"What?" I was stunned.

He replied, "Yeah, that's what he wants."

I shook my head. "I can't go there."

After glancing inside the hotel room, he said, "What makes a hotel room so good? Our pack house is already luxurious."

I raised an eyebrow, realizing he was hinting that I was Adrian's ex-wife. Naturally, all his officials knew about their Alpha's personal life—mostly from social media.

"Give Alpha Lucas a call. I want to speak with him," I said.

Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone. He dialed Alpha Lucas's number and handed me the phone. I pressed it to my ear.

When Alpha Lucas answered, I said, "Uncle, I can't stay there."

"Natalia, why? Haven't we discussed this?" he asked.

"But Uncle, how can I live in the pack house?"

"You're our guest. Let us welcome you."

I sighed, unsure what to do. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "Okay, I'm coming," I replied.

I returned the phone to Delta Julian. After a brief conversation, he told Alpha Lucas, "I'm bringing her to the pack house."

After checking out, I left the hotel with Delta Julian. I called my driver to inform him I was going to the pack house. He offered to drive me, but I declined, explaining that someone else was driving me. Delta Julian opened the car door for me; I got in, he started the car, and we drove in silence.

I watched the road through the windshield. Delta Julian remained silent.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to me. I turned to him and asked, "Does your Alpha stay at the pack house?"

Adrian and I were married for two years, but he never visited the pack house until his father requested a family dinner. We lived separately. Perhaps his preferences have changed.

"No," he said. "He usually stays in his company's apartment."

I felt relieved. If he wasn't there, I wouldn't have to face him.

The drive to the pack house took an hour. As we approached, memories flooded back.

The car stopped at the entrance. Delta Julian got out and opened my door. I thanked him as I exited. He gestured toward the pack house.

Approaching the imposing gate, my heart raced with fear and excitement. Near the forest's edge, the familiar building seemed to whisper secrets from the past, each stone echoing bittersweet memories.

Returning, even briefly, hadn't been easy. But Adrian's father's plea—my former father-in-law—was impossible to ignore.

Pushing past my conflicting emotions, I was driven by his health and the respect I still held for him.

The house felt warm upon entering—a stark contrast to my cold apprehension.

Grace, Adrian's mother, greeted me. "Thank you for coming," she said, her eyes reflecting happiness and sadness. "We just arrived. Lucas is in his room. Have you eaten? Let's have dinner together."

"Okay."

She summoned a maid to show me my room. The maid's expression revealed recognition. She led me upstairs to a room and unlocked the door. "The old mistress instructed us to prepare this room for you."

The room was beautifully decorated. The soft, muted colors and faint lavender scent were soothing.

"Nice room," I told the maid.

"We've put some clothes in the closet for you."

I nodded after a quick look. Auntie Grace had organized everything remarkably quickly!

After the maid left, I chose a cotton dress and went downstairs for dinner with Uncle Lucas and Auntie Grace.

The maids informed me they were in the dining room. They were overjoyed I had stayed, their affection surprising after all these years.

After dinner, we sat in the living room, discussing the Crystal Blood Pack's current state. How much had changed?

As nightfall approached, we continued our conversation. Then, approaching footsteps echoed through the hallway.

"Alpha has returned," a maid announced to Uncle Lucas.

I glanced toward the door. Adrian entered, seeming to sense something. A grimace crossed his face, as if a scent had offended him. His gaze locked onto me, his eyebrows rising in surprise. His sharp gaze ignited a spark in my inner wolf.

I took a deep breath and looked away, demonstrating that the mate bond was gone.