Chapter 3 The rhythm of the dance picked up, moving from a waltz to a Viennese waltz. Blake and Zariah were pressed tightly together, spinning quickly in the center of the room. Zariah's skirt billowed higher and higher as they twirled. Over the years, she had been the first to return for a second round of the "one-month mate" game. If I were the calm well water, she was the boiling oil, always tempting Blake into exploring what's hidden deep inside. As the music ended, their eyes met, and they both burst into laughter. "Blake, you kept your word. You really came to find me!" "Well, you said you couldn't live without me. This is true love." She lightly punched him in the chest, and the old wound flared up. Blake couldn't help but cough. Zariah's eyes reddened as she reached out to rub his back, but Blake gently caught her hand. He Auto-added to the Library dropped to one knee and pulled something out from his pocket. The chaotic party suddenly became eerily silent, every breath hanging in the air. Zariah's eyes widened in disbelief as she clasped her mouth shut. The box opened to reveal a brilliant diamond ring, sparkling so brightly it stole everyone's breath. "You once took me to see the Milky Way from the top of the mountain, and today, I'm taking it down for you." Zariah nodded enthusiastically, tears streaming down her face, reflecting the light from the giant diamond. I stared at the ring, lost for words. The bruises on my body suddenly flared with sharp pain, a cruel reminder of my mate's betrayal. My wolf whimpered softly. Suddenly, my stomach twisted in intense pain. Chapter 3 30.00% No matter how hard I tried to suppress it, the urge to vomit wouldn't go away. Rosalie, noticing my discomfort, worried, "Are you okay?" I couldn't speak, my chest and stomach churning. I waved her off weakly, leaning against the wall as I slowly made my way to the restroom. The pain was so intense that my vision blurred, and in my daze, it felt like I was transported back a month. It was nearing our anniversary, and Blake had been acting strangely, restless, constantly on the edge of saying something but never finishing. When I asked him about it, he asked me to design a ring for him, with the theme of Starstream. I kept my face neutral, but inside, a great surge of excitement bloomed. He still remembered what he had said when we watched the aurora, that he would pick a star and propose to me, asking me to become his Luna. Time was running out, and I couldn't afford to waste a second. I worked non-stop, even insisting on perfect colors for the materials, refusing to compromise. But while I had been eagerly waiting for him to propose on our anniversary, he was eagerly anticipating holding Zariah in his arms again. He trampled on our mate bond, giving the memories we once shared, the love I'd poured into the ring to her. "Hey, are you alright? Do you need to go to the hospital?" The sound of a voice calling brought me back to myself. I had fainted. So this was what heartache felt like, enough to make you lose consciousness. I thought I had been out for a long time, my body heavy with exhaustion, but it had only been a few breaths, a few blinks of my eyes. I turned down the help of a stranger, took a deep breath, and made my way toward the door of the Chapter 3 30.00% pack house. I couldn't bear to be there for even one more second. Passing by the party, I saw them kissing under everyone's blessings. Zariah held up her hand in a way that felt almost like a victory salute. After waiting for half an hour without getting a cab, Blake emerged, holding Zariah. The early autumn wind was chilly, and I noticed the coat I had picked now draped over Zariah's shoulders. Having just broken up, Blake still seemed a little embarrassed. "Layla, her leg hurts. The healer even scolded me during the last check-up..." His voice faltered as he realized his slip of the tongue. Looking at his reaction, it finally dawned on me that they hadn't truly cut ties. The Beta drove up with their car, and Blake turned to me. "Goodbye." I waved my hand, my voice barely above a whisper. "Never again." The words were soft, scattering into the wind. It seemed like Blake didn't hear them at all. Chapter 3 30.00% Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!