Dante’s POV

“You made the wrong choice.” Saint blurted out in his usual way.

He had not failed to say these words every day since I brought Elara home a week ago. He didn't need to remind me. Part of me knew—it was a thorn in my own flesh.

Seven days. A distance of over a hundred miles. Yet, the pain of the severed bond with Aurora still lingered. It was sharp, deep, discomforting and it fueled my anger, my confusion everytime I think about the golden hue of Aurora’s eyes or the way her scent made me feel.

Elara didn't deserve my rage. Neither did her mother. So, I poured myself into work and used it as an excuse to explain my distance. Pack matters demanded my attention. My father’s health was declining rapidly, and we could no longer delay what is inevitable. He was diagnosed with a progressive disease over a year ago. At first, he hid it well, but now the symptoms are undeniable. His strength is fading. His body now betrays him and he could no longer stand the way he used to. He refuses to step down until my union with Elara is official, believing a pack without both an Alpha and Luna will be vulnerable.

That’s one of the reasons I chose Elara as my mate. A Luna is not just a title; she is a foundation. A pack does not just need strength from its Alpha, but also wisdom and stability from its Luna. I exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair as the thoughts spin around my head. My office desk is cluttered with documents, and reports from all over the pack. Details of how the ceremony would go.

Frustration coils inside me, tightening like a noose. This pain, this confusion—it’s suffocating. I shove the documents aside, pushing back from the desk. Then, before I can stop myself, I grab the nearest stack of files and hurl them across the room. Papers scatter, some falling to the floor, others drifting lazily through the air.

The sound echoed in the empty office, but it does nothing to ease the storm inside me. I braced my hands against the desk, breathing hard. A knock at the door interrupted the mood, forcing me to calm down before responding.

“Come in.”

The door creaked open, and Elara stepped inside, a bright smile lighting up her face. She looked radiant, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkling with warmth. She didn’t hesitate. Without a word, she walked over, slid onto my lap, and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“You’ve been in here all day,” she pouted, her tone playful. “Are you really that busy, or are you avoiding me?”

I sighed, placing a hand on her waist. “I’m handling important documents. There’s a lot to take care of.”

“You always say that,” she murmured, her fingers tracing light patterns on my shoulder. “You know, I won’t get mad if you take a break. I’m your mate, not your enemy.”

Before I could respond, she leaned in and kissed me.

“How dare she? We don't need this distraction.” Saint, roared in anger, his sound rattling through my mind. My grip on Elara’s waist tightened instinctively before I forced myself to relax.

She pulled back, tilting her head in confusion. “Something wrong?”

I shook my head. “No. Just distracted.”

Elara studied me for a moment before smiling again. “I get it. You have a lot on your plate. But I do need your help with something.”

I could tell she’d been waiting for the right moment to bring it up. “What is it?”

“It’s about my mother,” she began, shifting slightly on my lap. “She has a necklace—one that’s been passed down in our family for generations. She wants me to wear it at our wedding.”

I nodded. “That shouldn’t be a problem. Where is it?”

“At home,” she admitted. “Aurora said it could be delivered in a few days, but I was hoping you could send someone to get it sooner.”

The moment she said Aurora’s name, my body tensed. My fingers curled around the armrest of my chair, my knuckles turning white.

Saint stirred. “Maybe you can finally fix your problem. Bless the moon goddess.”

Aurora. Her name alone sent a wave of emotions crashing through me. Was she the one who told Elara that? I swallowed hard, shoving the thoughts away. It didn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter.

I forced my expression to remain neutral. “I’ll go get it.”

Elara’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice steady. “I’ll bring it back myself.”

She squealed in excitement, pressing another quick kiss to my lips. “That’s amazing! Thank you, Dante.”

I simply nodded, unable to trust my voice.

Elara played with the collar of my shirt, her fingers warm against my skin. “I want to make it up to you,” she whispered, a teasing smile curling her lips. “Come to my room tonight?”

“No. Absolutely not. You have to refuse.” Saint growled in protest, but I ignored him.

Kat, Elara’s wolf, had always been indifferent to Saint, and he to her. That was why I never worried about marking her before. But now… now, I wasn’t so sure.

The thought unsettled me, but I couldn’t show it.

“I’ll come,” I said, forcing a smile.

Her joy was immediate, her grin widening from ear to ear. She kissed me one last time before slipping off my lap, practically skipping toward the door.

