My boyfriend is David, the Alpha of Moonridge Pack. During the New Moon Festival, he told me not to come to the pack banquet. His reason? “You’re just a bartender. You’ve been at the bar so long, you reek of alcohol. My mom can’t stand it.” I had already requested time off and booked my flight, planning to take a solo trip to clear my head. Instead, he brought Grace to the pack banquet. Grace is the sister of Pine Valley Pack’s Alpha. Standing next to David, she looked like she belonged there. Photos from Moonridge Pack’s New Moon Festival banquet hit social media that very night. Someone tagged me in the comments: “Mia, did you see this?” I saw it. I canceled my flight, changed my destination, and booked a private jet instead. The night David came back, I was packing my things. He stood in the doorway, looking unusually guilty. “Where are you going?” “Home.” “Your home is right here—” “No, it’s not.” I zipped up my suitcase and walked past him without stopping. He didn’t know that my father is the Alpha King—and also his pack’s biggest creditor.
“Mia, how long are you going to play this hard-to-get game?” David kicked my suitcase over, his eyes full of impatience. “Canceling your flight and changing your destination—you think switching up your travel plans will make me bow down to you?” I stopped and looked at his self-righteous face. “I told you, I’m going home.” “Your home is right here.” “No, it’s not.” I looked at him. “Let go.” He hadn’t expected me to look at him this way. No more of my usual resignation. No hysterical accusations. Just cold indifference, like I was looking at garbage. He seemed momentarily flustered, but his Alpha pride quickly covered it up. He sneered and yanked my passport out of my bag. “You’re an orphan. Besides here, what home could you possibly go back to?” I stared at my empty palm. I didn’t scream or try to grab it back. “Give me my passport.” “When you learn to be reasonable, I’ll give it to you naturally.” He casually tossed the passport into the top drawer of the entryway cabinet and deliberately locked it. “I brought Grace to the pack banquet today because her brother can help Moonridge Pack secure the northern hunting territory.” “You’re just a bartender who mixes drinks all day. Besides making cocktails, what can you do for me?” “I’m just playing along for the pack’s future. My feelings for you haven’t changed at all. Why do you have to make a scene at a time like this?” I looked at the man I’d loved for seven years and suddenly found his face utterly repulsive. Playing along? So you brought another woman before your pack members and let her act like the future Luna? “David, do you think I have no temper? That you can trample on me however you like?” David frowned, as if he found me unreasonable. “That alcohol smell on you gives my mom a headache. I told you not to come to protect you from being wronged.” Just then, the doorbell rang. Grace stood outside in a haute couture dress, smiling brightly. “David, is Mia mad at me?” She walked in and naturally linked her arm through David’s. “I just thought this apartment’s terrace had a great view and wanted to borrow it for a birthday party. Why is Mia threatening to run away from home?” I watched them coldly. This downtown penthouse—I had bought it outright with my own pocket money back then. David’s name wasn’t even on the deed. Every piece of furniture, every plant inside—I had arranged them all myself. Now, without even asking me, he had directly agreed to lend my house to his mistress for a party? At this moment, the live comments scrolled across my vision: [This guy is unbelievable—using his girlfriend’s house for his mistress’s party?] [And he complains about a bartender smelling bad, but his heart stinks worse.] [Mia, stop holding back. Just crush him with money. The Alpha King’s daughter shouldn’t take this abuse.] “She’s just petty and hasn’t seen the world.” David patted Grace’s hand, his tone gentle. “It’s just an apartment. You’re the pack’s honored guest. Use it however you want.” He turned to look at me, his gaze instantly turning cold. “Mia, Grace’s brother is an Alpha, backed by the powerful Pine Valley Pack. She’s doing you a favor by using your house.” “Be generous. Don’t make me think you’re unreasonable.” I stared at their intertwined arms. “Fine. Lend her the house.” My tone was calm. David paused, seemingly surprised by my compliance. “At least you know what’s good for you.” “But if anything gets damaged, she pays for it.” I stared hard at Grace. Grace covered her mouth and laughed. “Mia, you’re so funny. These little things? I couldn’t care less about them.” “Good.” I turned to grab my spare bag, preparing to leave. “What are you doing now?” David strode over and blocked my path. “Since you’re borrowing the house for the party, I’ll be an eyesore staying here. I’m going to a hotel.” “Mia, I’m warning you. Enough is enough.” He lowered his voice, his tone condescending. “I pushed back a pack meeting tonight to come home and keep you company. Don’t be ungrateful.” I walked around him, heading straight for the door. “If you walk out that door today, you’ll never set foot in Moonridge Pack territory again.” “Perfect.”
