“I’m not in the mood for this, Aldric.” I muttered, pushing away his attempt to nuzzle my neck.
He crossed his arms, the spark of displeasure passed across his features before he covered it with a gentler voice. “So you sulking,” he whispered. “Trust me —this time you’ll actually like it.”
Since I gave no response, he simply brushed his fingers over my head and let the topic set aside, for now.
As soon as our skycraft landed, Aldric revealed his so-called plan to “fix” about forgetting my birth-moon — a trip to Celestdawn Crest, the territory of lover—where our first trip as a mate felt magical.
“Come,” he beckoned, warmth in his voice. “The evening meal awaits us at Mooncrest Tower.”
I once adored Celestdawn Crest. It was the first territory I explored beyond our territory, the Wolfpine Forest and Aldric had made the trip feel like a dream with moonlit walks and wolf-run nights.
But now, going back to the territory of lover only deepen my heartache. I couldn’t feel the magical and romance as I knew the truth.
Even as the meal was served, I couldn’t bring myself to eat. I only moved the food around, lost in my thoughts.
“You always love moon-seared tuna,” Aldric muttered with a small frown. “Is it not to your liking now?”
“I’m not hungry,” I answered, expressionless.
He moved closer, his eyes gleamed with excitement. “Then, let’s go, I’m sure you’ll love this.”
He led me to a high-end couture cavern.
A pack manager and a keeper welcomed us and when the keeper handed me a scroll and Aldric could barely contain his excitement.
“Mate, I bought you the entire moon-couture collection for you, hurry and mark it.”
I scribbled my name without glancing at him.
“The one in charge of moon-couture collection have talked to me and reserved exclusive designs to your aura.” He added.
Just as I placed my mark, I responded to him, in an icy and indifference tone, “Alright. Thanks”
Then, the pack manager urged us to see their collection inside and the keeper immediately displayed the items Aldric had chosen.
I stood close to him and said in a low voice, “Aldric, stop giving me gifts, especially such expensive and luxurious one.”
Shock and confusion flickered across his face. “Seraphina, you mean everything to me. I’ll spend every day doing whatever it takes to your happiness for cycles — for as long as I breathe.”
Oh, Aldric .…
If only you knew, no more cycles for us, not anymore.
“Just pick your favorites,” he said suddenly, breaking into my thoughts. “I’ll be waiting in the fitting chamber, okay?”
No need my response, he took out his crystal communicator as he walked away.
I let out a long sigh and turned to the keeper. “That’s all. Thank you,” I said.
I dragged myself to the fitting chamber and tried on a few pieces in haste.
Even when Aldric showered me with compliments, I gave him only a flat, indifference stare.
However, he didn’t notice— too caught up in his crystal communicator as messages kept flashing.
“I’m done,” I said, forcing to draw his attention away from the crystal communicator.
He hurriedly put his crystal communicator away and gave me a startled look. “That’s all? That’s … unlike you. You look flawless in everything you try on. Just take them all—change every piece every hour if you want.”
The pack manager, who’d been observing our interaction, finally spoke up with open admiration, “Alpha Wolfsbane, you’re really the ideal mate. I’ve never seen any wolf cherish his Luna the way you do. No wonder you become the formidable young leader.”
Aldric smiled with his Alpha charm, returning the praise. “It’s thanks to the quality of your collection. And, well … my stunning Luna has a way of elevating everything she touches.”
Wolves whispered around us, swooning like it was a romance tale.
I bit back the urge to snap, “Trust me, this isn’t some romance tale!”
“I’m tired,” I said. “Let’s go back to the Mooncrest Tower.”
Aldric wrapped up quickly. “Send everything to my pack manor. My Beta will handle the payment.”
“Sure, Alpha Wolfsbane, have a nice day,” the pack manager responded with pleasure.
As we headed to the Mooncrest Tower, my mind kept racing, ever since Mirael Ashmoon became his Beta, she’s been managing his spending for moon. How much has she spent for herself under the disguise of professionalisms?
When Aldric stepped into the shower, I seized my moment. I grabbed his crystal communicator and scrolled through his financial logs.
And there it was.
The trip to the Hawaian Isle with Mirael wasn’t simply for a new lodgewild. Aldric had bought her an isle.
An entire isle.
And the most hurtful part, he named the isle after her, “Lovely Mirael” just like when he bought me a moon-tower and inscribed in my name.
Driven by a creeping urge, I explored his crystal gallery and found countless intimate shots of them neatly archived. A wildfire surged through my chest.
Aldric, who once claimed he couldn’t bear having unknown she-wolves near him, always insisted on hiring male Beta.
I should have questioned when his old Beta resigned and Mirael appeared from nowhere to replace him.
I never thought a third wolf would end us.
I never imagined a rogue she-wolf would be the reason our bond shattered. Yet here I stood. Aldric had made his choice and now I had to make mine.
I transferred every damning piece of evidence to my own crystal communicator and backed it up in a locked archive, even Mirael’s social-mirror traces hinting their affair included. She tried to hide it, but the truth lingered in every line.
Just as I finished, Aldric stepped out of the bathroom, his hair damp, a knitted-towel around his shoulders. He caught sight of my expression—my barely contained disgust—and mistook it for something playful, smirking like he understood nothing.
“See yourself, mate,” he murmured, his wolf golden eyes gleaming. “After having what you wished, you appear eager for my touch.”
I forced a smile, stepping closer. “Everything I have is for you, my Alpha.”
I let my thin cloth fall as desire flared in his golden eyes.
But despite the intimate, my mind wandered.
I kept seeing Mirael in my place.
Did she feel the same thrill?
Did she melt under his touch the way I used to?