“You'll eventually have to tell her the truth,” Saint lashed at me.

“Yes, I know, but for now, I can't afford to hurt her.”

The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, I slipped out of the packhouse, moving quietly to avoid any unnecessary attention. The task was simple—I’d retrieve the necklace, make sure everything was in order, and then, once and for all, reject Aurora properly. This time, there would be no hesitation.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly as I drove, my foot pressing harder on the gas pedal than necessary. Saint was silent for most of the drive, but I could feel his unease. When I finally reached Elara’s house, I took a deep breath, forcing my emotions into submission.

Then I knocked. There was no response, not even footsteps, so I knocked again, harder this time. Still nothing. A frown formed on my face as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the spare key Elara had given me. Sliding it into the lock, I twisted it and pushed the door open. The house was empty, devoid of life. There was no scent of Aurora either—it had faded, barely clinging to the walls. It felt abandoned, untouched for days.

Saint stirred. She’s not here. Then, he started panicking. What if something has happened to her?

“No, I doubt it.” I tried to calm him down.

The furniture remained in place, the decor unchanged, so it was unlikely for anything to have happened here. I moved through the house, my footsteps echoing slightly on the wooden floor. My hands were already checking every room, scanning for any sign of what had happened. But everything was in order, nothing was out of place—except for the absence of Aurora.

First I had to get what I came for; the necklace. It sat on the dresser in Elara’s mother’s room, just as she had said. I grabbed it and shoved it into my pocket. I should have left then, but my feet hesitated. Aurora’s scent was coming stronger from one particular room. I knew exactly it was hers and followed.

“Saint growled lowly. Go inside”.

I stood at the doorstep of Aurora’s room, bracing myself for whatever I might find. The knob was cool under my palm as I turned it, pushing the door open slowly. The scent hit me instantly. Even faint, it was intoxicating, curling around my senses like a ghost of something I had tried to bury. Saint nearly lost control, wanting to roll in it, to claim it.

“Hold your horses, Saint. You wouldn't want your scent to be all over.”

The room was in disarray. Unlike the rest of the house, which had been eerily neat, Aurora’s space showed signs of a hasty travel. Drawers slightly open, an empty space where a suitcase should have been, clothes missing from the closet. She must have left in a hurry. But that wasn’t what made my blood run cold. It was the other scent that lingered in the room. A man’s scent.

My hands clenched at my sides as I stalked forward, scanning the room for anything that could explain this. On the bed, a shirt that didn’t belong to her lay carelessly on the sheets. I picked it up, bringing it close to my nose.

The scent put me off—male, dominant, and mixed with hers. A growl ripped through my chest. Saint roared in fury. “Who is he?!”

My grip tightened around the fabric, the effect burning at my knuckles. Had she left willingly? Or had she been taken? It didn’t matter. I had to find her.

Without wasting another second, I stormed out of the house and pulled out my phone. Aurora worked at a publishing house—I knew that much. If she had left town, someone there would have a clue as to where she had gone.

I dialed the number, masking my voice when the receptionist picked up.

“Hello, this is Dorisnation publishing office, how may I help you?”

“I’m Aurora’s sister’s partner,” I interrupted smoothly. “Her mother and sister are worried about her. Is she at work?”

There was a brief pause on the other end before the receptionist hesitantly responded.

“No. Her meeting is scheduled next Thursday.”

I gritted my teeth. That meant she hadn’t quit—she was still around.

“Do you have any contact information I can reach out to?” I said firmly.

“She filed in a name, but I’m not supposed to give that out,” the receptionist replied, uncertain.

I softened my tone. “Her family just wants to make sure she’s safe. Please.”

Another pause. Then, reluctantly, the receptionist gave me an address. I didn’t waste another second. I drove like a man possessed, Saint prowling in my mind. He was on edge too. When I finally arrived, I barely waited for the car to stop before jumping out.

Storming up the steps, I raised my fist and pounded on the door. Silence. I knocked again, harder this time. After a few moments, the door swung open. A man stood there. The same scent from Aurora’s room clung to him, ugly and distasteful. I launched, grabbing him by the collar, shoving him against the doorframe.

“Where is she?” I snarled.

He didn’t flinch. Instead, he smirked slightly, his eyes cold as he pushed me back.

“You must be Dante,” he said.