Chapter 1

Today marks the third anniversary of our marriage. I sit alone in our room, waiting for Alpha Lorik to come back.

I’ve prepared a special gift for him.

He seems to have forgotten what day it is. It’s already past midnight, and he still hasn’t returned.

I eventually fell asleep, and when I woke up the next day, the bed beside me was still cold—Lorik hadn’t come home all night.

Calmly, I dialed Lorik’s number. It took a long time for him to pick up, and when he did, I could hear a woman laughing in the background, her voice sweet and coy, as if she were flirting.

Lorik sounded impatient. “What is it?”

“Do you know what day it was yesterday?” I asked.

There was a moment of silence on the other end before he responded irritably, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Come back now,” I threatened calmly, “or I’ll tear up all the documents in your study.”

I heard him curse, calling me a crazy woman before hanging up. I was certain he was already on his way back; to him, pack business was more important than anything else.

I got out of bed and turned on the record player. Beautiful piano music flowed out, filled with feelings of love and happiness.

After a while, Lorik returned. He glared at me irritably, clearly displeased.

I asked, “Who was that woman with you last night?”

His expression stiffened for a moment before he said, “Well, this is as good a time as any. I should tell you the truth—it’s Lorcia. She’s back from another pack.”

Lorcia was his ex-girlfriend.

Three years ago, Lorik was attacked, leaving him reliant on a wheelchair and potentially unable to inherit the position of Alpha. His ex-girlfriend Lorcia, who was desperate to become Luna, broke up with him and left for another tribe. For three years, I did my best to fulfill my duties as his mate. Now that Lorik has recovered and become a renowned Alpha, she has returned.

My heart shattered. Three years of sincere companionship meant nothing compared to his ex-girlfriend’s return.

Lorik was silent for a moment before adding, “We’re not a good match. The Silver Moon Pack needs a more capable Luna with a wolf.”

That was my wound—this year, I turned twenty-two, yet I still hadn’t awakened my wolf.

I couldn’t hold back my tears and told Lorik this wasn’t a good time because today was our wedding anniversary.

Lorik froze, clearly having forgotten what day it was.

I took the record out of the player. Today, I had planned to surprise Lorik. This record was a piece I composed specifically for our third wedding anniversary. I had uploaded it to my online platform a few days ago, and it unexpectedly garnered over a million views and well-wishes.

This not only brought me financial and fame-related rewards, but the comments also gave me a lot of encouragement. Everyone thought it was a piece that would make people feel happy, but the man it was composed for had completely broken my heart.

I was about to tell Lorik all of this, but he interrupted me impatiently, “I don’t remember what anniversary it is, and it doesn’t matter. We can’t drag this out any longer. Lorcia is already pressuring me to get engaged. I hope you won’t cling…”

My tears fell before I even realized it. I took a deep breath and snapped the disc in half in front of him. At that moment, I felt my heart being ripped apart as well. “Lorik, let’s get a divorce.”

His voice cut off abruptly.

I fled the room, my mind racing. As I descended the stairs, I saw Lorcia standing in the foyer.

She was beautiful, with an air of confidence and superiority that made my stomach churn. Her eyes flicked over me, disdain clear in her gaze.

"Leaving already?" she asked, a mocking smile on her lips. "The pack is getting a new Luna.

We don't need your old things cluttering up the place."

A servant stood beside her, holding my suitcase. The sight was a final, cruel blow.

"This is still my home," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady.

Lorcia laughed, a cold, harsh sound. "Not for long," she sneered, just as Lorik appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Lorik," I said, turning to him, hoping for some sign of the man I thought I knew. But his expression was cold and distant.

He walked down the stairs, ignoring me, and handed me a check.

"Take the money and leave, Sherry," he said, his voice emotionless. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

Chapter 2

I stared at the check, disbelief washing over me. "You think I was with you for money?" I asked, my voice breaking.

"After everything, that's all you think of me?"

