Aria's POV

I lifted my eyes to the man I had loved for seven years.

My smile looked calm, but it never reached my eyes.

I had already decided to leave. I just needed the right moment.

By now, I could read Stephen easily.

His goal was clear.

He wanted everything, a perfect Luna beside him for status and power, and a younger woman to satisfy his excitement.

He really thought he could live this double life as long as no one found out.

But he underestimated a woman's intuition.

He had been careful, maybe too careful, but after seven years together, there were signs he could not hide.

A look or a small change in his voice was enough. Those clues led me straight to her, to Belinda.

Since Stephen had the nerve to fall for someone else and still expected me to protect his pride,

I would make sure he saw exactly what that mistake would cost him.

"Answer me! Why are you packing all your clothes into these boxes?" Stephen's voice rose, his hands gripping my shoulders hard enough to hurt.

I gasped, and he quickly loosened his hold.

His eyes locked on mine, demanding an answer.

I gave a small laugh. "These clothes are out of season, and I don't like them anymore. I'm donating them and buying new ones. What's wrong? Having second thoughts? Yesterday you said I could buy whatever I wanted."

Stephen blinked, caught off guard. "So... these are just for donation?"

I nodded. "Throwing them away would be wasteful. Donating gives them a second life."

He exhaled in relief. "You scared me. I thought you were leaving me."

I smiled faintly. "You haven't done anything that would make me leave. Have you?"

"Of course not. We're too good together for you to leave me."

The delivery driver standing nearby tried not to laugh. His mood brightened. "If you ask me, Mrs. Graves, your husband really loves you. You're a lucky woman. Loyal men like him are rare these days."

Stephen pulled me close again, his arm tight around my waist. "Hear that? Men like me are rare. You should treasure me."

I stepped out of his hold.

"Where's my phone? I need to pay him," I said, my tone cold.

After breakfast, Stephen went to his study for a video meeting.

I put on my jacket and walked out.

At a private gym, I ran until sweat drenched my tank top and my heartbeat echoed like a drum in my ears.

Each step felt like a release, a way for my wolf to burn off the anger clawing inside me. The air smelled faintly of metal and salt, and for a moment, the world narrowed to the rhythm of my breath and the pounding of my feet.

By noon, I finally slowed down, muscles trembling but my mind a little clearer.

I grabbed a taxi outside, planning to get lunch and maybe a few minutes of peace.

The peace didn't last.

The car jolted to a violent stop.

I was thrown forward, hitting the seat in front of me hard enough to knock the breath out of my chest.

The driver cursed under his breath.

"What the hell? Why are they hugging in the middle of the road?" he snapped, slamming his hand against the steering wheel.

I looked up and saw a couple standing not far ahead.

The man bent down to pick something up and handed it to the woman. She covered her face, emotional, then threw her arms around him right there in traffic.

Behind them, several cars screeched to a stop.

A man stepped out of a black sedan, shouting, "Hey! Take your love story somewhere else! You're blocking the road and could get someone killed!"

The man with one arm around the woman raised his free hand in apology. "Sorry! My girlfriend dropped her bracelet. I was just helping her pick it up."

That man was Stephen.

"Even so, you can't just walk into traffic!" another driver snapped. "If you got hit, who would take the blame? And what about everyone you're holding up?"

Stephen stayed calm, his voice steady. "I'm sorry, everyone. If anyone's car was damaged, I'll pay for it. Send your details to my assistant, and I'll give you triple the amount."

Money still worked miracles.

As soon as he said triple, most of the angry drivers backed off, muttering but no longer shouting.

Beta Enzo hurried around collecting names and numbers, and within minutes, traffic started moving again.

The taxi driver looked at me in the mirror, hesitant. "Ma'am, mind if I wait a second? I'll just leave my number and be right back. Won't take long."

He was clearly tempted by the promise of extra cash.

I said calmly, "This ride costs about thirty dollars. Triple that's a hundred. I'll give you a thousand if you just keep driving."

His eyes widened.

"Deal!" He hit the gas immediately, grinning.

Money talks, after all.

I rubbed my temples as a dull ache formed behind my eyes.

"That woman's lucky," the driver said. "She's got a boyfriend who'd risk his life just to grab her bracelet. Unreal."

I didn't reply.

He went on, shaking his head. "But if he's that rich, why not just buy her a new one? Running into traffic like that? Crazy."

