After returning home, Serena began methodically packing her belongings.

She sorted through everything that belonged to Marcus and the Bloodclaw Pack. The armband symbolizing her status as the pack's Alpha's mate, the mate ring worth 100 million dollars, and that mate bond dissolution agreement Marcus had signed himself—all laid out on the table like settling accounts for an absurd dream.

Three days later, Marcus was discharged from the hospital.

He'd returned to being the cold, commanding Alpha, appearing at the door in an impeccable suit with his tie knotted perfectly. He showed no signs of having been severely injured and near death.

"Baby, pack affairs have been so busy lately, I haven't had time to spend with you."

He concealed his injury and hospitalization, approaching to embrace me while carrying the faint scent of medical treatment.

I knew he was afraid of arousing suspicion, not knowing how to explain, which was why he'd rushed to discharge himself.

But what he didn't know was that I'd witnessed everything.

I'd clearly seen how he'd risked his life for another woman.

"How's the baby been lately?" Marcus suddenly asked, his gaze falling on my abdomen. "Have you been taking your supplements and vitamins on schedule? Your belly seems... smaller somehow."

He reached out to touch my stomach, and I instinctively rejected his touch. "I'm not feeling well. Don't touch me." My voice was cold.

Marcus frowned deeply and immediately called over an omega servant to ask about my recent condition.

Learning that I hadn't been taking the supplements and vitamins, his expression changed dramatically, and he personally went to prepare them for me.

"Baby, be good." He held the medicine bowl, his tone so gentle it could melt water. "For a smooth delivery, drink this. It'll prevent suffering during labor."

I looked at the pile of supplements and vitamins, about to find an excuse to refuse, when the doorbell suddenly rang.

It was Marcus's beta assistant with several Gamma guards, all looking urgent. I recognized them as the Gammas Marcus had specifically assigned to protect Rose.

Seeing this, he instructed me to rest well and took them to his study.

After the footsteps faded, I immediately poured the supplements and vitamins down the sink.

I was about to go back to the bedroom when I heard heated discussion coming from the study.

"Alpha, Rose has been poisoned with silver. The healer says she won't last more than a month! Her family has locked her up to wait for death! Her final wish... is to have a Mating Ceremony with you!"

"Crash"—the sound of a teacup shattering.

After an unknown amount of time, Marcus's cold and indifferent voice came through: "I understand."

"What do you mean you understand?" a Gamma asked.

"I mean," Marcus said word by word, "I will fulfill her final wish."

The study instantly erupted.

"Are you insane? You want to hold a Mating Ceremony with a dying she-wolf?"

"Alpha! Get a grip! You have a mate, and your child will be born in a few months!"

"Have you thought about your mate? Why should she tolerate her mate holding a mating ceremony with someone else?"

"Aren't you afraid she'll dissolve the bond? Leave you completely?"

Among all the protests, Marcus's voice cut through decisively, overriding all opposition.

"I'll handle it properly. This matter won't reach Serena's ears."

"What if she finds out?" His beta assistant still tried to stop him.

After a few seconds of silence, his voice came through.

"She'll never know. Even if she did, she wouldn't leave me. She became my mate right after she came of age and shifted. I am her everything. Bloodclaw Pack is her home. She has no other choice."

"Besides, she's so pure and kind-hearted, she wouldn't compete with Rose."

I stood outside the door, my fingertips digging into the doorframe until they hurt, my chest so tight I could barely breathe.

But strangely, there wasn't the expected tearing pain.

When disappointment accumulates to its peak, even pain becomes numb.

In this moment, I felt with crystal clarity that the Serena Cross who'd deeply loved Marcus Stone was dying bit by bit inside my body.

Marcus had been unusually busy these past few days.

I watched coldly as he left early and returned late, never letting his phone leave his side, the lights in his study burning until dawn.

I knew he was meticulously preparing for Rose's "final" Mating Ceremony.

