chapter 8

Louis froze for a moment, looking awkwardly at Catherine, then quickly served her a few dishes as well.

But Catherine looked at the table full of spicy dishes and felt nothing but bitter irony.

She loved spicy food, but her stomach was weak and couldn't handle a single bite, yet Louis had completely forgotten—or simply didn't care.

After they had eaten their fill, Avra suggested going shopping, and Louis gave a dismissive wave, practically buying out the entire mall.

Catherine followed behind, completely alone, feeling like an outsider the entire time.

On the escalator, Louis carefully lifted Avra's dress to keep her from tripping, and when she twisted her ankle, he immediately scooped her up in a princess carry, his face full of concern.

"Catherine, I need to take Avra to the medical center. You go home by yourself," he said.

Catherine had long wanted to escape the suffocating atmosphere, and she nodded without a second thought.

Back at home, she took a hot shower.

By 11 p.m., Louis still hadn't returned, and the only message she received was from Avra.

"You fool. Haven't you realized by now? Louis only loves me, and we've already held a bonding ceremony. If you don't leave, do you want to be the pathetic third party?"

Catherine closed her eyes, her hands trembling as she blacklisted Avra.

Don't worry, it'll be soon.

I'm really going to leave very soon.

Days passed one by one, and soon the day of Catherine's departure arrived.

During this time, Louis and Avra's relationship had grown even stronger, and he paid less and less attention to Catherine's feelings.

He often stayed out all night and returned the next day with the familiar, sickly-sweet Omega pheromones clinging to him.

Even his Facebook background and phone wallpaper had been changed, and whenever Catherine asked about it, he would come up with absurd, ridiculous excuses to brush her off.

Forget it. It doesn't matter.

Catherine got up early and went to the living room, writing a farewell letter neatly and placing it on the table.

Then, she took out a potion that glowed with a faint purple light, a hint of relief showing in her bright blue eyes.

It was a potion brewed by a witch who was close to her father, capable of reducing backlash and severing a mate bond to some extent.

Her wolf, Kelsey, probably wounded to despair by Louis's attitude, didn't resist at all.

Instead, she barely manifested a faint, ghostly wolf silhouette, gently leaning against Catherine's side.

But before she could drink the potion, she saw Louis walk in, smiling broadly and full of cheer.

"Catherine, it's been a while since Avra returned, and I haven't properly welcomed her. I plan to host a welcome banquet for her tonight, and you should come too," he said.

Catherine nodded seriously. "Alright."

Since Louis had chosen this way to say goodbye, she would follow his wishes.

That evening, Louis led Catherine to the private room and casually sat next to Avra.

"Alpha Louis, this is Avra's welcome banquet. Why did you bring this Rogue here?"

As Louis increasingly favored Avra, his friends' attitudes toward Catherine grew harsher.

"Shut up! You're not allowed to speak to Catherine like that!" Louis frowned and scolded the person, but that was all—he didn't take any further action.

Catherine smiled bitterly.

If it were Avra being mocked, Louis probably would have torn them apart with his claws already.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere in the private room grew livelier until someone suggested playing a game.

A bottle would be spun, and whoever it pointed to had to complete a designated task. If they failed, they would face punishment.

The bottle spun around a few times and landed squarely on Louis.

Someone laughed. "Looks like fate picked you, Alpha Louis! Don't blame us if we're a little ruthless."

Louis sighed and nodded helplessly.

"Alright, hug one of the opposite sex here!"

It should have been an easy task—Catherine was right beside him—but Louis froze for a moment.

He instinctively glanced at Avra, and seeing her watery eyes, his expression softened.

"I can't do this. I'll accept the punishment."

He downed an entire glass of alcohol in one gulp.

Heat flared across Catherine's face, burning with shame.

She was clearly the one Louis had personally acknowledged as his future Luna, yet to avoid upsetting Avra, he couldn't even fulfill such a simple request as holding her for a moment.

After that, Catherine lost all interest in the rest of the game.

"Louis, I feel a bit dizzy. I want to go to the restroom," Avra suddenly said in a sweet, delicate voice.

Louis gave her a few concerned reminders, and she left.

Catherine had been completely focused on severing the mate bond and hadn't paid much attention to the interruption.

That was, until a sharp scream from Avra rang out in the distance.