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Section 1
### Chapter 1: Chapter-1
After I got home, I eased back into my usual routine—painting outdoors for inspiration, organizing exhibitions, and meeting with my seniors to discuss our work.But this time, I had a tagalong. Joe kept hovering—not right up next to me, but never far enough either. He wasn't doing anything outright, but he just wouldn't go away.Eventually, it got under my skin.That was when Evan showed up. "Looks like you've got some trouble. Need a hand?"The second Joe laid eyes on him, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he came charging over. "Who is he, Anna? How can you let him get that close to you? Do you really not want me anymore?"His gaze burned, and it felt like his heart had been ripped apart.Right before he could touch me, Evan stepped in, pulled me behind him, and blocked Joe's path."Back off!" he growled.Joe's gaze turned cold, and his fists clenched so tightly that it looked like he might punch Evan at any second.I gave Evan a light pat on the back to calm him down, then ste
It had been six months since I last saw Joe.I had just gotten back from painting outdoors when I spotted him from a distance, standing in the middle of the grassland. I had no idea how he'd found this place, or when he'd even gotten here.His clothes were a mess, his eyes looked dead tired, and his face was covered in stubble. He looked so rough that I barely recognized him.The moment he saw me, he rushed over, eyes shining with relief. "Anna, thank goodness you're okay! I'm so sorry. I had no idea Nora would do something like that."I stepped back, pulling away from his hug.Joe froze, his face crumpling with despair. "This is my fault, Anna. I put you through so much. I've already made Nora pay for what she did. Can you… forgive me?"I shook my head, keeping my voice even. "Joe, we were done the moment you proposed to Nora."He staggered back like he'd been hit by a truck, staring at me in disbelief. "N-No… that wasn't real—""It doesn't matter if it was or wasn't," I said,
I really thought I was done for when the Rogues broke in.One of them slammed me to the floor, claws close enough to tear me open, but right then, the patrol unit showed up. They tore into the Rogues in a savage clash until the last of them finally fled.One of the patrol officers helped me up and gently draped a coat over my shoulders. "You're safe now, ma'am. You might want to call your family."I stood there, silent for a long moment, then shook my head. "No need. I don't have one."I dragged my suitcase out of the room without sparing a single glance at the villa, now reduced to nothing but wreckage.After turning to the patrol officer, I asked, "Can you take me to the docks? I'm leaving."There was nothing tying me down anymore. Any hope I still had for Joe disappeared the second he ignored my call for help. With the patrol unit escorting me, I walked away without looking back.The ship ride out of the Fangtooth pack was smooth sailing, and I soon landed in the northern gra
I disappeared without a trace. After that, there was no sign of me left in Joe's world. Everyone in the Fangtooth pack said their Alpha had lost his mind.He walked out on his mate in front of everyone at that over-the-top mate-bonding ceremony, then spent every day after that searching the world for her.Nora, the chief healer he used to protect so carefully, became the pack's biggest laughingstock. The rest of the pack was dying to know who Joe's mystery mate was.Nora stood in front of Joe, blocking his way in despair. "Stop torturing yourself, Joe. Anna's already gone. Can't you just look at me? I'm not worse than her. We were this close to becoming mates. Please, don't go after her anymore."Joe stared at her without saying a word.Nora mustered her courage and slowly stepped closer. "I've loved you for a long time, Joe. We've been happy these past few weeks, haven't we? You love me, too. I can tell! Can't we be together? Please?"Joe scowled and recoiled, a look of indiffer
There was a loud crash as Joe accidentally sent the display stand crashing to the floor.His vision seemed to burn red as he grabbed Oscar by the collar and growled, "What did you just say? Rogues? How did they get near the villa?"Oscar panicked. "The villa's right by the woods. Somebody must've sabotaged the fence. It couldn't hold them off."Joe shoved him aside and spun around, ready to bolt, but Nora clung tightly to his arm.Tears filled her eyes as she begged, "Joe, please, don't go. The reporters are all watching. What am I supposed to do if you leave now?"Joe flung her hand aside without a thought and stated icily, "The ceremony's off!"Then he took off like a black arrow, speeding straight for my villa.As Joe got closer to the villa, his eyes went wide. The front door wasn't even a door anymore—just a busted, empty frame where it used to be.His chest seized with sharp pain. He stood frozen for a long second with his teeth clenched, before he finally stepped inside.
