Chapter 7

Ella's POV

"For one of my colleagues," I explained, keeping the full truth to myself. "She's going through a rough time and doesn't have the time to take care of it herself."

He frowned briefly, then nodded. "Okay. By the way, Anna is fine now. I'll need your help with a report tomorrow."

I agreed without hesitation. It was the same financial report he always asked me to help with since numbers were never his strong suit.

That night, I helped him in his study. We worked in comfortable silence, and by the time we wrapped up, it was well past midnight. I was already exhausted from my run in the forest earlier and found myself yawning uncontrollably.

Before I knew it, I had drifted off. When I woke up, I found myself tucked into our bed, the warmth of the covers comforting me.

He was sitting beside me, leaning back against the headboard, absorbed in a book. "Good morning! Did you sleep well?" he asked, a soft smile on his lips.

"Breakfast is ready," he added, placing his book down on the bedside table as if he'd been waiting for me to wake up.

We ate together, and though I tried to focus on my food, he broke the silence with a question. "Why did you change your phone password?"

I kept my gaze on my plate, my fingers lightly tracing the edge of my fork. "I just felt like it."

The old password had been a combination of our birthdays. But with everything changing now, it felt pointless to keep it.

I looked up at him and smiled. "Honey, after your meeting, would you be willing to go to the Werewolf Festival? It's our anniversary today."

His brows shot up in surprise, and I could see the moment he realized he'd forgotten, as usual. I half-expected him to say no, to suggest we just have a simple dinner at some fancy restaurant. But instead, to my shock, he agreed.

By the time we arrived at the festival, it was nearly evening. The energy of the crowd was electric, with werewolves milling about everywhere. I saw families walking with their children, and a pang of sadness hit me as I thought of the twins I had lost. If things had gone differently, they would've been here with us, growing up among the festival-goers, just like those carefree kids.

Carson noticed the change in my mood as we walked hand-in-hand. "Is something bothering you?"

I quickly shook my head. "It's nothing. Let's go over there," I said, pointing to a nearby booth. "I want to buy something."

"Sure," he replied, squeezing my hand.

It was just a small thing, a way to see if there was anything still left between us. After buying matching bracelets for us, we made our way to the bonfire lighting, an event marking the first transformation of eighteen-year-olds into wolves. The Werewolf King stood with the Luna Queen and their sons, while members of the council looked on.

The festivities included a competition of werewolf fights, where the winner could request anything they wanted from the King. The crowd was buzzing with energy, with people betting on their favorites.

It was my first time here with Carson, despite asking him before. He always seemed uninterested, so I hadn't expected him to agree. But now, as he smiled and seemed genuinely caught up in the excitement, my heart hesitated. My wolf clung to the hope that perhaps this was the start of something.

Carson bought us food, and I watched him as he enjoyed the fight, his eyes glued to the ring. I couldn't help but remember how it had felt when I first met him, the joy in his face when he realized I was his mate. The memory had once been a symbol of everything we could be. But now, it was bittersweet. I had given so much of myself, but I had never really gotten the attention I craved.

When the fight ended and the winner was announced, Carson held my hand as we moved toward the bonfire, its flames dancing in the cool evening air. The full moon was high above us, casting an eerie glow over everything.

As the celebration continued, the first-time shifters transformed, and couples began to dance around the fire.

"Come, dance with us, lovely couple!" an elderly woman called out, beckoning us over. "As they say, for a long-lasting relationship, a dance must be blessed by the moon goddess to strengthen your bond."

Carson's excitement was clear as he pulled me toward the other dancers. "We will," he said, his voice warm.

The familiar beat of drums and strings filled the air, and we began to move to the rhythm of the music.

I laughed when I accidentally stepped on his foot, and he whispered, "Follow my lead, honey," guiding me through the dance. We moved together, swaying and spinning, our bodies in perfect sync.

But just as I started to enjoy the moment, his phone buzzed, interrupting our rhythm. He paused, glancing at the screen. I saw the light in his eyes dim, replaced by concern.

"I'll be right back," he said, not meeting my gaze.

I nodded, hoping it was just something quick, but when the song ended, he hadn't returned.

Worried, I scanned the crowd and finally spotted him. My stomach sank as I watched him wrap his arms around Anna, holding her close.

And just like that, I knew.