La Luna muerta del Alfa en español

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La Luna muerta del Alfa

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00:00:00Five years into our marriage, it all turned out to be lies. My Alpha Cain had an affair with his

00:00:05mistress Beta the day before our mating ceremony. He assumed I, being a wolfless wretch, couldn't hear a thing, unaware

00:00:14that I had awakened, and could clearly perceive every betrayal he uttered.

00:00:20Luna, we've prepared the substitute blood and staged the fake death scene exactly as you requested. In ten days, your

00:00:27death will be revealed at mate ceremony.

00:00:29The voice on the other end finally took the edge off the anger I'd been holding back for far too

00:00:34long.

00:00:35Good.

00:00:36My voice came out low, a restrained edge of something feral beneath it.

00:00:41Rest assured, no one will question it. We'll simulate a death by silver. No wolf survives that kind of damage.

00:00:49Only then, did I let out a slow breath. After confirming the remaining details, I hung up, and pushed open

00:00:57the door to the private room. The noise inside died the instant I stepped in.

00:01:03Every wolf there could catch the faint pine scent clinging to me. The unmistakable mate mark left by Alpha Cain.

00:01:12Cain, seated at the center, rose immediately. His long fingers closed around my hand, his eyes filled with concern. His

00:01:21voice dropped, rough with Alpha authority.

00:01:25My little wolf, where did you go? I can smell fear on you.

00:01:30He started to pull me away, but I caught the possessiveness in his gaze, and forced down the bitterness rising

00:01:37in my chest. I shook my head.

00:01:40I'm fine. Let's just keep going.

00:01:43Still holding my hand, Cain led me back to my seat. The room gradually came back to life, until someone

00:01:50spoke up.

00:01:50Cain, you and your wild cat are about to seal your mate bond. So what are you planning to do

00:01:57with your little beta pet?

00:01:59My nails dug into my palm. Being the useless one who couldn't shift, I'd long since gotten used to names

00:02:06like that.

00:02:07But I could still clearly smell another woman's scent, lingering on Cain.

00:02:15Someone beside the speaker nudged him.

00:02:18Hey, watch it. Your Luna's right here.

00:02:21He just shrugged, completely unconcerned.

00:02:24What's the problem? It's not like the useless one understands the werewolf kind language anyway.

00:02:30I'm just curious how Cain plans to deal with his little bitch.

00:02:34All eyes turned to Cain. A flicker of disdain passed through his gaze.

00:02:40I'll keep her.

00:02:42He peeled a shrimp and placed it into my bowl before continuing casually.

00:02:47She's just a pet I keep around. My only mate is Aria.

00:02:51He smirked faintly.

00:02:53But if my wild bot Aria ever found out the truth, she'd run.

00:02:57So I've kept it well hidden.

00:03:00Even after the mate bond, I won't let her find out.

00:03:05His gaze swept across the room, a surge of alpha pressure thickening the air.

00:03:10Watch your mouths.

00:03:12If anyone slips up in front of her, I'll tear you apart.

00:03:16These were all dominant alphas from the same circle, and none of this shocked them.

00:03:21If anything, they sounded amused.

00:03:24Cain's got it bad.

00:03:26Can't even let his little toy get exposed.

00:03:29Well, she can't shift.

00:03:31Figures she'd be fragile.

00:03:33Someone's eyes lit up.

00:03:35Curiosity getting the better of him.

00:03:37Cain, if Aria can't sense anything,

00:03:41than you and that beta pet.

00:03:44Have you ever, you know, at home?

00:03:47Cain chuckled, idly spinning the ring on his finger.

00:03:51Of course.

00:03:53It's been wild.

00:03:56The room erupted into crude laughter and wolfish howls.

00:04:00Cain really knows how to play!

00:04:04A useless one like that?

00:04:05Easy to fool.

00:04:07Bet the whole place is covered in your mess.

00:04:13Man, I'd love to see that wild cat's face when she finds out.

00:04:18Their laughter cut through the room, sharp and vicious.

00:04:23No one noticed how tightly I was gripping my silver fork.

00:04:27My knuckles had gone white.

00:04:29No one knew.

00:04:30Three days ago, I had my awakening.

00:04:35And no one knew that I had already decided to leave.

00:04:39I would never complete a mate bond with Cain.

00:04:43On the day of the ceremony,

00:04:45the only thing waiting for him would be a blood-soaked corpse.

00:04:49A fake one.

00:04:51Cain glanced at my untouched shrimp and immediately turned back to me.

00:04:56My little wolf, why aren't you eating?

00:04:59I looked at him.

00:05:01At the man whose eyes were filled with nothing but carefully crafted concern

00:05:05and forced a faint smile.

00:05:08What were you all talking about that got you so excited?

00:05:12Cain smiled softly and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of my hand.

00:05:17They were just saying they envy envy our bond.

00:05:20That will be the most devoted pair there is.

00:05:24Inside the private room,

00:05:26people exchanged knowing looks.

00:05:28I caught every single one of them.

00:05:30The mockery.

00:05:31The cruelty.

00:05:32It burned.

00:05:35My heart felt like it had been soaked in liquid silver.

00:05:38The pain sharp enough to cut through bone.

00:05:41They had been talking about him and that woman.

00:05:44Yet somehow twisted it into admiration for what we had.

00:05:48Cain, I never realized you could lie so easily.

00:05:53I set my silver fork down and stood.

00:05:56I didn't want to hear another word of it.

00:05:59The moment I moved to leave, Cain was on his feet.

00:06:02A flicker of panic crossing his face.

00:06:05Little wolf, what's wrong?

00:06:08I shook my head.

00:06:10My voice came out soft, barely more than a breath.

00:06:14I'm tired.

00:06:16I want to go back to the pack house.

00:06:19I didn't wait for his response.

00:06:21I turned and walked out.

00:06:24Out on the street, I looked up and saw the massive LED screen across the road.

00:06:29A mating display was playing.

00:06:32Aria, be my mate.

00:06:35The words stretched across the center in bold, impossible-to-miss letters.

00:06:41People passing by slowed down.

00:06:44Their voices full of envy.

00:06:48Oh my god, I heard Alpha Cain's girl can't shift,

00:06:51so he rented the biggest screen in the city just so she could clearly see the words,

00:06:55Be my mate?

00:06:56That's insanely romantic.

00:06:59He treats that girl so well.

00:07:01After the mate bond, he's going to be the perfect Alpha.

00:07:06I stood there, the subject of their admiration, and let out a quiet, self-mocking smile.

00:07:13A week ago, I would have reacted the same way.

00:07:17I would have believed in Cain's love without question.

00:07:22I was born into a declining pack.

00:07:25From the moment I came into this world, I couldn't shift.

00:07:30Among the werewolf kind, that made me a disgrace.

00:07:34A failure.

00:07:36Cain entered my life under those circumstances.

00:07:39He claimed it was love at first sight and pursued me relentlessly.

00:07:43But I had seen this kind of attention before.

00:07:48Cruel games disguised as affection.

00:07:51So I avoided him.

00:07:5399 times he confessed.

00:07:5699 times I turned him down.

00:07:59Until the night the Silver Hunters attacked.

00:08:02He threw himself over me without hesitation.

00:08:06Even when Silver pierced straight through his shoulder blade, he didn't move.

00:08:10He held his position, shielding me with his body.

00:08:14When he woke up in the hospital, his condition was so weak he could barely maintain human form.

00:08:20And yet, the first thing he did when he saw me, was reach out and gently touch my face.

00:08:28My little wolf, as long as you're safe.

00:08:31That was the moment everything changed.

00:08:34For the first time, I believed that even someone like me, someone who couldn't shift, could be worth risking everything

00:08:41for.

00:08:42The walls around my heart cracked open for him.

00:08:46The wound from the Silver never fully healed.

00:08:49It left behind a permanent circular scar.

00:08:53Every time I saw it, my heart would ache in a way that felt dangerously close to love.

00:08:59For five years, he never wavered.

00:09:02He treated me with the same devotion, the same care.

00:09:06As if I were the only one who mattered.

00:09:11Even when the pack opposed us, he stood his ground, and asked me to be his mate.

00:09:17And for that upcoming ceremony, I wanted to give him something real.

00:09:23Something more.

00:09:24I risked my life to undergo blood awakening, just so I could truly experience his wild side during the mate

00:09:31ritual.

00:09:31If it failed, I would have died.

00:09:35But I survived.

00:09:36Not only that, I gained something rare.

00:09:40Empathic sense.

00:09:42I decided to keep it a secret.

00:09:45I wanted to surprise him on the day of the ceremony.

00:09:48But on the very day I awakened, everything fell apart.

00:09:53Through that new ability, I sensed him.

00:09:56Kane.

00:09:57Talking to his beta pet.

00:09:59Their voices were intimate, careless, filled with open flirtation.

00:10:05That was when I learned the truth.

00:10:08He had already betrayed our bond.

00:10:10For an entire year.

00:10:12And I had known nothing.

00:10:15A sharp pain twisted through my chest, forcing me to crouch down and wrap my arms around myself.

00:10:22His words from earlier echoed in my mind, over and over again.

00:10:26Even with the mate ceremony approaching, he had no intention of ending that relationship.

00:10:32Did he really think I was so worthless that he could deceive me forever?

00:10:37The winter wind cut through me, cold and merciless.

00:10:41But my mind had never been clearer.

00:10:45I would show Kane the truth.

00:10:47Lies don't last forever.

00:10:50And I would never forgive betrayal.

00:10:52I took a slow breath, forcing down the ache in my chest.

00:10:57Just as I was about to head back, a pair of strong arms wrapped around me from behind.

00:11:04Kane's scent surrounded me at once, rich with cedar and thick with possessiveness.

00:11:09It pressed in from all sides, leaving no space to breathe.

00:11:13Little wolf, why didn't you wait for me?

00:11:16Are you in a bad mood today?

00:11:19Then let me take you to see your mate dress.

00:11:22The custom piece just arrived.

00:11:24He pulled me into his arms, his hand sliding up to the back of my neck,

00:11:29gently stroking the spot where his marking remained.

00:11:35I don't feel like going.

00:11:37Just pick it yourself.

00:11:39I would be gone on the day of the mate ceremony.

00:11:43There was no reason for me to wear a mate dress.

00:11:46Kane seemed to sense the distance in my tone.

00:11:50His voice softened, almost cautious.

00:11:53Little wolf,

00:11:55why does it feel like you're not excited about the mate bond at all?

00:11:58Do you not want to bond with me anymore?

00:12:02I looked at him.

00:12:03At the flicker of panic in his alpha eyes.

00:12:06I almost told him the truth.

00:12:09Yes, I don't want this anymore.

00:12:12You were the one who betrayed us first.

00:12:14You were the one who dragged our bond through the dirt.

00:12:17You were the one who destroyed any anticipation I had for that ceremony.

00:12:22And now you're asking me why?

00:12:24But I wasn't ready to expose everything.

00:12:28Not yet.

00:12:29At the dress boutique,

00:12:31the moment we stepped inside,

00:12:33an attendant drew back a curtain

00:12:35to reveal the mate dress prepared in advance.

00:12:38Miss,

00:12:39the gown Alpha Kane had blessed by the moon goddess has arrived.

00:12:43Please let us know if you'd like any alterations.

00:12:46The dress was pure white,

00:12:49flowing and luminous.

00:12:51Moonstones were set into the bodice,

00:12:53casting a soft, sacred glow.

00:12:56Kane wrapped an arm around my waist.

00:12:59My little wolf,

00:13:00do you like it?

00:13:02I couldn't deny it.

00:13:04The design was exactly my taste.

00:13:06But no matter how beautiful it was,

00:13:09it couldn't mend what had already been broken.

00:13:12Look closer,

00:13:14Kane said softly,

00:13:15at the center of the moonstone.

00:13:17I followed his gaze.

00:13:20Engraved deep within the gem were the letters.

00:13:23A and K,

00:13:24forever.

00:13:26The moon goddess is our witness.

00:13:29My love for you will last forever too.

00:13:32I stared at the stone,

00:13:34at the tiny letters carved into its heart.

00:13:37Then I turned to him,

00:13:39and met his eyes.

00:13:40Eyes filled with something that looked like love.

00:13:45Will your love for me really last forever?

00:13:49A flicker of unease crossed his face

00:13:52before he answered quickly.

00:13:54I Kane,

00:13:55swear,

00:13:56swear that I will love Arya forever.

00:13:58For my entire life.

00:14:01If I break this oath,

00:14:03may the moon goddess strip me of my wolf spirit.

00:14:06Such a solemn vow.

00:14:09And yet,

00:14:10it couldn't warm a heart

00:14:12that had already gone cold.

00:14:14He had already broken it.

00:14:16And still,

00:14:18he kept acting.

00:14:19Didn't he get tired?

00:14:22I turned my face away,

00:14:24unwilling to look at him any longer.

00:14:26Kane seemed about to say something else,

00:14:29but his phone suddenly rang.

00:14:31His expression shifted,

00:14:32just slightly,

00:14:33before he stepped aside to answer.

00:14:36When he returned,

00:14:37there was a trace of apology on his face.

00:14:41Little wolf,

00:14:42something urgent just came up.

00:14:44Go ahead and try the dress.

00:14:45If anything needs adjusting,

00:14:46just tell the staff.

00:14:48He left in a hurry,

00:14:50not even waiting for a response.

00:14:53I watched his retreating figure,

00:14:56a bitter thought settling in.

00:14:58Kane had never walked away from me for pack business.

00:15:01And just before he left,

00:15:04I had caught it.

00:15:05That flicker in his eyes.

00:15:08Raw,

00:15:09instinctive desire.

00:15:12Work?

00:15:13Hardly.

00:15:14He was going to see her.

00:15:17When I returned to the pack house,

00:15:19I immediately felt it.

00:15:21The slight dip in the mattress.

00:15:24The air carried a cloying mix of vanilla,

00:15:27and lingering scent,

00:15:28thick with unmistakable desire.

00:15:30The thought hit me all at once.

00:15:33Kane and that beta had been here,

00:15:35on this bed.

00:15:37Entwined.

00:15:38My stomach twisted violently.

