Five years after I mated to Alpha Derek Blackwood, his childhood sweetheart broke her mate bond with another Alpha and returned to our pack.

Even worse, I had depleted my life force saving Derek when he was mortally wounded, and now I was dying.

In the less than six months I had left to live, I continued to play the role of Derek's good mate.

Until I passed away.

And Derek, after reading the journal I left behind, completely fell apart.

1

My Alpha mate didn’t know that I was dying. He was busy taking care of his childhood sweetheart who had just returned to the pack.

I didn’t complain and continued to play the role of Derek's good mate. But after I passed away, he went crazy after reading the journal I left behind.

……

Standing at the hospital entrance with that thin diagnosis paper in my hand, I wanted to call Derek.

I opened and closed his contact page several times.

Then his call came through first.

His voice was characteristically deep and cool, but softened when he said my name:

"Willow, I have something to do tonight and won't be home for dinner. I might get back late, so don't wait up for me."

All my words got stuck in my throat.

"...Okay."

Brief as always. The line went dead, but I kept holding the phone to my ear.

The sunset bled red across the horizon.

Derek and I had been mates for five years.

And I had loved him for nearly ten.

I got lucky. Derek needed to establish a stable mate bond before he could inherit the position of pack Alpha. His family pressured him to find someone, sending him on countless mate-dates. That's when he met me, and under the Moon Goddess's guidance, we were drawn to each other.

My mother had been the pack's healer, and I inherited her powerful healing abilities. At a young age, I became a senior healer at the pack's medical center. Since we matched well in all aspects, we agreed to hold a mating ceremony right away.

Derek needed a mate, the pack needed an Luna, and I fit the bill perfectly.

He was a cold person by nature, not talkative, never showing emotions, his face usually expressionless.

I'd warmed that block of ice for two years, finally making it melt for me.

We began to act like a normal couple. Our quiet life slowly filled with love, gradually becoming what I had always dreamed of.

During a rogue wolf attack on our pack, Derek's heart was pierced by a silver blade, leaving him critically wounded. My mother, targeted for her healer status, was killed in the battle.

I couldn't save my own mother, and even exhausting all my abilities barely maintained Derek's vital signs. He survived, but could no longer shift into wolf form.

Without his wolf, he couldn't continue as the pack Alpha. The pack wouldn't accept an Alpha who couldn't protect them.

I knew someone as proud as him would never accept being unable to shift.

I had already lost my mother; I couldn't lose my mate too.

So I spent sleepless nights poring over my mother's grimoires, searching for a way to heal Derek.

Finally, I found it—but the price was my life force.

Derek fully recovered, while I was left with less than six months to live.

I thought these last months of my life would be my happiest time.

What I didn't expect was for this beautiful dream to shatter so quickly.

I also knew that today was the day his childhood sweetheart, Sarah Turner, returned to the pack.

So his rush to end our call was because he was going to meet the woman he'd never stopped thinking about.

2

I didn't eat dinner. Instead, I waited for him in the living room for hours.

I waited until night had deepened, and when the front door finally opened, I jolted awake from my drowsy state.

Derek carefully closed the door behind him, his footsteps light. The moment he switched on the living room light, our eyes met.

He only froze for a second before his brows furrowed slightly. "Why aren't you in bed yet?"

"I accidentally fell asleep in the living room," I said, smiling at him. "The sound of the door just woke me up."

Derek grunted, his expression calm and unreadable.

I stepped forward to take his jacket, and the scent hit me instantly—sandalwood mixed with jasmine. The fragrance invaded my nose, making me feel sick.

That was Sarah's scent.

On the very day I learned about my life's countdown, my mate had driven to pick up his childhood sweetheart who had returned to the pack.

I should have asked him about it. I even opened my mouth, but no words came out.

As if nothing had happened at all.

The next morning, I still woke up early, making Derek breakfast just like any other day.

Derek was frequently injured. As a young Alpha who had just taken the position, he had both the strength and ambition to expand the pack's territory.

This led to constant friction between neighboring packs, and he was often on the front lines of these conflicts.