I pulled out my phone and dialed. The call connected almost instantly.

"Aria?"

"Stephen, where are you?"

"At the office. Why?"

Through the rearview mirror, I saw him clearly.

Stephen was only a few cars away, holding Belinda's hand while talking to me on the phone.

The irony was almost painful.

Belinda looked like she wanted to speak, but Stephen lifted a hand to silence her. Then he pressed a finger to his lips.

"Aria, do you want me to bring you some pastries from Sugar Nest?" he asked smoothly. "You used to love their tiramisu."

"I'm fine," I said.

"You sure? I thought you still liked it."

"People change," I replied. "Maybe I liked it before, but not anymore."

Stephen's voice softened. "Aria, is something wrong? You sound off."

Lily growled inside me, begging me to confront him, to tear through his lies right now. But I stayed silent. This wasn't the right moment.

"I'm fine," I said quietly. "Go back to work. Goodbye."

Aria's POV

That evening, Stephen came home carrying a single cupcake in a white paper box.

I was sitting cross-legged on the living-room floor, old photo albums scattered around me like pieces of a broken timeline.

We'd known each other so long that our college memories alone filled four thick albums.

Seeing the photos, Stephen's expression softened.

He stepped behind me, his arm sliding easily around my waist. "Why are you looking through our old pictures?"

"Why are you home so early?" I countered.

He chuckled under his breath. "I missed you, so I left work early."

I carefully stacked the albums and slipped them into a cardboard box.

The lighter hidden in my palm felt heavy, almost guilty, before I slid it into my jeans pocket.

I'd assumed he would be with Belinda and had planned to burn everything while he was gone. Now, he'd completely ruined my plan.

"Sweetheart, why do I get the feeling you're not happy I came home early?" he asked, his wolf senses already catching the tension in my body.

I stood up, moving out of reach. "Work should come first."

Stephen followed right behind me and wouldn't give me space. "No, you're always my first priority," he said.

He leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Darling, you've been distant lately. Did I do something wrong?"

The intimacy that once felt tender now made my skin crawl.

The arms around my waist had likely just been around another woman; the lips trying to kiss me had probably kissed someone else hours ago.

Just imagining it made Lily growl inside me, and my stomach twisted.

I shoved Stephen away and bolted for the bathroom, barely reaching the sink before I threw up.

He followed, handing me tissues and rubbing my back.

His brow furrowed with concern that looked painfully real. "Why are you suddenly sick? Food poisoning? Emma!"

Emma rushed in. "Yes, Luna Aria?"

"What did she eat this afternoon? Was the food fresh? Her stomach is sensitive. That's why I hired you. Why is she throwing up now?"

Emma blinked, startled. "Luna Aria wasn't home for lunch, Alpha. She went out. Maybe it's something she ate while she was out?"

Stephen's jaw tightened; his voice dropped low. "Outside food isn't clean, and pre-packaged meals are full of chemicals. If you're hungry, tell Emma what you want and she'll make it here. Why eat out?"

Already dizzy from vomiting, his lecture hit me like ice water.

"Jesus, Stephen. Am I supposed to be locked up in this house? Don't I have the right to go out?"

"I'm just trying to protect you," he said sharply. "I worry when you're out alone. You know what? From now on, I'll go with you."

I scoffed. "And when would you have time for that?"

What was he?

A man who thought he could run a company and his pack, cheat, and still pretend to be the perfect mate?

Stephen looked at me for a long moment and wiped the sweat off his forehead with a tissue. "What are you talking about? Of course I have time if you need me. After all these years, don't you know how much I care about you?"

I had learned a lot about him, just not what he wanted me to believe.

Suddenly, Emma gasped, clapping her hands together. "Luna Aria has been emotional lately, and now she's vomiting... could she be pregnant?"

Stephen looked startled. "Aria, are you..."

"No," I cut him off. "I just found your scent strange, and it made me sick. That's all."

"We should get you checked..."

"Stephen!" I snapped. "You, of all people, know we haven't even done that in the last three months."

The thought was almost funny.

For the past three months, Stephen had rarely come home for dinner.

There was always another meeting, another "client dinner," or some vague excuse about eating with the team.

At first, I didn't think much of it.

With his position and the endless social whirl that came with it, people were always lining up to share a table with him.