00:15:41I rushed into the bathroom and threw up,

00:15:43unable to stop.

00:15:45Kane had just come back.

00:15:47The moment he saw me like that,

00:15:49panic flashed across his face.

00:15:52Little wolf,

00:15:53did you eat something bad?

00:15:54I'll call a healer right now.

00:15:58I grabbed his wrist.

00:16:00My eyes still red.

00:16:02I'm fine.

00:16:03I just thought of something disgusting.

00:16:07Kane dropped to his knees beside me,

00:16:10gently patting my back,

00:16:11his expression full of distress.

00:16:13Don't think about things like that.

00:16:16Seeing you like this,

00:16:18it hurts me too.

00:16:19I looked down at him.

00:16:21At the open collar of his shirt.

00:16:24And the marks on his skin.

00:16:26Bite marks,

00:16:28fresh,

00:16:28obvious.

00:16:30Another wave of nausea rose in my throat.

00:16:33How strong did Kane have to be to carry another woman's marks on his body,

00:16:38and still look at me like I was the only one he cared about?

00:16:42His voice grew sharper,

00:16:44more agitated.

00:16:46Who did this to you?

00:16:48Who made Maid?

00:16:50My little wolf like this.

00:16:52Tell me.

00:16:53I'll tear them apart.

00:16:56A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

00:17:00Kane,

00:17:00you're the one who did this to me.

00:17:03Sometime deep into the night,

00:17:05I woke to the sound of a low,

00:17:08restrained growl.

00:17:09Half asleep,

00:17:10I reached out,

00:17:12instinctively searching for the alpha beside me.

00:17:15But the bed was empty.

00:17:16I sat up and went downstairs.

00:17:19As I reached the second floor,

00:17:21I heard it.

00:17:23A woman's breathless voice.

00:17:26Soft,

00:17:26broken.

00:17:27I froze for a second,

00:17:29forcing down the sharp ache rising in my chest,

00:17:32then walked toward the guest room.

00:17:34The door was wide open.

00:17:37Moonlight spilled across the room.

00:17:39Illuminating two bodies tangled together.

00:17:43Inside,

00:17:44Kane was bare from the waist up.

00:17:47The beta wore a strapless mermaid gown.

00:17:49The long skirt pushed up to her waist.

00:17:52Her pale legs were wrapped tightly around him.

00:17:55Her cheeks were flushed as she clung to his neck,

00:17:58her voice unsteady.

00:18:00Alpha,

00:18:01the dress I just got today,

00:18:04you already torn it.

00:18:06Kane let out a low chuckle,

00:18:07leaning in close to her ear,

00:18:09his voice rough.

00:18:11You wore it for me, didn't you?

00:18:16I even had the designer make one just for you.

00:18:19So tonight,

00:18:21shouldn't you be satisfying me?

00:18:23She clung to him,

00:18:25her voice breaking,

00:18:27hoarse.

00:18:28Alpha,

00:18:29I can't,

00:18:30I can't take ache anymore.

00:18:33Then,

00:18:34breathless,

00:18:35she tilted her head back.

00:18:37What if Aria sees us?

00:18:40Kane stilled,

00:18:41his expression turning cold as he cut her off.

00:18:44She's useless.

00:18:46She doesn't understand anything.

00:18:48Don't you dare tell her about us.

00:18:50The beta traced circles against his chest,

00:18:53her tone soft,

00:18:54almost hurt.

00:18:55I know,

00:18:56I just,

00:18:58she's about to become your mate,

00:19:01and I'll always have to stay hidden.

00:19:04It makes me sad.

00:19:07Kane's expression softened slightly.

00:19:10You jealous little thing.

00:19:12I already brought you into this house.

00:19:14Isn't that enough?

00:19:16Don't worry.

00:19:17Even after the mate bond,

00:19:19I won't leave you.

00:19:20Whatever area has,

00:19:22you'll have too.

00:19:24Moonlight lit up my face,

00:19:26where I stood outside the door.

00:19:28I covered my mouth,

00:19:30but the tears were already falling,

00:19:32blurring everything.

00:19:34Every sound from inside the room

00:19:36pierced into me like silver blades,

00:19:39carving wound after wound into my chest.

00:19:42I turned and ran.

00:19:44Barefoot.

00:19:45Straight out into the rain.

00:19:47Cold water soaked through me,

00:19:50but I didn't stop.

00:19:51I just needed to get away.

00:19:53As far away as possible.

00:19:55Through the haze,

00:19:56I thought I saw him.

00:19:58A younger Kane.

00:20:00The one I had once loved.

00:20:03His eyes were clear,

00:20:05sincere,

00:20:06filled with something real.

00:20:09Little wolf,

00:20:10leave him.

00:20:12Leave the man who doesn't love you anymore.

00:20:14And never forgive him.

00:20:16My vision burned

00:20:18as I looked at that memory.

00:20:20At the alpha,

00:20:22I had once given my heart to.

00:20:24Okay.

00:20:25I whispered.

00:20:27I will leave you.

00:20:30And I will never forgive you.

00:20:34I didn't make it back until dawn.

00:20:36The moment I lay down,

00:20:38Kane slipped quietly into the room.

00:20:40He moved carefully,

00:20:42just like always,

00:20:43pulling the blanket over me

00:20:44before drawing me into his arms.

00:20:47His lips brushed softly against my forehead.

00:20:50Little wolf,

00:20:51I really do love you.

00:20:54In three days,

00:20:56you'll become my mate.

00:20:58We'll be together forever.

00:21:00I once saw a line online.

00:21:03When an alpha suddenly becomes gentle,

00:21:06it is usually guilt after betrayal.

00:21:09I never understood it before.

00:21:11Now I did.

00:21:13More than anything,

00:21:15I just wanted time to move faster.

00:21:17I wanted the day I left to come sooner.

00:21:19When I woke up,

00:21:21Kane and the beta were already downstairs having breakfast.

00:21:25The moment he saw me,

00:21:27Kane stood and pulled out a chair for me.

00:21:30He watched as I calmly finished my meal.

00:21:33Then guilt flickered across his face.

00:21:38Little wolf,

00:21:39I have to leave for a few days on short notice.

00:21:42For the mate ceremony,

00:21:43just work with the planner.

00:21:44I'll be back as soon as I can.

00:21:46After the ceremony,

00:21:47I'll make it up to you.

00:21:48Wherever you want to go for our honeymoon,

00:21:50I'll take you.

00:21:51I already knew the truth.

00:21:53This wasn't a trip.

00:21:55He was going to take care of her.

00:21:57But I didn't care anymore.

00:21:59I simply nodded.

00:22:02Just before he walked out the door,

00:22:04I called his name one last time.

00:22:06Kane.

00:22:08He paused,

00:22:09then turned back,

00:22:10his expression softening

00:22:12as he reached out to cut my face.

00:22:15Can't bear to see me go, little wolf.

00:22:17It's only a few days.

00:22:19Once we complete the mate bond,

00:22:21you'll see me every day.

00:22:22Kane!

00:22:23From outside,

00:22:24the beta called out to him.

00:22:26Kane leaned in,

00:22:27kissed my cheek,

00:22:28and left in a hurry.

00:22:30I stood there,

00:22:31watching his retreating figure.

00:22:34This was probably the last time

00:22:36I would ever see him.

00:22:40Not long after Kane and the beta left,

00:22:42I received a message from her.

00:22:45Miss Aria,

00:22:46you sensed everything last night,

00:22:47didn't you?

00:22:48I didn't expect you to be this good

00:22:49at holding it in.

00:22:51Kane already promised

00:22:52to spend the next few days with me.

00:22:54Imagine that,

00:22:55your future mate

00:22:56staying with another wolf

00:22:58right before your ceremony.

00:22:59You might be the most pathetic woman

00:23:01in the world.

00:23:03I didn't reply.

00:23:05Instead,

00:23:06I told the servants

00:23:07to gather everything

00:23:08in the villa that belonged to me

00:23:10and pile it in the backyard.

00:23:13Once everything was brought out,

00:23:15I lit a fire.

00:23:16I stood there in silence,

00:23:19watching five years of memories

00:23:21burn away piece by piece.

00:23:24When the last corner turned to ash,

00:23:27so did everything I once felt.

00:23:30There were two days left

00:23:31before I left.

00:23:32Another message came from the beta.

00:23:35This time,

00:23:36it was a photo.

00:23:38A pregnancy test report.

00:23:41Well,

00:23:41looks like I'm really pregnant.

00:23:44Kane's first pup.

00:23:45He's so excited.

00:23:47I still didn't respond.

00:23:49I took out the mate dress

00:23:51and,

00:23:51with my claws,

00:23:53tore it apart piece by piece.

00:23:56This dress,

00:23:57created for me,

00:23:58no longer had any meaning.

00:24:00On the day I was leaving,

00:24:02she sent one last message.

00:24:05Kane is going to complete

00:24:06a mate bond with me.

00:24:07He said he'll give me

00:24:08the same ceremony.

00:24:09He won't let me

00:24:11or the child suffer.

00:24:12Miss Aria,

00:24:13you should know your place

00:24:15and give up the Luna position.

00:24:16Kane doesn't love you anymore.

00:24:19This time,

00:24:20I replied,

00:24:22I hope your dream

00:24:23comes true soon.

00:24:25After that,

00:24:26I pulled up the Villa

00:24:27surveillance footage.

00:24:28It wasn't just once.

00:24:30Kane had brought her back here

00:24:32again and again,

00:24:33chasing excitement.

00:24:35I copied the videos

00:24:37and sent them

00:24:37to the ceremony planner.

00:24:39This is a surprise

00:24:40I prepared for Kane.

00:24:42Make sure it's played flayed

00:24:43during the ceremony.

00:24:44Keep it confidential.

00:24:48Once everything was arranged,

00:24:51my phone rang.

00:24:52Kane!

00:24:53There was a trace

00:24:54of apology on his face.

00:24:56Little wolf,

00:24:57things here aren't finished yet.

00:24:58I won't be back

00:25:00until tomorrow morning.

00:25:01Don't worry,

00:25:01I'll make it

00:25:02before the ceremony.

00:25:03I let out a soft laugh.

00:25:06Okay,

00:25:07I've prepared a surprise

00:25:08for you at the ceremony.

00:25:10His eyes lit up

00:25:11with anticipation.

00:25:13My little wolf

00:25:14prepared something for me?

00:25:15I can't wait.

00:25:17Little wolf,

00:25:18I've waited five years

00:25:19for you to become my mate.

00:25:20Tomorrow,

00:25:21when you finally become my Luna,

00:25:22I'm so happy.

00:25:24His voice cut off abruptly.

00:25:27His body stiffened

00:25:28for a split second,

00:25:29and a suppressed breath

00:25:31escaped him.

00:25:32A trace of cold mockery

00:25:34flickered in my eyes.

00:25:36Kane,

00:25:37I hope you like the surprise.

00:25:40I hung up before he could respond

00:25:42and walked out of the villa.

00:25:44The car from the fake death agency

00:25:46was already waiting outside.

00:25:48At the airport,

00:25:50I typed a few final lines

00:25:52on my phone

00:25:52before handing it

00:25:53to the staff.

00:25:55Tomorrow,

00:25:55deliver this phone

00:25:57along with the body

00:25:57to the Alpha.

00:25:58Tell him I died

00:26:00at six in the evening,

00:26:01and that I left him

00:26:02a final message.

00:26:04Six o'clock.

00:26:05The exact moment

00:26:07I ended the call.

00:26:08I wanted Kane to believe

00:26:10that while he was tangled up

00:26:12with that beta,

00:26:13I had died.

00:26:14That I had chosen death.

00:26:16Those final words

00:26:18I left behind

00:26:19would stay with him forever.

00:26:21A lifetime of guilt

00:26:23he would never escape.

00:26:24The staff member nodded,

00:26:26taking the phone

00:26:27and handing me

00:26:28a new ID and boarding pass.

00:26:30Miss Phoenix,

00:26:32we will erase

00:26:33all surveillance

00:26:34along your route.

00:26:35We wish you a safe journey

00:26:37and a happy life ahead.

00:26:39Phoenix,

00:26:40the name I chose for myself.

00:26:42A symbol of rising

00:26:44from the ashes.

00:26:45Of leaving

00:26:46everything behind.

00:26:48After today,

00:26:49my life would begin again.

00:26:53At the beta's house.

00:26:55The woman was still

00:26:56softly begging

00:26:57when Kane finally

00:26:58let her go.

00:26:59He caught her wrist,

00:27:01his voice rough.

00:27:02You're pregnant

00:27:03and still acting like this?

00:27:06She leaned into his chest,

00:27:08her tone sweet

00:27:09and coaxing.

00:27:10I was just worried

00:27:11you might be

00:27:12holding back too much.

00:27:15Kane let out

00:27:16a low chuckle

00:27:17and pinched her cheek.

00:27:19Jealous, aren't you?

00:27:21She huffed

00:27:21and turned her face away.

00:27:23You're completing

00:27:24a mate bond

00:27:25with Aria tomorrow?

00:27:26Am I not allowed

00:27:27to feel anything about that?

00:27:29Kane's expression darkened.

00:27:31He released her hand

00:27:32and looked down

00:27:33at her from above,

00:27:34his voice edged

00:27:35with warning.

00:27:36As long as you don't

00:27:37front send life

00:27:38in my front,

00:27:38I can spoil you

00:27:39however I want.

00:27:41But if you forget

00:27:42your place...

00:27:43Her expression shifted.

00:27:45She hadn't expected

00:27:46that even carrying

00:27:47his pup

00:27:48wouldn't change

00:27:48his tone,

00:27:49but she knew

00:27:50how to read

00:27:51the situation.

00:27:52Alpha,

00:27:53I understand.

00:27:54I never intended

00:27:55to compete

00:27:55with Miss Aria

00:27:56for the Luna position.

00:27:57Kane pulled her back

00:27:59into his arms.

00:28:00Good.

00:28:01Don't overthink it.

00:28:02After the honeymoon,

00:28:04I'll spend

00:28:04a full week with you.

00:28:05And don't worry,

00:28:06even after the mate bond,

00:28:07I won't neglect you

00:28:08or the child.

