Pain ripped through Niklaus's chest the moment Freya uttered those words of rejection. His face remained stoic, but his blue eyes darkened to stormy red.

"I command you to stay," he growled, his Alpha authority vibrating through the air.

Freya's knees buckled as the mate bond protested violently against her rejection. Her body trembled with effort to remain standing, the agony clawing through her veins like wildfire.

Vicki whimpered inside her mind.

"We can't leave him. It hurts too much."

"We have to," Freya answered silently. "We can't live like this anymore."

Niklaus stalked toward her. His tall frame loomed over her petite one as he reached out, his finger tilting her chin up. His touch sent unwanted sparks across her skin despite the pain.

"You'd endure this excruciating pain just to get away from me?" he asked, his deep voice rough with hurt and anger. "Is staying with me really that unbearable?"

He laughed, cold and mocking. "Without me, how will you support yourself? With that pathetic thousand-dollar monthly salary? You can't even pay rent, let alone afford that necklace around your throat."

The contempt in his voice was unmistakable.The diamond necklace suddenly felt like a shackle around her throat.

Freya twisted her head, trying to escape his grip, but moving only made the rejection pain worse.

"That's my problem," she managed through gritted teeth. "Not yours to worry about."

"Ha," Niklaus scoffed, anger flashing in his eyes. "Have you already found my replacement? Someone to warm your bed and pay your bills?"

She said nothing. It wasn't true, but she wouldn't give him the pleasure of denying it.

Niklaus took her silence as confirmation. His jaw tightened, anger flashing across his face. He released her chin, stepping back with a cold smile.

"Perhaps there's something you don't understand," he said. "You have no authority to decide whether we sever our mate bond."

Freya looked confused. Was his behavior simply because she'd initiated the divorce? Had she wounded his Alpha pride? Or perhaps he worried about Rebekah's reputation if his Luna rejected him first.

After all, just submitting her resignation had sent the entire company into gossip overdrive.

Seeing that their conversation was going nowhere, Freya decided to make her position clear.

"Whether you agree or not, I want a divorce and I won't move back in with you."

Niklaus stared down at her, his shoulders tense. "So you're saying you want to leave me."

The word "leave" made Freya's heart clench painfully, both bitter and aching. After all this time, she still reacted to him.

"According to the contract, we don't need to live together anymore," she clarified, avoiding his intense gaze.

Niklaus studied her for several seconds, his expression unreadable.

A knock interrupted their standoff. Beta Dale's voice came through the door. "Alpha Niklaus, the meeting is about to start."

"Move back in," Niklaus said before walking out.

Freya stayed where she was. "Niklaus, I'm not coming back."

Niklaus seemed unmoved. "When have you said that before?"

In that moment, Freya knew he didn't believe her. She didn't bother arguing further. He would eventually understand that this time, she truly wasn't returning.

Freya's resignation letter remained on his desk when she left Lockwood Enterprises. If he refused to accept it, that was his problem. They could sue her if they wanted.

She returned to her hotel suite, sinking into a hot shower and then nestling into the ridiculously expensive Egyptian cotton sheets. A petty revenge, but satisfying.

Around midnight, loud knocking shattered her peace. Tightening her robe, she opened the door to find the hotel manager, his smile tight and uncomfortable.

"Miss Gilbert, sorry to bother you so late, but there's an issue with your room."

Freya raised an eyebrow. "What kind of issue?"

"Electrical problems," he said awkwardly, gesturing toward the ceiling. "Fire hazard. We need to move you. Now."

"Fine," Freya sighed, too tired to argue. "Give me another room."

The manager's smile tightened further. "I deeply regret to inform you that we're fully booked tonight."

Freya immediately understood what was happening. Only one person could force a five-star hotel to kick out a guest at midnight.

"Niklaus is behind this, isn't he?" she asked bluntly.

The manager looked away. "Miss Gilbert, this is standard protocol for--"

"Cut the crap," Freya cut him off. "He thinks forcing me out will send me crawling back to his pack house."

The manager said nothing. That was answer enough.

Freya swore under her breath and started throwing her stuff into her suitcase.

Twenty minutes later.

Freya grabbed her suitcase and headed for the exit.

"Miss Gilbert, wait!" The receptionist hurried over. "There's a cancellation fee."

Freya stopped dead. "You're kicking me out and charging me for it?"

"We refunded your money, but you're still leaving early. I believe we mentioned the cancellation penalty when you checked in. Hotel policy."

The logic was insane, but Freya was too tired to argue. Fine. She'd use Niklaus's card.