On the morning the Alpha Council approved the mate bond dissolution application, I left early to collect the approval document from the council.

Besides that, I only packed my pitifully few personal belongings.

When I returned home, Marcus was adjusting his tie in front of the dressing mirror. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit with a silver badge pinned to his lapel—it matched the one on the red dress Rose had worn before.

"Back from your walk?" He saw me in the mirror and smiled gently. "Baby, I need to patrol the border today. I might be back late. Rest well at home and remember to take your supplements and vitamins on time."

He turned around, his long fingers gently caressing my abdomen as he whispered: "Baby, come out soon. Once you're born, your Alpha daddy will personally teach you to hunt."

Looking at the tenderness in his eyes, I suddenly felt the irony.

Daddy? My heart felt like it had been pierced by an ice pick. He was exhausting himself for a "dying" outsider, yet had no idea that the "child" he claimed to care about had already vanished from this world. This belated "fatherly love" built on lies was so cheap it made me sick.

I gripped the mate bond dissolution approval tightly: "I have something to tell you."

Marcus paused: "Baby, I need to leave right now."

"So urgent?" I asked softly. "You won't even spare me five minutes?"

Marcus checked his watch and ultimately refused: "Whatever it is, we'll talk tonight, okay?"

"Is this matter really that important?"

"Very important." He answered without hesitation, not even giving me a glance.

I laughed.

I pulled at the corners of my mouth—that smile must have looked terrible, like crying. "Go ahead," I said quietly. "Don't delay your important business."

Marcus seemed like he wanted to say something but ultimately just placed a light kiss on my forehead before hurrying away.

Watching his retreating figure, I gently closed my eyes and placed the mate bond dissolution approval on the table.

When I left with my suitcase, I didn't look back.

The airport terminal was crowded with people.

Just as the plane was about to take off and I was about to turn off my phone, Marcus's text appeared:

"Baby, I left the supplements warming in the kitchen. I'll come home and watch the aurora with you after I finish my business."

What a beautiful promise, what a ridiculous lie. Your "important business" is going to hold a ceremony with another woman, fulfilling her "final wish." And I don't even qualify for five minutes of your time.

I've already applied to dissolve our bond. From now on, there's nothing between us.

I calmly deleted the message. My fingertips were ice-cold, but my movements were remarkably swift. Then came the sweet photos in my phone album—moments I'd once treasured like jewels, now all seeming like mockery. Finally, his name, his number, every way to contact him—I erased them all completely.

Last, I blocked our mind-link, severing the final connection between us.

The plane bound for the Northern Territories roared into the sky. The massive thrust pressed me against my seat back. I watched the Bloodclaw Pack territory grow smaller and smaller outside the window, watching this place that had buried my youth and love.

Marcus Stone, goodbye forever. From now on, you no longer exist in my world.

Marcus's head guard, an old wolf who had served him for years, finally couldn't hold back and spoke again, his voice filled with worry and deep disapproval: "Alpha, have you really thought this through? Holding a Mating Ceremony for a she-wolf poisoned with silver and dying? This... this goes against protocol, against your status and position! How will you explain this to your mate?"

Marcus lowered his head, and after a long moment said, "Serena will understand. Rose was my childhood companion. We have deep friendship from growing up together. She's been poisoned with silver. She won't live long, and this is her final wish—a... insignificant wish. I can't let her leave with regrets." He paused, seeming to convince himself as much as giving the guard an explanation, his tone carrying a forceful, almost self-deceptive certainty. "As for Serena... she has a gentle nature and is most reasonable. She will... understand my difficult position. She'll comprehend."

Seeing the guard wolves about to say something more, Marcus's voice turned angry.

The overwhelming pressure of a top-tier Alpha instantly filled the entire vehicle, carrying icy fury: "Enough! If you don't want to come with me, get out of the car now! I'll handle Serena's side myself! You don't need to worry about it!"

The guard wolves fell silent under his rage, forced to swallow all their doubts and unease.