00:28:09The next day,

00:28:11the mate ceremony.

00:28:13Kane stood at the center

00:28:14of the stage,

00:28:15dressed impeccably,

00:28:17a white rose in his hand.

00:28:19Below him,

00:28:20guests filled the venue,

00:28:22cameras from major media outlets

00:28:24broadcasting the event

00:28:25live across the world.

00:28:27At exactly 12 noon,

00:28:29the ceremony began.

00:28:31The music for the Luna's

00:28:33entrance played.

00:28:34Kane's palms

00:28:35were damp with sweat.

00:28:37The song ended.

00:28:39But the doors

00:28:40remained closed.

00:28:42A murmur spread

00:28:43through the crowd.

00:28:45Just as Kane

00:28:46reached for his phone,

00:28:47the host

00:28:48stepped forward.

00:28:49Ladies and gentlemen,

00:28:51and our Alpha,

00:28:52thank you for your patience.

00:28:53Our Luna mentioned yesterday

00:28:54that she prepared

00:28:55a special surprise,

00:28:56so we've added

00:28:57an extra segment

00:28:58to today's ceremony.

00:29:00Kane relaxed slightly.

00:29:02So this was the surprise

00:29:04I had mentioned.

00:29:05Please direct your attention

00:29:07to the main screen.

00:29:09All eyes lifted.

00:29:11Kane smiled faintly,

00:29:13anticipation in his gaze.

00:29:15But the next second,

00:29:17everything changed.

00:29:21On the screen,

00:29:23two bodies were tangled together

00:29:25on a couch,

00:29:26their movements unmistakable.

00:29:28At first,

00:29:30the guests were confused.

00:29:32Who are they?

00:29:32How dare they

00:29:33disrupt Alpha Kane's ceremony?

00:29:35But Kane recognized it instantly.

00:29:38It was him.

00:29:39And the Beta.

00:29:41Turn it off!

00:29:42Shut it down right now!

00:29:44His roar tore

00:29:45through the hall.

00:29:46The host rushed backstage,

00:29:49trying to stop the video,

00:29:50but the system had frozen.

00:29:52Nothing responded.

00:29:54The footage continued.

00:29:56And then,

00:29:57their faces came clearly

00:29:59into view.

00:30:00The entire venue erupted.

00:30:03Oh my god!

00:30:05That's Alpha Kane!

00:30:07Did he betray the mate bond?

00:30:09Wasn't he supposed

00:30:10to only love Area?

00:30:11What is this?

00:30:13Online,

00:30:14the live stream

00:30:15had already drawn

00:30:16nearly 5 million viewers.

00:30:18Comments flooded in.

00:30:19So he's just another Alpha

00:30:21who can't control himself.

00:30:22I can't believe

00:30:23I ever thought

00:30:24he was perfect.

00:30:25Shut down the stream

00:30:26and the screen!

00:30:27Immediately!

00:30:27Kane immediately

00:30:28ordered the stream

00:30:29and screen

00:30:30to be shut down,

00:30:31then grabbed

00:30:32the microphone.

00:30:33Is allowed

00:30:34to speak of this.

00:30:35Not a word.

00:30:37Someone muttered

00:30:38under their breath.

00:30:39Didn't they say

00:30:40this was Aria's surprise?

00:30:42Maybe she already knew.

00:30:45Kane's face

00:30:46went pale.

00:30:47That was the one

00:30:48possibility he refused

00:30:49to accept.

00:30:51He clung to the belief

00:30:52that I was oblivious,

00:30:54that I never checked

00:30:55the surveillance,

00:30:56that as long as no one

00:30:57said anything,

00:30:58I would never know.

00:31:00But I still hadn't appeared.

00:31:02And now,

00:31:04panic began to take hold.

00:31:06He pulled out his phone

00:31:07and sent a message.

00:31:09Little Wolf,

00:31:10are you here?

00:31:11One minute.

00:31:13Two minutes.

00:31:14No reply.

00:31:16His hands began to sweat

00:31:18as he prepared to call.

00:31:20Then,

00:31:21slowly,

00:31:22the doors to the hall

00:31:23opened.

00:31:25Every head turned.

00:31:29Hope lit up Kane's face.

00:31:31He thought his little wolf

00:31:33had finally arrived.

00:31:34The video had already

00:31:36been dealt with.

00:31:37Holding the bouquet,

00:31:39he stepped forward,

00:31:40ready to welcome his mate.

00:31:43He began to extend his hand.

00:31:45And then he froze.

00:31:48The ones entering

00:31:50were not the woman

00:31:51he had been waiting for.

00:31:53It was a group of staff

00:31:54dressed in black.

00:31:56Behind them,

00:31:57they carried a coffin.

00:31:59Rage ignited in Kane's eyes.

00:32:02One of the staff

00:32:03stepped forward,

00:32:04sympathy written across his face.

00:32:07Alpha Kane,

00:32:09your mate took her own life yesterday.

00:32:11Please accept our condolences.

00:32:13Kane didn't believe a word of it.

00:32:16Just yesterday,

00:32:17we had spoken.

00:32:18I had sounded completely fine.

00:32:21How could I be dead?

00:32:23He let out a cold laugh.

00:32:25The video wasn't enough,

00:32:26so now you're making up lies

00:32:28about my mate's death?

00:32:29Tell me,

00:32:30who sent you?

00:32:32The staff member's expression

00:32:34grew even more sympathetic.

00:32:36He gestured toward the coffin.

00:32:38If you don't believe it,

00:32:40you can see for yourself.

00:32:43Kane laughed again,

00:32:44anger sharpening his voice.

00:32:47Fine.

00:32:48Let's see what kind of trick

00:32:50you're trying to pull.

00:32:51He strode toward the coffin.

00:32:53But the moment he looked inside,

00:32:55all the strength

00:32:56drained from his body.

00:32:58Arya.

00:32:59He stumbled forward,

00:33:01dropping to his knees

00:33:02beside the coffin,

00:33:04his hands trembling

00:33:05as he searched for even

00:33:06the slightest difference

00:33:07between the person inside and me.

00:33:09His gaze moved inch by inch.

00:33:13But there was no difference.

00:33:15The woman lying there was me,

00:33:17the same Arya

00:33:18who had been by his side

00:33:20for five years.

00:33:21How could this be?

00:33:23Just yesterday,

00:33:24we had spoken.

00:33:26There had been no sign,

00:33:27no hint that I would choose death.

00:33:35He clung to denial,

00:33:37telling himself

00:33:37that his little wolf

00:33:39was just angry,

00:33:40that I was upset

00:33:41he hadn't been with me

00:33:42these past few days,

00:33:44that this was some kind

00:33:45of cruel joke.

00:33:46Kane reached out,

00:33:47his hand shaking

00:33:48as he tried to touch my face,

00:33:50as if convincing himself

00:33:52I was only asleep.

00:33:53Little wolf,

00:33:54why is your body so cold?

00:33:57Let me warm you up, okay?

00:33:59Today is our mate ceremony.

00:34:01You wouldn't leave me here alone,

00:34:03would you?

00:34:05By the end,

00:34:06his voice had begun to tremble.

00:34:08A staff member stepped forward

00:34:11and tried to help him up.

00:34:12Alpha Kane,

00:34:13please accept our condolences.

00:34:16Miss Arya has passed.

00:34:19That sentence

00:34:20snapped something inside him.

00:34:22He shoved the man away,

00:34:23his eyes bloodshot

00:34:25as he roared.

00:34:26No, Arya isn't dead!

00:34:29She's just asleep!

00:34:31The staff fell silent

00:34:33for a moment

00:34:33before handing him my phone.

00:34:35Alpha Kane,

00:34:36Miss Arya took her own life

00:34:37yesterday at 6 in the evening.

00:34:38When we arrived,

00:34:39she said she left you

00:34:40a final message on her phone.

00:34:41The moment those words registered,

00:34:43Kane's heart lurched.

00:34:45If he remembered correctly,

00:34:47that was exactly

00:34:48when our call had ended.

00:34:50Right after that,

00:34:52he had been with the beta.

00:34:54His face turned even paler.

00:34:56With shaking hands,

00:34:58he unlocked the phone.

00:34:59The moment the screen lit up,

00:35:01he saw the note

00:35:02I had left behind.

00:35:04Kane,

00:35:05when I was 22,

00:35:07you were the one

00:35:08who pulled me out

00:35:09of a barren world.

00:35:10You gave me a kind of love

00:35:12I had never known before.

00:35:13These five years with you

00:35:15have been the happiest time

00:35:16of my life.

00:35:18I just never expected

00:35:19that happiness

00:35:20would end so quickly.

00:35:21In only five years,

00:35:23the man who once held me

00:35:25and promised to love me

00:35:26forever disappeared.

00:35:28For you,

00:35:29half a wink ago,

00:35:31I risked my life

00:35:32to undergo blood awakening.

00:35:33I only wanted to fully feel

00:35:35your emotions

00:35:35during our mate ceremony.

00:35:38But I never imagined

00:35:39that the first thing

00:35:40I would sense

00:35:40after awakening

00:35:41would be your desire

00:35:42intertwined with another beta.

00:35:44These past two weeks,

00:35:45I broke down.

00:35:46I despaired.

00:35:47And in the end,

00:35:49everything went quiet.

00:35:51I understand now.

00:35:53There is no such thing

00:35:55as forever.

00:35:58Thank you for once

00:35:59being part of my life.

00:36:01But in the next life,

00:36:03no, in any life,

00:36:05I never want to meet you again.

00:36:07By the third line,

00:36:09Kane had already lost control.

00:36:11He had never cried

00:36:13in front of anyone.

00:36:14Now,

00:36:15tears fell uncontrollably

00:36:18onto the screen.

00:36:19His face drained

00:36:20of all color.

00:36:21His body swayed,

00:36:23unsteady,

00:36:24before his legs gave out

00:36:26and he collapsed

00:36:27to his knees.

00:36:28Only now

00:36:29did he understand.

00:36:31I had awakened long ago.

00:36:33I had known everything.

00:36:35Fragments of the past

00:36:37two weeks

00:36:37flooded his mind.

00:36:39The gathering

00:36:40where his friends

00:36:41joked about him

00:36:42and the beta.

00:36:43The nights

00:36:44he brought her home.

00:36:45The way he left me

00:36:46before the ceremony

00:36:48just to be with her.

00:36:50Even that call.

00:36:51When he let the beta

00:36:53interrupt

00:36:53without a second thought.

00:36:55The more he remembered,

00:36:57the sharper

00:36:58the pain in his chest

00:36:59became

00:37:00until he could

00:37:01barely breathe.

00:37:02What had he done?

00:37:03I had risked my life

00:37:04for blood awakening.

00:37:06And he had taken

00:37:07advantage of what

00:37:08he believed

00:37:08was my weakness.

00:37:10Indulging himself

00:37:11without restraint.

00:37:12He couldn't even

00:37:13begin to imagine it.

00:37:15I had returned home

00:37:17heart full of anticipation

00:37:19after awakening.

00:37:20Only to be met

00:37:22with the overwhelming

00:37:23sensation of his desire

00:37:24tangled with someone else's.

00:37:27The despair.

00:37:28The collapse.

00:37:30It must have shattered me.

00:37:32Endless pain

00:37:33spread through him.

00:37:35Suffocating.

00:37:36Inescapable.

00:37:37That day

00:37:38when he heard me

00:37:39say I was leaving

00:37:40it hadn't been

00:37:42about a friend.

00:37:43It had been about me.

00:37:45The signs

00:37:46had always been there.

00:37:47My death

00:37:48hadn't come out

00:37:49of nowhere.

00:37:50He had simply

00:37:51never seen it.

00:37:52In a daze.

00:37:54He thought

00:37:54he saw himself

00:37:55at 22.

00:37:57That younger version

00:37:58of him

00:37:58looked at him

00:37:59with nothing

00:38:00but disappointment.

00:38:01You betrayed

00:38:02Aria.

00:38:03You broke

00:38:04your mate bond.

00:38:05This is your punishment.

00:38:07Aria has left

00:38:08you forever.

00:38:09And the final lines

00:38:10of my message

00:38:11cut deeper

00:38:12than anything else.

00:38:13The little wolf

00:38:14he loved

00:38:15never wanted

00:38:16to meet him again.

00:38:20Only then

00:38:21did he realize

00:38:22how deeply

00:38:22I must have been

00:38:23hurt to write

00:38:24those words.

00:38:25And the one

00:38:26responsible for

00:38:27all of it

00:38:27was him.

00:38:28The moment

00:38:29the guests

00:38:30saw the coffin

00:38:30shock rippled

00:38:32through the entire

00:38:32venue.

00:38:33Then

00:38:34everything clicked.

00:38:36The delayed

00:38:37entrance.

00:38:38The explosive

00:38:39video.

00:38:41They understood.

00:38:42I had known

00:38:43all along.

00:38:44The video

00:38:45had been my doing.

00:38:47The coffin,

00:38:48delivered to the

00:38:49ceremony after

00:38:50my death,

00:38:51had been my

00:38:52final arrangement.

00:38:53A heavy silence

00:38:55settled over the crowd,

00:38:57followed by

00:38:57quiet sighs.

00:38:59One by one,

00:39:00the guests

00:39:01who had arrived

00:39:02in celebration

00:39:02began to leave,

00:39:04shaking their heads.

00:39:05In the end,

00:39:07only Cain remained.

00:39:09Kneeling in front

00:39:09of the coffin.

00:39:11At the burial,

00:39:12Cain stood off

00:39:13to the side

00:39:13like a man

00:39:14hollowed out,

00:39:15his expression numb,

00:39:16his soul already

00:39:17broken.

00:39:18Only when the

00:39:19coffin was about

00:39:20to be sealed

00:39:21beneath the earth

00:39:22did he suddenly

00:39:23snap back to

00:39:24himself.

00:39:25He lunged

00:39:26forward,

00:39:26eyes bloodshot,

00:39:28refusing to let

00:39:29anyone touch it.

00:39:30It took several

00:39:31people working

00:39:32together to drag

00:39:33him back and

00:39:34hold him in place.