She handed over the black card.

"I'm sorry, Miss Gilbert," the receptionist said, clearly embarrassed. "It seems there's an issue with your card."

Freya's stomach dropped. She dug through her wallet and pulled out another card. Declined. Then another. Declined.

Every single one.

Freya couldn't believe it. Niklaus had frozen every single card linked to his.

Cutting off her money? Really? He really thought this would force her home?

The receptionist kept smiling, but her eyes had changed.

Freya recognized that look--contempt, judgment. The fallen Luna who couldn't even pay a hotel bill.

Too bad for them. She wasn't putting on a show anymore.

Freya smiled back and pulled out a gold card. "Try this one. Thank you."

The receptionist's eyes widened slightly at the exclusive card.

"The payment went through perfectly, Miss Gilbert," the receptionist confirmed, surprised.

Freya smiled. "Excellent."

She took the card back from the receptionist.

Outside the hotel, a familiar black Bentley pulled up to the curb. Daniel, Niklaus's longtime driver, stepped out and reached for her luggage.

"Luna Freya," he greeted formally. "Alpha Niklaus sent me to bring you home."

"How considerate," she said sarcastically.

Freya stepped away from his offered hand. "And I suppose if I check into another hotel, he'll have me kicked out of there too?"

Daniel's silence said it all.

Her phone rang, Niklaus's name lighting up the screen.

Freya answered with a deep breath.

"What do you want?"

"Get in the car, Freya," Niklaus commanded, his voice glacial. "This childish game ends now."

"Game?" She laughed bitterly. "Is that what you think this is?"

"You've made your point. Now it's time to come home."

"That's not my home anymore." Freya's jaw clenched.

"You have two options," Niklaus continued as if she hadn't spoken. "Either Daniel brings you back to the pack house where you belong, or you can try surviving without any of our resources. Your choice."

"Our resources?" Freya repeated incredulously. "You mean the resources you're cutting me off from? The credit cards you've frozen? The hotel room you just had me evicted from?"

"You didn't think I'd let you use my money to fund your little rebellion, did you?"

His voice dripped with smugness. "Be realistic, Freya. Where will you go? What will you do? You've been playing Luna for three years--you have no job, no income."

Anger flared hot in Freya's chest. "You think I'm completely dependent on you? That I can't survive without your money or protection?"

"I think you're being stubborn and irrational," Niklaus said, his voice hardening. "Either you come home willingly, or I'll come get you myself."

"Try it," she challenged, ending the call before he could respond.

Daniel fidgeted awkwardly beside the car. "Luna Freya, please. The Alpha is only concerned for your safety."

"No, Daniel." Freya forced a tight smile. "And I'm not Luna Freya anymore. Tell your Alpha that from now on, I'm just Freya Gilbert."

She turned and walked away.

Her phone buzzed with text messages from Niklaus, each more threatening than the last.

Ignoring them, she checked her missed calls. Three were from Fiona, her best friend and owner of Azure Gallery.

"Where the hell have you been?" Fiona asked straight out. "I've been trying to reach you all night!"

"It's a long story," Freya sighed, flagging down a taxi.

"Can I crash at your place?" Freya asked. "For a while. Niklaus got me kicked out of my hotel and I doubt any other hotel in the city will take me."

"What a petty asshole," Fiona growled. "Of course you can stay. But that's not why I called."

"What's up?" Freya asked curiously.

"Good news. Huge news," Fiona said mysteriously. "We're definitely celebrating when you get here."

Freya hung up and got in the cab. Daniel's car followed her the entire way, but she ignored it.

Getting out, she grabbed her suitcase from the trunk and accidentally cut her hand on a sharp edge.

It bled but wasn't serious.

Fiona lived on the 17th floor. Knowing she was coming, she'd left the door open.

When Freya walked in with her suitcase, Fiona jumped--she hadn't mentioned luggage on the phone.

She looked like a runaway.

Fiona took the suitcase from her.

"If you'd told me about the luggage, I could've helped you carry it up... Oh my god, what happened to your hand?"

Seeing Fiona frantically searching for a first aid kit, Freya stopped her. "It's fine. It'll heal fast."

"Your hands are made of gold! Can't you be more careful? Pianists practically keep their hands in safety deposit boxes."

Freya laughed despite everything. The darkness of the past few days lifted a little. "This won't affect anything."

After settling in, Freya sat on Fiona's couch. "So what's this big news you couldn't tell me over the phone?"

Fiona pulled a bottle of red wine from the fridge and poured two glasses. "First, let's celebrate you getting out of that mess!"

