Chapter 2
854 Words
The moonlight on the mountaintop was gentle.
I absorbed the moonlight power I hadn't felt in so long, holding a farewell ceremony for Pepper alone.
Orange‑red flames wrapped around Pepper's tiny body.
I stared blankly. Through my tear‑blurred eyes, I seemed to see the scene from years ago when Pepper broke out of his shell.
When we saw Pepper poke his wet little head out of the eggshell, we hugged each other in delight and cheered.
Pepper slowly grew up, growing ever smarter.
Gil especially doted on him, letting Pepper sleep between our pillows at night.
He had once smiled and told me that with Pepper, we made a happy family.
But now, he had killed Pepper, destroying everything between us.
Heavy snow fell, mixing with my tears and stinging as it struck me.
My inner wolf Lucy choked back her grief and sang requiems for Pepper again and again, until her voice grew hoarse and dawn broke.
At dawn, I returned clutching Pepper's urn.
Before I even pushed open the door, I heard wanton cries of pleasure.
Avril's voice rang out, "Gil, faster! Oh, so good."
Her cries mixed with Gil's lustful, low growls, tearing my heart apart.
I wanted to turn and leave, but the half‑shut door was blown open by a sudden gust of wind.
Gil saw me. He looked panicked for a moment, but his expression shifted to disgust when he saw the urn in my hands.
While letting Avril lick his body, he accused me coldly. "What filthy thing have you brought back to the Pack this time? I warn you, quit using your cheap tricks to hurt others."
It felt as though a wolf's claw were gripping my heart, sending spasms of stabbing pain through my chest.
He actually called Pepper's ashes filth?
He took my silence as provocation and snatched the urn, hurling it to the ground.
"I'm talking to you. Are you deaf?" he snapped.
My eyes blazed with rage, yet I couldn't utter a single word.
That familiar heartache crashed over me in waves.
I kept my face blank, having long since learned to feign composure.
I picked up the urn and turned to leave.
But in the next second, Avril's words rooted me to the spot.
She never stopped moving, panting as she asked, "Who is better in bed, me or Linda?"
Gil's teasing voice came. "Of course it is you. She's like a dead fish in bed. She can't satisfy me at all."
Avril giggled at his contemptuous words.
I felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over me.
Physical pain, humiliation, and anger continuously flowed to Gil through the Mate‑Bond.
But he frowned, without so much as glancing at me, and simply severed the connection.
I let out a muffled groan, my face paling for a moment.
Lucy sobbed, "Let us go... I don't want to stay here anymore..."
"Okay," I whispered.
I suppressed all my emotions and took a faltering step forward.
My legs were so numb they felt like they didn't belong to me.
Disregarding Avril's displeasure, Gil pulled away and grabbed me.
He reeked of Avril's rose scent, so thick it was suffocating.
His fangs peeked out in anger, his golden eyes glaring at me.
"Who are you putting on this heartbroken act for?" he demanded. "Avril was clearly the one who healed my broken leg, yet you lied and said you were the one who saved me. You stole Avril's position as Luna. You need to give everything back to her."
My eyes were weary, and I no longer wanted to say another word in my own defense.
Ever since Avril returned, found him, and claimed credit for saving him by impersonating me, everything had changed.
He no longer loved me; he wouldn't listen to a word I said.
His eyes held nothing but endless disgust and rage.
Before, he had risked his life climbing those high cliffs, searching for three days and nights just to find the Moonlight Grass I loved.
He had sworn to be good to me forever and never betray me.
The vows still echoed in my ears, yet he believed her without a second thought.
I stared steadily at Gil and softly answered, "Fine."
His handsome face was drawn into a tight frown, devoid of any joy.
"You have been with me for so many years, just stay by my side as an omega," he said.
I shook my head and looked out the window.
The Moon Goddess statue standing there suddenly went dark.
And all the water in the Moonpool that ran through the Pack evaporated in an instant.
Gil's pupils suddenly contracted. Shocked, he called a beta over and ordered him to find out what happened.
I smiled and left.
The disappearance of the Moonpool was only the beginning.
In just one day, the moon crystal vein you pride yourselves on would completely dry up, and wolves from rival packs would swarm in to attack.
'Gil, without me, let us see what you would use to protect your Pack.'
- Writer
