Chapter 5

Kael laughed at my performance and pulled me into his embrace. "Having a Luna like you is my greatest blessing."

I leaned against his shoulder, feeling his warmth.

Once, this embrace was the safe haven I longed for. Now, it only made me want to vomit.

"Indeed." I closed my eyes, my voice soft and gentle. "Then let's see whose surprise will be more... memorable."

Deep inside, I was counting down—three days. In three days, this man would learn what it truly meant to lose me.

"My Luna is always so adorable." Kael placed a kiss on my forehead. "I've added a few more names to the birthday celebration guest list. You'll need to put on your best performance."

The perfect Luna? Ha.

"Of course." I lifted my head, a flash of coldness in my eyes that he failed to notice. "I'll make it unforgettable for everyone."

Breakfast stretched on for nearly an hour. Throughout, I maintained the image of the perfect mate—every gesture, every word, a carefully orchestrated performance.

And Kael was completely immersed in it, utterly oblivious that the woman in his arms had already seen through his every lie.

After breakfast, Kael left to handle pack business. I stood by the window, watching his retreating figure, my smile melting away like ice in the sun.

"Soon." I murmured, fingers lightly caressing the small pouch at my waist—inside lay all the evidence.

The woman in the mirror stared back with ice-cold eyes, not a trace of tenderness remaining.

This was the real me.

Evening fell, and the garden was filled with the fragrance of roses.

I was trimming flower stems, my movements elegant and composed. I knew Sienna would come—that woman had grown increasingly bold lately, unable to resist flaunting herself in front of me daily.

Honestly, watching her now was like watching a clown perform.

Sure enough, that grating voice rang out behind me.

"Well, well, the Luna seems to be in good spirits today?" Sienna approached with her slightly swollen belly, her face radiating smugness. "Still have the leisure to tend your garden?"

I didn't turn around, continuing to trim the roses. "Tending flowers is more meaningful than watching weeds grow wild."

The remark made Sienna's smile freeze for an instant.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." My tone was flat. "Weeds don't understand human speech anyway."

Sienna's expression darkened, but she quickly recovered her smug look. She walked up to me, deliberately caressing her belly:

"Let me tell you some good news with you—last night, Kael said that once I give birth, he'll give me an official title. He said a Luna who can't even bear children doesn't deserve this position."

I glanced up at her, my gaze so calm it made her uneasy.

"So you think having a child means you can replace me?"

"It's not what I think—it's a fact!" Sienna grew more excited, leaning closer with malice dripping from her voice. "He said marrying you is his biggest regret. If he didn't owe you his life, he would never have made you his Luna."

I lowered my head, continuing to trim the stems.

The scissors made crisp snipping sounds in my hands.

"Are you finished?" My tone was as flat as if asking about the weather.

"Finished?" Sienna sneered. "I haven't even gotten to the best part yet. Why are you still putting on this virtuous act? Do you think your infertility is natural?"

Here it comes.

I stopped my movements and slowly raised my head.

"Oh?" I tilted my head. "What do you want to say?"

"Kael personally hired a witch to curse you!" Sienna dropped what she thought was her trump card, her voice brimming with vicious pleasure. "For a whole year and a half, he kept that spell active! He was afraid you'd use a child to bind him! He never wanted your children—not from the beginning!"

Her eyes gleamed. "Do you know what he said the first time he came to me? He said, 'Finally, I can be with a real woman.' He said every day with you was torture. All those breakfasts you carefully prepared? He choked them down in disgust."

I laughed.

It was a light, soft laugh.

Sienna froze. "What are you laughing at? Have you gone mad?"

"No," I set down the scissors, lightly dusting the soil from my hands. "I was just thinking—so that's all you know."

"What do you mean?" Sienna's expression began to stiffen.

I didn't answer. I simply stood up slowly and walked toward her, step by step.

In that instant, the air seemed to freeze.

Rose petals were swept up by the wind, spinning and falling between us. The aura emanating from me made Sienna instinctively step back.

"What... what are you doing..." Her voice began to tremble.

"Sienna," I tilted my head, observing her like an interesting insect. "Do you know why I never touched you?"

"Because you don't dare!"

"Because I was waiting." I cut her off, my voice soft yet making her hair stand on end. "Waiting for you to reveal your ugliness more completely."

The air around us suddenly turned cold.

Sienna realized with horror that my eyes were glowing with an eerie light in the setting sun—that wasn't the gaze of a human, but the look of an apex predator eyeing its prey.

"You... what are you..."

"Thank you for telling me all this." My voice was ice-cold. "Truly, thank you. Thank you for personally confirming all my suspicions, eliminating my last shred of hesitation."

"Did you hear me?!" Sienna's voice turned shrill. "I said Kael never loved you! He hates you! He cursed you! He—"

"I heard you." I interrupted.

Then, I smiled.

That smile made Sienna's blood run cold—it was a smile full of contempt, pity, and a hint of cruelty.

"You know what, Sienna," I stepped closer, and with each step forward, she stepped back. "I've been wondering whether I should let you enjoy your pathetic sense of superiority a few more days. But now I've decided—it's time to end this farce."

Sienna tried to retreat but found her legs trembling.

"What... what are you pretending to be? Kael doesn't want you anymore! The whole pack will know you've been abandoned! You—"

"Why should I break down?" I tilted my head. "I should thank you both for giving me such a perfect reason to leave."

"Leave?" Sienna paused. "Where do you think you're going? You think without Kael you can still—"

Before she could finish, I raised my hand.

I didn't touch her, just waved lightly.

But Sienna stumbled backward several steps as if pushed by an invisible force, nearly falling.

She stared at me in terror, her face deathly pale. "You... you... what the hell are you!"

"What?" My laugh grew colder. "You truly have no idea."

I walked toward her slowly, each step like treading on her heart.

"You think Kael deserves me? You think carrying a child can replace my position? You think I care about that worthless Luna title?"

With each sentence, Sienna's face grew paler.

"Let me tell you, Sienna," I stopped in front of her, looking down at her, my voice cold as if from hell itself. "You ants will never understand what true power is."

I reached out and patted her cheek lightly. The gesture was full of humiliation.

"Treasure your smugness while it lasts." I said each word deliberately. "Because very soon, you'll understand—ants are forever ants. No matter how high you climb, the harder you'll fall."

With that, I turned and walked away.

Behind me came the sound of Sienna collapsing to the ground, followed by her muffled sobs.

Perfect.

---

I returned to my room and locked the door behind me.

The woman in the mirror stared back with cold, sharp eyes. I opened the pouch at my waist, where several items lay neatly arranged:

A thick document—recording all of Kael and Sienna's crimes.

An exquisite badge—the symbol of my true pack, a secret Kael would never know.

An empty glass vial—the antidote was finished, and my power was slowly returning.

And a letter—an invitation to someone special.

"The birthday celebration..." I murmured, thinking of Kael's excitement, my lips curling into an icy smile. "In three days, I'll give you a gift you'll never forget."

I picked up the badge, spinning it between my fingers. The emblem gleamed coldly in the moonlight—the mark of an ancient and powerful family.

Kael thought he had married an ordinary woman.

He thought he could toy with me at will.

But he would soon learn exactly what kind of being he had provoked.

Outside the window, the moon rose, and wolf howls echoed through the night.

And I stood by the window, my eyes gleaming with the same cold light as the moon.

"Just wait, Kael. Wait and watch as your meticulously prepared birthday celebration becomes your funeral."

Rose petals drifted down with the wind, as if dancing for the coming storm.

And I was ready.

Three days.

Only three days left.