They clinked glasses and Freya took a sip. Those three years as contract Luna had been exhausting.

Fiona sat beside Freya. "Edward Bravy was in the gallery today."

Freya sat up straighter. "Edward Bravy? The Edward Bravy? Head of Bravy Studios?"

"The very same," Fiona confirmed, excitement evident in her voice. "He was looking at your paintings, the ones under the name 'F', and he was absolutely blown away. Kept asking who the artist was, said he'd been trying to track you down for years."

"What did you tell him?" Freya asked, her heart racing.

"Nothing yet. I said I'd try to reach the artist, but wanted to talk to you first. Freya, he wants to offer you a position at his studio. This is huge!"

A position at Bravy Studios. Every serious artist dreamed of working there--for the resources, mentorship, exposure to the right collectors and critics. It was everything Freya had wanted before her life had been derailed by debt and desperation.

"Did he leave his contact information?" Freya asked, hardly daring to hope.

"Better. He's coming back Thursday afternoon. Said he'd wait all day if necessary." Fiona paused. "This could be your ticket to a whole new life, Frey. A life where you don't need Alpha Niklaus."

Independence, freedom--the chance to be valued for her talent rather than her status as an Alpha's mate.

Vicki stirred inside her. "Maybe this is your chance."

"Yes," Freya murmured. "I think it is."

"I'll be there," Freya promised. "What time?"

"Two o'clock. And Frey? Wear something fabulous. This is your moment."

***

Outside the hospital room, Niklaus read Daniel's text message with growing disbelief.

[Luna Freya didn't return home. She's staying at a friend's place.]

He had frozen her cards.

He had made sure no hotel in the city would take her.

She was supposed to have nowhere else to go.

A friend?

Niklaus stared at his phone. Freya had friends? In three years of marriage, she'd never mentioned anyone. Male or female?

His wolf Flex whined miserably in his mind. Their mate was rejecting them, and lately Flex had been growing more despondent by the day.

Niklaus immediately texted his beta, Dale, find out whose place she's staying at. Now.

"Niklaus?"

A soft voice called from the hospital room. He turned to see Rebekah looking at him with worried eyes.

"Is everything okay? You look upset." She bit her lip nervously. "Is Freya angry that you've been here with me? The doctor says I'll be discharged soon."

"No," Niklaus said quickly. "Just work stuff."

He cleared his throat. "When is your manager coming to look after you?"

"Hannah should be here any minute."

Rebekah shifted closer to him, her voice trembling. "What if I can never dance again?"

Guilt crashed over him. She'd gotten hurt trying to save Freya. Maybe she'd never dance again because of that.

"Don't worry about it," he said softly. "Whatever you want to do, my company can help you."

"Thank you so much." Rebekah moved to hug him.

Niklaus went rigid but didn't push her away.

Just then, Hannah walked in.

"Am I interrupting something?" Hannah asked playfully.

Rebekah blushed and let go of his arm.

"I should go," Niklaus said immediately, stepping back.

As he reached the door, his phone buzzed. A text from Beta Dale.

[Luna Freya's staying with Fiona Martinez, owner of Azure Gallery. ]

Niklaus stopped in his tracks. Azure Gallery? Why did that name sound familiar?

Freya sat cross-legged on Fiona's couch, sketching idly in her notebook. Fiona handed her a cup of coffee.

A sudden sharp pain lanced through her head, making her gasp.

Luna Freya! Please come quickly! Margaret has collapsed! The doctors are with her but she's asking for you!

The mind-link was so urgent and frantic that it cut through all her mental barriers.

"What's wrong?" Fiona asked, alarmed by Freya's sudden reaction.

"It's Margaret," Freya said, already on her feet. "She's collapsed."

Vicki whined anxiously inside her. "You need to go. Whatever happened between you and Niklaus, Margaret has always been kind to you."

"I know," Freya whispered back.

"Margaret? Your mother-in-law?" Fiona asked. "Is she sick?"

"I don't know. I need to go." Freya grabbed her purse, her mind racing. "Can I borrow your car?"

Fiona nodded, tossing her the keys. "Call me if you need anything."

Freya burst through the front door of the Whitecrown Pack House, her heart pounding wildly. Several pack members looked up in surprise as she rushed past.

"Where is she?" she asked the first person she recognized.

"In the living room," the woman replied, pointing.

Freya ran down the hallway, bracing herself for the worst. She pushed open the double doors and froze.