Lorik didn't respond. He just stood there, a blank expression on his face. I felt a surge of anger and hurt.

When I married Lorik three years ago, it was also the time when my original PACK was having the hardest time financially, with my Alpha father having a lot of external debt from failed investments.

After I married over, Silvermoonpack did support my original PACK to a certain extent, but I only married Lorik because we were MATEs and I loved him more than anything. I never treated this marriage as a benefit exchange.

With a cry, I tore the check in half and threw it at him.

"I'm leaving, but not because of the money," I said, my voice shaking.

"I'll wait until the wolf council to end our bond, in front of the elders.

But know this: I'm leaving because you don't deserve my love."

I grabbed my suitcase and the gift I'd prepared, then walked out of the house that had been my home.

The night air was cool and stung my skin as I stepped outside,

replaying the evening's events in my mind.

No longer tied to Lorik, I was free, but the weight of that freedom felt crushing.

Lorcia's sudden reappearance troubled me, and I wondered about her true motives after all these years. As the full moon cast a pale light, I shivered, sensing there was more to the story than I knew.

The silent, charged night hinted at a larger, darker journey ahead, and despite the fear, I felt a strange exhilaration.

With one last look at my former home, I walked into the night, ready to face the uncertain future

The Werewolf Council holds meetings on the fifteenth of every month. If Alpha and Luna want to sever their bond, they must undergo the rejection ceremony in the presence of the council elders.

However, with nearly a month until the next council meeting, I need to find a job and a place to stay to support myself during this time.

After a while, I dialed a number of a friend in the human world.

The next day, I went to a piano shop and was greeted by a pale and handsome young man who was none other than my friend and the owner of the shop, Maurice.

Maurice had a timeless elegance about him, with his sharp cheekbones, deep-set eyes that seemed to hold centuries of secrets, and an aura of quiet confidence that drew people in. His dark hair, always impeccably styled, contrasted with his almost alabaster skin and charming personality.

"Shirley!" Maurice exclaimed, his face lighting up with a smile. "What brings our famous Miss.'Monologue' here?"

"Monologue" is a music account I opened on the Internet, where I occasionally post videos of me playing the piano, many of which are my own compositions. I never showed my face in the videos, but a lot of people were attracted by the content and followed me, accumulating quite a few fans.

Maurice and I have known each other for three years now.

We used to meet in this piano shop, and during a piano test, he recognised me as Internet celebrity Monologue from my fingering when I played the piano, and claim to be a fan of mine. We have been seeing each other a lot since then, but after I got married, our contact became less frequent.

"I need a job, Maurice. As a piano teacher," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Maurice was surprised but considerate. "Of course. Come in, let’s talk. "

Just then my phone rang. It's from an unfamiliar number.

I hesitated, and just as I was about to hang up, Maurice thoughtfully indicated that I could answer the phone first while he waited for me.

I was very grateful and picked up the phone.

An attentive male voice rang out on the other side of the phone. "Hello, please, is there Miss.'Monologue'?"

I replied, "It's me, what do you want?"

The man on the other end perked up and introduced himself as a music agent, someone had heard me writing the tune for my wedding anniversary online and wanted to buy that tune.

I wasn't surprised. Every once in a while someone would make an offer on a tune I'd composed, and all my savings over the years had been spent on paying back the money and on gifts for Lorik.

And how ridiculous it seemed at the moment.

The tune meant so much to me, but I really didn't have much money left on hand, and just as I was torn between the two, I heard the name of the purchaser.

I exclaimed, "Are you telling me that the person who wants to purchase the tune is from Lorcia, a continent of Syedan."

The agent, apparently oblivious to my excitement and surprise, said, "That's right, she said she wanted to buy the tune and play it at her upcoming wedding. Would you be willing to sell this piece to her?"

Chapter 3

I laughed and refused, stating, "I will not sell the tune to her."

The agent queried, "Why not? She’s offering a good price."