One night, while half-watching a late-night talk show, I heard the host joke, "When a man stops eating at home, it's usually because someone else is feeding him."

The words hit me harder than I expected.

They tore away the comfortable lies I had been living with and left only the truth.

Stephen's expression turned serious. "So that's why you've been upset with me. I'm sorry, Aria. The company's been insane lately, and the pack's security patrols needed reorganizing. I know I've neglected you, but I promise I'll start coming home for dinner every night, okay?"

"I don't need you to do that. I wouldn't want to interfere with your business," I said, my voice edged with sarcasm that even Lily couldn't hide.

"Don't be like that, Aria. There's no need to be upset."

"Is that what you think I am? Upset?"

My eyes dropped to his wrist, where he wore a simple red braided bracelet. No jewels. Just a rough little charm in the shape of a crescent moon.

Definitely handmade.

Noticing my stare, Stephen quickly raised his wrist. "Oh, this? The admin team gave these to everyone at work. It's some kind of gift for the summer solstice. Everyone got one."

I looked away. "Is that so?"

"Do you like it? I can ask them to make me another one for you."

"No, thanks. I hate jewelry."

"Can you give me a minute?" I said. "I need to change."

Stephen laughed softly. "Aria, we've been together seven years."

"I don't like being watched while I change."

He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead. "Fine. Whatever you want. I'll wait in the dining room. Let's have dinner together."

"Of course."

After he left, Emma followed him out.

I pulled out my phone and refreshed my feed.

The first post on my screen made my stomach drop.

May I be your star, and you be my moon, shining together every night. I almost lost you today, but because of him, I found you again.

In the photo, Belinda's delicate hand wore a red braided bracelet with a small star-shaped charm.

It matched Stephen's moon charm perfectly.

They looked like a perfect pair.

Without a second thought, I struck the lighter.

The flame caught fast, curling the edges of the old photos until our smiles turned black and fell apart.

When the last page crumbled, I gathered the ashes and flushed them away.

The water carried what was left of us down the drain, clean and final.

I stood and walked toward the bedroom.

In the mirror, the woman staring back at me looked calm, her makeup flawless, her smile perfectly controlled.

My hair was twisted up neatly, not a single strand out of place. The deep red lipstick curved over my mouth like sin and confidence rolled into one, bold enough to make a statement without saying a word. Diamond studs winked at my ears, small but sharp, and my eyes, lined just right, gave nothing away.

Tonight, I was ready to crack the perfect surface of our peace and show him what it truly cost to betray me.

Aria's POV

Emma appeared in the doorway. "Alpha Stephen said he might be home very late."

I turned to her, my tone even. "Thank you, Emma. You've been wonderful."

I lingered by the vanity, smoothing my skirt, then picked up my coat.

The light threw cold shadows across my face.

"I have some business at the Pack House tonight," I said, as casually as if I were mentioning a trip to the mailbox.

Emma nodded and said nothing.

I grabbed my purse and walked out.

The jewelry store smelled faintly of perfume and polished glass.

Light shimmered off the display cases like tiny stars.

Belinda spotted me and approached with her practiced smile. "Miss Graves, welcome. What would you like to see today?"

I didn't answer right away. I took a seat, picked up a magazine, and flipped through it as if I had all the time in the world.

Then I said calmly, "I have a friend whose husband recently fell for a younger woman. She's heartbroken and doesn't know whether she should try to save the marriage."

Belinda raised an eyebrow, her smile sugary-sweet. "Then her husband doesn't love her anymore. If that's the case, letting go is probably best. Once a woman loses her shine in a man's eyes, no effort will bring it back."

Her gaze flicked to my diamond ring. "But that would never happen to you. You're beautiful, elegant, successful. What man would ever leave you?"

A faint smile appeared on my lips, but I said nothing.

The diamond caught the light and reflected it sharply, just like the truth I had already seen.

Just then, Belinda's phone vibrated.

She glanced at the screen, and her face softened instantly.

"I'm sorry, Miss Graves," she said, lowering her voice. "It's my boyfriend. He's getting impatient. Do you mind if I take this call?"

I nodded. "Go ahead."

Belinda turned away, her voice turning sweet and playful.

"Don't be mad, okay? This rich client might spend a fortune tonight. I can't walk away now... I know, I know, it sucks to be stood up. I promise I'll make it up to you."

She laughed softly. "Shh, stop that. I have a customer watching. I'll call you later."

