Chapter 2

The next afternoon, he forced me to say the words:

“I, Alexandria, rejected you, William, as my mate.”

He brushed his fingers across the bond mark on the back of my neck — the skin there still burned.

“I knew you'd be obedient.”

“Come on, let’s head to the jewelry store.”

The glass door of the shop reflected a cold, sterile light.

William pushed the door open and stepped aside to let me in.

“Women know women’s preferences better.”

I didn’t say anything, just followed him to the counter.

The gleam of the diamonds stabbed at my eyes.

The store clerk smiled as she presented a tray. “Alpha William, here are the styles you pre-ordered.”

William picked up one ring and turned to me. “Alex, how about this one?”

I lowered my gaze. “I don’t know.”

“Come on, just have a look.”

The jewelry store ten years ago hadn’t been like this.

Back then, the staff had joked affectionately with the future Luna, and he had held me protectively in his arms.

He rented out the entire store and squatted in front of the counter for three hours, sifting through rings without caring that his fingertips were covered in dust.

“This one’s too pointy — it’ll scratch your skin.”

“This one’s band is too narrow. Your fingers will turn red in winter. It’ll be uncomfortable.”

Eventually, he held up a diamond-studded ring. The inside of the platinum band was engraved with the letters A and W, intertwined.

Sunlight spilled through the window, landing on his hair.

“Look, the tiny diamonds are like stars. Someday I’ll take you to see the real galaxy — and you’ll be wearing this.”

He’d slipped it onto my finger himself, thumb gently caressing the band.

“When we have pups, I’ll make them matching ones, just like this.”

Back then, the ring was warm — it carried the heat of his palm.

Now, all I felt was cold.

He shoved the ring into my hand. “Wendy has fair skin. This one will look great on her.”

The metal band pressed sharply into my palm — icy, biting.

“And this one,” he said, picking up another, “Wynne prefers a minimal style.”

My fingers trembled, and the ring nearly slipped through them.

“Well, well. The rightful mate is still here, and you’re already picking out rings? Not worried about bad luck?”

Wendy’s voice cut through the air like a poisoned dagger.

I looked up. She and Wynne stood at the entrance, faces dark with fury.

Alpha William froze for a second, then quickly set the ring down and walked toward them.

“What are you two doing here?”

“If we hadn’t come, how would we witness such a show?”

Wynne sneered, her eyes sweeping over the ring in my hand.

Alpha William pulled them close and lowered his voice.

“She’s just helping me pick — nothing more.”

“Helping?” Wendy flung his hand off. “You mean you couldn’t bear to keep her away?”

“Stop it,” Alpha William softened his tone. “I’ll handle everything properly after the bond break.”

I gripped the ring tighter and turned to place it back on the tray.

Wendy suddenly pressed down on my hand.

“Keep it. Consider it a witness to our happiness.”

Alpha William tried to smooth things over.

“Alright, enough. Let’s just finish and go.”

He quickly selected two rings. While the clerk was packing them, Wynne looped her arm through his.

“Since you’ve broken the bond, you should act like it,” she said, staring at me, eyes sharp as blades.

“Still clinging to Alpha William’s house — what does that make you?”

Alpha William frowned but turned to me.

“You don’t have anywhere else to go right now. Just stay.”

“Don’t overthink it.” His voice was flat, as if he were discussing something trivial.

I looked at Wynne’s hand on his arm — she was wearing the exact nail polish I used to love.

That’s when my chest finally went cold.

Alpha William paid and took the gift box.

“Let’s go.”

I didn’t move.

He didn’t look back, just walked out ahead.

Wynne held his arm. Wendy followed at his side. The three of them looked like a perfectly coordinated picture — one that burned my eyes.

I stood there, watching as the revolving door carried them away.

The cold from the ring still lingered in my palm.

A store clerk approached gently. “Ma’am, are you alright?”

Alpha William drove them back to the residence, leaving behind only one sentence:

“Beta Vince will come pick you up.”