chapter 7

Catherine remembered how Louis had once told her that there were too many matters in the pack, and they could mark each other first and hold the bonding ceremony later. He had promised that by then, he would proudly announce to everyone that she was his Luna.

But then he ran from the wedding, and everything was put on hold. Later, Louis never brought it up again.

Yet now, facing Avra, he was so eager to hold the bonding ceremony with her.

Love and indifference were clearly divided.

That night, Louis didn't come home.

The next day, when he returned, there were faint red marks around his neck.

Seeing Catherine, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes.

He said awkwardly, "Catherine, let's postpone our bonding ceremony for now.

"Avra saved me before, and now she's seriously injured. Besides, Omegas are fragile, and her emotions are delicate. I want to take care of her for a while… Don't worry. Once she recovers, we'll hold the bonding ceremony immediately!"

Catherine lowered her head, saying nothing, her eyes distant and numb.

After several minutes, she finally muttered, "Fine, Avra's health comes first—the ceremony isn't important."

A trace of pain showed in Louis's eyes. "Catherine… trust me, I will never leave you."

But now, Louis, it's me who's leaving you.

Soon, we'll never see each other again.

Why can you be so cruel to me?

Taking a deep breath, Catherine seemed to finally figure something out and smiled with a sense of release.

Fine. Let it be a beautiful dream of being loved. Now, the dream is over.

Watching Catherine smile, Louis suddenly felt panicked. Her reaction didn't feel real.

But then he suddenly remembered how, years ago, he had gone mad when Avra held a bonding ceremony with someone else. He had left the pack alone, only to be ambushed by roaming Rogues nearby.

It had rained heavily that night, and the Rogues had surrounded him, threatening to tear him apart.

The communicator he dropped got soaked in the rain, and Catherine had clearly heard the terrifying sounds, yet she rushed to him without hesitation.

Back then, she had been covered in injuries, nearly dead, all to save him. Yet the first person he went to see after escaping danger was still Avra.

Even after he had been so cruel, Catherine hadn't been angry with him.

So now, he convinced himself, Catherine could never leave him.

Thinking this, Louis let out a barely noticeable sigh of relief, but he didn't see the determination shining in Catherine's eyes.

Since Louis secretly held the bonding ceremony with Avra, he became increasingly shameless.

Using "taking care of her" as an excuse, he openly accompanied Avra to the hunting ritual, full moon celebration, and fortune-telling games…

Sometimes Catherine really wanted to ask if Louis thought she was stupid.

Could it really be that I'm just supposed to be brushed off like this? In the end, it's simply that he doesn't love me.

"Catherine, Avra wants to invite you to dinner. Get ready and come with me tonight."

Louis commanded, without so much as asking Catherine's opinion.

That evening, Avra climbed into the front passenger seat, smiling brightly, and then pretended to be surprised. "Catherine, you're not mad at me, are you?"

Catherine slid smoothly into the back seat and said expressionlessly, "Of course not, that was always your place."

Louis snapped, "Catherine! Don't be so sarcastic!"

He instinctively wanted to scold Catherine, but Avra gently held his hand.

"It's okay, I understand. I really haven't treated you fairly, Catherine, always taking up Louis's time," she said.

"Because of my condition, Louis has had to stick with me all day, checking on me a hundred times to see if I'm okay… Oh, I'm talking too much again.

"Sorry, Catherine. I just… thinking about how badly I was hurt, and that I might not make it someday, I couldn't help rambling a little…"

As she spoke, Avra's eyes grew red.

Louis's expression instantly softened with pain, and he gave Catherine a look, silently asking her to say something.

Catherine ignored him, so he shot her a sharp glare before turning gently to comfort Avra.

Once they started eating, Louis carefully served Avra the dishes she liked and made sure to pick out everything she couldn't eat.

His attentiveness was so thorough that even the waiter couldn't help but smile and say, "Alpha, you really take good care of your mate!"