Margaret Lockwood sat comfortably on the sofa, a teacup in her perfectly steady hands. Her complexion was rosy and healthy.

"Freya, darling!" Margaret exclaimed, setting down her cup with a delighted smile. "You came!"

Freya stood frozen, confusion and anger flickering across her face. "You're not sick?"

"Sick? Of course not," Margaret replied cheerfully. "Why would you think that?"

"I got a mind-link saying you'd collapsed," Freya said through gritted teeth. "That doctors were with you."

Margaret's face cleared. "Oh! That must have been Olivia being dramatic. I just mentioned feeling a bit faint earlier because I was worried about you."

Freya's shoulders slumped with relief, then tensed with irritation. "Was this Niklaus's idea? Getting me back here like this?"

"Niklaus?" Margaret looked genuinely confused. "He's been at work all day." She patted the sofa. "Come sit, dear. I've missed you."

Reluctantly, Freya sat. "I can't stay long."

"Where have you been?" Margaret asked, worry in her eyes. "I was so concerned. Niklaus said you needed space. What's happened?"

The genuine concern made Freya's resolve waver. Margaret had always been kind, had welcomed her into the pack when others looked down on her for being an outsider.

"Things between Niklaus and me are... complicated," Freya said carefully.

"How so? You're mates. What's complicated about that?" Margaret asked.

Freya sighed, knowing she couldn't tell the whole truth without revealing the contract marriage. "I don't think Niklaus wants to be with me. Not really. I think he's just... stuck with me because of our mate bond."

Margaret's eyebrows shot up. "That's nonsense!"

"Is it?" Freya countered. "For three years, he's barely acknowledged me except when he needed something. He's never once told me he loves me. Never once made me feel like I was anything more than an obligation."

"Oh, Freya." Margaret reached for her hand. "My son isn't expressive. He takes after his father that way. Mikael hardly said ten romantic words to me in our entire marriage, but I never doubted he loved me."

"It's more than that," Freya insisted. "I'm not what he wanted. I've always known that."

Margaret's face softened. "The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes, Freya. If she made you two mates, it's because you're perfect for each other."

Freya bit back a bitter laugh. If only Margaret knew how their mating had really started--with one night and a contract drawn up by lawyers.

"Sometimes I think even the Moon Goddess gets it wrong," she said, standing up. "I should go."

"No, please," Margaret said quickly, grabbing her wrist. "I haven't been entirely honest with you. The doctors were here yesterday. My heart... it's not as strong as it used to be."

Freya froze. "What?"

"They've advised me to avoid stress," Margaret continued, her voice trembling slightly. "And knowing my son and his mate are separating... that would be very stressful indeed."

Freya couldn't tell Margaret about the divorce, about severing their mate bond.

Guilt crashed over Freya.

"I'll stay for dinner," she conceded reluctantly. "But then I need to go back to my friend's place."

Relief washed over Margaret's face. "Thank you, dear. That's all I ask."

Hours later, Freya sat at the dining table, pushing food around her plate. Margaret had kept up a steady stream of conversation about pack business. Niklaus hadn't come home for dinner. Freya wondered if the company was keeping him busy, and if he was working too hard.

She immediately chastised herself for worrying about him. He was unreasonable and controlling. He didn't deserve her concern.

After dinner, Freya went upstairs to rest. Opening the door to the master bedroom, she was struck by how unchanged it was. Her small trinkets still sat on the vanity. Her books remained stacked on the nightstand. It was as if she'd never left.

The door opened behind her, and Niklaus walked in. He froze when he saw her, surprise flashing across his handsome face before it settled into a composed mask. His tall frame filled the doorway, his hair slightly disheveled.

Deep inside, he felt a surge of satisfaction. She had come back. His strategy of freezing her assets had worked after all. Still, anger simmered at her rebellion.

"Good evening," Freya said politely, keeping her distance. "I'm only here because Margaret asked me to stay. I'll be leaving tomorrow."

Niklaus frowned, moving closer to her. "Leaving? Where do you think you're going?"

He towered over her, his broad shoulders blocking the light from the hallway. His scent mixed with another flowery scent that didn't belong to him.

Freya felt a burning, twisting knot in her stomach. Rebekah's perfume. He'd been with her.

Was that why he came home so late? Had he been at the hospital taking care of Rebekah all this time?

Ignoring Freya's silence, Niklaus reached for his shirt buttons and loosened his tie. He spread his arms, waiting--expecting her to help him undress just as she had done countless times before.

Freya stepped back, her face twisting with disgust. "Your smell makes me sick. Stay away from me."