Five years had passed, and Cassia was as smug as ever.

I just raised an eyebrow, my hands protectively cradling my slightly swollen belly. I said nothing. I wanted to see just how deep their delusion ran.

However, Alaric misinterpreted my silence. He thought I was heartbroken, jealous.

His low, mocking laugh confirmed it.

“Oh, come on. She obviously couldn't make it on her own and came crawling back. She should be grateful I'm even offering her a job.”

“Take care of the kid and stay out of trouble. Know your place.”

“Don't worry, I'll let you stay by my side, just like you wanted. The nanny's room is empty, you can stay there.”

The moment he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in malicious laughter.

“Isadora, see how good Alaric is to you. He was worried you were suffering out there, he even arranged a place for you to live.”

“So what if he's asking you to help Cassia with her pup? Compared to the miserable life you must have been living, isn't this a godsend? You should be on your knees thanking him.”

Cassia touched her diamond earring, adding in a sickly sweet, hypocritical tone, "Don't worry, Isadora. If my son misbehaves, I'll discipline him for you. I won't see you mistreated."

Alaric glanced at me sideways, sneering, "What's she got to complain about? She ran off over a little thing, and now that she's crawled back, she deserves to suffer a bit."

My brows furrowed. He called forging a mate bond with Cassia ‘a little thing’?

So, the Alaric who once loved me... was truly dead.

The Lycan who had once carried me, covered in blood, across half the territory was dead. The Lycan who had nothing but swore to give me the world was dead.

Now, all I saw was an empty shell of a man.

But that was fine. After all, I was about to have my second pup.

I shook off the thoughts. Arguing with these idiots was just a waste of breath.

I turned to Alaric and deliberately played along. "Aren't you here to pick me up? Let's go, then."

The air froze for a second, then the entire hall erupted in shrill, wild laughter.

Cassia let out a sharp scoff and said coldly, "Pick you up? In your dreams."

She pointed to the sign. "Look closely. We're here to pick up a VIP. Do you have any idea who that is?"

My mate was the Alpha Supreme. Did I have any idea who they were waiting for? Please.

“We’re waiting for the Alpha Supreme’s mate, Mrs. Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez is known for being ruthless and decisive, but in front of his Luna, he’s a complete madman. They say he was celibate for years for his Luna before he finally won her over.”

“Everyone knows the fastest way to get on Kieran Rodriguez’s good side is through his Luna. She’s his only weakness, the center of his world.”

Listening to their chatter, a soft, satisfied smile touched my lips.

In the five years since we bonded, Kieran had led the Crescent Moon Pack to unprecedented strength, and all the while, his obsessive devotion to me had never wavered for a moment.

Cassia was always desperate to one-up me.

Therefore, she never missed a chance to show off. "I heard that Mr. Rodriguez once spent a fortune at an auction just to make his mate smile."

“It was the ‘Eternal Moonlight’ necklace, a symbol of eternal love and devotion. Worth ten million dollars. That gift made his mate the object of insane jealousy among the she-wolves of every pack.”

She stopped mid-sentence. Then her voice suddenly shot up as she pointed at my neck. "Wait. That's it!"

Everyone fell silent. They held their breath, staring intently at me.

Alaric suddenly grabbed my hand, looking me over roughly. He sneered, "Not a bad imitation. Which poor bastard trying to act rich gave it to you?"

I pulled my hand back, smiling as I caressed the necklace. It was a gift from Kieran on our first bonding anniversary; while it wasn't the most valuable piece in the collection he'd given me, it was incredibly meaningful.

To me, it meant love.

However, in their eyes, I was completely unworthy of owning the real thing.

Seeing my complete lack of panic, Alaric's pupils constricted. Without warning, he lunged, his hand clamping around my throat as he violently ripped the necklace free.

The metal chain dug deep into my skin, leaving a searing red mark.

Cassia stepped forward, took the necklace from Alaric's hand, and turned it over in her fingers. "It's definitely more exquisite than the fakes I've bought online."

“But I have some self-respect. I wouldn't dare parade around in a knockoff and let people laugh at me.”

“Or... Isadora, are you trying to say that you're the VIP? The legendary mate of the Alpha Supreme?”

Instantly, the others erupted in even louder laughter. To them, it was too absurd.

Kieran was a legend. A cold, ruthless leader.

And I was the pathetic ex-girlfriend Alaric had dumped five years ago—the fool who had once begged for scraps of affection.

In their minds, there was no world in which I could possibly be worthy of Kieran.

Cassia twirled the necklace on her finger, smiling smugly. "You know, Isadora, I actually quite like this. Sell it to me. I'll give you double whatever you paid for it."

I rushed forward, worried she would break it.

"Give it back. That necklace was a gift from Kieran..."

Before I could finish, Alaric slapped me hard across the face. My head snapped to the side, and the taste of blood instantly filled my mouth.

“Shut up!” he glared at me, his eyes full of disgust. “Isadora, who do you think you are? How dare you speak Mr. Rodriguez's name? Are you trying to spread rumors about a connection to him and get us all killed?”

His sycophants echoed his anger, their eyes burning with hostility.

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing, Isadora?”

“This is our only chance to make a good impression on Mrs. Rodriguez! Are you trying to ruin the alliance between our pack and the Council?”

“Alaric worked so hard to get into our Alpha’s inner circle. You’re just a broke, dumped nobody. Do you think you can just waltz in here and pretend to be Kieran’s mate?”