00:39:35When the final

00:39:37shovelful of dirt

00:39:38fell,

00:39:38all that remained

00:39:39for him was a

00:39:40gravestone.

00:39:41And the black

00:39:42and white photograph

00:39:43of my smiling

00:39:44face.

00:39:45He broke free

00:39:47from their grip,

00:39:48dropped heavily

00:39:48to his knees,

00:39:49and leaned his

00:39:50forehead against

00:39:51the stone.

00:39:52His hand traced

00:39:53my name as tears

00:39:54slid endlessly

00:39:55down his face.

00:39:57Little wolf,

00:39:57this is all

00:39:58my fault,

00:39:59I'm sorry.

00:40:00But apologies

00:40:02that come too

00:40:02late never reached

00:40:03the one who

00:40:04needed them.

00:40:06Kane returned

00:40:07home like a

00:40:08walking corpse.

00:40:09There was no

00:40:10life left in his

00:40:11face.

00:40:12The moment he

00:40:13pushed open

00:40:14the door,

00:40:14he froze.

00:40:16It had only

00:40:17been three days.

00:40:18Yet the entire

00:40:20house felt

00:40:20unbearably cold.

00:40:23After we got

00:40:24together,

00:40:25I had always

00:40:25liked adding

00:40:26small things to

00:40:27the house,

00:40:28little decorations,

00:40:29soft touches,

00:40:31warm details that

00:40:32slowly turned that

00:40:33cold villa into

00:40:34something that

00:40:35felt like home.

00:40:36Now, there was

00:40:38nothing.

00:40:39Everything was

00:40:40gone.

00:40:40The house had

00:40:42reverted to what

00:40:42it had been five

00:40:43years ago.

00:40:47Cold, empty,

00:40:49lifeless.

00:40:50Kane stood there,

00:40:52staring at the

00:40:53unfamiliar familiarity

00:40:54of it all,

00:40:55on the verge of

00:40:56losing his mind.

00:40:58He summoned all

00:40:59the servants,

00:41:00his voice sharp

00:41:01with anger.

00:41:02Who threw away

00:41:03Arya's things?

00:41:04I never gave that

00:41:05order.

00:41:06Who dared to do it?

00:41:07The servants

00:41:08exchanged uneasy

00:41:09glances.

00:41:10Sir,

00:41:12Miss Arya told us

00:41:13to clear everything

00:41:14out three days ago.

00:41:16She had us pile it

00:41:18all in the backyard.

00:41:19Then she set it

00:41:20on fire herself.

00:41:22The last trace of

00:41:24light drained from

00:41:25Kane's eyes.

00:41:26At that moment,

00:41:28one of the servants

00:41:28stepped forward

00:41:29hesitantly and

00:41:31opened her palm.

00:41:32Sir, I found this

00:41:33while cleaning a few

00:41:34days ago.

00:41:35It looked valuable.

00:41:37Maybe Miss Arya

00:41:38threw it away by

00:41:38accident.

00:41:40Another servant

00:41:41approached, holding

00:41:42a bundle of white

00:41:43fabric strips.

00:41:44Sir, this was left

00:41:46in the house

00:41:46yesterday.

00:41:47It looked like a

00:41:48mate dress.

00:41:49There was a

00:41:50moonstone in the

00:41:50center, so I didn't

00:41:51dare throw it away.

00:41:55Kane reached out

00:41:57with trembling hands.

00:41:59In one hand, he

00:42:00picked up the ring.

00:42:02In the other, he

00:42:03touched the torn

00:42:04remains of the dress,

00:42:05his fingers brushing

00:42:07over the moonstone

00:42:08engraved with A and K,

00:42:10forever.

00:42:11The engagement ring he

00:42:12had made himself.

00:42:14The mate dress he had

00:42:15specially commissioned.

00:42:17A sharp, bone-deep

00:42:18pain spread from his

00:42:19chest through his

00:42:20entire body.

00:42:21He might have

00:42:22wondered, deep

00:42:23down,

00:42:23Arya, did you

00:42:25hate me that much?

00:42:29So much that you

00:42:30chose death to

00:42:31punish him?

00:42:34So much that you

00:42:35erased every trace

00:42:36of the happiness we

00:42:37once had?

00:42:38After the pain came

00:42:39something worse.

00:42:41Endless regret.

00:42:42Today was supposed

00:42:43to be the day he

00:42:44had looked forward

00:42:45to more than

00:42:46anything.

00:42:47The day he would

00:42:48finally complete the

00:42:49mate bond with the

00:42:51woman he loved.

00:42:52But he hadn't

00:42:53realized that he had

00:42:54already been standing

00:42:55at the edge of an

00:42:56abyss.

00:42:57And just as he was

00:42:58about to reach

00:42:59happiness, it struck.

00:43:01Dragging him down.

00:43:03Into a darkness

00:43:04with no end.

00:43:06No light.

00:43:08Not even a single

00:43:10trace.

00:43:12Kane drove everyone

00:43:14out of the house.

00:43:15Alone, he sat on the

00:43:16floor, holding the

00:43:18torn remains of the

00:43:19mate dress in his

00:43:19arms.

00:43:20The ring that once

00:43:21belonged to me now

00:43:22hung from his neck,

00:43:23threaded onto a cord.

00:43:25These were the last

00:43:26things that still

00:43:27carried my scent.

00:43:28With them, it almost

00:43:30felt like I was still

00:43:31there.

00:43:32Then, my phone in his

00:43:34pocket vibrated.

00:43:35He glanced down.

00:43:37A message.

00:43:38From the beta.

00:43:40Arya.

00:43:41So what if today is

00:43:42your mate ceremony?

00:43:43Do you believe I can

00:43:45still call Kane away

00:43:46with just one message?

00:43:48Don't think becoming

00:43:49Luna means anything.

00:43:51I'm carrying Kane's

00:43:52first pup.

00:43:53Tell me, what matters

00:43:54more, your ceremony

00:43:56or his child?

00:43:58Last night he had his

00:43:59face against my stomach,

00:44:01saying he couldn't wait

00:44:02for the baby to be

00:44:03born.

00:44:04He's already excited to

00:44:06be a father.

00:44:06That Luna position of

00:44:08yours won't last long.

00:44:10Another message

00:44:11followed.

00:44:12A photo.

00:44:13Kane.

00:44:14Pressing his face

00:44:15against her stomach.

00:44:17Kane's fingers

00:44:18tightened around the

00:44:19phone.

00:44:20Then he scrolled up.

00:44:22Message after message.

00:44:24All sent to me.

00:44:26I'm pregnant.

00:44:28Kane and I have been

00:44:29together for a year.

00:44:31You're a pretty

00:44:32pathetic Omega.

00:44:33Not just words.

00:44:35There were countless

00:44:37intimate photos.

00:44:39And even a video.

00:44:41The beta.

00:44:42Wearing a mate dress.

00:44:43Beneath him.

00:44:45Kane's breathing grew

00:44:47heavier.

00:44:47He remembered.

00:44:49When she found out

00:44:50about the ceremony.

00:44:51She had insisted on

00:44:53having a dress too.

00:44:54He hadn't thought much

00:44:56of it.

00:44:56Just a dress.

00:44:57He told the designer to

00:44:59make her one as well.

00:45:00By then.

00:45:02I had already awakened.

00:45:04Kane shut his eyes.

00:45:06The memory of the

00:45:07boutique flashed

00:45:08through his mind.

00:45:09My expression.

00:45:10My silence.

00:45:12A sharp pain

00:45:13twisted through his chest.

00:45:15Now he understood.

00:45:17That was why I had

00:45:18torn the mate dress

00:45:19to pieces.

00:45:21His gaze dropped

00:45:22back to the screen.

00:45:23His grip tightened

00:45:25until his knuckles

00:45:26turned white.

00:45:27Rage burned in his eyes.

00:45:29That beta.

00:45:31He had warned her

00:45:32countless times

00:45:33not to tell me anything.

00:45:35And yet she had

00:45:36gone behind his back.

00:45:38Provoking me

00:45:38again and again.

00:45:42His phone suddenly rang.

00:45:44He answered.

00:45:46On the other end

00:45:47her voice was trembling

00:45:49on the verge of tears.

00:45:51Kane.

00:45:52My stomach doesn't feel right.

00:45:54Do you think

00:45:55something's wrong

00:45:55with the baby?

00:45:57Can you take me

00:45:58to the hospital?

00:46:00Of course.

00:46:02I'll be right there.

00:46:03I'll be waiting.

00:46:04The fragile tone

00:46:05was nothing like

00:46:06the messages on my phone.

00:46:07As if she were

00:46:09two completely

00:46:10different people.

00:46:11A cold aura

00:46:12settled over Kane.

00:46:14Her voice

00:46:14immediately brightened.

00:46:16Kane's eyes darkened.

00:46:18Since she wanted

00:46:19to see him so badly.

00:46:21He would make sure

00:46:22she got exactly

00:46:23what she wanted.

00:46:25On the other side.

00:46:27The beta froze

00:46:28for a moment

00:46:28when she heard

00:46:29how quickly Kane agreed.

00:46:31Then a surge

00:46:32of excitement

00:46:32rushed through her.

00:46:34She had assumed

00:46:35that today was

00:46:36Kane's mate ceremony

00:46:37with me.

00:46:37Even if she used

00:46:39the child

00:46:39as an excuse

00:46:40to pull him away,

00:46:41she expected

00:46:42it would take

00:46:43a lot of effort.

00:46:44But he agreed

00:46:45without hesitation.

00:46:47Did that mean

00:46:48her place in Kane's heart

00:46:49had already

00:46:50surpassed mine?

00:46:52Besides,

00:46:53she was carrying

00:46:54his only pup.

00:46:55A determined glint

00:46:57flashed across her eyes.

00:46:59She was probably

00:47:00thinking that

00:47:01even if I became

00:47:02Luna today,

00:47:03there was no guarantee

00:47:04I could hold on

00:47:05onto that position.

00:47:07Before Kane arrived,

00:47:09she hurriedly changed

00:47:10into a sheer nightgown,

00:47:12sprayed on his favorite

00:47:13scent-based perfume,

00:47:15and reclined

00:47:15on the couch

00:47:16to wait.

00:47:17When Kane opened

00:47:19the door,

00:47:20the first thing he saw

00:47:21was her lying there

00:47:22in the thin fabric.

00:47:23A trace of coldness

00:47:25flickered through his eyes.

00:47:27So much

00:47:28for a stomach ache.

00:47:29More likely,

00:47:30this was just another trick

00:47:32to pull him away

00:47:33from Arya.

00:47:35It wasn't the first time

00:47:36she had used tactics

00:47:37like this.

00:47:38In the past,

00:47:40Kane treated her

00:47:40as nothing more

00:47:41than a distraction

00:47:42when he was bored.

00:47:44As long as she

00:47:45stayed obedient

00:47:46and catered to him,

00:47:48he didn't mind

00:47:48indulging her a little.

00:47:50But that never meant

00:47:51he would tolerate

00:47:52her trying to take

00:47:53a place that wasn't hers.

00:47:56In his mind,

00:47:57there had only ever

00:47:58been one mate.

00:48:00From beginning to end,

00:48:01that was me.

00:48:02And for my death,

00:48:04she would have

00:48:04to pay the price.

00:48:08The beta didn't notice

00:48:10the chill radiating

00:48:11from him.

00:48:11She was still lost

00:48:13in her fantasy

00:48:13of becoming Luna.

00:48:15When she saw him,

00:48:16she put on

00:48:17a fragile expression

00:48:18and gently touched

00:48:19her flat stomach.

00:48:21Kane,

00:48:21I know today

00:48:22is your mate

00:48:23ceremony with Arya.

00:48:24I shouldn't have

00:48:25called you back,

00:48:26but my stomach

00:48:27really hurts.

00:48:28This is your first pup.

00:48:30I was worried

00:48:31something might go wrong.

00:48:32so I had no choice

00:48:33but to call.

00:48:35Kane looked at her

00:48:37coldly.

00:48:39Where does it hurt?

00:48:40She didn't catch

00:48:41the icy edge

00:48:42in his voice.

00:48:43She thought he was

00:48:44concerned about her.

00:48:45Just like before,

00:48:47she stepped closer,

00:48:48wrapping her arms

00:48:49around his neck

00:48:50and breathing softly

00:48:51near his ear.

00:48:52The baby says

00:48:54it misses its father.

00:48:56She had always been

00:48:57bold about things

00:48:58like this.

00:48:59She believed

00:49:00that my empathic

00:49:01sense was weak,

00:49:02that I could never

00:49:03give a man the same

00:49:04kind of experience

00:49:05in bed.

00:49:06That,

00:49:06in her mind,

00:49:07was the key

00:49:08to keeping Kane.

00:49:09And with the mate

00:49:10ceremony today

00:49:11adding an extra thrill,

00:49:13she was certain

00:49:14she could make him

00:49:14stay the night.

00:49:16She was already

00:49:17imagining how she

00:49:19would message me

00:49:19the next day

00:49:20to provoke me,

00:49:21completely missing

00:49:22the darkening expression

00:49:24on Kane's face.

00:49:25She took one of his hands

00:49:27and placed it

00:49:28on her stomach.

00:49:29When he didn't react,

00:49:30she guided his hand

00:49:31upward.

00:49:32Just as it was about

00:49:33to reach her chest,

00:49:34Kane slapped her

00:49:35hard across the face.

00:49:36Who gave you

00:49:36permission to touch me?

00:49:39She was knocked

00:49:40to the floor,

00:49:41five clear finger marks

00:49:43blooming across

00:49:44her cheek.

00:49:45Clutching her swollen

00:49:46face,

00:49:47she stared at him

00:49:48in disbelief.

00:49:50She had been with him

00:49:51for a full year,

00:49:52and he had never

00:49:53laid a hand on her

00:49:54before.

00:49:55What had changed?

00:49:57And she was

00:49:58carrying his child.

00:49:59How could he be

00:50:00so ruthless?

00:50:02Kane!

00:50:04What did I do wrong?

00:50:05Why would you hit me?

00:50:06Haven't we always

00:50:07been like this?

00:50:09Her voice trembled,

00:50:10tears welling

00:50:11in her eyes.

