Chapter 6

Kane’s face darkened, little by little.

Serena’s tears came instantly. “Ilya… why are you always targeting me? I just want to do something for the Wolves…”

“If you want to do something for the Wolves, then you should start by understanding the people with your own feet on the ground. Not by stealing someone else’s work.”

My voice stayed calm, but every word cut like a blade. “And that dress you’re wearing—on the waist, the side pleats should be pulled in by an inch to match my size. Doesn’t it feel tight on you?”

Serena instinctively pressed her hand to her waist.

A few low, muffled laughs rose from the crowd below.

Kane finally snapped.

He strode up onto the stage in one leap and grabbed my wrist. His grip was so tight it felt like my bones would shatter.

“Ilya!”

His voice was low and sharp, the weight of an Alpha’s fury pressing down like a storm. “You’d better stop this nonsense right now.”

The wound in my palm tore open completely. Blood seeped through the bandage, staining his fingers red.

It even dripped to the floor.

But strangely, I didn’t feel any pain.

And he didn’t seem to notice.

I looked up at him—at the face I had loved for ten years. At those golden eyes that once held warmth, now filled only with anger.

“Kane, you once told me that a worthy Luna must first be able to see the tears of her people.”

“But now, you can’t even see my blood.”

His pupils contracted. His fingers slackened for a moment.

I pulled my hand away, turned, and stepped down from the stage, walking through the silent crowd toward the door.

“Ilya!”

Kane’s voice rose behind me, sharp with warning. “You better show up on time for tomorrow’s bond ceremony! Stop acting like a child!”

I didn’t look back.

I walked out of the banquet hall. Moonlight spilled across my shoulders.

I tilted my head back and looked up at the silver moon. Suddenly, I remembered the night my mother passed away.

She stroked my hair and said, “Ilya, love is not blind worship. When you realize someone can no longer see the real you, you must have the courage to walk away.”

Mom, I have that courage now.

Back then, I had proudly claimed that Kane would never be like that. That in his eyes, there was only me.

But now I see—Kane isn’t just blind. He’s a damn idiot.

I sent a message to my best friend, Lia.

I told her I was leaving.

She was the only one who would truly listen to everything I had to say.

I asked her to keep it a secret.

At the same time, I gave her a copy of the investigation I’d done on Serena.

Because something about her sudden return was just too coincidental.

She wanted to take from me the work I’d poured ten years into.

She wasn’t worthy.