“You really think I can’t live without you?” David’s voice rang out behind me, filled with the anger of someone whose pride had been wounded. I didn’t look back. I pulled the door open. Just then, a stray dog covered in mud suddenly bolted in from the hallway and lunged straight at David. Mud splattered all over his designer suit pants. I stopped, waiting to see him explode in rage. David had extremely severe germophobia. In the past, when I came home from the bar, even if I changed out of my clothes at the door, showered three times, and put on completely fresh clothes—if he thought I still had even a faint trace of alcohol smell, he’d frown and tell me to stay away from him. Once, during the bar’s anniversary celebration, I got beer splashed all over me. When I got home and just wanted a hug, he shoved me away and spent two hours washing his hands in disgust. But now, looking at the mud on his pants, his brow only furrowed for a second. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, David! I just picked up this puppy downstairs—it’s so naughty.” Grace quickly crouched down and pulled out tissues to wipe it off. David actually smiled. Not only did he not get angry, he reached out and petted the filthy dog’s head. “It’s fine. Grace being caring is a good thing. It’s just a suit.” He even proactively held Grace’s hand as she wiped, their eyes locked. I stood in the doorway, watching this heartwarming “family of three” interaction, and suddenly felt intensely nauseated. So he never had any damn germophobia at all. He simply found me disgusting, detestable. He looked down on my profession and identity from the bottom of his heart. At this moment, the live comments scrolled across my vision: [Double standards. The germophobia was fake—not loving her is what’s real.] [Look how naturally he pets that dog. Disgusting.] [Mia’s expression is so cold. She’s completely given up on him.] “Mia, you don’t mind me keeping the puppy here, do you?” Grace hugged the dog, looking innocently at me. “Whatever.” I pulled my suitcase toward the exit, but David grabbed my wrist. “There’s a limit to throwing tantrums. Stay for dinner.” Without allowing any argument, he dragged me back to the dining room and pressed me into a chair. The table was covered with takeout from an upscale restaurant—all seafood, Grace’s favorites. David put on disposable gloves and skillfully began peeling shrimp. He placed the peeled shrimp meat in Grace’s bowl, his tone doting. “Your hands are too delicate. Don’t let the shells cut you.” I quietly watched his smooth movements. Even though werewolves had exceptional healing abilities, he couldn’t bear to let Grace get even a scratch from a shrimp shell. But two years ago, when a drunk werewolf caused trouble at the bar and I accidentally got cut on my right hand during the altercation—requiring three stitches—I asked him to peel a shrimp for me that night at dinner. He slammed his fork down, his face full of impatience. “You’re a bartender and you can’t even peel a shrimp shell properly?” “Mia, can you stop being so dramatic?” Now, he was willingly peeling an entire plate of shrimp for another woman. So our love really couldn’t triumph over fated mates? Years ago, when I fell in love with David, I abandoned my own fated mate to be with him. David had also said that even if he met his fated mate later, he would reject her outright, because his heart belonged only to me. His fated mate never appeared after that, and I thought we could continue living happily together in peaceful simplicity. But after all these years, his fated mate Grace appeared, and he showed her all his tenderness—sides of himself I had never seen. Grace’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “Mia, why aren’t you eating?” Grace ate her shrimp, smiling at me. “Is the food not to your taste? I guess spending so much time in bars makes it hard to have an appetite, right?” David didn’t even look up, continuing to crack open crab. “That’s just her lifeless expression. Don’t worry about her.” I put down my fork and stood up. “Have you seen enough?” David glanced at me coldly. “If you’re done watching, clear the table.”
“David gave me this necklace. You don’t mind, do you, Mia?” Grace deliberately swept back her long hair, revealing an antique emerald necklace around her neck. I had just thrown the takeout containers in the trash. When I turned and saw that necklace, blood rushed to my head. That was an heirloom of the Alpha King’s family—a relic my mother left me before she died. I had always kept it locked in my bedroom safe, rarely wearing it even myself. “Take it off.” I walked up to Grace, my tone icy. “Mia, why are you being so mean?” Grace hid behind David, frightened. “David said this necklace would just gather dust in the safe. Better to have it look beautiful on my neck.” David protected Grace, frowning at me. “Mia, enough. You’re just jealous of Grace. You’re fighting over a worthless necklace?” “I’ll buy you ten tomorrow. Pick whichever you want.” Looking at his self-righteous face, I suddenly felt the past seven years had been one absurd joke. “David, that’s my mother’s relic.” “What right do you have to touch my safe?” David’s eyes flickered, but he quickly resumed his superior attitude. “Your things are my things. Why are we drawing such clear lines between us?” “Besides, Grace is accompanying me to Moonridge Pack’s banquet tonight. She needs a statement piece of jewelry.” “You’re a behind-the-scenes bartender who never shows her face. Wearing something like this would be wasted on you.” At this moment, the live comments scrolled across my vision: [Giving someone’s mother’s relic to his mistress? Is this guy brain damaged?] [This makes me so angry. That’s theft—call the police and arrest him.] [Mia is too calm. This is the calm