---- downed a glass of liquor in one swift motion, earning applause from the group. One of them quipped, "And your mate isn't here to rein you in tonight?" They were oblivious to the fact that I had passed away, and their jokes fell flat in light of that reality. I observed Leo from the shadows, his calm demeanor did not change as he set the glass down, a faint smile on his lips. "Don't bring her up. She's still upset with me, and I haven't managed to win her back yet." His effortless lie left me in awe, and I realized that his success at a young age was no coincidence. He could have easily clarified that I had passed away, but instead, he chose to endure their teasing. When they pressed the subject, the atmosphere grew tense. "Sure, your Luna might be strict," one of them ---- joked, "but the way she treats you shows she truly cares. My advice is to apologize and make amends; everything will go back to normal." Leo's response was somber: "She won't hear me anymore." The friend's smile faltered as he caught Leo's expression, and the group fell silent, drinking awkwardly as the room stilles and an uncomfortable silence descended on them as they drank. That was, until a tipsy man stumbled over and said: "Leo! Your Luna's custom ring order from my mate's shop has been finished for ages. We couldn't reach her, so I figured I'd bring it to you myself." A velvet box was placed before Leo, and he struggled to focus on it before snatching it open in frustration. This box brought back many painful memories for ---- my wolf. Inside, Leo found a pair of exquisite diamond rings, their design reminiscent of butterfly wings - apiece I had crafted myself. Seeing them now, even in death, my wolf felt strange. I had put so much effort into it, leaening to design so that it came out beautifully. The rings from our bonding ceremony that he had discarded in a fit of anger during one of our fights, and I'd secretly designed these new ones, never expecting to see them like this. As the rings sparkled under the bar's warm lighting, I reached out to touch them, only to feel a void where my fingers should have been. "alpha Leo, are you okay?" someone asked hesitantly. Leo's response was sudden and intense: he stood up, kicked the table, and stormed off, disregarding the calls of those around him.