During the worst of it, he had stayed in the hospital for two weeks, and I remained by his side the entire time.

The doctors and nurses all said he had found a good Luna.

Derek sat on the hospital bed, looking exhausted, his gaze falling on me without any ripples of emotion.

When we were alone in the room, he spoke again: "Hiring a caretaker would accomplish the same thing. You should be helping those who need your healing abilities more."

My hand faltered as I was peeling an apple, breaking the continuous spiral of skin. He seemed to notice and added, "Of course I need you too, but I'm nearly healed now, aren't I?"

"It's different," I said quietly.

In truth, maybe it wasn't that different.

But people always think that doing things personally will somehow be better than leaving it to others.

When it comes to someone you love, you always care more than others would.

"How is it different?" he asked.

I looked at him with a smile and gave an answer that seemed completely unrelated:

"You're my mate."

Due to his heavy pack duties, he was discharged before his wounds were fully healed. I figured that even if he couldn't receive systematic treatment, I could at least nourish him with proper food. I specifically researched therapeutic recipes for this purpose.

Derek was a workaholic, often forgetting to eat when he was busy.

I would wake up early to make him breakfast, and sometimes when I had free time, I'd bring lunch to his office.

When I was busy, I'd at least call to remind him to eat at mealtimes.

Two or three years passed in a blur, and many things became habits, like waking up early.

Today Derek got up earlier than usual. I hadn't even had time to fix his tie before I saw him grabbing the lunch box from the table and rushing toward the door.

As he was leaving, he paused for a moment and turned back to look at me standing in the living room. His expressionless face softened slightly, like the first clear sky after a snowfall.

"I'm heading out, Willow."

"Be careful on your way."

Just like countless mornings before this one.

3

My phone buzzed on the kitchen counter as I was preparing dinner. Derek's name flashed across the screen.

"Hey," I answered, tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder as I continued chopping vegetables.

"Luna," Derek's voice came through, slightly muffled by background noise. "I need to stay late at The Howl tonight. Pack business came up unexpectedly."

I paused, knife hovering over the cutting board. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just some territory negotiations. Nothing to worry about." He hesitated. "Don't wait up for me. I might be back late."

"Alright. Be safe."

After hanging up, I glanced at the clock—7:30 PM. The vegetables lay forgotten as I wiped my hands on a dish towel, my mind already drifting to other thoughts.

I was about to return to cooking when I noticed Derek's medicine on the windowsill. The small blue bottle stood out like a warning sign.

Derek's sensitive stomach had been acting up lately. His wolf metabolism handled most things, but alcohol on an empty stomach always caused him problems. I picked up the bottle, turning it in my palm.

He'd definitely need this if he was drinking at The Howl tonight.

Without overthinking it, I grabbed my keys and jacket. The cooking could wait. My mate needed his medicine, whether he realized it or not.

The Howl was a private bar owned by our pack, about fifteen minutes from our house. The parking lot was half-full when I arrived—busy for a weeknight. I recognized most of the cars as belonging to Derek's inner circle.

As I approached the back entrance, voices drifted through the slightly ajar door. I slowed my steps, the medicine bottle cool in my palm.

"Come on, Alpha," a male voice I recognized as Jason's, Derek's beta, teased. "We've all been wondering for years. You've known Sarah forever, and now you're mated to Luna. Who do you think is more beautiful?"

My breath caught. I should walk away or make my presence known. Instead, I froze, my wolf's heightened hearing picking up every word.

"That's not a fair question," Derek protested, though amusement tinged his voice.

"Truth or dare, man. You picked truth," another voice chimed in.

There was a pause, followed by laughter.

"Fine." Derek's voice lowered, but not enough. "Sarah is beautiful, obviously. Always has been."

My heart squeezed painfully in my chest.

"And Luna?" Jason pressed.

Derek chuckled. "Luna? She's just... Luna. Always wearing that same apron, cooking at home every day. It's different."

The words hit me like physical blows, each one sinking deep into my flesh. I didn't realize I'd been holding my breath until my lungs started burning.

