"Claude Thorne," I called him by his full name for the first time as I casually tossed the "Notice of Dissolution of Mate Bond" toward him.

"I am now formally informing you that I no longer wish to be Beta, and I couldn't care less about the Luna position either. Since you care so much about Victoria, you can have her take my place at the coronation ceremony next month."

"How many times do I have to say it?" Claude was thoroughly enraged. Without even glancing at the notice, he lunged forward and seized me by the shoulders.

"I think of Victoria as a sister. My regard for her is based solely on the debt I owe her father! And you want me to make her Luna? You must've lost your mind!"

Rage burned in his eyes. "Do you have any idea what giving up Luna means? You'd actually make a joke out of something like this just to get my attention? Do you think I have nothing better to do?"

"Do you truly think of her only as a sister?" I demanded, my voice cracking.

Just then, a figure appeared in the doorway.

Victoria stumbled in, panic written all over her face.

"Claude, something terrible has happened! The border barrier is weakening, and outsiders are attacking!"

Claude's expression instantly tightened. He released me and coldly tossed out a final remark.

"Stay home and reflect properly. I'll deal with you when I get back."

With that, he rushed out of the door.

I calmly picked up the notice he'd ignored. Then, I looked around the room that no longer held any of my belongings and murmured to myself, "Home? Do I still have a home?"

Claude was right. I did need to reflect—on how I'd been blind to the truth for ten years.

Early the next morning, I left the pack's core territory and returned to what had once been my home.

It was a small settlement attached to the fringes of the Moonwing pack.

The moment I stepped through the door, my father, Raymond Ashwood, rubbed his hands together as he hurried over. His face, puffy from years of heavy drinking, was plastered with a fawning smile.

"Heather, how did it go? Did Claude promise you the Luna position? I heard Luna gets extra monthly supplies, plus—"

"No," I interrupted flatly, crushing his fantasies. "And there are no supplies. I've dissolved my mate bond with Claude, so I'll probably be moving back here from now on."

The air froze for a second.

The smile on Dad's face stiffened, then twisted into something hideous and terrifying.

A sharp, heavy slap landed across my face.

"You useless wretch!" Dad exploded in rage, jabbing his finger at my nose as he cursed me out. "Your brother Jax made a huge bet with some other wolves and lost a fortune.

"The whole family's counting on you to turn things around, yet you dare dissolve the mate bond? I'm going to beat you to death!"

"What a loser." My stepmother, Linda Lupine, folded her arms and fanned the flames. "You can't even hold on to a mate, and now you want to come back here and freeload? The nerve!"

Dad grew more agitated with each passing moment. He grabbed a glass ashtray from the table and hurled it at me with all his might.

I didn't dodge. The ashtray struck my temple, and blood streamed down from my brow, staining my vision red.

But I felt no pain. After all, what was a little physical hurt compared to the wounds already carved into my heart?

I casually wiped the blood from my face and looked at my so-called father as if seeing a stranger.

"That slap and this blood should just about repay you for raising me. From today onward, I have nothing more to do with this family."

With that, I turned and walked away.

Behind me came Dad's vicious curses, accompanied by the loud crash of things being smashed.

"Stubborn brat! If you walk out that door, don't ever come back! You can die out there for all I care. Throw out everything she left in the attic, lest they bring bad luck!"

Dragging my suitcase, I had nowhere to go.

In the end, I went to the gray zone between the two packs.

Here, there were no laws or jurisdiction. Instead, there was only a mix of Rogues and exiled outcasts.

I rented the cheapest apartment available.

Ironically, this was exactly where Claude had first placed me ten years ago when he took me away from my family.

Back then, he'd said, "You're an outsider. If you live in the core territory, you'll be ostracized. So, this place suits you better."

I'd believed him then, and I'd been so grateful. Now that I thought about it, it was just that he didn't consider me worthy of setting foot in his territory.

I'd just reached the apartment building with my suitcase when a familiar SUV slowly pulled up to the curb.

The window rolled down, revealing Claude's sharply defined face.

In the passenger seat, Victoria leaned forward, looking surprised.

"Heather? What are you doing in a place like this? Good heavens, how did you get that injury on your forehead?"

They were here to handle the border barrier issues, and the last thing they expected was to run into me.

