---- 5 At exactly , I arrived at the rotating restaurant as planned. Kieran said he wanted to have dinner with me to make it up to me. I agreed, after all, I had loved him for so many years, and I wanted to say goodbye to him properly. Outside the window, a magnificent fireworks display began on the building across from us, painting the night sky in brilliant colors. The show lasted two full hours. But the person who had asked me to dinner never came. Kieran called. "Aria, I have an emergency at Winters Pack. I need to leave immediately-I can't make dinner. But I've already ordered all your favorite dishes. Take your time eating, and I promise I'l] make it up to you when I get back." The lights outside became blindingly harsh. I managed a single word in response: "Okay." ---- That "okay" came out with a slight sob, making Kieran's heart sink inexplicably. For a moment, he felt a strange panic. But the woman lying seductively on the bed in front of him, her expression teasing and inviting, made it impossible for him to turn away. Irandomly opened my phone. Social media was flooded with posts about the spectacular light show. "T heard some big shot wanted to make his girlfriend happy, so he booked the exterior screens of several buildings six months in advance and designed a custom light show just so his mate could see it on her birthday. So romantic!" The most eye-catching post was from Scarlett's social media: "Fireworks are fleeting, but love is eternal." Scarlett's birthday was only one day after mine. My birthday had been celebrated with a lonely bowl of noodles, while hers got the entire city's grand celebration. Even the compensatory ---- gestures meant for me were absent-all the supposed romance belonged to someone else. I liked her post, using every muscle in my body to keep my tears from falling. The restaurant was closing. A server asked if I needed anything else before the kitchen closed. I declined, paid the bill, and left, abandoning a table full of untouched delicacies. The next day, I received a call from the Alpha Council. They confirmed once more whether I was certain about renouncing my Shadow Pack membership and severing my mate bond with the Alpha. After I gave them a definitive yes, they fell silent for along moment. "I've handled countless mate bond dissolutions, Miss Rivers. You're the most resolute I've ever encountered." I smiled and hung up. Ihad mated with Kieran because of love. Now that the love was gone, nothing else mattered.