Acting on instinct more than thought, I pushed the door open.

The scene before me felt like something from a nightmare. Sarah—gorgeous as ever with her flowing blonde hair and perfect smile—was perched on Derek's lap, holding a french fry to his lips. His arm rested casually around her waist.

Five pairs of eyes snapped toward me. Derek's widened in shock.

"Luna," he stammered, immediately pushing Sarah off his lap. She landed gracefully on her feet, not looking the least bit embarrassed. "This isn't—"

"I brought your stomach medicine," I said, my voice flat as I held up the small bottle. "You forgot it at home."

Derek stood quickly, running a hand through his hair. "Thanks. We were just—it was just a stupid game of truth or dare. I lost."

"That's right," Sarah agreed, her smile never faltering. "We were just having fun. Nothing serious." She glanced at me, her eyes assessing. "Yes, Luna is so generous. She won't mind, right?"

The room fell silent. All eyes on me, waiting for my reaction. Would I be the cool, understanding mate? Or the jealous, territorial one?

I placed the medicine bottle on the nearest table and turned toward the door.

"Luna, wait—" Derek called after me.

I paused at the threshold but didn't turn around.

"Don't forget to take your medicine," I said quietly. "Your stomach will thank you later."

I walked out, letting the door close behind me, wondering if any of them could smell the salt of the tears that had begun sliding down my cheeks.

In that moment, beyond the hurt, I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of injustice.

And in that same moment, a plan for revenge began to take shape in my mind.

Derek didn't cheat, my wolf knew it.

But Sarah's return still filled me with dread.

I decided to continued playing the role of the perfect mate. I wanted to see the moment he learned of his perfect Luna’s death.

When he came home that night, he brought me a gift.

A pink gemstone that sparkled brilliantly under the lights, its intricate design obviously expensive.

It was beautiful. It even possessed high-level healing properties.

But I didn't like it. My broken body was like a sieve now, unable to absorb any healing energy.

I rarely wore jewelry, only dressing up when accompanying Derek to formal pack dinners.

Derek wasn't good with words. I knew this gift was his way of apologizing and making amends for what happened this morning.

I accepted it with a smile anyway.

Derek's expression softened slightly. I wasn't sure if he was relieved that I wasn't upset or that I didn't hold anything against Sarah.

I casually placed the box in a drawer and went to bed before him, though sleep eluded me.

When he finally came to the bedroom and lay down beside me, the familiar scent of sandalwood enveloped me as he carefully wrapped his arms around me from behind.

His warmth seeped through the thin fabric of my nightclothes. I closed my eyes, keeping my breathing even.

Even after he fell asleep, I remained wide awake.

The physical discomfort was growing worse.

I opened my eyes.

Moonlight poured through the window, coating everything in silver.

I stared for what felt like hours, until the world grew so quiet it seemed I was the only one left.

And then the realization hit me, as if I'd only just remembered:

I was going to die soon.

4

The next morning as I was seeing Derek off, my phone calendar sent me a notification.

I glanced at it quickly, suddenly remembering today was when I was supposed to visit Mom's grave.

My parents had dissolved their mate bond when I was very young. My father didn't love my mother—he had been secretly involved with another woman for years and had even fathered a daughter with her who was older than me.

My mother raised me alone, improving her healing abilities through countless battles. I had sworn to work hard so I could become her support one day.

But my luck was bad. I became the target of bullies at school.

Even though I hadn't done anything wrong—perhaps my clothes offended them, or maybe something I said one day made them hold a grudge.

I didn't dare tell my mother. The teachers couldn't control them, and the more I fought back, the worse it got.

The day they cornered me, I had some destructive thoughts. The rough feel of a brick in my bag gave me a small sense of security.

The lead girl's contemptuous gaze fell on my face, about to pronounce judgment on me.

Then Derek appeared.

He was smart enough to know this wouldn't be a one-time incident.

He deliberately protected me, deterring them from trying again. Thanks to him, I passed through three years of middle school safely.

That's why I followed him without hesitation, getting into the same college, becoming a better person.