When she hung up, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glowing with that unmistakable look of someone in love.

She came back carrying a velvet tray. "Miss Graves, please take a look at these. I picked the ones that would suit you best. Feel free to try them on."

"Of course," I said.

Belinda moved with quiet grace and confidence, her charm looking completely natural.

"Your boyfriend seems quite attached," I said.

Belinda blushed. "Yes. He's been very busy lately, and so have I. We hardly see each other."

"I'm sure you'll have plenty of time together soon," I said, my laugh barely a whisper.

I stood, paid, and left.

I could already picture their faces when the truth hit.

For once, I was looking forward to the show.

--

It was midnight.

The only light in the house came from the bedroom upstairs.

I pushed open the front door and saw a pair of glossy black heels by the entryway. They were the same ones Belinda had worn at the jewelry store earlier.

I walked to the kitchen, took some fruit from the fridge, arranged it neatly on a plate, and headed upstairs.

I knocked on the bedroom door.

"Who is it?" Stephen's voice called.

I didn't answer, just knocked again, harder.

"Emma? It's late. Can it wait until morning?"

Belinda's whisper drifted through the door. "Who's that?"

"Our housekeeper."

"She's still up?"

"Probably just reminding me to close the windows."

Footsteps approached. The door opened.

Stephen stood there in pajamas and black-framed glasses, irritation written across his face.

"Emma, I said..." He stopped cold. "Aria? What are you doing here?"

I smiled faintly. "I missed you. Didn't you say we should start trying for a baby? I brought fruit."

His smile froze.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly. "Not in the mood? Or am I interrupting something?"

Footsteps sounded behind him.

Belinda stepped out of the shadows wearing my silk robe.

"Stephen, what's taking so..."

I lifted the fruit fork with a calm smile. "Hello, salesgirl. Want some fruit?"

The air turned to glass.

Belinda's face went pale. "You're... Miss Graves."

"That's right," I said evenly. "And the man you just called Stephen is my husband."

Stephen grabbed my wrist and hissed, "Come with me."

The door slammed behind us.

"You planned this?" he growled.

"Yes," I said, calm as ever. "Is that a problem?"

My smile was sharp enough to cut.

"You talk about having children with me while letting her wear my robe and sleep in my bed. Stephen, what exactly are you trying to prove?"

His eyes hardened. "You've been visiting her store. You knew all along, didn't you?"

"Of course. I even used your credit card to boost her sales numbers."

He went silent, his voice low. "So you planned all of this tonight?"

"I just wanted you to see the ending with your own eyes."

I met his stare without flinching. "Stephen, do you remember what you said on our wedding day?"

He had once knelt before me, eyes red with tears, promising, "If I ever stop loving you, may I be punished for it."

Now he was right here, bringing his mistress into our home and our bed.

Stephen's tone turned harsh. "Aria, is this a game to you? Do you think it's fun to humiliate me?"

"I'm done arguing," I said quietly. "Let's finish this, Stephen."

Lily's power surged inside me, steadying my voice.

"I, Aria Graves, daughter of the Alpha of Moonridge Pack, reject you, Stephen Green of Stoneheart Pack. You're no longer my destined mate. May you live with the pain you chose."

The air thickened, pressing against my skin.

My voice stayed steady, but it carried a cold finality.

Stephen's pupils contracted; he could feel the bond tearing apart.

Pain struck fast. My chest tightened, and each breath felt like a blade.

Blood roared in my veins like a storm collapsing in on itself.

Stephen doubled over too, choking on the backlash.

"End this? Don't you dare..." he rasped.

A woman screamed from the hallway.

Belinda had fallen, clutching her ankle and crying out.

Stephen staggered toward the door.

I caught his arm, tears glinting on my lashes though my smile stayed cruel. "Say the words, or you won't make it through that door."

He stared at me, stunned, then whispered, "I, Stephen Green, accept your rejection."

The bond snapped.

Stephen walked out, lifted Belinda into his arms, and disappeared down the hall.

I let out a soft laugh, the sound low and steady, more relief than humor.

Everything was finally in place.

Then I opened the drawer and took out the divorce papers I'd tricked Stephen into signing a month earlier-documents that would give me half of his personal assets.

He never read them, of course. He just signed, trusting me as he always did.

Soon, Stephen Green's scandal would be all over social media.

I was finally free.