Chapter 6 The thought pushed Quinn over the edge. "Damian, have you lost your mind? It was just a joke! How could you hit me for that?!" Damian's lips trembled with rage. "A joke?" "Do you even realize what your joke caused this time? Norah wants to break the mate bond! She rejected me!" He thought she'd be shocked. Instead, Quinn laughed. "Oh, I know." "I was there when you made that agreement with her. Just like Norah, I've been keeping count." "This makes it the hundredth time." She had known all along. Damian stared at her in disbelief, as if she'd betrayed him in the deepest way possible. His wolf let out a low, guttural growl as he stepped toward her. "You knew, and you still did it?!" But Quinn didn't flinch. She looked utterly unbothered. "So what if she broke the mate bond? It's not the end of the world. You don't love her anyway." Damian froze. Why would she say that? He loved Norah. She was his fated mate. The thought of her rejecting him had left him panicked, shattered. Then, Quinn delivered the final blow, her voice dripping with scorn. "Why are you pretending to be so heartbroken now? Who are you trying to impress with this sudden act of devotion?" "I ruined Norah, turned her into a complete mess. She lost her pup, eight months along, and you didn't even blame me." "As a female, I know better than you do, after everything, Norah must've completely given up on you." She smirked, proud of herself. Chapter 6 5.36% Damian stood trembling, overcome by something he couldn't quite name. All these years, he had relied on that agreement. Again and again, he pushed Norah's boundaries, always thinking she'd never leave. That she'd never scream, never fight, never hate him for defending Quinn. But that didn't mean he didn't love her. He clenched his jaw and glared at Quinn. "If I don't love her, then who do I love? You? You're insane." Quinn lifted her chin arrogantly. "You love me, you stubborn idiot. Stop lying to yourself." "Besides, Norah already rejected you. The bond is broken. Isn't it?" A cold clarity finally dawned on Damian. He shot her a furious glare and stormed out of the hospital without looking back. On the way, he stopped by Norah's favorite dessert shop. The owner greeted him warmly. "Alpha! It's been a while. I thought maybe Luna didn't like our cakes anymore." Damian's hand froze mid-reach. Now that he thought about it... It had been a long time since he brought Norah a cake. It wasn't that he forgot. It was just that lately, Norah hadn't been angry. She didn't complain. Didn't sulk. There had been no need to comfort her. Why had she stopped being upset? Why had she stopped asking him for anything at all? He paid quickly, heart pounding, and drove straight to the pack house. "Norah, about that bond-breaking deal, just pretend it was a joke, okay? Don't take it seriously." "I just found out it was Quinn who set you up. I misunderstood you. I'm sorry," "I bought your favorite cake. Please, don't be mad anymore." But the pack house was eerily quiet. There was no sign of Norah. No response. Until the beta came rushing out to meet him. "Alpha! Luna... she packed her things and left earlier. She's not here..." Chapter 6 5.36% Crash! The cake box slipped from Damian's hands, smashing open on the ground. He turned on the beta, voice sharp. "When? Where did she go?" The beta shook his head cautiously, shrinking back under his intensity. "I asked... but Luna wouldn't say." Chapter 6 5364