Dana POV

　　"Ares...?" My mind struggles to grasp the reality before me.

　　Blaire fought against his grip, pleading, "Let me go-" But he ignored her, his strong arms wrapping around her waist, effortlessly lifting her into the air without uttering a word.

　　He's still stumbling from the drinks, barely healed, yet he refuses to heed my words, I lamented as he staggered past me, descending once more into the depths of the dungeon.

　　"Ares, please, don't leave me like this!" Blaire's desperate plea echoed through the corridor as she struggled against his grasp.

　　"Quiet," he murmured, his voice a soft, intoxicating whisper that sent my head spinning.

　　'Is he always this gentle with her?' I pondered, frustrated by how he was disrupting my plans.

　　"Ares-" My protest is silenced as Ander strides past me, trailing after them into the dungeon.

　　"No!" Blaire's cry reaches my ears, but I can't bear to witness the scene happening. I know they're restraining her, binding her, and confining her to her secluded cell.

　　I'm disappointed.

　　It puzzled me how he continued to aid me, even after I'd stabbed him, and while inebriated.

　　"You can't always do this to me, you know!" Blaire's frustration was palpable in her exclamation.

　　"I know," Ares's voice reached my ears. "So, stay put until I figure out what to do with you. I'm not feeling particularly merciful, so it's in your best interest to cooperate."

　　His words triggered a memory of overhearing their conversation in this very place, back when Ares believed I had escaped. It was almost amusing to witness his shattered state then, but now, all I felt was disappointment.

　　His tone is surprisingly gentle with her, I observed, noting the stark contrast to his earlier aggression towards her.

　　Could he be genuinely concerned for her well-being?

　　"He's constantly thwarting my plans," I murmured bitterly, frustration evident as I clenched my teeth and walked away from the vicinity of the dungeon.

　　I step into the pack house lobby, teeming with individuals oblivious to Luna's plight, and a pang of empathy courses through me.

　　"Did you see how she strutted in here like she owns the place?" A girl's laughter rings out.

　　"Yeah, like she's the queen of everything," a boy murmurs in agreement. "Maybe the Alpha finally had enough and kicked her to the curb. Wouldn't be surprised if that's the case."

　　"I don't want to hear any gossip right now," I assert, my mind consumed by the near miss with Blaire, knowing I could have ended her life if Ares hadn't intervened.

　　"You need peace of mind, Dana," Xia's voice whispers within me. "Stop dwelling on those people."

　　As I step out of the pack house, the tension in my jaw tightens, and the rhythm of my heart pounds in my chest. Blaire's words echo in my mind, unforgivable actions staining every thought.

　　She shows no remorse, and I know only death will provoke any regret in her. She underestimates my resolve, thinking I cannot end her.

　　In the middle of the woods, I pause, gazing up at the sky, yearning for guidance from the moon goddess, hoping for clarity in this turmoil.

　　"I just want to yell-"

　　"Dana..."

　　"What the-" My body jerks in surprise as a familiar voice murmurs from behind me.

　　Speechless and shocked, I stare at him, unable to find my voice.

　　Bathel.

　　Raising my brow, I manage to muster some words. "What are you doing here?" I ask, incredulous. "You're not supposed to be here," I add, wrapping my arms around myself defensively.

　　Seeing someone I once loved is strange, especially considering our shared history- a child lost, and his subsequent marriage to another woman. Despite the passage of time, my anger remains.

　　He nervously bites his lower lip, breaking the tension. "Anna wants to see you," he admits, his voice soft. "But I need to ensure her safety first, so I came to check things out."

　　I nod slowly, unable to meet his gaze. "So, it's all about my best friend," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

　　"Not just that," he replies softly.

　　Curiosity overcoming my reluctance, I glance up, meeting his eyes, only to find them shifting in color within the darkness, a not so mesmerizing sight.

　　"I'm here to say sorry," he says, his words landing heavily between us, like a mere apology for a petty theft.

　　"Sorry for the fact that you married someone else instead of me, the one you promised to marry?" I ask, forcing a smile to conceal the anger and hurt bubbling inside.

　　He bites the side of his cheek, a nervous habit surfacing. Running his fingers through his hair, he continues, "I was furious with myself. I never wanted to marry anyone but you, Dana. My love for you consumed me even as I took another as my Luna."

　　Tears well up in his eyes as he speaks, his heart laid bare before me.

　　Yet, I feel nothing. I watch him in silence, my expression unreadable, my emotions buried deep within.

　　I offer him a small smile. "Bathel, I still understand you," I whisper. "You didn't need to come here, knowing Ares and you have your differences-"

　　"Why did you choose to come back here?" he interrupts, his voice breaking with emotion.

　　I gulp nervously. "Do you think I had a choice? I had nowhere else to go," I reply, the words heavy with resignation.

　　He looks down, his expression pained. "Anna was supposed to help you-"

　　"I don't want to pressure her," I interject without hesitation.

　　I just want him to leave, to disappear from my sight.

　　His eyes lock onto mine, filled with a desperation I can't bear. "I can't stop thinking about you when I'm with her-"

　　Raising my hand, I cut him off with a gesture, and he fell silent.

　　"I never once thought about Ares when I was with you," I state coldly, giving him a stern look. "I chose to love you when I was fully healed," I continue, my gaze dropping before meeting his again.

　　"I never treated you like you were a second choice or someone's shadow," I begin, my voice steady. "But I hope you'll never make someone else feel that way, because you chose it. You chose not to fight for our relationship. You chose to abandon me in my pain, never there to help me heal. And even now, I can't process what happened... to our child."

　　I pause, letting the weight of my words hang in the air.

　　"I moved on from our relationship the moment you gave up on me, Bathel," I say, forcing a smile despite the ache in my heart- but it isn't love.

　　"Really?" His voice breaks, desperation evident.

　　"Because I was already shattered by my first love, so it felt almost immune when you hurt me for the second time," I interject, dismissing his words with cold finality.

　　He steps closer, his touch grazing my hand, and I remain passive, unmoving.

　　"It's my fault," he whispers, his voice filled with remorse. "I could have chosen you over anything else... I just don't understand how you ended up here, with someone involved in the death of our child-"

　　"I'll repeat, do I have a choice?" I interrupt him, his touch still lingering on mine.

　　He shakes his head. "I'm sorry..." he murmurs.

　　"You're right. I won't hurt my new Luna, but are you comfortable with Ares-"

　　"No," I cut him off.

　　He gulps, his words hesitant. "Do you still love him-"

　　I finally push him away, unable to bear his probing any longer.

　　"I don't think I could love the people who used to hurt me again," I reply firmly.

　　"Stop asking me those questions..."

　　"I'm still trying to figure it out," he whispers, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

　　"Do you at least love me when we were together, right?" he asks a hint of offense in his tone.

　　"You doubt my love for you..." I murmur. "I loved you... and no one else at that time, Bathel. And I don't think I could love someone else after you. Not even Ares, even though I'm here."

　　As I prepare to speak, a sound interrupts my thoughts. I turn to face it, not expecting to see Ares standing there.