Chapter 2 Rosalie was Blake's first "one-month mate," the one that lasted only 27 days. Innocently, she had stumbled into our rejection game, and when she found out the truth, she was understandably resentful. Blake had her join the pack and made amends for it. Over the years, that once unremarkable omega had become a dazzling figure. I raised my glass of juice to her in a toast, "Didn't wish for anything." Tobias passed by, giving me a knowing wink. "Layla must have wished that Blake wouldn't get snatched up by some little temptress this month and comes back into her arms. Right, Layla?" Rosalie pushed him away, then turned back to me, gently advising. "If he's seeing other people, why can't you? Why keep hurting yourself? Stop turning your life into some tragic romance, you're supposed to be our next Luna." I smiled faintly, leaning close to whisper in her ear. "Remember to bet on not re-bonding; it's a sure win." Rosalie's eyes suddenly widened in surprise. But before she could ask, the party erupted into cheers again. Tobías grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the commotion. The spotlight was shining on one corner, where Blake was dancing the waltz with a she-wolf, holding her waist. Elegant, focused, and intimacy. "Five minutes in and Blake's already chosen. Layla, you're in trouble. Maybe I should switch my bet to no re-bond." "Wait, why does she look familiar?" Of course she did. Chapter 2 20.00% It was Zariah. It had been her last year too. Zariah was nothing like me. To me, a month was just four weeks. In that time, Blake seemed to cycle through many she-wolves, yet somehow, Zariah had been around for a long while. She took Blake diving, skydiving, doing anything to pump adrenaline, and their last stop had been climbing a snow mountain. I spent the whole night awake, worrying, but Blake refused to take my calls. I had dropped everything and rushed day and night until I finally caught up with them on Wolfcry Heights. "You don't have any experience. You can't climb the snow mountain." Blake, casually playing with his trekking pole, shrugged. "Zariah will protect me." Zariah was blunt. "Layla, you're the ex-mate, don't you think you're overstepping? You're not even Blake's Luna." The snow and wind froze my words in my throat before they could leave my throat, hard and painful. It felt as if I had forgotten how to speak. I could only stare at Blake. He avoided my eyes, turning slightly to let them pass. Zariah's triumphant laugh carried through her mask, sharp as glass in my ears. On the way down the mountain, I thought, This is it. We're finally going to sever the mate bond. I'm going to be free. But ten minutes later, Blake came after me. "Layla, I'll do as you say. No more climbing." We two complete novices with no outdoor experience leaned on each other, stumbling our way Chapter 2 20.00% back to the base. When we arrived, chaos greeted us as they scrambled to organize a rescue. "Zariah was off-trail skiing. She took a bad fall." Blake's expression changed instantly. He shot me a vicious look and then ran back up the mountain. Blake himself carried Zariah down on the stretcher. Her thigh was twisted at a grotesque angle. She clutched my hand, crying. "Layla, I don't blame you for today. But you two have already rejected each other. Please stop clinging to him." I could feel their contempt and disgust pressing in from every side, the shame so fierce I wanted to disappear into the snow. After nine years of bonding, I was still his fated mate, yet I had been turned into the other mate. Blake also injured his lungs on the mountain and developed a chronic cough. After we came down, he ignored his own condition and cared for her every day. He even carried her to the bathroom himself, unwilling to let her suffer a single inconvenience. Rosalie later told me that while I was hospitalized with a persistent unexplained fever, Blake had just finished bathing Zariah. Their faces were flushed, but his words were ice-cold. "When did she learn to fake illness? Anyway, she's got you all to look after her. Zariah only has me." For three months, everyone thought it was finally over, including me. Those betting on not re-bond were ready to pop champagne. But then Blake broke things off with Zariah abruptly and came back to me. Zariah stood in the doorway, her face ashen. "Blake, I can't live without you." Blake told me to go home first and then sent her away himself. Chapter 2 20.00% He held me tightly in his arms that night, his breath burning against my ear. "Layla, it takes a hundred days for bones to heal. I just didn't want to owe her. This time doesn't count as breaking the rules. You're my future Luna." I gazed out the window at the moon, low and still, and softly said, "Then let's have the bonding ceremony." He fell silent and turned over, drifting back to sleep. Chapter 2 20.00% Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!