After Refusing to be Luna, I Marked the Alpha's Shadow Chapter 10

A North American early summer night. The Blackwood Manor prom was brightly lit.

"Liam, aren't you going to dance with your fiancée?" Mother Maria walked onto the second-floor terrace.

Liam's eyes, originally somewhat gloomy, softened instantly upon hearing the name "Chloe." Although his inner wolf felt a strange emptiness due to Harper's departure, he forcibly suppressed it.

He looked down and saw Chloe surrounded by a crowd, wearing an expensive couture gown, like a werewolf princess surrounded by stars.

"I'm so envious of Chloe. That's the heir of the Blackwood family. He gave her such a precious territory for her birthday. He must really like Chloe."

"Yeah, Chloe is the future Luna, Liam is the Alpha. You two are a perfect match."

Watching the shy smile on Chloe's face, all the displeasure from Harper's call dissipated.

No matter what, his goal was always only Chloe. The girl who smiled at him even when he was "poor."

He straightened his tie and walked downstairs. He wanted to invite Chloe to dance, to tell her he was the powerful Alpha she would marry.

But as he approached, with his keen werewolf hearing, he suddenly heard someone ask, "Then what about that poor boy Liam? I think he really likes you."

Liam's steps froze.

Then, he heard Chloe's familiar yet strange mocking voice.

"I'm annoyed too. That damn Omega keeps clinging to me, like a stray dog I can't shake off."

Liam froze in place, his blood feeling like it solidified.

The discussion in his ears continued.

"Huh? But I see he seems to like you a lot, and you treat him pretty well usually."

Chloe acted surprised. "But I treat every low-ranking werewolf well. That's the 'kindness' of a future ruler, understand?"

"We all thought you liked him too. He probably thinks you like him."

Chloe laughed, sipping her champagne. "Maybe that's just the pathetic wishful thinking of a low-caste wolf."

*Wishful thinking...*

These words were like silver bullets shot into Liam's heart.

He looked at the slight disdain in Chloe's eyes. His heart, which was leaping with joy just a moment ago, cooled down bit by bit, plunging into an ice cave.

In the school hospital, Chloe held his hand, saying no one had ever taken care of her like that.

He gave her the bracelet; she posted on Instagram that night saying he was the first boy to put so much heart into her.

He said he liked succulents; she brought him a potted plant the next day.

She thought he had no money and would secretly slip him pocket money, eyes curving into a smile saying she worried about him.

She held his hand shyly, saying she had feelings for Student Liam.

Now she was saying... he was delusional? A stray dog?

Liam was completely paralyzed. His Alpha eyes stared dead at Chloe in the crowd.

A chill traveled from his feet to his blood, like a terrible curse.

At this moment, someone saw him and teased, "Hey, poor boy Liam, are you looking for Chloe to dance? Too bad Chloe is now..."

"I can dance with Student Liam now."

Chloe's expression stiffened. She quickly switched faces, smiling as she interrupted the speaker and walked toward Liam.

"When did Student Liam arrive?"

She smiled so gently and naturally that Liam momentarily thought he was hallucinating.

Thought that the person calling him delusional wasn't Chloe.

He stared at her face, saying nothing, motionless like a statue about to erupt.

After a long time, he said, "Just got here."

His voice was hoarse. "I saw you dropped something on the way."

Liam took out the defective bone chain Harper had returned—originally belonging to Chloe—and held it in front of her. "This bracelet, it fell."

Chloe paused, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes, seeming confused about what this trash was. But immediately, to maintain her persona, she smiled and took it. "Thank you. I didn't even notice. almost lost something important."

"Important?" Liam's jaw was tight. He stared dead into Chloe's eyes, suppressing the urge to tear everything apart.

"Then take a look. Is it that one?"

Chloe didn't hear the danger in his tone. She put the bracelet on her wrist, pretended to look at it, and smiled. "It is."

"The bracelet Student Liam made by hand is one of a kind."

*Snap—*

The string of reason in Liam's brain finally broke.

She didn't recognize it at all. This was just a reject. She probably didn't even remember what that bracelet looked like.

He looked at Chloe in disbelief, looking at her hypocritical mask full of smiles.

He felt the wall in his heart named "True Love" completely collapse at this moment.

He turned and walked out quickly.

Mother Maria was toasting guests. Seeing him storm out, sensing the chaotic pheromones on her son, she immediately followed.

"Liam, what's wrong? Did you fight with Chloe?"

Liam looked at his mother, pursed his lips, and just asked, "Why did we break the engagement with the Evans family back then? Did Chloe voluntarily give it to Harper?"

Maria said, "What's wrong with you today? Of course not. Didn't I say? We insisted on Harper because she had the stronger bloodline."

"When the engagement was broken, Chloe cried and made a scene in the hall for a long time, claiming she was the future Luna we were looking for. She even threatened to complain to the Council."

This was completely different from what Liam knew. In his heart, Chloe was the victim whose engagement was stolen, a kind and enduring white lotus.

How could she cry and make a scene? How could she threaten to sue?

Liam took a step back, slowly leaning against the marble wall. "Then why accept Chloe again now?"

Maria sighed. "We didn't reject Harper. Harper broke the engagement herself."

"A month ago, she formally requested to dissolve the blood oath."