But I was one step too late.

Just as Derek was my light, he had once found his own light too.

Sarah.

Who also happened to be my half-sister from my father's side.

I brought flowers to my mother's grave. Now she was gone, before I could become her support. I sat in front of her tombstone for almost an hour, speaking briefly to her, keeping many unspoken words bottled up inside, just silently keeping her company.

Taking a taxi back, as I approached the pack house entrance, I spotted them from a distance.

Sarah and Derek walking side by side. I don't know what they were talking about, but I saw my typically cold mate with the corner of his lips turned up, the smile reaching his eyes with genuine warmth.

I froze in place.

As they laughed together, a dirty little stray cat suddenly darted out from the bushes, meowing loudly at Sarah.

They both stopped. Sarah tried to pet it, but the cat jumped up at her legs, startling her and sending her scrambling toward Derek's arms.

Derek steadied her with his hand on her waist, but quickly released her.

As he turned his head, he caught sight of me standing not far away. Sarah reacted even faster than he did: "Willow!"

I walked over stiffly. Before Sarah could say anything, I bent down and picked up the dirty cat.

The little cat seemed startled too, burrowing into my arms but not struggling.

"Derek," I said, smiling at him. "I want to keep it."

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

I just kept smiling and repeated: "I want to keep it."

5

Derek accompanied me to the veterinary clinic where we had the cat examined, only to discover it had numerous health issues.

Broken bones, scratches across its abdomen, and countless minor ailments.

But it was well-behaved, staying quiet and still during the examination, just lying there peacefully.

Derek looked at me, seeming like he wanted to say something but held back.

He remained silent the entire time, even on our way home.

The cat was left at the clinic for treatment. I named it "Echo."

The atmosphere between us turned stiff the moment we arrived home.

Derek wouldn't speak, and I maintained my silence as well.

Only when we both entered our bedroom did things change. The warm orange glow of the bedside lamp instantly made the room feel cozy.

I sat on the bed, watching Derek come in wearing his sleeping clothes.

The warm light fell on him, softening his typically sharp features.

He rarely showed emotions. On the rare occasions when I'd seen him smile, it was just a slight upturn of his lips, like a moonflower blooming—there one moment, gone the next.

I wasn't sure how deep Derek's feelings for me ran. Over the years, I'd believed he'd grown to care for me at least somewhat.

But those thoughts seemed laughable now that Sarah had returned.

"Derek," I suddenly called to him.

He looked up at me, his expression both innocent and detached.

"Do you still stand by what you said?" I asked.

"What did I say?"

"You said—"

"I am your mate."

"You would be good to me for the rest of our lives."

I smiled at him.

Derek suddenly lowered his eyes, his voice flat: "Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

"No reason. It just came to mind."

A vague pain crept through my body, the discomfort in my abdomen intensifying at night. The nerves in my head throbbed like tightly twisted rope.

"I will," he finally answered.

The moment he responded, the room's light suddenly went out.

His warm breath brushed against my cheek, followed by a gentle kiss.

"Goodnight, Willow."

As his breathing gradually steadied behind me, I carefully freed myself from his embrace and turned to face him.

By the moonlight, I traced his features inch by inch, from his brow to his chin.

Derek wouldn't cheat.

But Sarah would always be on his mind.

Suddenly, I wondered how Derek would feel when he looked back on these moments after I was gone.

What would he feel then?

The day I left the hospital, I thought about many things, which all tangled together in my mind like a messy ball of yarn.

The first thought that emerged was: what would Derek do after I died?

He would have to remarry eventually.

I thought then that Sarah had dissolved her mate bond, and with his mate dead, the two of them could be together.

That would be fine.

But absolutely not now.

So, I changed my mind.

I first met Sarah on my tenth birthday.

My mother rarely had a day off from her double shifts at the hospital, but she had promised me something special for turning ten.

That morning, she surprised me with tickets to Moonlight Park, the amusement park I'd been begging to visit for months.

But when we approached the carousel, I spotted a girl about my age already mounted on a white horse. She wore a frilly blue dress and a sparkling tiara.

