Chapter 2

The next morning, I turned to Axton, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "Let’s go visit the Griffin Pack together."

He hesitated, his Alpha aura flickering for a moment before he regained his composure. "Alright," he said, his tone measured. "We’ll drop off our gift and head back."

I knew why he hesitated. He was worried I’d upset Jenna, his true mate. But I didn’t care. I just wanted to see my family one last time before I disappeared. Tomorrow, I’d be gone.

When we arrived at the Griffin Pack estate, the place was alive with celebration. Guests from neighboring packs had gathered to honor Jenna’s pregnancy and her entry into an international art exhibition—two reasons for the pack to rejoice. Jenna stood at the center of it all, her golden hair catching the light, her smile radiant. She was the perfect Luna, the embodiment of grace and strength. Everyone was certain her painting would win a major award. Someone even mentioned it had been paired with a poem by Roberto Price, a Delta warrior known for his artistic flair. Together, they said, it was a masterpiece.

As I stepped into the grand hall, Jenna’s eyes flickered to me, her smile tightening for a moment before she smoothed it over. "Oh, my sister is here?" she said, her voice sweet but laced with sarcasm. "You seem to have plenty of spare time lately."

I ignored her jab, my gaze drawn to the painting on display. My heart clenched. It was one of my own works, a piece I’d completed years ago and kept hidden in my private gallery. How had it ended up here? How had it become her "competition entry"?

Jenna watched me with a smirk, gliding closer, her voice soft but cutting. "Do you like this painting, sister?"

I shot her a cold look, ready to retort, when she suddenly gasped, clutching her belly. Her face twisted in pain, and she staggered backward. The room erupted into chaos.

"What happened?!" someone shouted.

"Jenna’s pregnant! How could anyone bump into her!"

"Call the healer, quick!"

Amid the commotion, I heard a voice filled with tension: "Jenna!"

It was Axton. His concern was palpable, his Alpha aura flaring as he rushed to her side. The way he looked at her—protective, desperate—shattered the last shred of hope I’d been clinging to. When he noticed my gaze, he quickly schooled his expression, turning to me with a gentle reproach. "Regardless, Jenna’s lost the baby. You shouldn’t have pushed her."

Just then, news broke that the painting had advanced to the finals, with a high chance of winning the gold medal. Axton’s face lit up with pride, a look I hadn’t seen in the five years we’d been together.

I asked him quietly, "Why does Jenna’s painting look exactly like mine?"

He hesitated, his Alpha mask slipping for a moment before he recovered. "Maybe it’s just a coincidence," he said, his tone dismissive. "Perhaps her style mirrors yours..."

I let out a cold laugh. That painting had been locked away in my private gallery, the key held only by a select few. And the poem accompanying it—even under a pseudonym—the handwriting matched Axton’s. There was no doubt who was responsible.

I had intended to give that painting to him as an anniversary gift for our fifth year. Now, it was clear even our mate bond had been a lie, rendering the painting meaningless.

I smiled faintly, my voice flat. "Let’s take a yacht ride," I said. "Sail through the night and catch tomorrow’s sunrise."

Axton hesitated, his Alpha instincts likely sensing something was off. But he nodded, his expression softening. "Alright," he said. "Let’s go."

As we left the estate, I could feel the weight of the pack’s eyes on me. They whispered, their voices carrying through the mind link, but I blocked them out. I had one last night to endure. Then, I’d be free.