Chapter 2

Maya went abroad. Liam provided all her funding and sorted out her visa.

She said she wanted to leave the Pack to see the human world, and he spared no expense to make it happen.

As for me, I was the daughter of the Frost Moon Pack's Alpha. Our marriage was a political alliance. Liam had no right to refuse me.

The party was even more suffocating than I had anticipated.

Someone had ordered a greasy garlic and anchovy pizza. The strong smell made my stomach churn instantly. I covered my mouth and excused myself from the table.

The restroom was right inside the private dining suite, and the walls were paper-thin.

So when Maya loudly announced to the room that she had returned to the pack to "chase her true love," I heard every single word.

The crowd erupted into rowdy cheers.

"Who is lucky enough to have Maya chasing them? Tell us!"

"Oh, I wouldn't dare say. I don't want to make a certain someone angry," Maya teased.

"Just say it," Liam's deep voice cut through. "Who would dare get mad at you? If anything, I'll help you win them over."

"You promised," Maya said, her voice dropping to a sultry purr.

"Yeah."

"Well, that person is right in front of my eyes."

The room went dead silent. My breathing hitched inside the bathroom stall.

Slowly, nervous laughter broke out. I heard Liam's exasperated sigh.

"Maya, stop fooling around."

I pushed the bathroom door open and walked out.

I saw Maya sitting comfortably in my seat, leaning close to Liam. The lingering affection in her eyes hadn't even faded yet.

Liam was the first to stand up and walk toward me, his eyes full of concern. "Are you feeling better?"

Just like many times before, a tiny gesture of care from him was enough to melt my anger.

No matter what happened, as long as he reached out, I would swallow my pride and let it go.

Because his dignity as the Alpha was always more important to me than my own feelings.

And he had grown to take my compliance for granted.

I looked up at his handsome face. Then, I swung my hand and slapped him hard across the cheek.

The sharp *CRACK* echoed through the room.

His cold, composed eyes went completely wide with shock.

A sharp gasp erupted from the corner. Maya screamed.

"Sophia Vance! Have you lost your mind?!"

I ignored her. I just stared coldly at the man I had loved for years. "Liam Blackwood. I reject you as my mate."

Liam had always treated me well.

As a mate, he was almost perfect.

The laws of the Red Flame Pack were strict, and he knew exactly how an Alpha should treat his Luna.

So, even after being slapped in public and publicly rejected, he only frowned.

"Sophia, let's go home and talk about this."

The rest of the pack members dared not make a sound. Only Maya piped up loudly, "Let's talk nicely, Sophia. Don't resort to violence. How about I come back with you guys? I can help..."

I finally turned my gaze to her for the first time tonight.

"Come back with us? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Liam's frown deepened. "Sophia, Maya is just trying to help. You don't have to be so sensitive."

He hadn't said a single word of defense for himself after getting slapped.

Yet, the moment my tone got slightly sharp with Maya, he immediately rushed to protect her.

My vision blurred with tears.

But Maya’s tears fell faster than mine.

"Sophia, was it because of the joke I made earlier? If it made you uncomfortable, I apologize."

She bowed her head, her tears dripping onto the carpet.

I stared at her, my heart turning to ice.

"You really don't have to take it to heart," Maya sobbed. "Liam and I always joke around like that. Everyone here knows it. I've just been away in the human world for too long, and I forgot that you two are officially mated now. It’s all my fault..."

The other pack members finally started chiming in.

"Yeah, Sophia, don't be mad. She didn't mean anything by it."

"You're the Luna of our Pack. Maya knows her boundaries."