"Daddy! Look at me! I'm a princess!" she called out, striking different poses on her horse.

"You sure are, Sarah-bear!" the man called back. "Smile bigger for the camera!"

I caught a clear glimpse of the man's face. My heart stuttered in my chest.

My mother noticed my reaction and followed my gaze before calmly looking back at me.

"Do you want to go say hello?" she asked quietly. "He is your father, after all."

The carousel came to a complete stop. The girl—Sarah—dismounted gracefully from her horse and ran toward my father with outstretched arms.

He caught her in a tight embrace, lifting her high above his head.

I shook my head.

My memories of my father were foggy because he had never been close to me. The few times I tried to seek his affection, he had coldly scolded me.

This fractured image of a father had confused me for a long time.

Later, I understood—he simply didn't love me.

All those things that seemed impossibly out of reach for me were just everyday givens for Sarah.

6

I continued to treat Derek well, pretending I knew nothing, even when I occasionally caught the scent of jasmine on his clothes.

Sometimes I'd see Sarah's social media updates, photos or videos that always seemed to have a glimpse of Derek somewhere in the frame.

Subtle yet obvious.

I would linger on each post for a long time before clicking the heart button.

But I never said anything.

Just like before, maintaining a peaceful surface.

Yet there was an undercurrent, a feeling like a storm brewing.

The only differences now were that I had resigned from my position at the pack hospital, we had Echo at home, and I'd picked up my old habit of keeping a journal.

I wrote daily, recording my mundane routines and my physical condition.

I began spending entire nights unable to sleep, with a constant dull ache in my abdomen.

I still prepared meals for Derek every day, but when it came time for me to eat, I would stare at the food for long periods, having lost all appetite.

When I visited my mother's grave again, I chatted with her for only about fifteen minutes as usual, followed by long periods of silent companionship.

Without me as a burden, my mother would have had a better life after leaving.

She didn't love my father, and she didn't love me either, but she still fulfilled her responsibility as a mother and raised me to be healthy.

It seemed like karma when my father's health began to deteriorate, and he went bankrupt due to financial crisis.

Derek came home early that evening, arriving just as I finished preparing dinner.

The dishes steamed on the table.

We hadn't eaten together like this in a long time.

Since Sarah's return, he had become increasingly busy.

Derek had good manners—never speaking during meals.

I used to think there was something beautiful about two people sitting together in silence.

Derek ate methodically while I took a couple of bites before losing my appetite, the pain in my abdomen beginning to flare again.

Just then, Echo came downstairs and darted under the dining table.

I put down my utensils. Derek glanced at me, and I explained, "I'm going to get some food for Echo."

Echo's room was on the second floor—I'd cleared out the former storage room to make a space for her.

Her food bowl was empty. I added some cat food, and Echo wagged her tail and dug in.

I watched from the side, feeling a little better.

Suddenly, the pain in my abdomen intensified, and a metallic sweetness rose in my throat.

I covered my mouth with my hand. When I pulled it away, the bright red blood on it stung my eyes.

Echo abruptly stopped eating and turned to leap at my feet, meowing loudly.

I grabbed a tissue to wipe away the blood, crumpled it, and tossed it into the trash can.

Crouching down, I gave her head a good scratch and whispered, "I'm fine."

She meowed twice more, abandoning her food to paw at me.

I picked her up, and she quieted down, nuzzling against me.

Someone knocked on the doorframe. Derek stood there watching us and said softly, "Come finish dinner, Willow."

I had no appetite but forced myself to finish. Derek went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

When he returned, he found me on the couch playing with Echo and sat down beside me.

"Willow, I've been busy lately, but when things settle down, I'll take you to that island resort. Would you like that?"

I rubbed Echo's ears and replied, "Yes."

Going to an island resort with Derek had always been on my wish list.

We were too distant in the beginning.

After our mating ceremony, we didn't have a honeymoon—just continued our normal lives, going to work and coming home.

When our relationship improved, I always thought about going to an island with Derek, like a delayed honeymoon.

I never told Derek about this little wish, though I had mentioned the trip a few times.