00:50:13But the sight

00:50:14of her crying

00:50:15did nothing

00:50:15to soften him.

00:50:16His expression

00:50:17grew even darker,

00:50:19like a storm

00:50:20about to break.

00:50:21Who gave you

00:50:22the nerve

00:50:23to tell Aria

00:50:23about us?

00:50:26The beta's

00:50:27face went pale.

00:50:28She hadn't

00:50:29expected Kane

00:50:30to find out,

00:50:31but she still

00:50:32denied it on instinct.

00:50:33Kane,

00:50:34what are you

00:50:34talking about?

00:50:35I didn't say

00:50:36anything to Aria.

00:50:38Kane let out

00:50:39a cold laugh,

00:50:40his hand

00:50:41clamping down

00:50:41hard on her chin.

00:50:43You're still

00:50:43trying to lie?

00:50:45If I hadn't

00:50:46seen those

00:50:46messages myself,

00:50:47I never would

00:50:48have guessed

00:50:48best you had

00:50:49two faces,

00:50:51playing the

00:50:51obedient little

00:50:52lamb in front

00:50:53of me,

00:50:54while acting

00:50:54arrogant as hell

00:50:55in front of Aria.

00:50:58I've warned you

00:50:58countless times,

00:51:00Aria is the only

00:51:01Omega I have

00:51:01ever truly loved.

00:51:03You are nothing

00:51:04more than a pet

00:51:04I kept around

00:51:05for amusement.

00:51:07You had a hand

00:51:09in Aria's death,

00:51:10and you're going

00:51:11to pay for it.

00:51:13His grip

00:51:13shifted to her

00:51:14throat,

00:51:15fingers tightening

00:51:16with each second.

00:51:17The veins in his

00:51:19arms stood out

00:51:19sharply,

00:51:20making him

00:51:21look terrifying.

00:51:23Driven by the

00:51:24instinct to survive,

00:51:25the beta clawed

00:51:26at his hand

00:51:27with both of hers,

00:51:28but he didn't

00:51:29loosen his grip.

00:51:30She stared at the

00:51:31face she had

00:51:32once been

00:51:32obsessed with,

00:51:34and for the

00:51:34first time,

00:51:35she felt

00:51:36nothing but fear.

00:51:37As the air

00:51:39in her lungs

00:51:39ran out,

00:51:40she forced out

00:51:41a single word.

00:51:45Child.

00:51:46At that word,

00:51:48Kane abruptly

00:51:48released her.

00:51:49She collapsed

00:51:51to the ground,

00:51:52gasping for air,

00:51:53coughing violently,

00:51:55overwhelmed by

00:51:56the relief

00:51:56of still being

00:51:57alive.

00:51:58Kane looked

00:51:59down at her

00:52:00pathetic state

00:52:01without the

00:52:02slightest flicker

00:52:02of emotion.

00:52:04All he could

00:52:04think about

00:52:05was getting

00:52:05rid of the

00:52:06child.

00:52:07It was because

00:52:08of her that

00:52:08I had taken

00:52:09my own life.

00:52:10Now,

00:52:11every time he

00:52:12saw her,

00:52:13he was reminded

00:52:14that she had

00:52:14destroyed the

00:52:15person he loved

00:52:16most.

00:52:17Even the pup

00:52:18in her womb

00:52:19filled him

00:52:19with disgust.

00:52:21But as the

00:52:22beta recovered,

00:52:23a strange sense

00:52:24of joy rose

00:52:25in her heart.

00:52:26It was as if

00:52:27she had forgotten

00:52:28the terror from

00:52:29moments ago.

00:52:30only one

00:52:31thought echoed

00:52:32in her mind.

00:52:33Aria was

00:52:34dead.

00:52:37Out of

00:52:38jealousy,

00:52:39she hadn't

00:52:40watched the

00:52:40mate ceremony

00:52:41or looked up

00:52:42any news

00:52:43about it.

00:52:43She hadn't

00:52:44expected something

00:52:45so drastic

00:52:46to happen.

00:52:47To her,

00:52:48it had only

00:52:49been a few

00:52:50provocative

00:52:50messages and

00:52:51some suggestive

00:52:52photos.

00:52:53She never

00:52:54imagined I

00:52:55would be so

00:52:55fragile.

00:52:56still,

00:52:57she felt

00:52:58grateful.

00:52:59This was

00:52:59her chance.

00:53:02Struggling

00:53:02to her feet,

00:53:03tears pooling

00:53:04in her eyes,

00:53:05she grabbed

00:53:05the hem

00:53:06of his shirt

00:53:06and pleaded.

00:53:09Cain,

00:53:09I didn't

00:53:09mean it.

00:53:10I just

00:53:10love you

00:53:11too much.

00:53:12I didn't

00:53:12want our

00:53:13child to

00:53:13be born

00:53:14with a

00:53:14bad name.

00:53:15I never

00:53:16thought Aria

00:53:16would take

00:53:17her own

00:53:17life over

00:53:17this.

00:53:18I was

00:53:19devastated

00:53:19when I

00:53:19heard.

00:53:21But she's

00:53:21gone now.

00:53:22We have

00:53:22to move

00:53:22forward,

00:53:23don't we?

00:53:25I'm

00:53:26carrying

00:53:26your

00:53:27pup.

00:53:27As she

00:53:28spoke,

00:53:28she gently

00:53:29stroked her

00:53:30still flat

00:53:30stomach.

00:53:31She knew

00:53:32Cain had

00:53:33always cared

00:53:33about the

00:53:34child.

00:53:35She assumed

00:53:36he had let

00:53:36her go

00:53:37earlier because

00:53:38he didn't

00:53:38want anything

00:53:39to happen

00:53:39to it.

00:53:40As long

00:53:41as she

00:53:41carried

00:53:41his pup,

00:53:42she believed

00:53:43she held

00:53:44a shield

00:53:44that would

00:53:44protect her

00:53:45from anything.

00:53:46She was

00:53:47wrong.

00:53:48Cain lifted

00:53:49his hand

00:53:50and lightly

00:53:51patted her

00:53:51cheek,

00:53:52his expression

00:53:53utterly

00:53:53cold.

00:53:54If you

00:53:55hadn't

00:53:55mentioned

00:53:55the

00:53:56child,

00:53:57I might

00:53:57have

00:53:57forgotten.

00:53:59Every

00:53:59time I

00:54:00think about

00:54:00how you

00:54:00caused

00:54:01Aria's

00:54:01death,

00:54:02I can't

00:54:03stand the

00:54:03sight of

00:54:03you.

00:54:05A

00:54:05child born

00:54:06from someone

00:54:07like you

00:54:07would only

00:54:07disgust

00:54:08me.

00:54:08The

00:54:09darkness

00:54:09in his

00:54:10tone

00:54:10finally

00:54:10made

00:54:11fear

00:54:11sink

00:54:11in.

00:54:12She

00:54:13stumbled

00:54:13back,

00:54:14clutching

00:54:14her lower

00:54:15abdomen

00:54:15with both

00:54:16hands,

00:54:17her voice

00:54:17trembling.

00:54:19Cain,

00:54:21what are

00:54:21you going

00:54:22to do

00:54:22to my

00:54:22child?

00:54:23He

00:54:24stepped

00:54:24closer,

00:54:25his voice

00:54:26cold and

00:54:27venomous.

00:54:28I'm having

00:54:28someone take

00:54:29you to the

00:54:29hospital to

00:54:30get rid

00:54:30of it.

00:54:31As soon

00:54:32as he

00:54:32finished

00:54:32speaking,

00:54:33he pulled

00:54:34out his

00:54:34phone and

00:54:35ordered his

00:54:36bodyguards to

00:54:37take her away

00:54:37for the

00:54:38procedure.

00:54:39Come up,

00:54:40take her to the

00:54:40hospital and

00:54:41arrange the

00:54:42procedure

00:54:42immediately.

00:54:43Tears

00:54:43streaming

00:54:44down her

00:54:44face.

00:54:44No,

00:54:46this is

00:54:47your

00:54:47child

00:54:47too,

00:54:48Cain.

00:54:49How can

00:54:49you do

00:54:50this?

00:54:51Despair

00:54:51filled her

00:54:52expression.

00:54:53She

00:54:53couldn't

00:54:53believe he

00:54:54could be

00:54:54this

00:54:54heartless,

00:54:55completely

00:54:56indifferent to

00:54:57the life

00:54:57inside her.

00:55:00Just

00:55:01yesterday,

00:55:02he had

00:55:02pressed his

00:55:03ear against

00:55:04her stomach.

00:55:04I want

00:55:04our child's

00:55:05first word

00:55:05to be

00:55:06dad.

00:55:08And

00:55:09now,

00:55:09he could

00:55:10order its

00:55:10death without

00:55:11even blinking.

00:55:12No,

00:55:13she would

00:55:14never accept

00:55:15this.

00:55:16This is a

00:55:16living being.

00:55:18It's the

00:55:18result of

00:55:19our love.

00:55:20Cain,

00:55:21just imagine

00:55:22it.

00:55:22Our

00:55:23child growing

00:55:23up,

00:55:24calling you

00:55:24dad and

00:55:25me mom.

00:55:26Wouldn't

00:55:27that be a

00:55:27beautiful life?

00:55:29She knew

00:55:30Cain hated

00:55:31being threatened,

00:55:32so she tried

00:55:33to appeal to

00:55:34his emotions.

00:55:35But he

00:55:36remained

00:55:36towering over

00:55:37her, his

00:55:38expression cold

00:55:39and unfeeling.

00:55:41Love?

00:55:42There's

00:55:42nothing noble

00:55:43about what

00:55:43we have.

00:55:45It's

00:55:45nothing but a

00:55:46physical

00:55:46relationship.

00:55:47The only

00:55:48person I

00:55:49love is

00:55:49Arya.

00:55:49The

00:55:50bodyguards

00:55:50rushed in

00:55:51as soon as

00:55:51they got

00:55:52the call.

00:55:52They

00:55:53pushed the

00:55:53door open

00:55:54and grabbed

00:55:54the trembling

00:55:55beta,

00:55:56preparing to

00:55:56take her to

00:55:57the hospital

00:55:58as ordered.

00:55:59She

00:56:00struggled

00:56:00desperately,

00:56:01but they

00:56:02were

00:56:02professionally

00:56:03trained.

00:56:04There was

00:56:04no way she

00:56:05could break

00:56:06free.

00:56:06As she

00:56:07was about

00:56:07to be dragged

00:56:08out, she

00:56:09screamed at

00:56:10Cain with

00:56:10everything she

00:56:11had left.

00:56:13Cain, you

00:56:14say you only

00:56:15love Arya, but

00:56:15we spent so

00:56:16many nights

00:56:17together.

00:56:18Did none of

00:56:18that mean

00:56:19anything to

00:56:19you?

00:56:20You told me

00:56:21you loved me

00:56:21too!

00:56:23Cain didn't

00:56:23react at all.

00:56:25He simply

00:56:25motioned for the

00:56:26bodyguards to

00:56:27take her away.

00:56:28All the way to

00:56:29the hospital, she

00:56:30fought against

00:56:31them, even

00:56:32trying to call

00:56:33out to the

00:56:33doctors and

00:56:34nurses for

00:56:35help.

00:56:35But this was a

00:56:36private hospital

00:56:37owned by Cain's

00:56:38company.

00:56:39Everyone there

00:56:40knew exactly

00:56:41who he was.

00:56:42Whatever he

00:56:43said, they

00:56:44followed.

00:56:45She was

00:56:46strapped to

00:56:46the operating

00:56:47table.

00:56:48As the

00:56:49anesthesia was

00:56:50injected, her

00:56:51consciousness

00:56:51slowly faded

00:56:52away.

00:56:53When she

00:56:54woke up

00:56:54again, even

00:56:55the slightest

00:56:56movement sent

00:56:57a heavy ache

00:56:58through her

00:56:58lower abdomen.

00:57:00Her pup was

00:57:01gone.

00:57:02The light in

00:57:03her eyes had

00:57:04completely faded.

00:57:05She stared

00:57:06blankly at the

00:57:07ceiling, hollow

00:57:08and motionless.

00:57:10After confirming

00:57:11with the doctor

00:57:11that the procedure

00:57:12was complete,

00:57:13Cain came to

00:57:14her bedside.

00:57:16When you're

00:57:16discharged, leave

00:57:17this city.

00:57:18I don't want to

00:57:18see you again.

00:57:22Every time he

00:57:23looked at her, he

00:57:24was reminded of

00:57:25his betrayal,

00:57:26reminded of my

00:57:27death.

00:57:27It felt like his

00:57:28heart was being

00:57:29carved apart.

00:57:31The beta's eyes

00:57:32shifted slightly.

00:57:33She already

00:57:34understood that

00:57:35becoming Luna was

00:57:36no longer

00:57:36possible.

00:57:38Now, she

00:57:39couldn't even

00:57:39remain as his

00:57:40lover.

00:57:41So, she

00:57:42gave up on

00:57:43everything.

00:57:44Cain, do you

00:57:47think you're some

00:57:47kind of tragic

00:57:48romantic now?

00:57:49You got rid of

00:57:50the illegitimate

00:57:51child, drove

00:57:52away your

00:57:53mistress, and

00:57:54now you get to

00:57:55mourn your

00:57:56dead lover all

00:57:57by yourself?

00:57:58Her mocking tone

00:57:59made Cain's

00:58:00fists clench.

00:58:01He shot her a

00:58:02sharp warning

00:58:03look.

00:58:03Enough.

00:58:04The first time

00:58:05we slept together,

00:58:06I didn't beg

00:58:07you.

00:58:08You were the

00:58:08one who

00:58:09couldn't resist

00:58:09and pushed me

00:58:10down.

00:58:11And a few

00:58:12days ago, you

00:58:13were the one

00:58:13who brought me

00:58:14home.

00:58:14You came

00:58:15downstairs in

00:58:16the middle of

00:58:16the night to

00:58:17find me.

00:58:17I never forced

00:58:18you.

00:58:20Aria's death

00:58:20was your doing.

00:58:22You're the one

00:58:22who drove her to

00:58:23it.

