She smashed a glass, grabbed a sharp piece, and held it to her throat, screaming, "If you don't break the bond with her today, I might as well die!"

Alpha Lucian, who'd been trying to brush it off, panicked. He grabbed my wrist so hard it left a red mark and practically begged me. "We've gotta get the bond-breaking papers today, Luna Ashvale. Vanessa can't handle this."

That's when it hit me.

No matter how many times we become bound-a hundred, a thousand-his precious childhood friend will always come first.

"All done. Let's head home," Alpha Lucian says to Vanessa, pulling her toward the car.

Out of habit, I reach for the passenger door, but Vanessa blocks me, pouting like a spoiled kid. "Luna Ashvale, you and Alpha Lucian aren't bound anymore. Don't you think it's a little weird to ride in his car?"

I glance at Alpha Lucian, hoping for backup.

He frowns slightly, reaching for Vanessa's arm, but she shakes him off. "I'm just stating facts, Alpha Lucian. You're unbound now. What'll wolves think if they see you two cozy in the same car? And Luna Ashvale, you'll want to move on someday. Why not keep some distance from your ex?"

She lays it out like she's reading from a script, all logic and reason.

Alpha Lucian gives me an awkward look. "Luna Ashvale, maybe."

He doesn't finish, but I get the message loud and clear.

I bite the inside of my cheek so hard I taste blood, metallic and sweet. "It's fine," I say. "I'll walk."

Vanessa slides into the passenger seat, smug as ever. Before they drive off, Alpha Lucian shoots me an apologetic glance, his voice low. "Don't take it personally, Luna Ashvale. Vanessa's just having a rough day, acting out a bit. Once I get her settled, we'll become bond again. For good this time. No more breaks."

I don't respond.

He's fed me that line seven times already.

Each time, I believed him. Each time, I got burned.

The first bond-breaking? Alpha Lucian forgot Vanessa's birthday.

The second? She lost her favorite cat.

The third? She had a nightmare that Alpha Lucian became bound to someone else and ditched her.

And this time? He gave me a gift and not her.

Each reason more ridiculous than the last.

Yet every single time, Alpha Lucian bends over backward for her, throwing me under the bus.

I've fought, I've screamed, I've thrown tantrums of my own over the years. But it's always the same outcome. He sweet-talks me, calms me down, then goes right back to dancing to Vanessa's tune.

Now, after the eighth bond-breaking, I'm done. I'm letting go.

The love I had for him-blazing, all-consuming-can't survive being doused in cold water over and over.

I trudge back to Alpha Lucian's house, my mind a fog. Before I even open the door, I hear laughter and playful shouting inside.

Alpha Lucian's covered in flour-face, clothes, everything. I remember how he's got this serious clean-freak streak. Once, I spilled a drop of oil on his shirt while eating, and he chewed me out for it. But now, with Vanessa, he's all smiles, not a hint of annoyance, even with flour dusting him like a human donut.

When he sees me, he breathes a sigh of relief. Without missing a beat, he tosses me an apron. "Luna Ashvale, you're back! Come on, whip up some dinner. Vanessa and I are starving."

Vanessa's sprawled on the couch, acting like she owns the place. "I'm craving beef stew tonight," she says, all bossy. "Make sure the meat's tender."

I let out a bitter laugh and fire back, "Can't you cook it yourself? With all the time you two spend goofing around, you could've made a five-course meal by now."

The second I finish talking, Alpha Lucian shoves me, his face twisted with rage.

My lower back slams into the corner of the dining table, pain shooting through me so bad I break out in a cold sweat.

"Luna Ashvale, do you even hear yourself?" he snaps. "All I asked was for you to make dinner. Why are you making a big deal out of it?"

I'm clenching my teeth against the pain, staying silent.

But to Alpha Lucian, that's me defying him.

Vanessa chimes in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Alpha Lucian, I bet Luna Ashvale just can't stand me. Every time you ask her to do anything, she drags her feet or makes excuses."

"If someone like her stays your mate, I'll probably get kicked out of the house."

That's all it takes for Alpha Lucian's eyes to blaze like he's about to lose it.

He grabs my arm, drags me into the kitchen, and practically throws me against the counter.

His face is stone-cold, not a shred of warmth left. "If you don't make the dinner Vanessa wants tonight, you can spend the whole damn night in here."

Bang.

He slams the kitchen door shut.

My wrist is bruised purple, and my elbow's scraped raw from hitting the stove's edge, blood already seeping out.

A moment later, Vanessa's laughter echoes from the other side of the door, loud and relentless.

Alpha Lucian storms back in, sees me standing there, not moving, and his brows knit together. "Luna Ashvale, are you seriously trying to pick a fight with me?"

"You're my mate. What's the big deal about cooking a meal?"

I straighten up, slowly lifting my head to meet his gaze, a bitter smirk tugging at my lips. "You forgetting something, Alpha Lucian? Our bond is broken. I'm not your mate anymore."

His eyes flicker with embarrassment. He clears his throat, then steps closer, wrapping me in a gentle hug, his voice softening like he's trying to smooth things over. "I got carried away earlier, okay? But I've told you, the bond-breaking is just temporary."

"Once I get Vanessa calmed down, we can become bond again anytime. Don't sweat the small stuff."

He hands me a piece of paper scribbled with a list of dishes, his face turning serious, a hint of a warning in his tone. "I'm giving you a chance here, Luna Ashvale. Make Vanessa happy, cook what she wants, and we can form a new bond sooner."

"Be good, alright?"

He leaves, shutting the kitchen door again.

In that moment, a hollow sadness settles in my chest.

Since when did breaking a bond and forming a new one become "small stuff" to him?

And now I'm supposed to kiss up to Vanessa?

Sorry, not happening.

I'd rather camp out in this kitchen than grovel to her.

I slide down to the floor, leaning against the cabinets under the counter, and close my eyes.

Drifting in and out, I suddenly feel a chill.

I open my eyes to see Vanessa grinning wickedly, splashing a bucket of ice-cold water over me.

"Vanessa, are you out of your mind?" I yell.

She hurls the bucket at me, and it smacks my forehead hard.

"Luna Ashvale, I told you to cook, not nap! You think you're good enough to become bond with Alpha Lucian looking like that? Get real!"

I'm fuming now.

I grab the bucket she threw and chuck it back at her with all I've got.

Vanessa shrieks, dodging it, but the leftover water splashes all over her.

Alpha Lucian hears the commotion and barrels in. Seeing Vanessa soaked and disheveled, he doesn't hesitate-he grabs my hair and yanks, snarling, "Luna Ashvale, have you lost it? How dare you hurt Vanessa!"

He's pulling so hard, his face twisted with fury, like he wants to rip my hair out.

I'm forced onto my tiptoes, straining against his grip, trying to explain. "She threw water on me first and hit me with the bucket-"

But before I can finish, Alpha Lucian's eyes go wild, cold and vicious. "You had it coming!"

"All you had to do was make dinner, and you're slacking off, fighting back? Vanessa's sweet and kind-she only splashed you with water. If it was me, I'd have thrown you out on the street!"