From my penthouse, the Blackthorne Group's emblematic symbol, I could survey the pulse of Havenfall.

Though it stood as a monolith of power and tradition, its grandeur was lost on me today.

Josh, my Beta, was reporting to me about Raven. His usual assertiveness was replaced by palpable unease as he handled the credit card and keys to me.

At the same time, I received a new message from the second-hand collection store, which showed that my bank account had just received more than five million dollars.

Anger and shock shot through me as I snapped the credit card in my hand.

"She has moved out?" I still couldn’t believe any of this.

Josh hesitated, "Alpha Hunter, you'd better go and see for yourself. I… I don't know how to explain…"

What did he mean? Rubbing my aching temples, I initially wanted to refuse him at once, but something changed my mind, and I nodded.

I shifted into my wolf form and ran through the woods at lightning speed to the villa. But I couldn’t smell her scent anymore. Raven was gone, for real.

I pushed the door open, and my mouth fell open in shock, even though I had prepared myself.

The villa looked so empty.

In the past three years, Raven had been living here and decorated the villa little by little. The curtains were replaced with ones of warm colors. Carefully selected oil paintings, fresh and unique decorations, and flowers in glass bottles could be seen everywhere. I could tell she spent a lot of time decorating the villa, our home.

But I never expected that when she left, she would erase every trace of her past life here and turn the space back into a mere showpiece building. It was as if she had never lived here in the past three years.

I feel the weight of my decision to reject Raven. It wasn't an impulsive act, but a choice borne of threats from Garrick and the lurking danger of the Larkspurs.

The paradox is clear - to protect her, I must release her. An impossible contradiction.

Then I recalled her cold expression when she said she didn't want any money from me and wanted to cut all ties with me!

I thought she was bluffing!

I never imagined she'd really walk away. A wave of panic hit me, like everything slipping out of my grasp…