00:58:25Cain had

00:58:26already known,

00:58:27deep down,

00:58:28that his

00:58:28betrayal was

00:58:29what led to

00:58:30my death.

00:58:31But hearing

00:58:32it spoken so

00:58:33bluntly felt

00:58:34like a knife

00:58:35plunging into

00:58:36his heart all

00:58:36over again,

00:58:38tearing it

00:58:38open and

00:58:39leaving it

00:58:39bleeding.

00:58:40After a full

00:58:41day of

00:58:41spreading online,

00:58:43the news of

00:58:43Cain cheating

00:58:44with a

00:58:44beta had

00:58:45completely

00:58:45exploded across

00:58:46the internet.

00:58:48Trending topics

00:58:49were flooded

00:58:50with his

00:58:50name.

00:58:51Cain

00:58:52scandal.

00:58:53Cain

00:58:54cheating

00:58:54with a

00:58:54beta.

00:58:56Aria

00:58:56suicide.

00:58:58A month

00:58:58ago,

00:58:59Cain's

00:59:00public

00:59:00courtship

00:59:00had already

00:59:01caused a

00:59:01massive

00:59:02sensation.

00:59:03He had

00:59:03even

00:59:04promised

00:59:04the upcoming

00:59:05mate

00:59:05ceremony

00:59:06will be

00:59:06more

00:59:06spectacular

00:59:07than

00:59:07anything

00:59:08anyone

00:59:08has

00:59:08ever

00:59:09seen.

00:59:10People

00:59:11everywhere

00:59:11had been

00:59:12waiting

00:59:12to

00:59:12witness

00:59:13what

00:59:13they

00:59:13called

00:59:13the

00:59:14mate

00:59:14ceremony

00:59:15of the

00:59:16century.

00:59:17So

00:59:17when that

00:59:18highly

00:59:18anticipated

00:59:19ceremony

00:59:20turned

00:59:20into

00:59:21a

00:59:21funeral,

00:59:21when

00:59:22news

00:59:22broke

00:59:23that

00:59:23an

00:59:23Omega

00:59:23had

00:59:24taken

00:59:24her

00:59:24own

00:59:25life

00:59:25after

00:59:25discovering

00:59:26her Alpha's

00:59:27betrayal and

00:59:28even had

00:59:28her coffin

00:59:29delivered to

00:59:30the ceremony

00:59:31site,

00:59:31it instantly

00:59:32captured

00:59:33everyone's

00:59:34attention.

00:59:36Cain's

00:59:36carefully

00:59:36crafted

00:59:37image

00:59:37shattered

00:59:38overnight.

00:59:40He went

00:59:41from being

00:59:42the most

00:59:42desired Alpha

00:59:43online to

00:59:44a man

00:59:44universally

00:59:45condemned

00:59:46for destroying

00:59:46the person

00:59:47he claimed

00:59:48to love.

00:59:49I'm

00:59:50done

00:59:50believing

00:59:50in

00:59:51love.

00:59:51What

00:59:52kind

00:59:52of

00:59:52trash

00:59:52Alpha

00:59:53is

00:59:53this?

00:59:54Aria

00:59:54deserved

00:59:55so

00:59:55much

00:59:55better.

00:59:56Why

00:59:57would

00:59:57she

00:59:57end

00:59:57her

00:59:57life

00:59:58over

00:59:58someone

00:59:58like

00:59:59him?

01:00:00Are

01:00:00all

01:00:00Alphas

01:00:01like

01:00:01this?

01:00:01Acting

01:00:02one

01:00:02way

01:00:02in

01:00:03public

01:00:03and

01:00:03another

01:00:03behind

01:00:04closed

01:00:04doors?

01:00:05It's

01:00:05disgusting.

01:00:06I

01:00:06actually

01:00:07believed

01:00:07in their

01:00:08perfect

01:00:08love

01:00:08story.

01:00:09The

01:00:10backlash

01:00:10was

01:00:10relentless.

01:00:13Companies

01:00:13that had

01:00:14partnered

01:00:14with Cain's

01:00:15group began

01:00:15cutting ties

01:00:16one after

01:00:17another.

01:00:17In

01:00:18no

01:00:18time

01:00:19the

01:00:19entire

01:00:19corporation

01:00:20was

01:00:20thrown

01:00:21into

01:00:21turmoil.

01:00:23But

01:00:24Cain

01:00:24himself

01:00:24had

01:00:25shut

01:00:25himself

01:00:25inside

01:00:26his

01:00:26bedroom.

01:00:27He

01:00:27lay

01:00:28curled

01:00:28up

01:00:28on

01:00:28the

01:00:28bed,

01:00:29eyes

01:00:29closed,

01:00:30clutching

01:00:31the torn

01:00:31mate

01:00:31ceremony

01:00:32suit I

01:00:33had ripped

01:00:33apart,

01:00:34as if

01:00:34holding

01:00:34it

01:00:35close

01:00:35could

01:00:35somehow

01:00:36bring

01:00:36back

01:00:36my

01:00:36scent.

01:00:37His

01:00:38parents,

01:00:39who

01:00:39had

01:00:39been

01:00:39overseas

01:00:40on

01:00:40business,

01:00:41rushed

01:00:41back

01:00:42as soon as

01:00:42they

01:00:42heard

01:00:43of me.

01:00:43It

01:00:44took

01:00:44everything

01:00:44to

01:00:45step

01:00:45back

01:00:46to

01:00:47and keep

01:00:48the company

01:00:49from spiraling

01:00:50further.

01:00:51The moment

01:00:51they finished

01:00:52handling

01:00:52corporate matters,

01:00:54they hurried

01:00:54straight to

01:00:55the villa.

01:00:56As soon as

01:00:57they walked

01:00:58in,

01:00:58a servant

01:00:59approached

01:00:59them anxiously.

01:01:01Sir,

01:01:01ma'am,

01:01:02the young

01:01:03master

01:01:03hasn't

01:01:03left

01:01:04his

01:01:04room

01:01:04for

01:01:04over

01:01:04a

01:01:05day.

01:01:05We've

01:01:06brought

01:01:06food

01:01:06upstairs,

01:01:07but he

01:01:07won't

01:01:08eat.

01:01:08He won't

01:01:09answer

01:01:09the door

01:01:10either.

01:01:11We didn't

01:01:11dare force

01:01:12our way

01:01:12in,

01:01:12but it's

01:01:13been so

01:01:14long,

01:01:14we're

01:01:14worried

01:01:15something

01:01:15might

01:01:15have

01:01:15happened.

01:01:16The moment

01:01:16they heard

01:01:17this,

01:01:18both of

01:01:18them felt

01:01:19their hearts

01:01:19drop.

01:01:20They hadn't

01:01:21realized their

01:01:22son had

01:01:22deteriorated to

01:01:23the point

01:01:23of refusing

01:01:24to eat.

01:01:25They rushed

01:01:26upstairs,

01:01:27just as

01:01:28the servant

01:01:28had said,

01:01:29no matter

01:01:30how hard

01:01:30they knocked,

01:01:31there was

01:01:32no response.

01:01:33No matter

01:01:33how many

01:01:34times they

01:01:34called his

01:01:35name,

01:01:35there was

01:01:36only silence.

01:01:38Kane's

01:01:38mother's

01:01:38voice trembled

01:01:39with fear.

01:01:40Do you think

01:01:40something's

01:01:40happened to

01:01:41him?

01:01:43Break

01:01:44the door

01:01:44down.

01:01:48When

01:01:48the door

01:01:49was forced

01:01:49open,

01:01:50they found

01:01:50the curtains

01:01:51drawn tightly

01:01:51shut,

01:01:52blocking out

01:01:53every trace

01:01:53of light.

01:01:54Kane remained

01:01:55curled up on

01:01:56the bed,

01:01:56still clutching

01:01:57the torn

01:01:58mate ceremony

01:01:58suit.

01:01:59Even with

01:02:00everyone entering

01:02:01the room,

01:02:01he didn't react

01:02:02at all.

01:02:03The moment

01:02:04his mother

01:02:04saw how

01:02:05gaunt his

01:02:05face had

01:02:06become,

01:02:06her eyes

01:02:07filled with

01:02:07tears.

01:02:10England.

01:02:12Standing in

01:02:13front of the

01:02:13sprawling

01:02:14Ashford

01:02:15Manor,

01:02:15I still

01:02:16felt like

01:02:16I was

01:02:17dreaming.

01:02:18I was

01:02:18no longer

01:02:19Phoenix.

01:02:20Now,

01:02:21I was

01:02:22Lyra

01:02:22Phoenix.

01:02:23I never

01:02:24imagined that

01:02:25a simple

01:02:25trip abroad,

01:02:26would lead

01:02:27me to

01:02:27finding my

01:02:28biological

01:02:28parents.

01:02:31On the

01:02:31plane,

01:02:32a well-dressed

01:02:33woman seated

01:02:34next to me

01:02:34kept glancing

01:02:35in my

01:02:35direction.

01:02:36Out of

01:02:37politeness,

01:02:38I greeted

01:02:39her first,

01:02:39and we

01:02:40quickly fell

01:02:41into

01:02:41conversation.

01:02:42She told

01:02:43me she

01:02:44was part

01:02:44of the

01:02:44werewolf

01:02:45kind,

01:02:45a Chinese

01:02:46family settled

01:02:47in England.

01:02:48This trip

01:02:49back had

01:02:49been for

01:02:50one reason

01:02:50only,

01:02:51she was

01:02:52searching for

01:02:52her missing

01:02:53daughter.

01:02:54She and

01:02:55her husband

01:02:55had been

01:02:56running

01:02:56businesses

01:02:57overseas for

01:02:58years.

01:02:58When their

01:02:59youngest daughter

01:03:00was born,

01:03:00it happened

01:03:01to be during

01:03:02a full moon,

01:03:03and they were

01:03:03in China at

01:03:04the time.

01:03:05They decided

01:03:06to stay an

01:03:07extra month,

01:03:08and leave after

01:03:09the baby's

01:03:09one-month

01:03:10milestone.

01:03:11But the

01:03:12day before

01:03:12they were

01:03:13supposed to

01:03:13leave,

01:03:14their daughter

01:03:15disappeared.

01:03:16They called

01:03:17the police

01:03:18immediately,

01:03:19and searched

01:03:19with friends,

01:03:20but after

01:03:21an entire

01:03:21month,

01:03:22there was

01:03:22still no

01:03:23trace.

01:03:24The authorities

01:03:25believed the

01:03:26child had

01:03:26likely been

01:03:27trafficked,

01:03:27and the

01:03:28chances of

01:03:28finding her

01:03:29were slim.

01:03:30With their

01:03:30visas expiring,

01:03:32they had

01:03:32no choice

01:03:33but to

01:03:33leave the

01:03:34country.

01:03:35Even so,

01:03:36they never

01:03:37gave up.

01:03:38They entrusted

01:03:39friends in

01:03:40China to

01:03:40continue

01:03:41searching,

01:03:41and every

01:03:42year,

01:03:43they returned

01:03:43to that

01:03:44same city,

01:03:45staying for

01:03:46a full

01:03:46month to

01:03:47look for

01:03:47her.

01:03:48This was

01:03:49the 26th

01:03:50year.

01:03:51Everyone

01:03:51around them

01:03:52had urged

01:03:52them to

01:03:53let go,

01:03:54but they

01:03:54held on

01:03:55to the

01:03:55smallest

01:03:56thread of

01:03:56hope.

01:03:57This

01:03:57time,

01:03:58they had

01:03:58returned

01:03:59empty-handed

01:04:00once again.

01:04:01But when

01:04:01she saw

01:04:02me,

01:04:02she felt

01:04:03an

01:04:03unexplainable

01:04:04sense of

01:04:05familiarity.

01:04:06That was

01:04:07why she

01:04:08had kept

01:04:08looking at

01:04:09me.

01:04:10Strangely

01:04:10enough,

01:04:11I felt

01:04:12the same

01:04:12warmth from

01:04:13her,

01:04:14without even

01:04:14realizing it,

01:04:16I began

01:04:16telling her

01:04:17about my

01:04:17past.

01:04:18When she

01:04:19learned I

01:04:20was an

01:04:20orphan,

01:04:21and that I

01:04:21came from

01:04:22the same

01:04:22city where

01:04:23her daughter

01:04:23had gone

01:04:23missing,

01:04:24her emotions

01:04:25became visibly

01:04:26stirred.

01:04:27She grasped

01:04:28my hands

01:04:29tightly,

01:04:29and asked if I

01:04:31would be willing

01:04:31to take a DNA

01:04:32test after we

01:04:33landed.

01:04:34Looking at

01:04:35the hopeful

01:04:36expressions on

01:04:37both her face

01:04:37and her

01:04:38husband's,

01:04:38I found

01:04:39myself

01:04:40nodding.

01:04:44The moment

01:04:45we got off

01:04:45the plane,

01:04:46they had

01:04:47their driver

01:04:47take us

01:04:48straight to

01:04:48the fastest

01:04:49GenCore

01:04:50lab available.

01:04:51The wait

01:04:52felt endless,

01:04:52but when the

01:04:54results finally

01:04:55came back,

01:04:56everything

01:04:56changed.

01:04:57I was

01:04:58their daughter.

01:05:00The moment

01:05:01they saw

01:05:01the confirmation,

01:05:02they pulled

01:05:03me into

01:05:03their arms

01:05:04and broke

01:05:05down in

01:05:05tears.

01:05:05And for

01:05:07the first

01:05:07time in

01:05:08my life,

01:05:08I understood

01:05:09something I

01:05:10had never

01:05:10known before.

01:05:12I was

01:05:12not unwanted.

01:05:14My parents

01:05:15loved me.

01:05:16They had

01:05:16spent 26

01:05:17years searching

01:05:18for me.

01:05:20After asking

01:05:21for my

01:05:21opinion,

01:05:22they kept

01:05:23the name

01:05:23Phoenix for

01:05:24me, but

01:05:24added a

01:05:25first name.

01:05:26Lyra.

01:05:27From that

01:05:28moment on,

01:05:29I became

01:05:29Lyra Phoenix.