But the workaholic's schedule was always too full, forcing us to postpone again and again.

Now he was the one bringing it up.

I caught him watching me from the corner of my eye, his sharp eyes softening slightly.

I pretended not to notice.

"There's an auction next week," he said casually. "Would you like to come with me?"

I froze momentarily before quickly regaining my composure. "I think I'll pass."

Derek didn't press the issue, just nodded.

My gaze remained fixed on Echo, ignoring Derek completely.

Sarah had just returned to the pack and had a limited social circle. She wouldn't miss an opportunity like this.

If she asked Derek, he wouldn't refuse her.

Echo grunted softly on my lap, and I stroked her head.

What Derek probably didn't anticipate was that I would show up at the auction he was taking Sarah to behind my back.

7

I was late. The auctioneer's voice echoed through the elegant hall: "And now, ladies and gentlemen, our final item of the evening."

"The Violet Moonglow, one of the rarest healing crystals known to our kind. This remarkable specimen has been verified to significantly soothe an injured wolf's suffering."

My heart stopped. Three months ago, during a particularly painful full moon, I had mentioned to Derek how much I wished for such a crystal. Echo, my wolf, had been struggling with each transformation since the injure.

Derek had sympathetically explained that such crystals were extremely rare and prohibitively expensive. He'd promised to try to find one but said it was unlikely.

Yet here it was. But he didn’t tell me.

I scanned the crowd and spotted Derek near the front, his tall frame impossible to miss. Sarah stood beside him, elegantly dressed in a shimmering gown, her arm wrapped intimately around his.

"Bidding starts at one million dollars," announced the auctioneer.

The price climbed rapidly—two million, three million, five million.

Sarah squeezed Derek's arm, looking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

"Ten million," Derek's voice rang out, silencing the room.

Applause erupted as Derek made his way to the stage. The crystal was carefully handed to him, its purple glow illuminating his features. He returned to Sarah and placed it gently in her hands.

She squealed in delight, throwing her arms around his neck. The crowd around them smiled appreciatively.

"The Alpha certainly knows how to treat his mate," someone nearby commented.

"Ten million for a healing crystal—that's true devotion," agreed another.

My hands trembled. The crystal that could have eased my wolf's suffering—the one Derek said he couldn't find—now nestled in Sarah's hands, a ten-million-dollar gift.

The small clutch I'd been holding slipped from my fingers, hitting the marble floor with a crack.

Derek turned to look.

I wasn't wearing a beautiful gown. I'd grown so thin. I hadn't dared look in a mirror for a long time, afraid to see my increasingly prominent cheekbones and the skull-like appearance of my face.

I knew he'd seen me.

Because his expression changed instantly, looking stricken.

Across the bustling crowd, we stared at each other.

I just looked at him silently, neither smiling nor crying.

I saw his face change, watched him release Sarah's hand, attempting to reach me. Through the crowd, his steps appeared labored.

Suddenly I smiled at him, then turned and left.

When I got home, I went straight to my old room.

The tangled threads in my mind intertwined further, impossible to unravel.

The vines around my heart tightened even more, as if they would burst open at any moment.

I finally lost all composure.

I swept everything off my desk, sending it crashing to the floor with a tremendous noise.

It wasn't enough.

The books on the shelves—I tore at them frantically. Paper fragments fluttered to the ground like unseasonable snow.

Still not enough.

Small ornaments on the shelves, makeup and skincare products, intricate crafts Derek had brought me from his trips, the building blocks we'd assembled together...

Destructive urges and rage intertwined, emotional impulses running rampant through my mind.

The floor was a complete mess, chaotic, just like my shattered life.

When I came back to my senses, silver scissors were already pressed against my arm.

And Echo was frantically crying at my feet.

The cat's cries were sharp and urgent. When she saw me look down, she suddenly quieted, opening her mouth in what looked like a silly smile.

The silver scissors clattered to the floor as Echo leaped toward me, meowing as she jumped.

I numbly gathered her into my arms. She nuzzled against me with her furry head, her small body warm.

