Broken Ring, Broken Bond Chapter 02

Broken Ring, Broken Bond Chapter 02

I was halfway through my onboarding paperwork when Julian’s FaceTime popped up.

My professor glanced at my phone.

“Need to take that?”

I shook my head.

“No, thanks.”

The screen lit up, went dark, lit up, went dark.

The assistant pushed the contract across the desk to me.

“Ms. Brooks, this brand collaboration requires your legal name. The Crestmoon territory will post it publicly on PackNet at the same time. Is that okay with you?”

My finger paused.

The partner was a jewelry brand owned by the Crestmoon Pack Group.

Three months ago, I was the one who connected Julian for this project.

Back then he said—

“Once this collaboration goes through, we’ll finalize our formal mate bond in front of the Pack Council.”

I thought it was a promise.

Looking back now, it was just a cheap sugar pill he tossed me offhand.

I signed my name.

“That’s fine.”

Right after I put down my pen, Julian’s text popped up.

[Answer the call.]

I didn’t reply.

A second later, a friend request from Tessa popped up.

Her note was just one line.

[Aurora, Alpha’s been going crazy looking for you. Don’t let him worry.]

I stared at that word “worry”, and hit accept.

She sent a photo right away.

In the photo, Julian was sitting in the hallway of the Pack Hospital, holding his payment receipt in his hand.

Tessa’s hand rested on his cuff, her nails painted soft pink.

[Aurora, don’t get the wrong idea, I’m just here for a follow-up. After all, my body took a hit back then, Alpha’s always felt guilty about it.]

I didn’t reply.

She sent another message.

[I drank too much last night, I said things out of line. If you’re upset, I can apologize.]

Right after that, she unsent a message.

But I still saw it.

[But he was really worried about me back then. He signed all the Pack Hospital receipts himself.]

I flipped my phone face-down on the desk.

My professor asked me, “Feeling unwell?”

I said, “No.”

He looked at me for a few seconds, and handed me a design brief.

“This is the theme Crestmoon territory pitched. Old Flame Reunited. Take a look and see if you can work with it.”

The moment I flipped the page open, I saw the note in the bottom right corner.

[Main visual reference: Tessa Voss.]

I stared at those words, and suddenly wanted to laugh.

Julian really knew how to arrange everything, didn’t he?

I did the collaboration for him, and he made Tessa the muse.

When I got back to my apartment that night, I’d just unpacked my suitcase when the doorbell rang.

A courier handed me an international express package.

[Sender: Julian.]

Inside was a white cashmere scarf.

And a sticky note.

[Paris is cold. Don’t catch a cold. Come back when you’ve cooled off.]

The scarf was brand new.

The tag was still on.

But the scent was familiar.

It was the same perfume Tessa wore last night.

I pulled up Instagram.

Tessa posted a photo half an hour ago.

[Someone bought two scarves, said one for me, one to smooth things over.]

Someone commented teasingly under it.

[Alpha’s good at keeping everyone happy.]

Tessa replied.

[Not really. He said I’m weaker, so I got to pick first.]

I stuffed the scarf back into the box.

Julian called again.

I answered this time.

His voice was softer, calmer.

“Got the package?”

“I got it.”

“Do you like it?”

I looked at the trash can.

“Did Tessa pick the leftovers?”

He went quiet for a beat.

“Aurora, do you have to talk to me like this?”

“What else am I supposed to say?”

He reined in his anger.

“I bought you this to cheer you up, not for you to nitpick.”

“Julian, you know I’m allergic to wool.”

He sounded like he’d choked on air.

It took him a few seconds to say.

“I forgot.”

Forgot.

This word was so light.

Light enough to grind three years into dust.

I set the express box by the door.

My wolf opened her eyes cold in my chest, then lay back down again.

She’d figured it out before I did—this Alpha wasn’t worth waiting for anymore.

“Next time remember, don’t send anything.”

“Aurora.”

His tone turned cold.

“The collaboration has a Zoom call next week. You better get your head straight. Business is business. Don’t drag personal drama into this.”

I looked down at the signature on my contract.

“Don’t worry.”

I hung up, and pulled the ring box out of my bag.

Under the lamp, the ring lay quiet, like a bad joke.

I locked it in a drawer.

When the key turned, my phone buzzed.

The official Crestmoon Pack Group account posted a new update on PackNet.

[The Old Flame Reunited collection is officially launching. Special guest muse—Tessa Voss.]