Claude pushed the door open and stepped out of the car. When his gaze swept over the wound on my temple, his brow furrowed—not with concern, but with disgust and impatience.

"Heather, you're really something. I told you to stay home and reflect properly. Did that just go in one ear and out the other?"

His eyes fell on my suitcase. "You're actually moving out just to avoid apologizing? And you've let yourself go to such a state! You know full well how much I hate being threatened."

My grip on the suitcase handle tightened.

So, to him, my injuries and my blood were always just tactics to gain his attention?

I didn't argue, nor could I be bothered to explain.

Let him think whatever he wanted. After all, he and I were no longer connected.

I picked up the suitcase and turned to head upstairs. With my old wound still unhealed, my arm trembled slightly against my will.

Claude instinctively reached out to help me.

"Oh, dear." Behind us, Victoria suddenly let out a coy exclamation.

Her heel had broken, and she was now half-leaning against the car.

Claude strode over and lifted her into his arms with practiced ease.

"I've told you before not to wear high heels when going out, but you never listen," he said in a tone that carried a fondness he himself hadn't even realized.

Victoria casually wrapped her arms around Claude's neck, her gaze shifting to me.

"Claude, maybe you should put me down. Heather's suitcase looks heavy, and I heard her injury hasn't healed yet. Perhaps you could help her?"

I stopped in my tracks, my back still turned to them. At that moment, I felt as if my heart had stopped beating.

Perhaps out of unwillingness, I was waiting for the man I'd given ten years to might show even a trace of pity.

But there was none.

After a few seconds of silence, Claude's indifferent voice drifted over.

"Don't bother with her. She's just a little hurt—it's not like she's made of glass."

Behind me came the sound of a car door closing, followed by Claude's warning, "Heather, there's a limit to my patience. Move back within tomorrow, or don't bother coming back at all."

I stood frozen at the entrance to the stairwell, staring at the scar on my hand—the one I'd gotten saving him—and suddenly felt that these ten years of persistence had been nothing but a complete and utter joke.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by the sound of someone pounding on my door.

The moment I cracked it open, the nauseating stench of cheap tobacco smoke rushed in.

"You little brat! You made me hunt all over for you!" Dad kicked the door open.

Behind him were Linda and several strange wolves dressed in Blackwater pack's attire. From their scent, they were at least Gamma or higher rank.

I frowned and cautiously took a step back.

The lead wolf looked me up and down. "So, this is your daughter? She's quite a looker. No wonder she's been Moonwing pack's Alpha's bed companion all these years. Too bad she got dumped."

"Yes." Dad nodded eagerly with an obsequious smile. "Sure, Claude's gotten tired of her, but she's healthy and good for breeding. You can have her for five carts of supplies, and I won't go any lower than that."

Listening to them haggle, I stared in disbelief at this so-called father of mine.

"You're selling me to Blackwater pack for five carts of supplies?"

The Blackwater pack was notorious for its brutality. Their Alpha, Colbin Bloodworth, was rumored to be a sadist, and he had tortured more than ten she-wolves to death.

"What do you mean 'selling?'" Linda cut in shrilly. "Alpha Colbin might be old, but his territory's vast. Being with him means living the good life, and it'll score Jax some bargaining chips."

"I won't do it." My chest heaved as I stared coldly at them. "This is my home, and I've already cut ties with you. Now, get out!"

"That's not your decision to make." Dad's expression darkened as he signaled to the Gamma wolves. "Take her away! Just make sure she's delivered alive to Alpha Colbin."

Several wolves lunged at me immediately.

If I were in good health, these brutes wouldn't stand a chance against me. But alas, with my old injuries unhealed and the exhaustion from the past few days, my body was already pushed past its limits.

The wolves charged aggressively, reaching out to seize me by the shoulders.

I sidestepped one grasping hand and countered with a punch straight to another's nose, only for a third wolf to kick me hard in the stomach.

The searing pain made everything go dark. I nearly blacked out, and the wolves seized the chance to pin me down.

"Let's see how you escape now, you worthless mutt!" The lead wolf pulled a chain from his waist, a lecherous grin spreading across his face.

"This chain's been cursed by a witch and is specially designed to deal with unruly she-wolves like you. Once it's on, even a noble Luna has to behave."

Despair and terror washed over me. I closed my eyes.