Holding her, I suddenly began to cry.

All the impulses faded away. The destruction brought me no satisfaction, only leaving a bottomless black hole in my heart.

Such torment.

8

Derek returned home after I had already cleaned up the room.

He wanted to talk to me. I sat on the sofa smiling at him, knowing he wanted to explain but couldn't find the words.

I had been with him for five years.

I'd navigated the social landscape with him. Derek wasn't good with words, but he was clear and logical. Everything he said came out cold and distant.

It was me who gradually taught him how to handle situations, how to deal with those cunning pack elders.

Now he moved through these social gatherings with ease, though he remained a man of few words outside those settings.

Before, I thought I would love him no matter what he was like. Now I realized perhaps he simply had nothing to say to me.

I smiled and spoke first, cutting off anything he might have said.

"It's fine. I understand Sarah just returned to the pack and doesn't have a social circle yet. You wanted to help her, so you took her to the banquet."

Derek's expression shifted. "Yes..."

"It's okay," I looked at him, my voice gentle. "I don't mind."

Derek stared at me without speaking.

Our eyes met.

I maintained my gentle gaze.

After what seemed like forever, he finally looked away.

Then suddenly he embraced me, holding me so tightly it was as if he wanted to merge me into his body. I could barely breathe.

His warm breath fell on my ear.

"Willow."

So intimate.

"You've lost weight."

I smiled but didn't answer.

The scent of sandalwood mixed with jasmine surrounded me. I forcefully suppressed the urge to vomit.

The next morning, I got up to see him off to work as usual.

I thought he was about to leave, but Derek suddenly stopped in the living room. "Willow."

He said softly, "I forgot to put on my tie."

I went upstairs and grabbed one for him, somewhat exasperated.

Derek didn't take it. Instead, he lowered his head. "Help me, Willow."

I did as he asked. Derek kept his head down obediently while I adjusted it. "There, done."

Suddenly my waist was gripped firmly and pulled forward until our bodies pressed together. I looked up at him. "Der—"

My words were cut off by the warmth of his lips.

Derek held my waist and kissed me fiercely.

Conquering, like a beast that had shed its disguise, filled with fierce desire.

When we parted, the corners of his eyes were tinged with red.

I looked at him, saying nothing.

Derek placed another kiss on my forehead, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly. "I'm going now, Willow."

I smiled as I said goodbye.

9

I arranged to meet Sarah in the forest.

When she arrived, I saw the purple healing crystal around her neck.

"Do you like it?" Sarah asked, touching the crystal with manicured fingers. "Derek gave it to me after the auction. Ten million dollars! Can you believe it?"

"I mentioned to him that I wasn't sleeping well," she continued, twirling the crystal between her fingers. "Just a bit of insomnia, nothing serious. The next day, he presented me with this."

“But honestly, Willow, it might be better for you to leave before I ask Derek to sever your mate bond. Start fresh somewhere else. "

Seeing me look up at her, her smile deepened. "You know, I should thank your mate—"

Something inside me snapped.

The shift happened faster than it ever had before. Pain ripped through my body as bones cracked and reformed, my skin giving way to fur, human consciousness receding as Echo surged forward with a fury I couldn't contain.

Sarah turned back at the sound of my transformation, her eyes widening in shock. She stumbled backward as my wolf form emerged—sleek, dark, and radiating rage.

Before she could scream, I lunged. My teeth found her arm , clamping down with enough force to break skin but not bone.

Her shriek echoed across the gardens. I released her arm and stood over her, growling low in my throat, my wolf's eyes fixed on the terrified woman beneath me.

Blood seeped through the sleeve of her designer blouse.

"How dare you!" Sarah gasped, clutching her wounded arm. Her face flushed with humiliation and fear. "You're insane! What is wrong with you?"

"Derek will hear about this," she hissed, her composure shattered.

"Willow," she said, her voice regaining its condescending sweetness, though now tinged with venom. "You can't force someone to love you."

I looked at her but suddenly smiled.

"You're right."

"Sarah, want to make a bet with me?"

