Chapter 2

Once we arrived in the city, Damon behaved like the perfect mate. He accompanied me to several stores, holding all my shopping bags.

It wasn't until we walked into a high-end jewelry store that he made an excuse about an urgent pack call and stepped outside.

I told him to go ahead while I browsed.

But as I walked near the glass exit, I heard his voice from the alleyway.

"So, how does it feel, dating me right under her nose? You love the thrill, don't you?"

Ah. No wonder he was so eager to take me shopping today. He had planned to meet his little toy here all along.

I turned to leave, but his next words froze me in my tracks.

"She won't find out, right? I don't want any trouble."

"After all, my heart belongs to her, but my body is yours."

"Just make sure you don't leave any marks she can see."

So, this was my mate. The man who swore to protect me.

My nails dug so deep into my palms that they drew blood.

I walked out of the jewelry store in a daze, sitting on a public bench for what felt like hours.

When I finally looked up, I saw the woman, Iris, walking out of the jewelry store. Damon was right behind her.

Damon walked by her side, looking slightly awkward when he spotted me. "Clara, this is Iris. She... happened to be in the store too."

"Is that so?" I murmured. What was I even supposed to say? I forced a cold smile, unable to utter another word.

Damon stood so close to Iris that they looked like the actual couple.

Iris took a step forward, pretending to trip over my feet. She let out a soft gasp and stumbled.

I frowned and stepped back to avoid her, but Iris gracefully let herself fall to the ground anyway.

Damon's face immediately darkened. In front of the crowd of shoppers, he yelled, "Clara! I know you're upset, but why would you push a human?"

"You're a Luna! Where is your grace?"

Without waiting for my response, he knelt down to help Iris up.

His eyes were filled with deep, genuine concern. He used to look at me that way. Now, that gaze belonged to someone else.

Watching him cradle her so gently, I let out a mocking laugh. "Damon, I reject you."

He froze, finally registering the coldness in my eyes.

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice," he stammered, panic briefly flickering in his eyes.

But then he hardened his posture again. "But still, you shouldn't have pushed her."

I laughed out loud, pointing at the security camera right above us. "Damon, say that again. Did I push her, or did she put on a pathetic show for you?"

Iris's eyes welled with tears. She looked up at Damon, letting a tear fall at the perfect moment. "Damon, please don't fight because of me. Clara didn't push me."

"It was... I just lost my footing."

Her crying completely shattered Damon's remaining logic. His face turned entirely cold.

"Clara, enough!"

"I brought you out to relax. Iris is just a weak human. Why do you have to keep tormenting her?"

Seeing Damon so desperate to defend her, so eager to prove me wrong in public, I felt a strange sense of peace.

It was the complete opposite of the boy who once swore to love me forever.

I looked at him calmly. "Damon, do you really think I'm blind?"

A cold smile touched my lips. "You keep saying she's just a regular human, yet you have all the time in the world to buy her expensive jewelry?"