"Luna, the surgery to remove the Alpha’s mark is excruciating. After that, you’ll be treated as a packless Rogue. Are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?"

"Yes. I want to be a Rogue."

The black market healer was utterly astonished. The entire werewolf world believed Alpha Ethan was head over heels in love with me.

Just days ago, he'd spent a hundred million gold coins to buy me 'Moonlight Manor,' filling it with my favorite moonflowers.

Countless she-wolves dreamed of being marked by such a passionate and powerful Alpha.

But I didn't hesitate. After removing the mark, I printed out a Mate Bond Severance Agreement and booked a flight to the European pack a week later.

Goodbye, Ethan.

"Luna, the surgery to remove the Alpha’s mark is excruciating. It’s equivalent to being skinned alive. Are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?"

I looked into the mirror at the black wolf totem on my collarbone—a symbol of an Alpha’s possessiveness—and nodded. "I’m sure."

The black-market healer tried to persuade me one last time. "But this is the Silver Moon Pack’s highest Alpha mark. Countless she-wolves dream of bearing this claim. If you wash it off, you’ll lose all your privileges within the territory. You’ll be treated as a packless Rogue."

"I want to be a Rogue."

I lay down on the cold operating table. "Please, just get on with it."

"Very well. Once the procedure is done, I’ll inject you with a high-grade Alpha Scent Masker—it will completely cloak your natural scent for a week. The Alpha won’t suspect a thing."

"That’s enough time."

"Now, please sign the pre-op consent form. Your new identity is... Aurora, is that correct?"

"Yes."

Before coming here, I’d already gotten a new ID at the pack’s administrative hall and changed my name to Aurora.

Aurora. The Northern Lights.

Light that can only be seen in the bitter cold—freezing, but free.

That was the ending I had written for myself.

"Once the surgery was done, I stepped out of here—and was immediately confronted by the commercial empire belonging to Ethan’s pack."

On a massive naked-eye 3D screen, a loop of Ethan’s deep, affectionate confession was playing. It wasn’t just an interview; it was a vow renewal press conference that had shaken the entire werewolf world.

On the screen, the man looked imposing, radiating powerful Alpha pheromones. Behind him stood an incredibly luxurious estate.

"Alpha Ethan, I heard this 'Moonlight Manor' is worth a hundred million dollars. Is this your fifth-anniversary gift to your Luna?"

Ethan looked at the camera, his eyes so doting they could melt a glacier. "It’s more than that. I know she loves Moonflowers, so I had thirty thousand of them airlifted from the Elven Forest to fill the entire estate."

The camera panned to a sea of flowers glowing with a ghostly blue light. It was breathtaking.

"As long as Ivy likes it, I’d pluck the stars from the sky with the Moon Goddess's blessing, let alone build her a manor."

The square was filled with the gasps of lower-ranked wolves.

"Praise the Moon Goddess, the Alpha is so romantic!"

"A manor full of Moonflowers? They are literally mates goals!"

"Ivy must have saved the entire werewolf race in her past life to deserve this."

I stood in the crowd, staring at that holy sea of flowers on the big screen, fighting the urge to vomit.

Saved the werewolf race?

No. I had just been blinded by wolfsbane.

Ethan and I were Fated Mates. Ten years of love. I thought we were the perfect match ordained by the Moon Goddess.

Until two months ago.

My phone received an encrypted video.

The background of the video was the very "Moonlight Manor" that every female in the pack envied.

The Moonflowers were in full bloom. And amidst the petals, two naked bodies were entangled.

The she-wolf was Daisy, an orphaned Omega Ethan had sponsored after she lost her pack. She had just come of age this year.

In the video, Daisy was kneeling in the damp soil, wearing the high-custom silk robe I wore as the Head Luna Priestess. The hem was torn to shreds, snagged on the sharp thorns of the flowers.

"Ethan... these magical thorns are hurting my knees... my healing ability isn't working..."

Ethan’s voice was filled with a beast-like growl, his pupils glowing the distinct red of a rutting Alpha. He pressed down hard on her waist. "If it hurts, scream. I love hearing you act like a slut."

"But... these are Luna’s sacred flowers..."

"Why bring her up? She’s like a dead fish in bed. She’s nowhere near as wet as you are, getting turned on in a place like this."

In that moment, the pristine Moonflowers looked like a trash heap crawling with maggots.