Was this to be my end? Sold off like livestock, dying in some dark corner somewhere?

"Stop right there!"

Just as the chain was about to touch my neck, a silver streak flashed by.

Only an Alpha could achieve that kind of explosive speed.

Then came several dull thuds as the wolves were all sent flying backward.

"How dare you lay hands on my she-wolf?"

That familiar voice made my heart skip a beat.

I looked up to find Claude standing protectively in front of me.

The cursed chain was now wrapped around his left arm. Its sharp barbs had torn through his suit jacket, and blood dripped from his fingers onto the concrete floor.

It was a shocking sight, to say the least.

"A-Alpha Claude, what brings you here?"

Dad's and Linda's legs gave way, and they dropped to their knees with a thud, trembling.

Claude's oppressive air swept over everyone, terrifying them so much they didn't dare lift their heads.

He swept his gaze across the group like a conqueror. "Go back and tell your Alpha that if he dares provoke us again, we won't hesitate to raze Blackwater pack to the ground. And you two!"

His eyes locked onto Dad and Linda. "If I ever catch you scheming like this again, you're out of the pack for good."

"O-Of course. There won't be a next time." They scrambled away on all fours, fleeing as fast as they could.

The room fell silent.

Leaning against the wall, I watched the tall figure before me, my heart pounding uncontrollably.

Ten years ago, I'd been just as helpless, watching him descend like a savior to shield me from all the cruelty.

For a moment, I wondered if maybe there was still a tiny part of him that cared for me.

But then I heard him impatiently say, "Heather, learn to handle this kind of trivial nonsense yourself from now on. I'm busy—I don't have time to clean up your messes."

When I didn't respond, he straightened his sleeves. "Now, come home with me. Don't make me ask twice."

With that, he headed downstairs without so much as a backward glance.

"Claude!" A figure emerged from the car.

Victoria's eyes reddened the moment she spotted the blood on Claude's sleeve.

"How did you get hurt?" She held Claude's arm with concern. After confirming he wasn't seriously hurt, she let go in a huff and turned her head away.

"You promised to spend my birthday with me today, but you broke your word for Heather. What does she have that I don't? Why, after everything she's done to challenge your authority, can you still not let her go?"

I reached the bottom of the stairs just in time to witness this scene.

Claude pulled the sulking Victoria into his arms, a flicker of helplessness crossing his face.

"Alright, stop overthinking this. She can't compare to you in any way. In fact, you're the most important she-wolf to me. As far as I'm concerned, she's nothing more than a useful hunting dog."

My suitcase thudded to the ground.

Claude caught sight of me standing in the shadowed corner, and for a brief moment, bewilderment flickered in his eyes. He instinctively let Victoria go and opened his mouth to speak, yet no words came out.

I refused to go back with Claude.

According to the plan, I'd leave his territory completely the day after tomorrow and head into human society.

After seeing Victoria off, Claude returned to my place.

"Are you angry?"

I turned my head away, avoiding his gaze. "No."

"I only said that earlier because Victoria was emotionally unstable at the time," Claude explained unprompted, his tone flat. "You know how she's always been. If she doesn't get her way, she tends to take it hard."

I didn't respond, as I was tired of hearing the same excuse again.

Seeing me silent, Claude assumed I'd taken it in, and his tone softened. "Besides, I've already made it clear to Victoria that I won't be with her. So, you don't need to be jealous of her.

"To me, she's just a child—a little sister. She'll never be a threat to your position."

I looked up and met his deep eyes.

He was gazing at me with an unusual seriousness I rarely saw.

Maybe I had overthought things after all.

Just as I was beginning to question whether I'd been too hasty, my phone vibrated.

I opened it and saw a message boldly flashing in the pack forum's push notifications.

"Congratulations! The "Moonwing Pack Border Defense Spell", proposed and authored by Ms. Grimm, has officially passed the Council of Elders' review. Tomorrow, in collaboration with the pack priest, a demonstration of the defense spell will be held."

Attached below was a message, "A belated birthday gift from Claude."

In that moment, my mind went completely blank.

That defense spell was the fruit of my labor, something I'd spent three whole years completing. I'd visited border defenses across the pack's territory, run thousands of sand table simulations, and even risked ambush by Rogues and vampires.

Yet now, it was being credited to Victoria?