"I took it off."

"I crafted the ring as a symbol of our bond. Why did you remove it?"

Seraphina brushed Kaden off. "I haven't been feeling well lately. The ring doesn't fit right anymore."

With his grimace easing up, Kaden was back to smiling. "I'll take the ring to the altar for another round of blessing and resizing."

"It can wait."

"By the way, what's that on the table?" Kaden pointed at the obsidian jewelry box on the table, his expression filled with joy. "Is that for me, Sera?"

Seraphina nodded. "That's right."

The box contained a tiny piece of silver, devoid of body heat and spiritual essence. Seraphina had the token of their bond melted down to its core and sealed the remnants in the jewelry box.

Kaden was ecstatic. "What’s the special occasion that would make my dearest Luna go out of her way to get me a gift?"

Once again, Seraphina's heart sank to the pit of her stomach. "It's the anniversary of our mating ceremony today."

Kaden looked like he was in distress.

He tried to smooth things over with Seraphina in an almost pleading manner. "I'm sorry, Sera. Things have been overwhelming lately. Why don't we go out tonight? We should head to Moonspire Lake—"

"That's alright. I'm not in the mood."

"How about a trip up the mountain to watch the stars?"

"I'm tired. I want to go to bed."

Kaden ingratiatingly slipped his arms around Seraphina's waist from behind. "Come on, Sera. It's been a while since we had a stroll together. I can't shake the feeling that you've been distant. At this rate, I'm starting to think that you've fallen out of love with me."

Had she pulled away, though?

Kaden was the first to betray their bond. His heart was no longer Seraphina's, to begin with.

This time, Seraphina was determined to withdraw from their bond, reclaiming herself and everything she had given him.

Behind the wheel on their way out, Kaden chatted happily about the recent pack gossip.

Seraphina sat in the front passenger seat, her head facing the window in a bid to shut him out.

While fastening her seat belt earlier, she had fished out a female's stockings stuffed in the narrow gap of the passenger seat. The heavy stench of a she-wolf lingered in the fabric.

Seraphina quickly slipped the stockings back into the gap, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Now that her mind was set on leaving, Seraphina didn't want to waste her breath with Kaden. She stood to gain nothing but pointless lies. Since she couldn't get the truth out of Kaden, she was done asking.

Once they arrived at the lake, Kaden got out and went to open the door for Seraphina. "Here we are, Sera."

Seraphina wasn't keen on the walk, but Moonspire Lake was their usual spot for a stroll ever since they mated. It was time to come full circle and finish where they had started.

"Oh, my Moon Goddess! Isn't that Alpha Kaden? He's the one who crafted the bond ring with his own hands."

"I remember him! He's the most devoted Alpha."

"He held his hand up to make sure the Luna doesn't bump her head on the car roof. That's so sweet of him!"

Kaden's phone rang.

He said apologetically, "You'll need to excuse me, Sera. Give me a minute while I take this call. It's pack business. I'll be right back."

"Do what you need to do."

"Stay right here. Don't go anywhere."

Gasps filled the air.

"The Alpha honestly spoils the Luna like she's a pup. He's worried that she might get lost on her own."

"He's so extra with the pampering."

The whole time, Seraphina stood by the lake, staring at the shimmering water surface under the night sky with a deadpanned face.

Kaden couldn't hide the smile on his face when he saw the caller ID.

It was a look of affection, sweetness, and cheekiness. There was no way that Kaden was engaged in pack business.

However, Seraphina lost the will to call him out.

Since it was chilly by the lake, she decided to wait in the car.

The car's display screen still showed Kaden's social account, which was synced to his mobile phone. As the messages popped up on the screen, the conversation played out right before Seraphina's eyes.

Kaden was texting someone under the name Kitty Lyra.

Kaden: Do you miss me already?

Kitty Lyra: The night feels empty without you, Alpha.

Kaden: We've been at it seven times today, and it's not enough, little kitty?

