Chapter 20 

Kael’s POV 

Dinner with Roxanne. 

+25 Points 

If you had told me just a few weeks ago that those four words would feel like a punishment, I would’ve 

laughed. She had always been the one everyone expected me to end up with. She was beautiful, confident 

and desired by all. I had truly loved her with all my heart. But tonight, as I sat behind the wheel of my black SUV, parked outside her house, I felt nothing but dread. 

I messaged her earlier. “Dinner tomorrow at 6. I’ll pick you up.” 

She responded within seconds. “Can’t wait!”, followed by a string of heart emojis. 

My stomach twisted. It should’ve made me feel something. Anything. Instead, all I could hear was the 

echo of her voice from the night before. Her voice which had been filled with betrayal. 

“You think Kael suspects anything?” 

“No. He is too distracted by his title to notice anything real.” 

“I’ll be Luna soon. Once I am officially his mate, he won’t care who I used to play with.” 

Those words had cut deeper than I wanted to admit. 

I gripped the steering wheel tighter. 

The front door opened, and Roxanne stepped out. She looked stunning, as always. A crimson dress hugged her curves. The fabric was shimmering under the porch light. Her long, curled hair fell like waves down her back, and her makeup was flawless. It was crafted to perfection like the persona she wore every 

day. 

But all I could think about was how fake it all was. 

She walked toward the car, hips swaying confidently. As she reached the passenger side, I got out to open 

her door. She leaned in close, lips puckered for a kiss. 

I turned slightly. Her kiss landed on my cheek instead. 

Her eyes flickered in confusion, but she recovered quickly with a sweet smile. “Good evening, Kael.” 

“Roxanne,” I said curtly and shut the door behind her. 

The ride was quiet for the first few minutes. 

She broke the silence. “You look tired.” 

“Didn’t sleep much.” 

“Too much on your mind?” she asked, her voice carefully soft. 

1/6 

Chapter 20 

“Something like that.” 

+25 Points 

She reached over and placed her hand gently on my thigh. “You know you can talk to me, right? About 

anything.” 

I didn’t reply. 

Her fingers remained there for a moment longer before she pulled them away. She turned to look out the window, her reflection in the glass watching me with veiled irritation. 

Good. 

Let her squirm. 

Let her wonder what I knew. 

We arrived at the upscale restaurant in the Frostbane Pack’s neutral district. It was a polished building of glass and dark wood nestled against the snowy hillside. 

I parked, walked around, and opened her door, maintaining appearances. She stepped out gracefully, but I didn’t offer my arm. 

She hesitated, then followed me inside, heels clicking against the marble floors. 

The hostess greeted us with a wide smile. “Mister Kael. Miss Roxanne. Right this way.” 

We were seated in a private corner. The table was lit by a soft golden candle. Music drifted gently through 

the air. Normally, this would be romantic and intimate. 

But tonight, it felt like a stage for a play I no longer wanted to perform in. 

“Wine?” the hostess asked. 

I nodded. “Red.” 

Roxanne looked at me expectantly. “The one we had on our last anniversary?” 

I didn’t answer. I simply turned my eyes to the menu. 

The hostess left quickly. She could sense the tension. 

Roxanne cleared her throat. “So, I have been thinking. After we announce the engagement, we should start touring the pack territories together. Let the people see us. Show them what a strong couple we are.” 

I nodded slowly. “Strategic.” 

Her face lit up. “Exactly! And we could even begin planning the Luna ceremony soon. I have already 

contacted the seamstress….” 

“I’ll have the steak,” I interrupted as the waitress returned. 

Roxanne blinked. “But I thought we would share the salmon like we always do.” 

 

“I changed my mind,” I said coolly. “Steak.” 

She gave a tight laugh. “Alright then. I’ll have the salmon.” 

The waitress jotted it down and left. 

Silence settled between us again. 

Roxanne sipped her wine. “You really are acting strange tonight.” 

I met her gaze. “Am I?” 

She leaned in, voice dropping low. “Kael. What is wrong?” 

“I’ve been thinking,” I said, tapping my fingers against the table. “About the future. About who I’ll spend it 

with.” 

Her smile returned. “Good. Because I’ve been thinking the same thing. We’ve waited long enough.” 

I tilted my head. “Have we?” 

“Of course we have,” she said, reaching for my hand. “You and I were meant for this. Meant for each other. 

I didn’t move. I let her touch linger on my hand. 

“Are you hiding something from me?” I asked. 

She froze. 