In the car heading to the luxury banquet hall that had been hastily converted into a "ceremony venue," Marcus felt an inexplicable panic. My morning appearance clutching a document folder, wanting to speak but stopping, and my cold words "Don't delay your important business" kept flashing through his mind.

Thinking of the guard wolves' words, Marcus felt guilt rising in his heart. He pulled out his phone and sent me a message:

"Baby, I left the supplements warming in the kitchen. I'll come home and watch the aurora with you after I finish patrolling the territory."

I used to reply to his messages immediately, but this time Marcus stared at his screen for a long time without getting a response.

The unease Marcus had barely suppressed surged up again.

Just as he was about to contact me through mind-link, the car stopped.

"Alpha, we've arrived."

Hearing the guard wolf's voice, Marcus immediately put down his phone.

He would explain everything to me later. Rose didn't have much time left, and her "final wish" was urgent. Right now, Rose was more important.

Rose's family servants didn't seem surprised to see Marcus. "Alpha, are you here to see the young miss? She's been unwell lately and isn't convenient to see visitors."

Hearing "unwell," Marcus's eyes darkened, his tone turning cold.

"Lead the way. No more nonsense."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the Alpha's irresistible pressure. The servant didn't dare block him further and immediately led the way.

In the main hall of the Rose family estate, Rose looked at her wedding dress with no sign of weakness from silver poisoning on her face.

"Rose, will this really work? You're pretending to be dying to trick the Alpha into holding a mating ceremony with you. If we're exposed, we'll be punished by the Alpha."

Rose's father looked worried, seeing no movement until now.

Just then, a servant came to Rose's side and whispered something.

Rose's face showed a triumphant expression.

"Dad, don't worry. The Alpha is here. Once we drive Serena Cross away, the Alpha's mate position will be mine."

Hearing Rose's words, her father nodded in relief.

"The Alpha is here to see the young miss."

The servant's announcement rang out, and Rose quickly put on a sickly appearance, her eyes filling with tears.

Just then, the door opened and Marcus's voice came through.

"Rose, I've come to take you to hold the mating ceremony. Don't worry, I've arranged everything properly."

Rose's father, getting Rose's signal, immediately grabbed Rose's hand and deliberately raised his voice:

"Alpha, why are you still coming here? Rose was injured by your political enemies and poisoned with silver. Her life is ending. It's all because of you." Rose's father extended his hands as if to drive Marcus away.

Rose struggled to stop him, "Dad, don't blame the Alpha. I don't blame him. I asked him to come. My dying wish is to hold a mating ceremony with the Alpha. As long as the Alpha fulfills this wish, I'll die without regrets."

Seeing Rose's condition, Marcus immediately rushed forward and pulled Rose into his arms.

"Don't say foolish things. You'll be fine. I've already arranged everything."

After speaking, Marcus immediately lifted Rose in his arms and strode toward the ceremony venue.

Marcus arranged a grand mating ceremony for Rose. They kissed like true mates, marked each other behind the ears, and even completed the vows.

When the ceremony ended, Rose seemed to suddenly remember something and said with feigned surprise:

"Marcus, you held a mating ceremony with me. Serena won't be unhappy, will she? It's all because of me, and she's carrying your child. Should I come back with you to help explain?"

Marcus thought of my previous questions about Rose. He was afraid I would misunderstand. "No need. You're tired today too. Rest well. Serena isn't the type to be unreasonable. She'll understand my position."

Since Marcus said so, Rose couldn't say more.

Though she really wanted to see my expression when I learned that Marcus had held a mating ceremony with her.

After sending Rose home, Marcus deliberately detoured to the territory's edge to buy my favorite premium venison from an old hunter before walking into the living room. "Look what I brought you? Fresh deer meat, later we can..." His voice stopped abruptly.

The living room was completely empty. The lights were pale, illuminating a room of silence. The figure he expected to see was nowhere to be found.