Kitty Lyra: Not at all. I want more, Alpha.

Kaden: Fine. Meet me in the office tomorrow. You'll get your wish.

Kitty Lyra: Hehe. Expect me in black silk stockings at work tomorrow.

The rest of the exchange between them became more explicit. The messages were filled with obscene language and intense flirting.

Feeling icy to the bone, Seraphina turned off the screen. She shuddered violently, either from the cold or rage, as her nails dug into the flesh of her palms.

Kaden was back about fifteen minutes later.

While slipping into the car, Kaden clutched his chest and let out a massive sigh. "You gave me quite a scare when I turned around and couldn't see you after the phone call. Thank the Moon Goddess that you're alright."

Too disgusted to look at his hypocritical face, Seraphina kept her head down and stared at her fingers.

"It was cold out there, so I came back into the car."

"Right, right. You should be wherever you feel comfortable."

Seraphina looked up out of the blue. Having read the messages between Kaden and Lyra, she was horrified by the implication of his words.

Kaden wanted her to be comfortable wherever she was.

Judging by the stockings tucked inside the gap of the passenger seat, Seraphina could only assume that the cheating couple had been intimate in this very seat.

Feeling sick to her stomach, Seraphina slammed the car door open and threw up.

Petrified, Kaden was quick to examine Seraphina. "What's wrong, Sera?"

Seraphina retched violently and took a long time to gather herself. She couldn't wrap her head around the matter.

Why would her Alpha, who once vowed his commitment to her before the Moon Goddess, betray their mate bond?

Surely, the wrath of the Moon Goddess meant something to him. Maybe Kaden believed his efforts and power were enough to keep the affair under wraps.

The evening breeze cleared Seraphina's head.

Kaden asked, "Are you alright, Sera? If you're unwell, I'll take you to the pack's healer right now."

"I'm fine. I might have eaten something funny at dinner."

"Come see me at the office tomorrow. We can grab a bite tomorrow."

Seraphina scoffed. She wondered if she was about to get a front-row tour of Kaden and Lyra's escapades on company grounds.

Out of nowhere, Seraphina was tempted to stir mischief.

"Sure, I'll go to the office with you. I'll keep you company while you work. We can have lunch and head home together once you're done for the day."

Caught off guard by her answer, Kaden could barely keep his face straight. "But my work schedule has been hectic lately. I might not be able to stay by your side the whole day."

"Don't let me keep you from business. I'll stick around in your office."

"Very well then."

Back in their residential villa, Kaden offered to draw the bath for Seraphina. Once inside the bathroom, he closed the door behind him for once.

Seraphina took the stairs down to the ground floor and sat back in the car. She started the engine, and the recent chat history popped up on the integrated screen.

Kaden: Change of plans. The office is a no-go tomorrow.

Kitty Lyra: Oh, that's disappointing.

Kaden: Don't feel down, kitty. It'll be a lot more thrilling when I take you on the rooftop terrace.

Kitty Lyra: Hehe. You're the best, Alpha.

Seraphina stepped into the bedroom as Kaden emerged from the bathroom. "The bath is ready for you, Sera. You should take a nice soak."

"I'll pass. I just want to lay my head to rest."

"Okay. Rest well. That reminds me. Can I open the gift you left on the table yet?"

Seraphina replied, "Wait a week before you unwrap it."

"Why do I have to wait for a week? I can't wait to see what my Luna has prepared for me."

"Well…"

It would take a week before Seraphina permanently broke the mate bond between them.

"You’ll understand the significance of the gift in about a week."

Kaden gave Seraphina a peck on the forehead. "You're the boss."

Shortly after six the next morning, Kaden's phone went off.

Kaden rejected the call before turning to hold Seraphina close. "Ignore it. Let's get a few more minutes in bed."

However, the ringing was relentless.

Kaden furrowed his brows in annoyance. "It's barely dawn, and the useless council members are already hounding me during these ungodly hours. Mark my words. I'm bound to kick these wolves out one of these days."

