LOGINEstelle's POVHearing Cassius's words, I felt a headache coming on and had absolutely no idea how to respond.As I was searching for an answer, I suddenly heard someone click his tongue.Looking over Cassius's shoulder, I spotted Theron standing beneath a nearby streetlamp. The darkness cast sharp shadows across his features."Seriously," he said. "This is the third time I've heard this exact conversation."Thanks to a werewolf's heightened hearing, I caught every word despite how softly he spoke. Then again, as one of the most powerful Alphas alive, lowering his voice didn't seem like something he naturally bothered with.Beside him, Amelia looked equally exasperated."If this were a novel," she said, "the readers would be accusing the author of padding the chapters. One person says, ‘Activate the bond.' The other says, ‘No.' Then they repeat the same argument ten thousand times."Theron fell silent for two seconds before nodding thoughtfully."That's a fair point." He looked between
Estelle's POVI nodded impassively. "Yeah. The Moon Goddess must be pretty bored today."The door swung open, and the scent of an Alpha flooded the room.Cassius walked in and sat down beside me. His gaze swept over my face before settling on my hands. Only after confirming I wasn't hurt did the tension in his aura ease slightly.Then, without warning, he reached out, pulled my face toward him, and started feeding me."You're this hungry? You came out here just to eat on your own? Why didn't you tell me?" His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened.I tugged at the corner of my mouth but said nothing.Cassius looked up at Theron.Two Alpha auras clashed in silence, like rival wolf kings sizing each other up across a contested border."Alpha Theron," he said with a cold smile. "You really enjoy hanging around other people's mates, don't you? She has a mate. Didn't you know that?"The entire Italian restaurant fell silent at once. Even the owner and his wife perked up, clearly preten
Estelle's POVThe message had barely been sent when Amelia's call came through.I frantically hung up and switched to text.Amelia replied almost immediately: [Who saved you? In that godforsaken place of yours, who else but me would come looking for you in the middle of the night?]I stared at the screen, momentarily lost in thought.I'd originally planned to brush it off, but since she'd asked, not answering would only make me look guilty. And what exactly did I have to feel guilty about?So I typed a name with complete honesty: [Theron.]There was a three-second pause before her messages exploded across the screen.[??????][What's going on?!][Nightshade's Alpha personally came to save you?!][That's way beyond a boss caring about an employee, isn't it?!]The corner of my mouth twitched. [Because I'm a hero.]Amelia replied instantly. [Then do another heroic deed. Shouldn't he reward you with himself?]I stared at the screen, expressionless.[Shut up.][Just focus on running your la
Estelle's POVThe next second, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, and suddenly my feet left the ground."Aaaah—Help! Somebody's trying to kill me!"I struggled wildly, kicking and flailing. Several solid kicks landed on whoever was behind me.Then a deep voice sounded above my head."No one's trying to kill you."The moment I heard it, I froze.That voice was unmistakable—familiar in a way that settled deep in my bones. It was like mountain spring water after the thaw: cool, clear, and strangely reassuring.My struggling gradually stopped, and I turned my head.Moonlight filtered through the treetops, illuminating a face so striking it was almost intimidating. Pale skin. Deep-set eyes. And that presence unique to a top-tier Alpha—like a sandalwood forest beneath a winter sky, powerful and dangerous, yet remarkably restrained.I stared at him, completely dumbfounded.At that moment, a bear stepping out of the woods would have seemed more believable than what I was seeing."Y-you…" I
Estelle's POVIn that moment, a crimson glow flashed in his eyes."Regret?" He stared at me, his voice low and dangerous. "But you're already my Luna.""I used to be!" I finally screamed, breaking down. "You're the one who betrayed me! You're the one who neglected me! You're the one who left me suffering through the Bond every single day!"The tears came uncontrollably, one after another."Why am I the one paying the price for all of it? Cassius, how did you become this cruel?"The carriage fell silent.I watched the madness in his eyes fracture piece by piece, leaving behind nothing but pain—raw, unbearable pain.He lifted a hand toward me, then stopped halfway, as though he no longer had the right to touch me."I'm sorry," he whispered. "Estelle, I'm sorry. It's my fault. All of it. I just…"His voice broke, sounding like the whimper of a wounded wolf."I just didn't want to lose you."I stared at him blankly. Suddenly, I felt so exhausted that even my anger had burned itself out.Mo
Estelle's POVThe compartment was hazy with cigarette smoke. His tie hung loose around his neck, and dark strands of hair had fallen across his forehead.I had to admit it—Cassius was still devastatingly handsome. Mature. Dangerous. Every inch the Alpha.But the image that surfaced in my mind wasn't the man standing before me.It was the boy from years ago. The boy who would blush whenever our fingers brushed. The boy who'd hidden his first bouquet behind his back, too embarrassed to hand it over.That boy was gone.He'd been gone for a very long time.I drew a slow breath and met his gaze."So?" I asked. "What exactly do you want?"Cassius exhaled a stream of smoke, his eyes never leaving mine. They were frighteningly dark, like a wolf studying its prey.A long moment passed.Then he suddenly leaned closer.The scent of tobacco brushed against my skin as his deep voice filled the cramped compartment."Estelle. I've been thinking about this for a long time." His eyes searched my face.
Estelle's POVDarkness, dampness, and the smell of rotting wood mingled with the salty scent of the sea.My consciousness slowly returned. My head felt heavy, my hands were bound behind my back, and a gag was stuffed in my mouth.I couldn't see, but I could smell him—a strange man, his scent laced
Estelle's POVIn that moment, their breathing became ragged at the same time, like wolves whose tails had been stepped on.The next second, the workshop supervisor strode abruptly to the door.With a sharp bang, the door slammed shut and locked. The atmosphere grew thick with tension.My wolf, deep
Third Person's POVThe moment those words left her lips, Cassius's aura jolted violently, as though something had struck him."She knows you don't love her anymore," Amelia continued, clearly not intending to let him off the hook. "But do you know what's most ironic?"Amelia's lips curled into a cr
Third Person's POVMeanwhile, it had been raining all day in Caerwyn, the capital city.Dark clouds loomed over the city like decaying hides, and the cold, damp air carried a heavy mix of metal and earth. The atmosphere felt oppressive, like the last breaths of a dying beast.Inside a law firm in t