When Joe picked up the call, he was in the middle of escorting Nora through the newly opened healing center. Reporters crowded around, all trying to get an interview with the two of them.He hung up in a hurry and turned off his phone so I wouldn't keep calling."I'll talk to her once this is all over. Anna's sweet. She'll get it," he thought.Then he wrapped an arm around Nora, pulling her close so she wouldn't get pushed around."Alpha Joe, is it true you and Chief Healer Nora are having your mate-bonding ceremony tomorrow? Will it be open to the public? A bunch of pack members are dying to be there."Joe stiffened. The ceremony hadn't even been made public yet. How did the reporters find out?Nora tugged on his sleeve, guilt written all over her face as she murmured, "I think Anna might've said something, Joe. She once bragged to me that she was going to have a mate-bonding ceremony with you and told me to stop dreaming."I didn't think she'd actually go to the media. Is she
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### Chapter 2: Chapter-2
After I got home, I eased back into my usual routine—painting outdoors for inspiration, organizing exhibitions, and meeting with my seniors to discuss our work.But this time, I had a tagalong. Joe kept hovering—not right up next to me, but never far enough either. He wasn't doing anything outright, but he just wouldn't go away.Eventually, it got under my skin.That was when Evan showed up. "Looks like you've got some trouble. Need a hand?"The second Joe laid eyes on him, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he came charging over. "Who is he, Anna? How can you let him get that close to you? Do you really not want me anymore?"His gaze burned, and it felt like his heart had been ripped apart.Right before he could touch me, Evan stepped in, pulled me behind him, and blocked Joe's path."Back off!" he growled.Joe's gaze turned cold, and his fists clenched so tightly that it looked like he might punch Evan at any second.I gave Evan a light pat on the back to calm him down, then ste
It had been six months since I last saw Joe.I had just gotten back from painting outdoors when I spotted him from a distance, standing in the middle of the grassland. I had no idea how he'd found this place, or when he'd even gotten here.His clothes were a mess, his eyes looked dead tired, and his face was covered in stubble. He looked so rough that I barely recognized him.The moment he saw me, he rushed over, eyes shining with relief. "Anna, thank goodness you're okay! I'm so sorry. I had no idea Nora would do something like that."I stepped back, pulling away from his hug.Joe froze, his face crumpling with despair. "This is my fault, Anna. I put you through so much. I've already made Nora pay for what she did. Can you… forgive me?"I shook my head, keeping my voice even. "Joe, we were done the moment you proposed to Nora."He staggered back like he'd been hit by a truck, staring at me in disbelief. "N-No… that wasn't real—""It doesn't matter if it was or wasn't," I said,
I really thought I was done for when the Rogues broke in.One of them slammed me to the floor, claws close enough to tear me open, but right then, the patrol unit showed up. They tore into the Rogues in a savage clash until the last of them finally fled.One of the patrol officers helped me up and gently draped a coat over my shoulders. "You're safe now, ma'am. You might want to call your family."I stood there, silent for a long moment, then shook my head. "No need. I don't have one."I dragged my suitcase out of the room without sparing a single glance at the villa, now reduced to nothing but wreckage.After turning to the patrol officer, I asked, "Can you take me to the docks? I'm leaving."There was nothing tying me down anymore. Any hope I still had for Joe disappeared the second he ignored my call for help. With the patrol unit escorting me, I walked away without looking back.The ship ride out of the Fangtooth pack was smooth sailing, and I soon landed in the northern gra
I disappeared without a trace. After that, there was no sign of me left in Joe's world. Everyone in the Fangtooth pack said their Alpha had lost his mind.He walked out on his mate in front of everyone at that over-the-top mate-bonding ceremony, then spent every day after that searching the world for her.Nora, the chief healer he used to protect so carefully, became the pack's biggest laughingstock. The rest of the pack was dying to know who Joe's mystery mate was.Nora stood in front of Joe, blocking his way in despair. "Stop torturing yourself, Joe. Anna's already gone. Can't you just look at me? I'm not worse than her. We were this close to becoming mates. Please, don't go after her anymore."Joe stared at her without saying a word.Nora mustered her courage and slowly stepped closer. "I've loved you for a long time, Joe. We've been happy these past few weeks, haven't we? You love me, too. I can tell! Can't we be together? Please?"Joe scowled and recoiled, a look of indiffer
There was a loud crash as Joe accidentally sent the display stand crashing to the floor.His vision seemed to burn red as he grabbed Oscar by the collar and growled, "What did you just say? Rogues? How did they get near the villa?"Oscar panicked. "The villa's right by the woods. Somebody must've sabotaged the fence. It couldn't hold them off."Joe shoved him aside and spun around, ready to bolt, but Nora clung tightly to his arm.Tears filled her eyes as she begged, "Joe, please, don't go. The reporters are all watching. What am I supposed to do if you leave now?"Joe flung her hand aside without a thought and stated icily, "The ceremony's off!"Then he took off like a black arrow, speeding straight for my villa.As Joe got closer to the villa, his eyes went wide. The front door wasn't even a door anymore—just a busted, empty frame where it used to be.His chest seized with sharp pain. He stood frozen for a long second with his teeth clenched, before he finally stepped inside.
When Joe picked up the call, he was in the middle of escorting Nora through the newly opened healing center. Reporters crowded around, all trying to get an interview with the two of them.He hung up in a hurry and turned off his phone so I wouldn't keep calling."I'll talk to her once this is all over. Anna's sweet. She'll get it," he thought.Then he wrapped an arm around Nora, pulling her close so she wouldn't get pushed around."Alpha Joe, is it true you and Chief Healer Nora are having your mate-bonding ceremony tomorrow? Will it be open to the public? A bunch of pack members are dying to be there."Joe stiffened. The ceremony hadn't even been made public yet. How did the reporters find out?Nora tugged on his sleeve, guilt written all over her face as she murmured, "I think Anna might've said something, Joe. She once bragged to me that she was going to have a mate-bonding ceremony with you and told me to stop dreaming."I didn't think she'd actually go to the media. Is she
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