He declined the call again.

The third time the call rang, Kaden sprang out of bed in a huff. "Stay in bed, Sera. I'll see what this emergency is all about."

Seraphina murmured, "Okay."

She rolled, having her back toward him.

Kaden grabbed the phone and walked out of the bedroom.

Soon, he showed up outside the front door on the ground floor.

Dressed in a bright yellow uniform, a human deliveryman handed Kaden a package.

Kaden accepted the package, but when he returned to the room, his hands were empty.

Seraphina asked, "Is something serious going on in the pack?"

Kaden answered, "It's nothing critical, Sera. Don't worry. Rest easy while I make you breakfast."

Either out of guilt or concern for her delicate stomach, Kaden went all out to prepare an elaborate breakfast. There was milk, poached eggs, jam sandwiches, and her favorite oatmeal.

"You should be careful with what you eat. I'm hiring a full-time chef to cook for you every day."

"That won't be necessary."

"Come on. Cooperate with me, or I won't be able to work with a peace of mind."

"Kaden, can I ask you a question?"

"Fire away."

Seraphina put down her cutlery and asked indifferently, "Do you really think the curse for breaking a mate bond in the pack is true?"

Kaden pulled a look of contempt. "That's punishment for the weak-minded. I'm not like these wolves. I'm faithful only to my Luna. I will love you, my one and only."

"Am I your one and only?"

"That's right."

"What if you fall for another she-wolf?"

"In that case, let Moon Goddess cast me out, take my powers away, and leave me to howl in eternal solitude."

Seraphina snickered cynically. "Bold words. Aren't you worried they'll come back to bite you?

"I speak from my heart. Why should I be scared?" Kaden uttered, "You should have faith in our mate bond, Sera."

Seraphina simply replied, "Dig in."

"Are you still doubting me? Do I have to rip my heart out of my chest to prove myself to you?"

"You've got someone waiting for you at the office. You mustn't be late."

Feeling assured, Kaden took a seat across from Seraphina. "Let them wait. They can't do anything right. I'll get rid of them sooner or later."

"Are you sure you want to get rid of her?" Seraphina singled out a singular pronoun rather than the plural form.

There was no telling whether Kaden caught onto the difference, but he responded, "Of course. You're the only one I can never let go of."

After breakfast, the pair made their way to Zenith Tower.

Too put off to sit in the front, Seraphina insisted on riding in the back. "I feel a little nauseous. I'll feel better in the back where I can get a bit of fresh air."

Kaden didn't press on the matter. "Sure thing. I'll try to keep the drive smooth."

Pulling up outside the entrance of the office building, Kaden got out to open the car door for Seraphina.

Seraphina stepped out of the car, only to be surrounded by pack members during the morning rush hour.

Two pack members stepped forward eagerly.

"Luna, it's great to see you. Alpha Kaden often tells us about your love for caramel lattes. I'm happy to grab one for you since I'm on my way out," one of them said with a huge grin.

Another chimed in, "I'll get you something to munch on. Are those red velvet cupcakes still your favorite?"

Kaden chuckled, pulling the Luna closer protectively. He said, "That's enough, you two. At this rate, you're going to spoil her rotten. She has been eating too well lately. Her bond ring is getting too tight for her."

"Don't pin this on us, Alpha. Luna is as stunning as ever. I'm sure the ring is the problem. I bet it shrank in the wash!" The wolf, who offered the latte, refuted in a joking manner.

Kaden smacked the pack member in good nature. "Don't be silly. Shrank in the wash? As if moonlight silver shrinks, but you should get the latte for Sera. Just a small cup will do."

"That's what you're missing, Alpha. You adore your Luna. Her happiness is your whole world. So if she's happy, the rest of us can breathe easy."

Kaden laughed and uttered gleefully, "Right, right. It looks like you've found my greatest weakness."