before the storm. Can’t wait for Chapter 4 to slap him in the face.] “I’ll say this one last time. Take it off.” I stepped forward and reached directly for the necklace clasp. David shoved me away, the force making me crash into the corner of the dining table. Sharp pain shot through my lower back. “Mia, don’t push your luck.” David looked down at me, his eyes full of disgust. “Grace wearing your things is doing you a favor.” “If you keep being unreasonable, even I won’t want you anymore.” Grace hid behind him, a triumphant smile on her lips. “David, forget it. Maybe Mia really can’t bear to part with it. I’ll just give it back to her.” She made a show of reaching to unclasp the necklace. David pressed down on her hand. “Keep wearing it. I’d like to see who dares touch it today.” He stared coldly at me. “Mia, I don’t have time for your nonsense tonight. Stay home and reflect. When you’re ready to apologize, then call me.” With that, he pulled Grace and walked straight out the door. The door slammed shut. I held onto the table and slowly straightened up. The pain in my lower back made me even more clear-headed. I didn’t cry. I didn’t throw things. I walked into the bedroom and opened the safe that had been forcibly pried open. Inside, besides that necklace, there was a debt settlement document for Moonridge Pack. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t called in seven years. “Liam, I need you to do something for me.” Liam was my father the Alpha King’s Beta—and also my fated mate. Years ago, for so-called “true love” with David, I hid my identity, had a huge fight with my family, and even ran away from my arranged marriage to come here and work as a bartender. Liam had been searching for me for seven years. Waiting for me for seven years. “Mia, you’ve finally contacted me. The Alpha King has been thinking about you all these years…” Liam’s voice trembled slightly, which was rare for him. “Save the reminiscing for later.” I cut him off coldly, my eyes sharp as knives. “I need you to do something for me.” “Cut off all working capital to Moonridge Pack. Stop supplying resources to Moonridge Pack. Immediately.” Silence on the other end of the line for a second, then Liam’s low, pleased laughter came through. “As you wish, Mia.” “I’ll personally fly over with my team tomorrow. I guarantee that within forty-eight hours, David will be kneeling at your feet.” I hung up and looked at myself in the mirror—someone who had compromised for love for seven years. David, you asked for this.
The next evening at eight o’clock, Moonridge Pack held its celebration banquet. “Remove Mia’s name from tonight’s VIP guest list.” David stood at the hotel entrance, giving cold instructions to his assistant. I stood in the shadows not far away, hearing every word clearly. “But Alpha David, Mia comes every year to help verify the arrangements…” The assistant hesitated. “I don’t need her tonight.” David impatiently cut him off. “Grace will be attending as my date. If Mia’s there, it’ll only make Grace uncomfortable.” “Tell security—if they see her, keep her outside.” I watched him turn and walk into the opulent hall, not even feeling the desire to confront him one last time. Afraid of making his mistress uncomfortable, so he had to keep his actual girlfriend outside? “Tell David,” I looked into the assistant’s eyes and said word by word. “He will pay a price he cannot afford for today’s decision.” With that, I didn’t linger at all. I turned on my heels and walked away from the hotel without looking back. The big screen began scrolling through footage from inside the banquet. David held Grace’s hand and walked into the spotlight. “Thank you all for coming. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the lady beside me.” He looked at Grace, his eyes tender. “Miss Grace will be the future Luna of Moonridge Pack.” Thunderous applause erupted below. I stood in the cold wind, watching the perfect couple on the screen, finally severing my last shred of attachment. I turned and walked toward a black Bentley parked by the roadside. Liam opened the car door and respectfully handed me a document. “Mia, the private jet is ready. We can leave whenever you’re ready.” “Let’s go. To the airport.” Halfway through the banquet, David suddenly felt intense anxiety. He habitually looked toward the corner but didn’t see that familiar figure. “Mia didn’t come?” He grabbed the assistant. “Alpha David, didn’t you order us not to let her in? Security said she left half an hour ago.” “Where did she go?” “It seems… to the private airport.” David’s heart sank heavily. Mia, someone who lived on a bartender’s salary and found even taxis too expensive—where would she get the money for a Bentley? He suddenly remembered that last night I said I had canceled my flight and changed destinations to go clear my head. That resolute look in my eyes when I said “perfect” flashed through his mind again. Was she really going to leave him completely? He pushed past Grace, who was making toasts, and rushed out of the hotel like a madman. At this moment, the live comments scrolled across my vision: [It’s finally coming—the private jet!] [David, run faster. Are you rushing to be reborn?] [The earlier parts were so frustrating. Finally going to feel satisfied. Can’t wait for the Alpha to grovel.] The cold wind howled. David ran to the private airport, gasping for breath as he searched everywhere for me. “Mia!” Just then, I stood on the boarding stairs of a private jet bearing the Alpha King’s insignia, looking down at him. David froze in place, his face full of disbelief. Standing next to me was an imposing middle-aged man. That was my father, the Alpha King. “David, Moonridge Pack still owes my family a debt that hasn’t been repaid.”
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