Unable to explain our entanglement, I gave another reason. "I won’t sell my tune to someone who has no competence to play it. It’s a piece that only a skilled pianist can handle. Unless she can produce proof of her contest winnings, it’s a no."

I knew Lorcia would never produce it.

I once attended the same school as Lorcia. She had a bad reputation for bullying classmates for fun and often slept through and skipped piano lessons. To graduate, she had to cheat her father, who was a school governor. Her behavior was a constant source of tension, and her deceitful ways only seemed to fuel her arrogance. Despite her privileged position, she never truly earned the respect she craved."The music agent stammered, "But... she really wants it."

"There’s no way I can sell the tune," I said firmly, then hung up.

Maurice looked at me with a slight curiosity in his gaze. He must have wondered what had happened to me, but again, he was considerate enough not to ask more.

He received me warmly and introduced me to the other employees, who all eyed me curiously. One clerk asked, "Do you have any certificates or honors?"

I hesitated, then admitted, "No, I don’t."

Before I got married, my family wouldn’t allow me to participate in any competitions. They discouraged me, saying it was just a waste of money to compete at my level. After marriage, though Lorik did not treat me harshly in terms of money, I spent almost all my time being a good Luna.

The clerk sneered, "All the teachers here have extensive resumes. They weren’t just introduced by the boss’s connections."

It made me feel inferior, but that’s when Maurice’s hand was placed on my shoulder, encouraging me to prove it in action.

“Shirley,” he said softly, “why don’t you show them what you can do?”

There was a grand piano in the middle of the hall, and I sat at it and played a piece that mesmerized everyone with its technique and the emotion that flowed from it.

The notes danced under my fingers, weaving a tapestry of sound that spoke of longing, love, and loss.

I played with a passion that came from the depths of my soul, each note a testament to the years of dedication and sacrifice.

As the final note faded, everyone was immersed in the afterglow of the music. At this point, someone on the first floor led the applause, without knowing who started it, others just followed suit

With pride and excitement written all over his face, Maurice announced in front of the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our newest instructor, Shirley. Her talent speaks for itself.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, my hands still shaking and tingling a little from nerves.

The clerk who had just questioned me came up to me and apologized, stating, “You were incredible.

“ I apologize for my earlier skepticism. It’s an honor to work with you.

I smiled from the bottom of my heart and shook his hand to show that I didn’t mind what he had just questioned.

Maurice took me to check in. He smiled and asked, “Did you know who the first person to applaud on the first floor was?”

After I shook my head, he told me, “That was Ethan Winter.”

I froze, feeling unprivileged. Ethan Winter is undoubtedly the world’s most famous piano maestro, a titan in the music world. Everyone who plays the piano has played his tunes, and he was my idol from childhood to adulthood.

Maurice smiled and told me, “You must have just received his approval. That’s a big deal, Shirley.”

I was very excited; it meant a lot to me. I asked, “Do you think I could meet him?”

Maurice replied, “He just left, but there will surely be another chance. Ethan often visits this shop as a guest.”

This made me very surprised. “Maurice, what kind of identity do you have to have Ethan Winter as a friend?” I asked, half-joking.

He just smiled mysteriously. “I have my ways,” he said.

At this time, my phone rang, and the caller ID was Lorik.

Where once I would always be overwhelmed when I heard Lorik's voice.

But now I was much calmer than before, with more of a subconscious pain coming from my heart.

“Shirley,” his voice was low and familiar, “are you free the evening after tomorrow? I’d like you to attend a party with me.”

I was silent for a moment, caught between old memories and new beginnings. “Why do you want me to come, Lorik?” I finally asked.

“I just… I need you there,” he replied, his tone softer. “Please.”

Deep down I knew his softness only meant that he wanted me to fulfill my duties as a Luna not as his love figure.

There was a time when I would have dropped everything for him, but now things were different. I had my own path to forge.

Lorik asked again “Are you listening? I am asking you something.. Is it that big for you?

This was my chance to prove myself, to step out of the shadows of my past and into the light of my own potential.

Strange silence followed.