01:05:31Ever since

01:05:32they found

01:05:33out who I

01:05:33was, my

01:05:34mother refused

01:05:35to let go

01:05:36of my

01:05:36hand, her

01:05:37eyes filled

01:05:38with warmth

01:05:38and affection.

01:05:40Even my

01:05:40father who

01:05:41carried himself

01:05:42with quiet

01:05:43restraint,

01:05:43couldn't hide

01:05:44the redness

01:05:45in his eyes

01:05:45as he

01:05:46looked at

01:05:46me.

01:05:48When we

01:05:49arrived at

01:05:49the estate,

01:05:50my mother

01:05:51led me

01:05:51eagerly to

01:05:52a bedroom

01:05:52door, like

01:05:53she had been

01:05:54waiting for

01:05:54this moment

01:05:55forever.

01:05:56Phoenix,

01:05:57your father

01:05:57and I have

01:05:58been waiting

01:05:58for you to

01:05:59come home.

01:06:00We've

01:06:00kept your

01:06:01room exactly

01:06:01as it was

01:06:02for 26

01:06:03years.

01:06:03Now you're

01:06:04finally here

01:06:05and it

01:06:06finally has

01:06:07its owner.

01:06:08Her voice

01:06:08trembled as

01:06:09she spoke.

01:06:10My father

01:06:10gently placed

01:06:11a hand on

01:06:12her shoulder

01:06:12then nodded

01:06:13toward the

01:06:14door.

01:06:15Go on,

01:06:16take a look,

01:06:17see if you

01:06:18like what we

01:06:18prepared for

01:06:19you.

01:06:20A warmth

01:06:21spread through

01:06:21my chest,

01:06:23something I had

01:06:23never felt

01:06:24before.

01:06:25Family.

01:06:26I pushed

01:06:27open the

01:06:27heavy door.

01:06:29Inside was a

01:06:30beautifully styled

01:06:31European vintage

01:06:32bed.

01:06:33A window

01:06:34beside it

01:06:35looked out

01:06:35over the

01:06:35back garden,

01:06:36the view

01:06:37stretching

01:06:37peacefully

01:06:38into the

01:06:38distance.

01:06:40The entire

01:06:41room was

01:06:42covered in

01:06:42soft carpeting

01:06:43and right in

01:06:44the center

01:06:44sat a neat

01:06:45stack of

01:06:46boxes.

01:06:49Curious,

01:06:50I asked,

01:06:51what's in

01:06:51these?

01:06:52My father

01:06:53stepped forward,

01:06:54picked one up,

01:06:55and handed it

01:06:56to me.

01:06:57Open it

01:06:57and see.

01:06:58I carefully

01:06:59unwrapped it.

01:07:01Inside was a

01:07:02diamond bracelet.

01:07:03A realization

01:07:04hit me instantly.

01:07:06I rushed to

01:07:07open the rest.

01:07:08A princess

01:07:09dress.

01:07:10A crown.

01:07:11A necklace.

01:07:13One after

01:07:14another.

01:07:15There were

01:07:16exactly 26

01:07:17items.

01:07:19No more,

01:07:21no less.

01:07:22My eyes

01:07:23burned as

01:07:23tears welled

01:07:24up.

01:07:25These were

01:07:26birthday gifts.

01:07:27Even when

01:07:28I wasn't

01:07:28with them,

01:07:29they had

01:07:29prepared one

01:07:30for me

01:07:30every single

01:07:31year,

01:07:32waiting for

01:07:33the day I

01:07:33would finally

01:07:34come home

01:07:34and open

01:07:35them.

01:07:36Growing up

01:07:37in the

01:07:37orphanage,

01:07:38the bullying

01:07:39had convinced

01:07:40me that no

01:07:40one in this

01:07:41world would

01:07:42ever love

01:07:42me.

01:07:43So when

01:07:44Cain entered

01:07:45my life like

01:07:46a blazing

01:07:46light, I

01:07:47fell for him

01:07:48without hesitation.

01:07:49But now I

01:07:50finally understood.

01:07:52Even when I

01:07:53didn't know it,

01:07:54my parents had

01:07:55always loved

01:07:56me.

01:07:56I stepped

01:07:57forward and

01:07:58wrapped my

01:07:59arms tightly

01:07:59around them.

01:08:01Mom, Dad,

01:08:02I'm home.

01:08:04My mom

01:08:05looked at me

01:08:05helplessly.

01:08:06Phoenix, I

01:08:08promise he's a

01:08:09good person.

01:08:10Just meet him

01:08:11once.

01:08:12If you don't

01:08:13like him, I'll

01:08:14find a way to

01:08:15call it off,

01:08:15okay?

01:08:16The first

01:08:17problem I

01:08:17faced after

01:08:18coming home

01:08:19turned out to

01:08:19be an

01:08:20arranged match.

01:08:22Back when my

01:08:23mom and her

01:08:23best friend were

01:08:24pregnant at the

01:08:25same time, they

01:08:26made a promise.

01:08:27If one had a

01:08:28boy and the

01:08:28other a girl, they

01:08:29would arrange a

01:08:30future match.

01:08:31If the children

01:08:32were the same

01:08:33gender, they

01:08:34would grow up

01:08:34like siblings.

01:08:35When they found

01:08:36out it was a

01:08:37boy and a

01:08:37girl, they

01:08:38were thrilled.

01:08:39They thought

01:08:40their friendship

01:08:41would turn into

01:08:42family.

01:08:43But not long

01:08:44after, I was

01:08:45taken.

01:08:46The arrangement

01:08:47was put on

01:08:47hold.

01:08:48A few days

01:08:50ago, after

01:08:51confirming that

01:08:51I was single, my

01:08:53mom and her

01:08:53friend brought it

01:08:54up again at the

01:08:55same time.

01:08:56The man was

01:08:57still single

01:08:57too.

01:08:58So the two

01:08:59mothers decided

01:09:00to revive the

01:09:01arrangement and

01:09:02let us meet.

01:09:05After five years

01:09:06in a failed

01:09:07relationship, I

01:09:08still hadn't

01:09:09fully recovered.

01:09:10The idea of

01:09:11starting something

01:09:12new made me

01:09:13uneasy.

01:09:13But I didn't

01:09:14want to tell my

01:09:15mom everything I

01:09:16had been through.

01:09:16I didn't want

01:09:17her to worry, so

01:09:19I agreed to

01:09:19meet him.

01:09:20I figured I

01:09:22would just

01:09:22explain things

01:09:23clearly in

01:09:24person.

01:09:25Even being

01:09:26friends would

01:09:26be fine.

01:09:27The moment I

01:09:28nodded, my

01:09:29mom lit up

01:09:30with excitement

01:09:30and immediately

01:09:31started setting

01:09:32a time, as

01:09:33if afraid

01:09:34something might

01:09:35change.

01:09:36The two

01:09:36mothers scheduled

01:09:37dinner for that

01:09:38very afternoon

01:09:39at the

01:09:39estate.

01:09:40By the

01:09:41afternoon, my

01:09:42mom had even

01:09:43called in a

01:09:44stylist to get

01:09:45me ready.

01:09:45I had no

01:09:46choice but to

01:09:47let her fuss

01:09:48over me.

01:09:50What I

01:09:50didn't expect

01:09:51was that when

01:09:52I finally met

01:09:53my so-called

01:09:53fiancé, I

01:09:55recognized him

01:09:56instantly.

01:09:58You?

01:10:00You?

01:10:01We spoke at

01:10:02the same time.

01:10:03I stared at

01:10:04the man in

01:10:04front of me,

01:10:05surprised.

01:10:06It was

01:10:07Vincent Gray.

01:10:08Vincent

01:10:08clearly hadn't

01:10:09expected it

01:10:10either.

01:10:11My mom and

01:10:12his mother

01:10:12exchanged a

01:10:13knowing look,

01:10:14smiles flickering

01:10:15across their

01:10:16faces as they

01:10:17quickly made

01:10:17excuses to

01:10:18leave giving

01:10:19us space.

01:10:20For a

01:10:20moment, the

01:10:21large garden

01:10:22felt awkwardly

01:10:23quiet with

01:10:23just the two

01:10:24of us.

01:10:25Vincent broke

01:10:26the silence

01:10:27first.

01:10:28Aria, I

01:10:30didn't expect

01:10:30the daughter

01:10:31the Lyra family

01:10:31found to be

01:10:32you.

01:10:32We had

01:10:33gone to the

01:10:34same university

01:10:35back in

01:10:35China, studying

01:10:36in the same

01:10:37major.

01:10:38I nodded.

01:10:39Given the

01:10:40relationship between

01:10:41our families, he

01:10:42must have already

01:10:43heard what

01:10:44happened to

01:10:44me.

01:10:45There was no

01:10:46need to

01:10:46explain further.

01:10:48He hesitated

01:10:49slightly before

01:10:50speaking again.

01:10:51Aria, I

01:10:54remember your

01:10:54empathic sense.

01:10:56I instinctively

01:10:58touched the

01:10:58back of my

01:10:59neck.

01:10:59I had never

01:11:00told my parents

01:11:01about my weak

01:11:02empathic sense.

01:11:03I didn't want

01:11:04them to know how

01:11:05unhappy my

01:11:06childhood had

01:11:07been.

01:11:07It would only

01:11:08make them feel

01:11:09guilty, so I

01:11:10told him

01:11:11everything, my

01:11:12five-year

01:11:12relationship with

01:11:13Cain, how

01:11:14it ended, and

01:11:15how my empathic

01:11:16sense finally

01:11:17went through

01:11:18its awakening.

01:11:19At the end, I

01:11:20added quietly,

01:11:22Vincent, I

01:11:23need you to

01:11:24keep this

01:11:24between us.

01:11:25I don't want

01:11:26my parents to

01:11:27worry.

01:11:28He pretended

01:11:28to think for

01:11:29a moment, then

01:11:30said with a

01:11:31hint of

01:11:31reluctance,

01:11:32I can do

01:11:33that, but I

01:11:36have one

01:11:36condition.

01:11:40I blinked in

01:11:41surprise.

01:11:42I hadn't

01:11:42interacted with

01:11:43Vincent much

01:11:44before, but I

01:11:45remembered him as

01:11:46easygoing and

01:11:47kind.

01:11:48Still, I was

01:11:49asking him for

01:11:50a favor.

01:11:50It was only

01:11:51fair.

01:11:52What's the

01:11:53condition?

01:11:54He smiled, a

01:11:55playful glint in

01:11:57his eyes.

01:11:58Can I stop

01:11:59calling you

01:11:59Aria and call

01:12:00you Phoenix

01:12:01instead?

01:12:02And you don't

01:12:02have to call me

01:12:03Vincent so formally

01:12:04either.

01:12:05I hadn't

01:12:06expected something

01:12:07so simple.

01:12:08Ever since I

01:12:09changed my name,

01:12:10people around me

01:12:11had been calling

01:12:12me Phoenix, but

01:12:13somehow, hearing

01:12:14it from him felt

01:12:16different.

01:12:17Of course,

01:12:18Vincent.

01:12:19Thinking about

01:12:20the arranged

01:12:21match, I

01:12:22hesitated before

01:12:23finally gathering

01:12:24the courage to

01:12:25speak.

01:12:26Vincent, you

01:12:29already know I

01:12:30just came out of

01:12:31a failed

01:12:31relationship.

01:12:33I'm not ready

01:12:34for anything new

01:12:34right now, about

01:12:37the arrangement.

01:12:38I had assumed

01:12:39that me being an

01:12:40Omega might make

01:12:41him feel embarrassed

01:12:42or slighted, but

01:12:43his expression

01:12:44stayed calm.

01:12:45It's fine.

01:12:47I'll explain it

01:12:48to my mom.

01:12:50Honestly, on my

01:12:52way here I was

01:12:52already thinking

01:12:53about how to

01:12:53bring this up,

01:12:55restrain this up,

01:12:56without affecting

01:12:57our family's

01:12:58relationship.

01:12:59He paused, then

01:13:01smiled.

01:13:02I didn't expect

01:13:03the Lyra family's

01:13:04daughter to be

01:13:04you.

01:13:06Even if we call

01:13:07off the arrangement,

01:13:09we can still be

01:13:09good friends,

01:13:10right?

01:13:11Relief washed

01:13:12over me.

01:13:12I smiled and

01:13:13nodded.

01:13:14Of course.

01:13:15Maybe it was

01:13:16because we had

01:13:17shared the same

01:13:18university, the

01:13:19same memories.

01:13:20Having just

01:13:21arrived in

01:13:22England, everything

01:13:23still felt

01:13:24unfamiliar, but

01:13:25with Vincent, I

01:13:26felt a sense of

01:13:27ease I hadn't

01:13:28expected.

01:13:29We started

01:13:30talking about

01:13:31the past, and

01:13:32I realized we

01:13:33had so many

01:13:34shared interests.

01:13:35Before long, we

01:13:37grew closer, even

01:13:38meeting up from

01:13:39time to time to

01:13:40hang out.

01:13:42One day, after

01:13:43feeding seagulls by

01:13:44the coast, Vincent

01:13:45walked me back

01:13:46home.

01:13:47We ended up

01:13:48standing by the

01:13:48front gate, laughing

01:13:50and talking about

01:13:51everything that had

01:13:52happened earlier.

01:13:53I don't know how

01:13:54long we stood

01:13:54there.

01:13:55Then, from behind

01:13:56me, I heard a

01:13:57familiar voice.

01:13:58Little wolf.

01:14:02After spotting a

01:14:03familiar figure in

01:14:04the news, Cain used

01:14:06every connection he

01:14:07had to track down

01:14:08her identity.

01:14:09Because the Lyra

01:14:10family had deep

01:14:11roots overseas while

01:14:12Cain remained in

01:14:13China, it took him

01:14:15half a month to

01:14:16finally uncover

01:14:17information about

01:14:18me.

01:14:19The moment he saw

01:14:20the photo from the

01:14:21banquet, he knew

01:14:23that was his

01:14:24little wolf.

01:14:25Even with a

01:14:26different name, he

01:14:27was certain, there

01:14:29was no mistaking

01:14:30it.

