Lilith pretended to be flustered as she stood up, saying carefully, "Luna, please sit down." But her eyes sparkled with victory.

I sat down directly, pushing Lilith aside.


Her face darkened slightly, then she asked: "What gift did Luna prepare for Alpha?"

Someone took out the gift I had placed on the table, a handmade scarf.

Lilith's voice rang out: "What a coincidence, I also made a scarf for Alpha."


The two scarves were placed side by side. Mine was crooked with uneven stitches, while hers was perfectly crafted with Drake's family crest embroidered on the edge.

"What is this thing?" someone laughed loudly, triggering a wave of laughter. Another voice added: "Alpha, are you sure she didn't just pick up a rag from the battlefield?" I clenched my jaw, fighting back the humiliation.


Someone accidentally bumped the table, and an open wine bottle tipped over. The wine began spreading toward both scarves.

Drake quickly grabbed one of them, while the other was soaked through with wine.

He had chosen Lilith's.

I stared at the wine-soaked scarf, my fingers unconsciously touching the needle marks on my fingertips. In that moment, his choice felt like a slap, reminding me that no matter how much I tried, I could never compare to Lilith's smile.

Lilith moved closer, grabbing my arm with fake sympathy on her face. "Oh, Luna, don't be upset. It was just an accident." She leaned close to my ear, her voice sweet but laced with venom: "This dress and makeup? Trying to copy me? Pathetic. Drake likes natural elegance, not your rough, fake imitation."

I yanked my arm away from her, the force making her stumble back several steps. Lilith's expression changed instantly, tears welling in her eyes so quickly they seemed rehearsed.

"Drake!" she called out with a trembling voice, the vulnerability in it making Drake instinctively tense, "I was just trying to comfort her..."

Drake immediately stood up, pulling Lilith behind him protectively, his eyes blazing with anger toward me. "Aria! How dare you! Lilith's father died for me, protecting her is my responsibility, and you keep hurting her!"

After that incident a year ago, he never trusted me again. Lilith's carefully designed trap had made everyone believe I tried to harm an innocent Omega.

"If I really wanted to hurt her, would she still be standing?" I asked coldly, though I knew my words were meaningless. In Drake's eyes, I would forever be the warrior who was jealous of his benefactor's daughter.

"That excuse again!" Drake roared. "You promised to treat her well! On the day we bonded, you swore to respect my responsibilities! And what have you done? You've targeted her again and again, and nearly killed her!"

Lilith sobbed behind him, her pitiful act making my stomach turn. Only I knew that day's incident was her own creation, staged to frame me.

"I never hurt her," I said calmly. "That day—"

"Enough!" Drake cut me off. "All evidence points to you! If it hadn't been discovered in time, she would be dead now!"

I looked around at the familiar faces: council elders, neighboring territory Alphas, their expressions ranging from schadenfreude to indifference.

I sat motionless, staring at the abandoned scarf. Five years ago, Drake promised to love me and asked me to understand his responsibility to Lilith. I agreed because I loved him. Now, his eyes only saw Lilith's tears, and my explanations had all become lies.

I stood up, grabbed the soaked scarf, and looked at Drake. "Drake." My voice was calm and firm.

Drake impatiently folded his arms, not looking at me, his eyes filled with irritation. "What now?"

I curved my lips slightly, my voice steadier than I expected. "I want to end our mate bond."

Instant silence fell over the room, all conversation and laughter stopping abruptly. Drake finally turned to look at me, shock flashing in his eyes, quickly replaced by anger.

"What did you say?" His voice was low and dangerous.