The hickeys on her body, the filthy moans—every detail felt like a thousand cuts to my heart.

I withdrew my gaze and turned into an unassuming underground exchange in the black market.

I pulled a black obsidian box from my bag. Inside lay a priceless platinum wedding ring, set with an incredibly rare blood diamond.

It was the ring Ethan had placed on my finger while kneeling on one knee during our Mating Ceremony.

"Dead pawn. I’m selling it," I told the shop owner.

The owner sniffed the aura on the ring, his wolf ears instantly perking up. "This... isn't this the 'Heart of the Wolf King' from the Alpha family? Are you sure? This is a symbol of absolute power."

"Sell it." My voice was cold as ice. "Donate all the proceeds to the stray animal shelter. Sign it under the name..."

I paused. "Compensation for a dog."

"I..." The owner didn't dare ask questions. He tucked his tail between his legs and quickly wrote up the receipt.

I walked out with an empty box.

At a roadside magical contract shop, I printed out a Mate Bond Severance Agreement.

Emblazoned with silver runes that glowed faintly like moonlight, the document bore a crucial clause: it only activates if one’s wolf mate commits an act of betrayal—treachery of the heart, breach of the sacred bond, or abandonment of their shared pack oath.

Once triggered by such treachery, the wronged party may purchase this enchanted contract to sever the primal, unbreakable link between mates by force, stripping away the shared emotions, scent recognition, and even the physical pain that binds their souls.

I folded it neatly, the crisp paper rustling softly against the runes, and placed it inside the exquisite gift box that had once held the blood diamond ring—once a symbol of eternal bond, now a vessel for its undoing.

Then, meticulously, I tied it with a beautiful bow.

When I returned to the pack villa, the living room lights were on.

Ethan was sitting on the sofa loosening his tie. When he saw me enter, he immediately came over.

"Ivy, where have you been? I tried to mind-link you, but you blocked me out."

He smelled faintly of Moonflowers, mixed with the cheap, cloying perfume of an Omega in heat.

My sensitive nose stung. Instinctively, I took a step back, holding my breath to avoid his embrace.

"I went for a walk on the edge of the forest."

Ethan didn't notice anything wrong. Excitedly, he pulled out a black-and-dollar access card. "By the way, the Manor is finally finished. Shall we go stay there for two nights this weekend? You’re going to love it."

Go where? To that patch of mud he and Daisy rolled around in?

I suppressed the urge to shift and tear his throat out. "I’m busy this weekend."

Ethan paused, then noticed the gift box in my hand.

His displeasure vanished instantly, replaced by a bright look. "Is that for me?"

"Mhm."

I handed him the box.

Ethan took it and started to open it. "What is it? Wolf-tooth cufflinks? Or an obsidian tie clip? It’s rare for my Luna to be this romantic."

"Don't open it yet."

I pressed down on his hand, the corner of my mouth curving into a smile that held no warmth. "Open it in a week."

"Why?"

"Because it’s a big gift. You need to pick a good day, ideally a full moon."

It was the "surprise" I had prepared for him. Naturally, it would be most stimulating if he opened it the moment I disappeared completely.

Blinded by my rare smile, Ethan was curious but compliant. He placed the box on the top shelf of the display cabinet. "Alright, I’ll listen to my Luna. I’ll open it in a week."

He didn't notice that the platinum blood diamond ring on my ring finger was gone.

His mind had long since left this den.

The next evening.

Ethan mysteriously blindfolded me and led me to the car.

"To make up for being so busy with pack affairs lately, I’ve arranged something special tonight."

When the car stopped, I opened my eyes.

It was the largest fantasy theme park in the territory.

There were no tourists tonight, only dazzling magical lights and a slowly rotating Ferris wheel.

"I rented the whole place out." Ethan took my hand, looking at me with deep affection. "I remember you said you wanted to ride the Ferris wheel once without other wolves bothering us."

Nearby, the wolf guards looked at us with envy.

"The Alpha is totally whipped."

"Is this what top-tier love looks like? It’s so sweet."

I let him hold my hand, acting like a puppet with its strings cut.

Ethan was attentive to a fault. He bought me hot deer milk, crouched down to tie my shoelaces, and even protected my head on the roller coaster, afraid the strong wind would mess up my hair.

If I hadn't seen that video, I really would have believed he was the male who loved me most in this world.

"Ivy, I’m going to buy some ice cream. Sit here for a bit."

