Chapter 2

Aurora POV

After seeing that post, I didn't sleep all night.

These five years of "hell mode" had taught me one truth: any hysterical questioning would only end up as entertainment for them and humiliation for me.

The next afternoon, I went to a high-end custom clothing boutique.

Since I'd decided to leave completely, I wanted to buy some decent clothes to return to my pack with a fresh appearance.

I'd just stopped in front of a pure white silk gown when a familiar Alpha scent mixed with a cloying rose fragrance drifted in from the entrance.

Julian walked in supporting Elara.

Elara's face was pale, looking like she might collapse even in the sunlight.

When she saw me, she froze, then shrank timidly behind Julian like a frightened animal.

Julian immediately shielded her in his arms, looking up at me with displeasure and wariness in his eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

I didn't answer, just quietly watched them.

Elara's voice was soft and gentle. "Julian, don't blame Aurora. I'm sure she didn't mean to follow us."

Julian's expression darkened further.

"Aurora, I warned you not to harass Elara."

I finally spoke, my voice as calm as if I were talking to strangers. "I'm just here to buy clothes."

I turned around, signaling the clerk to wrap up the white dress.

But Elara suddenly grabbed Julian's sleeve and pointed at the dress in my hands. "Aurora, is this the one you like?"

Without waiting for my answer, she took the gown from the clerk and held it up against herself.

"Wow, such a beautiful dress." Elara's eyes lit up, then she seemed to remember something and looked at Julian, her tone slightly coquettish. "Julian, I remember you love seeing me in white dresses. Can I buy this one?"

Julian looked at me, his tone brooking no argument. "Give this dress to Elara."

I looked at him without moving or showing any sign of yielding.

Seeing this, Elara immediately shoved the dress back into my hands, her eyes instantly reddening. "I'm sorry, Aurora. I just love this dress so much. Julian, don't force her. We can look at something else... It's all my fault."

The more "considerate" she acted, the more unreasonable and petty I appeared.

Julian simply pulled the dress from my hands and stuffed it back into Elara's arms.

"Take it." After saying this to Elara, he turned to look at me coldly. "Aurora, you have plenty of dresses like this. Pick something else for yourself."

With that, he put his arm around Elara and turned to leave, giving me a resolute departing back.

That evening, Julian actually came to where I was staying on his own initiative.

He brought my once-favorite dessert, and his tone was unusually gentle.

"Aurora, I'm sorry about what happened this afternoon."

He began that familiar, nauseating explanation. "As long as you're still my Luna, Elara will never be able to hold her head up in front of you. She always feels like she's the other woman, which isn't good for her recovery."

He paused, then laid out his plan. "Let's dissolve our mate bond. Just submit a nominal mate bond dissolution agreement, go through the motions. Next month when I send Elara away for treatment elsewhere, we'll immediately restore our relationship. I promise you, once Elara leaves, nothing will change."

I kept my head down, looking at that exquisite dessert, saying nothing.

I'd been worried about finding a suitable reason to get him to sign a dissolution agreement, and here he was, handing me the ladder himself.

I was silent for a long time.

So long that Julian started impatiently checking his watch.

Only then did I finally lift my head to look at him, my face perfectly compliant.

I said softly, "Okay."

"Whatever you say."