Every wolf guffawed.

The crowd practically ushered Seraphina into Kaden's office. She was offered fruit, snacks, tea, and everything under the sun.

Kaden took the time to pull up a TV series on his computer for Seraphina. "I should get to work now, Sera. Keep yourself occupied here. Let the assistant outside know if you need anything."

Seraphina asked deliberately, "Where's Lyra, your new assistant? Why haven't I seen her today?"

Kaden replied, "I have no idea. I'll get someone to check up on her in a bit."

Before leaving, Kaden ran his fingers along Seraphina's hair dotingly and murmured, "Wait for me here. We can grab lunch together later."

Kaden took off.

The council elders made their way out shortly after.

Spotting Kaden's phone on the desk, Seraphina rushed out after him and caught the council members talking.

"The rooftop? The Alpha and Lyra are getting bold with their little adventures."

"Well, they can't help it. No one expected the Luna to pay a visit out of the blue. They had no choice but to switch locations."

"Are we making sure that the Alpha is getting his contraceptive supplies?"

"Don't bother. I noticed that the Alpha had several boxes tucked away in his pocket when he was heading up."

"Heh. Alpha Kaden sure is something else to buy protection right under the Luna's nose."

"He adopted a human to run the errand. It's handy to have these runners around. You can get just about anything."

A realization dawned on Seraphina. The relentless calls this morning were from the human courier.

Kaden had placed an order first thing in the morning, instructing the runner to buy protection. He must have been looking forward to the rooftop rendezvous if he was making sure everything was in order so early.

"I wonder if he has bought enough with him. Last time, Alpha Kaden messed around with Lyra in the car all day. Lyra was walking funny when she came to work the following day.

"We can always send more when he runs out. Our job is to keep the Alpha happy anyway."

"Weren't you talking about putting the Luna's needs above everything else?"

"Tsk, what does she know? A cup of coffee and a sweet treat can keep her happy. Given the Alpha's standing, it's no surprise that he keeps a few she-wolves on the side. With his power and influence, he's free to sleep around so long as the Luna is kept in the dark."

"That's true. She looks naive, so keeping this from her should be a cinch."

As the conversation went on, Kaden arrived. "Keep your mouths shut around Sera, you hear me?"

The council elders nodded. "Got it, Alpha. You don't have to tell us twice."

One of them asked, "Why did you bring the Luna here today, Alpha Kaden? You and Lyra have to hide out on the rooftop, and we have to watch what we say."

Kaden shot him an angry look. "Seraphina is the pack's Luna. She has the right to be here. Don't question her presence."

"Yes, of course."

Kaden issued a warning with a scowl, "Take good care of Sera. She wasn't feeling her best yesterday, so don't give her anything cold or raw. One more thing. Not a word about Lyra and me, or you are out of the pack. Have I made myself clear?"

The council elders nodded with anxious grins. "Crystal."

Seraphina didn't stick around to hear the rest of the exchange. She swiftly returned to Kaden's office and placed his phone in a pile of snacks.

Moments later, Kaden entered the room. He was as refined and gentle as ever. "What are you chowing down with such delight, kitty?"

The pet name "kitty" made Seraphina's stomach churn.

Fighting back the nausea, Seraphina asked, "Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting now? What brings you back?"

"I left my phone here. Have you seen it?"

Seraphina shook her head. "No."

Kaden rummaged through the pile of snacks and retrieved his phone. "It somehow fell in the pile. Enjoy your treat. I should get going now."

Ring.

This time, the ringing came from Seraphina's phone. She took the call.

"Hello there, may I speak to Ms. Flint?"

"Yes, this is she."

"Ms. Flint, we've issued the ticket for your flight, departing a week from now. Please present your passport at the time of boarding."

"Are other forms of identification required besides the passport?"

"No, your passport is all you need."

"Thank you."

Kaden looked confused when Seraphina ended the call. "Passport? What do you need your passport for?"