"If you win, he's yours."

"I'll step aside willingly, and you won't have to deal with being labeled a homewrecker."

Sarah looked at me quietly, then smiled gracefully.

"Alright."

10

Derek returned home while I was writing in my journal.

Hearing him open the door, I put down my pen and tucked the journal into the drawer.

Derek had been coming home early lately.

Sometimes in the evening, he would accompany me on walks.

That night, as I sat on the bed reading, he suddenly came over and pulled me into his arms.

I leaned against him, feeling the slightly elevated temperature of another person's body.

He rested his chin on top of my head, reading along with me the trashy romance novel in my hands.

We reached the part where the male lead stood up for the female antagonist, who slapped the female protagonist, making her cry out: "I'm your mate!"

His arm around my waist tightened.

I casually turned to the next page.

We continued reading, watching the male lead repeatedly siding with the other woman against his mate, seeing the mate's heartbreak again and again until she finally resolved to leave him.

The mate then had an awakening, immediately beginning his pursuit to win her back. After many twists and turns, they got their happy ending.

We finished the book around midnight.

I remembered the sleeping pills I'd left in another room and tried to free myself from Derek's embrace, but he wouldn't let go, keeping me locked in his arms.

"Derek?" I called his name.

"Hmm," he responded softly.

The room suddenly grew very quiet.

So quiet I could hear his heartbeat.

"Willow."

He buried his head in my shoulder, his voice carrying a hint of something like hurt.

"You used to never call me by my full name."

I suddenly felt like laughing.

Derek never used to call me Willow either.

Instead, with a distant and unfamiliar attitude, he politely called me "Miss Dawson."

We had both changed.

I turned around to face him, putting my arms around his waist, and smiled as I called him: "Dev."

He looked at me, his eyes carefully examining every emotion on my face before lowering his gaze and pulling me even closer.

"Willow..."

I never knew Derek could be so affectionate.

But if he truly loved me...

Then why was he so attentive to Sarah?

A week had passed since my meeting with Sarah.

Our wedding anniversary was approaching, and Derek grew increasingly clingy.

My journal reached its hundredth day, which coincidentally was also our wedding anniversary.

A casual comment I'd made earlier had stuck with Derek. He came home early and spent the afternoon busy in the kitchen.

I took Echo out to play before returning home, where Derek had already set everything up.

The food on the table gave off a tempting aroma. Derek stood to the side, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes soft as he looked at me.

"Welcome home, Willow."

Roses and music—cliché yet romantic.

Two plane tickets lay beneath a bottle of champagne, dated for the day after tomorrow.

I glanced at Derek, then at the tickets, and smiled.

The clock on the wall pointed to eight.

The atmosphere was perfect.

Until Sarah called.

The beauty on the other end cried like a wilting flower in the rain, saying she felt terrible.

She called him by their old intimate nickname.

"Dev, I feel so awful. I'm in unfamiliar territory here—you're all I have."

"Please come help me."

"Dev."

The romantic atmosphere shattered instantly.

Derek glanced at me.

Just that one look.

And I understood.

"Willow... I'm sorry."

"I'll just take her to the hospital and come right back. It won't take long."

I only asked him one thing.

"Could you not go?"

Derek looked at me without speaking.

The atmosphere suddenly dropped to freezing. I watched his smile disappear, reverting to the Derek from five years ago.

Cold and distant.

The Derek who was still a stranger to me.

He looked away, promising again: "I'll be back soon."

"...I won't miss our anniversary."

We seemed to be at a standstill.

Finally, I gave in.

I said, "Okay."

Derek turned and walked toward the door while I stood in the living room watching his back.

I saw him look back.

I smiled.

Just like countless times before, like a proper mate seeing off her mate.

I said: "Be careful on the road."

He said: "I will."

I watched him disappear into the night, the music still flowing from the speakers.

I picked it up and smashed it to the ground. After the loud crash, the living room lost all sound.

I turned and went back to our bedroom.

Derek wouldn't come back tonight.

I knew it.

Sarah had won the bet.

But I hadn't lost either.