“What?” she asked. Her voice was light but her eyes darkened slightly. 

“I asked if you’re hiding anything. Anything I should know. As your future Alpha. As the male you say you 

love.” 

Her grip on my hand tightened. 

“Kael,” she said slowly, carefully. “Where is this coming from?” 

I smiled faintly. “Just a question. Humor me.” 

She blinked and feigned confusion. “I’m not hiding anything. I swear it. Everything I’ve ever done, I did for 

us.” 

For us. 

I leaned back in my chair, withdrawing my hand. “Interesting.” 

Her face paled a shade. 

“You believe me, right?” she asked, a nervous laugh escaping her lips. 

“Of course,” I lied smoothly. “Why wouldn’t I?” 

The food arrived. I cut into my steak mechanically. She barely touched her salmon. 

3/6 

* Chujan 20 

+25 Points 

“You haven’t mentioned Lisa lately,” I said casually between bites, letting the name linger in the air like a blade. 

Across the table, Roxanne’s hand froze mid-cut, the steak knife trembling slightly against the porcelain plate. 

Her eyes snapped to mine. “What did you just say?” 

I leaned back in my chair. “Lisa. You remember her, don’t you?” 

Roxanne’s face darkened instantly. “Kael,” she said through clenched teeth, “you promised me. You said you wouldn’t say her name again.” 

“And yet,” I said, chewing slowly, “here we are.” 

Her fork clattered onto the plate. “Why are you bringing her up now? What’s the point?” 

“I was just curious,” I replied, feigning innocence. “You’ve been so… quiet about her lately. Thought maybe you’d have an update.” 

“She’s gone,” Roxanne snapped. “Irrelevant. And I don’t want to talk about her.” 

“She was your sister.” 

“Was,” she hissed. “She doesn’t exist to me anymore. I told you that. And I thought you understood.” 

I tilted my head slightly, watching the mask she wore start to crack around the edges. “You always get this angry when I mention her. Why is that?” 

Her lips curled. “Because I’m sick of competing with a ghost. Lisa this, Lisa that. She was nothing, Kael. She was weak and worthy. And we don’t know if she is still alive. She might be already dead.” 

“Maybe,” I said smoothly. “Or maybe she is stronger than you think.” 

Her eyes flared. “Don’t test me.” 

I smiled softly and took another bite. The rest of the meal passed in silence. 

I pulled into her driveway just after nine. The porch light was still on. 

She hesitated before speaking. “Kael, I know things have been tense lately. But we’re going to be alright. I’ll make sure of it. I love you.” 

I didn’t respond. 

She leaned in for a kiss again, but I turned my head slightly. 

Her lips brushed my cheek. 

She drew back. I could see the hurt flashing in her eyes. 

“Goodnight,” I said quietly. 

 

“Goodnight,” she replied, her voice barely a whisper. 

I waited until she entered the house and closed the door before driving off into the night. 

425 Paints? 

Back at my house, I stood by the window, staring out into the moonlit forest. Valric stirred restlessly in the 

back of my mind. 

She’s lying. You know it. You heard her. She used you. 

I know, I answered calmly. 

Then why didn’t you rip the truth out of her tonight? She doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as us. 

I clenched my jaw and crossed my arms over my chest. “Because punishment is more satisfying when it’s slow… and permanent.” 

Let her believe she won. 

Let her think she pulled the strings. 

I would smile. I would nod. I would kiss her when she reached for me and pretend every look she gave me still held weight. I would marry her. Crown her my Luna. Let her bask in the spotlight and bathe in her illusion of power. 

And then? 

Then I would make her suffer. 

Not with rage. 

Not with violence. 

With silence and calculated cruelty. 

I would give her everything she claimed to want; title, status, a throne beside mine. But she would mean nothing to me. I would make sure every night she lay next to me wondering why I wouldn’t touch her. Why I wouldn’t look at her the same. Why my words sounded sweet but felt hollow. 

I would let her rot in the prison she built for herself with me as her warden. 

She destroyed something pure. She mocked the bond the Moon Goddess chose for me. She stripped away my choice by twisting the truth and burying it beneath her ambition. 

I would bury her with it. Slowly and ruthlessly. 

Valric purred darkly. I like this plan better. 

“So do I.” 

Because Roxanne might have thought she played the game well. 

But I was born to rule it. 

 

And when the day comes that she looks into my eyes and realizes I always knew… that I let her lie, let her plot, let her dig her own grave with every false smile….. 

That moment will be worth everything.