication crystal.
"When are you coming back?"
The reply arrived almost immediately.
Not written words.
A voice recording.
I touched the crystal.
Julian's gentle voice flowed into the air.
"Seraphina, Adrian is helping repair the rune lamps in my cottage. No one has lived here for months, so everything needs fixing. You should return first. There's no need to wait for us."
I stared at the crystal before quietly dimming its light.
For the first time, I pitied someone.
Myself.
I climbed into the carriage.
Another message arrived.
"Please don't misunderstand. Adrian is only helping because he feels sorry for me. It's difficult for a she-wolf to survive alone in unfamiliar territory."
I looked at the glowing words.
Her meaning was obvious.
She wanted me to know that Adrian always came whenever she called.
A moment later, Adrian contacted me through the crystal.
I answered.
His voice carried unmistakable displeasure.
"Seraphina, why were you so cold to Julian today?"
"She is under my protection. It is my duty to keep her safe."
"She'll only stay there until I find somewhere better for her."
"Is it so wrong for me to help her?"
A quiet laugh escaped me.
"Since when have you cared this much about those under your command?"
"During the Midwinter Moon Feast, you left halfway through because you claimed you weren't feeling well."
"I believed you."
"But today, you have endless time and patience for her."
Silence followed.
Then soft sobbing reached my ears through the crystal.
Julian.
Even her tears sounded fragile enough to invite sympathy.
"Adrian... perhaps I should leave," she whispered.
"I don't want Seraphina to misunderstand because of me."
His reply came without hesitation.
"No one is leaving, Julian."
"None of this is your fault."
The gentleness in his voice pierced my heart.
He had not spoken to me that way in years.
I closed my eyes, forcing every trace of emotion back into the darkness.
"Very well, Adrian."
"You are right."
"I shouldn't have asked."
After a brief pause, I spoke one final sentence.
"I've already left. There's no need to come looking for me."
Then I severed the crystal's connection before he could answer.