Ethan settled me on a bench and turned toward a stall not far away.

I watched his retreating back. I was about to reach for my phone when I noticed Ethan had left his phone on the bench.

Just then, it rang.

No contact name. Just a symbol of a pink paw print.

I didn't answer it. Instead, acting on impulse, I grabbed the phone, lowered my breathing, and stalked after him silently like a hunter.

Ethan hadn't gone to buy ice cream.

He was standing in the shadows behind the ice cream stall, holding a phone, talking to someone.

His usually commanding voice was now frivolous and explicit.

"What is it? Little slut, in heat again?"

I stopped, hiding behind a massive statue of the Wolf Progenitor. My sharp claws dug deep into my palms, piercing the skin.

I couldn't hear what the other side said, but Ethan chuckled low in his throat. "Jealous? Tonight is just to pacify her. Be a good girl."

"I wanted to go to the theme park too... You never take me..." Daisy's voice came through the speaker, sugary and whining. In the quiet night, my heightened hearing caught every word.

"Okay, okay, I’ll take you."

Ethan glanced at the Ferris wheel nearby and said casually, "Since you like it, I bought the park. It’s your toy now. You can come play whenever you want, mate wherever you want. It’s up to you."

"Really? Ethan, you’re the best! I want to do it on the carousel..."

"You little slut. Just wait. I’ll send her away in a bit, and then I'll satisfy you tonight."

Ethan hung up, rearranged his facial expression, and turned to buy the ice cream.

I stood in the distant shadows, watching this hypocritical, nauseating Alpha, and felt my heart finally turn to stone.

The drive back was suffocating.

The interior of the Range Rover reeked of a she-wolf in heat, It was fermenting in the enclosed space, turning my stomach.

I felt bile rising in my throat.

I rolled down the window, letting the cold wind slap my face, barely suppressing the urge to vomit.

"Why are you opening the window? You'll catch a cold. Werewolves heal fast, but you shouldn't sit in a draft like this." Ethan reached over to close it, his face wearing a mask of impeccable concern.

I turned my head, looking at him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "The car smells strange. Like... the musk of a low-rank Omega in heat?"

Ethan’s grip on the steering wheel tightened visibly, his knuckles turning white. He let out a dry, nervous laugh. "How is that possible? We probably just drove past the Slave Market, and the scent drifted in."

"Is that so?" My fingertips traced the leather of the passenger seat. "And here I thought some other bitch had been sitting in my seat, leaving a scent mark she shouldn't have."

Ethan immediately raised three fingers, his expression as solemn as if he were swearing an oath to the Moon Goddess. "Ivy, this passenger seat is your exclusive Luna throne. Besides you, no female is qualified to sit here."

His eyes were so sincere. If I hadn't seen that video, I would have believed him.

Halfway home, Ethan suddenly pulled over to the side of the road.

"Ivy, something urgent came up with the Border Patrol. I need to go handle it. We aren't far from the pack lands; I'll have a Beta guard drive you the rest of the way, okay?"

I looked at his anxious expression, feeling nothing but ice in my heart.

Border Patrol emergency? Please.

It was obvious Daisy had mind-linked him, demanding he get rid of me so she could hop into this "mobile mating shack."

"Sure," I said.

I got out of the car and watched the vehicle—the one that was supposed to belong only to me—carry the Alpha who swore he only loved me. He made a U-turn with desperate urgency, racing toward another Omega’s bed.

That night, Ethan didn't come home.

When he returned the next day, his tie was knotted perfectly, but it couldn't hide the dark red hickey on his collarbone—a mating mark left during the height of passion.

The moment he walked in, he hugged me, nuzzling his chin into the crook of my neck. "Ivy, dealing with those rogues last night was exhausting. I missed you so much."

I fought the urge to shift and rip his throat out. My gaze drifted over his shoulder, landing on the exquisite gift box on the top shelf. "Rough night, huh?"

Ethan let go of me, following my gaze to the box. He asked, a little eagerly, "Ivy, about that gift... can I really not open it now? The moon is beautiful tonight."

"No." I took a step back, creating distance between us. My eyes held a meaningful, mysterious glint. "We agreed on one week."

"Why? Since when are you so principled?" he teased.

"The more precious the sacrifice, the longer the wait. Don't you agree?"

Ethan was curious, but he nodded indulgently. "Alright, I'll listen to my Luna. One week."