01:14:31He immediately began

01:14:32digging for the

01:14:33Lyra family's

01:14:34address.

01:14:35Once he confirmed

01:14:36it, he rushed to

01:14:37catch the earliest

01:14:38flight to England.

01:14:40On the way, he

01:14:41must have imagined

01:14:42countless scenarios

01:14:43of seeing me

01:14:44again.

01:14:45He thought the

01:14:46most likely outcome

01:14:47was that I would

01:14:48still be angry and

01:14:49refuse to speak to

01:14:50him.

01:14:51But that didn't

01:14:52matter.

01:14:53As long as he

01:14:54could see me, that

01:14:55would be enough.

01:14:56After experiencing

01:14:57my death, he had

01:14:59come to realize more

01:15:00than ever that he

01:15:01could not live

01:15:02without me.

01:15:03He planned to

01:15:04apologize sincerely,

01:15:06to promise that he

01:15:07would never be

01:15:08tempted by another

01:15:09Omega again.

01:15:10He even imagined

01:15:12that once I forgave

01:15:13him, he would

01:15:14hold an even

01:15:15grander mate

01:15:16ceremony, one

01:15:17that would surpass

01:15:18anything before it,

01:15:20and declare his

01:15:21love to the world.

01:15:22What he didn't

01:15:23expect was that when

01:15:25he finally saw me

01:15:26again, a month

01:15:27later, I was

01:15:28already standing

01:15:29beside another

01:15:30Alpha.

01:15:32Vincent and I had

01:15:33been talking,

01:15:34completely absorbed,

01:15:36for nearly an hour.

01:15:38Kane stood behind a

01:15:39wall like an intruder

01:15:40peeking into someone

01:15:41else's happiness.

01:15:43But the moment he saw

01:15:44that familiar figure,

01:15:47longing crashed over

01:15:48him like a tidal wave.

01:15:50Just before he could

01:15:51no longer hold it

01:15:52in, he finally

01:15:54called out the name

01:15:55he had been

01:15:55repeating in his

01:15:56mind.

01:15:57After nearly a month,

01:15:59he was seeing me

01:16:00again, alive.

01:16:01His eyes reddened,

01:16:03his voice unsteady.

01:16:05Little wolf, I

01:16:07finally found you.

01:16:08You're not dead.

01:16:10You're really here.

01:16:14He instinctively ignored

01:16:16the Alpha, standing

01:16:17beside me.

01:16:18The moment I heard

01:16:20that familiar voice, I

01:16:22let out a quiet sigh.

01:16:23I had always known the

01:16:25fake death wouldn't

01:16:26fool Kane forever.

01:16:27I just hadn't expected

01:16:29him to track me down in

01:16:31England this quickly.

01:16:32I gave Vincent a

01:16:34subtle look, signaling

01:16:35him to leave first.

01:16:36Then I turned around,

01:16:39my expression cold as

01:16:40I looked straight at

01:16:41Kane.

01:16:42Why are you here?

01:16:44Area is dead.

01:16:46I'm Phoenix now.

01:16:48Kane finally recalled

01:16:49everything he had

01:16:50learned over the past

01:16:51two weeks.

01:16:52His little wolf was

01:16:54never an orphan.

01:16:55I was Phoenix, the

01:16:57lost daughter of the

01:16:58Lyra family, their

01:16:59most cherished child.

01:17:01Little wolf.

01:17:02No.

01:17:03Phoenix.

01:17:04Phoenix.

01:17:05I know I was wrong.

01:17:07I've already dealt

01:17:08with the beta.

01:17:09The child is gone too.

01:17:12Can you forgive me?

01:17:14With his intelligence,

01:17:16it didn't take much to

01:17:17figure out that the

01:17:18body at the mate

01:17:19ceremony had been

01:17:20staged.

01:17:21It was nothing more

01:17:22than my way of escaping

01:17:23after my heart had

01:17:25already died.

01:17:26Now that he had

01:17:27finally found me again,

01:17:29the person he had

01:17:29thought about day and

01:17:30night, he was

01:17:31determined to apologize

01:17:32and beg for

01:17:33forgiveness.

01:17:35I let out a quiet

01:17:36laugh.

01:17:37I had seen with my

01:17:38own eyes how he

01:17:40treated the beta.

01:17:41And now he could

01:17:42dismiss everything so

01:17:44easily, saying he had

01:17:45taken care of her and

01:17:47the pup as if it meant

01:17:48nothing.

01:17:49I used to think he had

01:17:50simply transferred his

01:17:52love from me to

01:17:53someone else.

01:17:54Now, I understood the

01:17:56truth.

01:17:57He was rotten to the

01:17:58core.

01:17:59He didn't truly love

01:18:00anyone, only himself.

01:18:03Cain, I regret ever

01:18:05loving you.

01:18:06Those few simple words

01:18:08drained all the color

01:18:10from Cain's face.

01:18:11He couldn't understand

01:18:12it.

01:18:13For five years, we had

01:18:14been so in love.

01:18:16We had been happy.

01:18:17How could I regret it

01:18:18now?

01:18:19And that word regret,

01:18:21did it mean I didn't

01:18:23love him anymore?

01:18:26The thought alone made

01:18:28his chest tighten with

01:18:29pain.

01:18:30No.

01:18:31That couldn't be true.

01:18:33It had only been a

01:18:35month.

01:18:35How could I have stopped

01:18:37loving him so quickly?

01:18:38In his mind, I was

01:18:40still angry.

01:18:41I just hadn't forgiven

01:18:42him yet.

01:18:44Cain stepped forward

01:18:45reaching for my hand,

01:18:47wanting to explain

01:18:48before he could touch

01:18:50me.

01:18:50I took a step back,

01:18:52putting distance between

01:18:53us.

01:18:54The hurt in his

01:18:55expression was obvious,

01:18:57but he quickly tried to

01:18:58explain himself.

01:19:00Phoenix, I don't mean

01:19:01anything else.

01:19:02I just, I just want to

01:19:04explain.

01:19:05Believe me, I've only

01:19:07ever loved you.

01:19:10I never had real feelings

01:19:11for that beta.

01:19:14Can you forgive me and

01:19:16come back with me?

01:19:17I promise, there will

01:19:19never be another Omega

01:19:20around me again.

01:19:21I swear I'll only love

01:19:23you.

01:19:24We can have an even

01:19:25grander mate ceremony.

01:19:27By the end, there was

01:19:29a flicker of hope in his

01:19:31eyes.

01:19:32I didn't react.

01:19:33My expression remained

01:19:35cold.

01:19:36Five years ago, when you

01:19:37got together with me, you

01:19:38made the same promise.

01:19:40You said you would only

01:19:41love me.

01:19:44And you still cheated.

01:19:45I won't believe you again.

01:19:48I won't believe you again.

01:19:49And I will never forgive you.

01:19:51You should leave.

01:19:54Don't come back.

01:19:55When I first discovered his

01:19:57betrayal, the pain had been

01:19:59unbearable.

01:20:00There was even a moment when I

01:20:02hesitated.

01:20:03Because he still treated me the

01:20:05same as before, I thought maybe I

01:20:08could pretend nothing had

01:20:10happened.

01:20:10Maybe we could complete the

01:20:12mate bond.

01:20:13And he would continue to treat me

01:20:15well.

01:20:17Maybe he would keep the other

01:20:18Omega out of my sight.

01:20:20But after lie, after lie, after

01:20:23seeing him entangled with the

01:20:25beta, with my own eyes, I

01:20:27realized I couldn't do it.

01:20:30I couldn't live like nothing had

01:20:31happened.

01:20:33What I wanted had always been

01:20:35something real, a love that was

01:20:38honest.

01:20:40And once Cain tainted that love, I

01:20:43no longer wanted it.

01:20:45Back then, I had already made my

01:20:48decision, I would never forgive him.

01:20:51I turned to leave.

01:20:53But Cain wasn't ready to give up.

01:20:56In a moment of panic, he grabbed my

01:20:59wrist.

01:21:00Little wolf, I swear.

01:21:02My heart has always belonged to

01:21:04you.

01:21:05You're the only one I love.

01:21:07I pulled free from his grip and

01:21:09looked at him.

01:21:10The urgency and sincerity on his

01:21:12face didn't seem fake.

01:21:14But I only let out a soft,

01:21:17humorless laugh.

01:21:18Love me?

01:21:20You talked about the beta with your

01:21:22friends right in front of me.

01:21:25Was that love?

01:21:29You had my mate ceremony designer

01:21:31make a dress for her.

01:21:32Was that love?

01:21:35You snuck downstairs in the middle of

01:21:37the night to see her while I was

01:21:38asleep.

01:21:39Was that love?

01:21:40If that's your version of love, it's

01:21:43cheap.

01:21:44I don't want it.

01:21:46With every word Cain's face grew

01:21:49paler.

01:21:49By the end he looked like he could

01:21:52barely stand.

01:21:53My words cut into him like a blade,

01:21:56tearing his heart apart piece by

01:21:57piece.

01:21:58Never in his life had Cain hated

01:22:01himself this much.

01:22:02If he had never gotten involved with

01:22:04the beta in the first place, none of

01:22:06this would have happened.

01:22:10Cain's voice trembled slightly.

01:22:13Little wolf, are you really never going

01:22:15to forgive me?

01:22:17I nodded without hesitation.

01:22:20That's right.

01:22:21Never.

01:22:22I didn't wait to see his reaction.

01:22:24I turned and walked inside.

01:22:27The next day, Vincent and I had plans to

01:22:31attend a concert.

01:22:32Ever since my empathic sense went

01:22:35through its awakening, I had grown

01:22:37especially sensitive to emotions.

01:22:40The calm of nature.

01:22:42The intensity of music.

01:22:43The sincerity or deceit in people's

01:22:46voices.

01:22:47Vincent happened to be a huge fan of

01:22:49classical music, and every time I went

01:22:51to a concert with him, I learned

01:22:53something new.

01:22:57Cain stood outside the estate the

01:22:59entire night.

01:23:01My words from yesterday echoed

01:23:03endlessly in his mind.

01:23:05What once felt like relief after his

01:23:07first time with the beta had now come

01:23:09back like a blade, striking him full

01:23:11force.

01:23:13Still, he wanted one more chance.

01:23:16He refused to believe that five years

01:23:18of love could be erased so completely.

01:23:21After getting Vincent's message, I

01:23:24headed downstairs, humming like a

01:23:26carefree bird.

01:23:28My mom, who was having breakfast,

01:23:30teased me when she saw me.

01:23:32Who was the one who said they didn't

01:23:34want to meet him?

01:23:35Now it looks like you can't wait to

01:23:36see him every day.

01:23:37I'd say this match is looking pretty

01:23:39promising.

01:23:40Mom, we're just friends.

01:23:42But for some reason, I felt my cheeks

01:23:45warm.

01:23:46I quickly ran out the door.

01:23:48The tickets for today's concert were

01:23:51hard to get, and Vincent had told me

01:23:53that one of his favorite cellists would

01:23:55be performing.

01:23:57The moment I stepped outside, I saw

01:23:59Cain standing off to the side,

01:24:02completely still.

01:24:03I acted as if I hadn't seen him, and

01:24:06ran straight toward Vincent.

01:24:08He was holding a sandwich, and handed it

01:24:11to me naturally.

01:24:12My mom asked me to bring this for you.

01:24:16I took a bite.

01:24:20My eyes lighting up.

01:24:22Aunt Grace's cooking is as amazing as

01:24:24ever.

01:24:25Come on, we're gonna be late.

01:24:28You still haven't told me who else is

01:24:30performing today.

01:24:31Cain remained where he was, watching as

01:24:34I walked farther and farther away.

01:24:37The moment I stepped out, he had wanted

01:24:40to call out to me, to try one last time.

01:24:43But then he saw the light in my eyes.

01:24:47That bright, eager happiness.

01:24:49It was a look he knew all too well.

01:24:53Back when we were together, I used to

01:24:55look at him like that all the time.

01:24:57But now, he hadn't seen it, in nearly

01:25:00two months.

01:25:04When he thought back to the days before

01:25:06I staged my death, he realized

01:25:08something.

01:25:09Back then, my eyes had been empty, like

01:25:13still water without a ripple.

01:25:15Nothing could stir any emotion in me.

01:25:18And yet, at the beginning of our

01:25:20relationship, I had looked at him the

01:25:23way I had just looked at Vincent.

01:25:26That was when he finally understood.

01:25:29What this relationship had left me

01:25:31with was nothing but pain.

01:25:33He had no right to ask for my

01:25:35forgiveness anymore.

01:25:37He booked a flight back home that same

01:25:39afternoon.

01:25:40Before leaving, he realized he didn't

01:25:43have my current number, so he borrowed

01:25:45a piece of paper and a pen from a

01:25:47passerby and wrote a message.

01:25:50He placed it somewhere visible by the

01:25:53gate.

01:25:53After one last look at the place where

01:25:56I would spend the rest of my life,

01:25:58he got into the car and left.

01:26:03A gust of wind lifted the paper into the air.

01:26:10On it, there was only one sentence.

01:26:17Little wolf, please let me call you that a

01:26:20last time.

01:26:20I'm sorry.

01:26:22I wish you a lifetime of happiness.

01:26:24Spring in England.

01:26:26Vincent and I walked through the rose

01:26:29garden at Ashford Manor.

01:26:31Phoenix.

01:26:32Vincent said stopping in his tracks.

01:26:34His expression was more serious than I had

01:26:37ever seen before.

01:26:38I know you're not ready right now, but I want

01:26:41you to know if one day you're willing to

01:26:42believe in love again.

01:26:44I'll be here waiting.

01:26:46I looked at him, warmth spreading through my

01:26:49chest.

01:26:50Maybe, one day, I would believe in love again.

01:26:55But for now, I was content.

01:26:58Loved by my parents.

01:26:59Surrounded by friends.

01:27:02Running freely under the moonlight.

01:27:04Feeling the breeze.

01:27:06And breathing in the scent of flowers.

01:27:09I am Phoenix.

01:27:10And I have risen from the ashes.

01:27:13I swear.

01:27:13I wish I could.

La Luna muerta del Alfa en español

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