The moment I said I wanted to break the bond, the comments went wild, flashing across my vision like a digital storm.

[What's with this plot twist? Clara's talking about breaking the bond? No way! Dominic's head over heels for her-he'd lose it!]

[Come on, Dominic just doesn't know how to say it, but he's crazy about Clara. He hasn't done anything wrong!]

[Y'all are freaking out for nothing. Clara's just mad and trying to spook Dominic. She's been into him for years-she's not going anywhere.]

I caught the glint of mockery in my own reflection. Maybe Dominic thought the same thing, that he could keep pushing my limits because I'd never leave. But I'm not his shadow, and my love for him? It's been worn down to nothing by his endless cold shoulder.

An hour later, my lawyer showed up with the papers, all business. "Clara, once your mate signs these, there's a thirty-day cooling-off period. After that, you'll be unbound."

I nodded, tucking the papers into my bag.

Over the next few days in the hospital, Dominic didn't show his face. But every time I went for meds or a checkup, I'd see him hovering around Aurora, all warm smiles and soft words. The comments kept insisting it was just a ploy to make me jealous, a classic Dominic move. So I stayed calm, refusing to throw the tantrums I used to.

When I was discharged, I left without a word to him.

Back home, I started purging everything tied to Dominic. The suits and shirts I'd bought him? Never worn. Our photos together? He's stone-faced in every one. The matching mugs and slippers I got us? He'd always scoffed at them. I was ready to toss it all when the comments piped up again.

[Clara's throwing out all this stuff? Dominic's gonna lose it when he finds out!]

[Those clothes, those mugs-Dominic treasures them because Clara picked them out. He just acts like he doesn't care in front of her, but he's got them stashed away like sacred relics.]

[He looks like an ice block in those photos, but inside, he's grinning like a fool, fighting the urge to grab her hand. He's too good at playing the aloof wolf, and now Clara's totally misreading him.]

I didn't care anymore whether he was faking it or not. I hauled the boxes to the curb and dumped them in the trash. The heavy thud echoed as Dominic walked in, his face going pale as moonlight.

"What are you doing?" His voice was low, laced with barely-contained rage. "Who said you could touch my stuff?"

I didn't even look up, my tone flat as a frozen lake. "I bought it all. If you don't want it, what's the problem with me getting rid of it?"

His throat bobbed, like he wanted to say something, but Aurora burst in, holding up a flashy watch. "Dominic! You left your Patek Philippe at my place."

She froze, sensing the tension. "Oh, sorry, are you two fighting? I'll just go."

She turned to leave, but Dominic, in a move that wasn't like him, called her back. "No fight. Just clearing out some junk. You're a guest-come in."

He ushered her inside, brewing her coffee, showing her his study, wine cellar, music room-like some doting host. When Aurora saw his piano and asked to play a duet, he jumped right in, song after song. When she gushed over his art skills, he set up an easel and sketched her portrait. When she wanted to watch a movie, he sat beside her, hanging on her every word about the plot.

I watched it all, a sharp pain stabbing my chest. The comments kept rolling, swearing he was only doing this to make me jealous, that his heart was still mine while he played these games with Aurora. It felt like a cruel joke.

All these years, I'd begged him to play music with me, to paint, to watch a movie together. Every time, he'd shut me down with that icy stare. I used to believe the comments, thinking he was just scared of letting his guard down. But seeing him jump at the chance to do all those things with Aurora? It hit me hard: love that can't be spoken isn't love at all.

I swallowed the ache and retreated to my room, done caring what they were up to. That evening, Aurora knocked on my door. "Dominic's taking me to a Michelin-star restaurant. Wanna come?"

I said no, but she wouldn't let it go, waltzing into my room, picking up the necklace on my desk while trying to coax me. "He's got the table booked, Clara. Come on, we're all college buds. So many she-wolves chased Dominic, but you snagged the untouchable wolf. Why play hard to get? If I were his mate, I'd never treat him like this."

I opened my mouth to snap back, but then Aurora yanked at the diamond necklace-my mom's last gift before she passed-and it snapped.

My blood ran cold, then boiled like lava. I lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. "Did you do that on purpose?!"

She shook me off, pouting like some innocent pup. "What? I just thought it was pretty and wanted a closer look. It broke so easily-where'd you get this cheap thing? Some flea market? How much was it, a few bucks? I'll pay you back."

She pulled out her wallet, tossing a few ten-dollar bills at my face. "Forty bucks enough? I'll take the necklace then."

She reached for it again, but I'd had enough. "Get away!" I shoved her back with everything I had.

Footsteps sounded at the door. Aurora's eyes flicked, and suddenly she screamed, slamming herself against the wall.

Bang!

Blood trickled down her forehead, stark against her pale skin.

Dominic rushed in, taking in the scene: Aurora bleeding on the floor, me clutching the broken necklace.

"Dominic." Aurora whimpered, reaching out. "I accidentally broke her necklace. I offered to pay, but she wouldn't let it go."

He scooped her up, his gaze turning to me, colder than a winter storm. "Clara, you attacked her over a necklace? Don't you think that's too far?"

My anger flared hotter, but I tried to keep it together, to explain. "She provoked me first, then broke my necklace. Am I wrong for standing up for myself?"

"She's a guest," he shot back. "You're so petty, holding grudges over nothing. Is this how you were raised?"

Every word was a knife to my heart. I saw Aurora smirk in his arms, and it burned. "Dominic, this necklace was my mom's last gift to me! You saw it in the hospital-you promised her you'd take care of me. But these years, what have you done?"

I was screaming now, begging him to drop the act and choose me, just this once.

But all I got was his back as he carried a fainted Aurora out the door.

My words choked in my throat. I sank to the floor, tears falling like broken beads, cooling in my palms. The comments, silent for so long, flickered back.

[Clara's really hurting now, but she doesn't know Dominic's secretly thrilled she's jealous over Aurora. He just can't show it!]

[He rushed Aurora out to make sure she doesn't press charges-didn't want Clara in trouble with the enforcers. But he's too quiet, and now Clara thinks he's into Aurora. She's gonna be crushed.]

I laughed, a hollow sound that hurt my chest. Wiping my tears, I carefully tucked the necklace away and took it to a jeweler. Two days later, it was whole again, and I breathed easier.

I went home and crashed, only to wake up to a flood of taunting texts from Aurora. Photos of Dominic tending her wounds, scouring the pack for healers to prevent a scar, lighting her birthday candles with a soft song, bidding millions at an auction for a necklace and clasping it around her neck.

The comments chimed in, claiming he was just placating her to keep her from calling the enforcers. But I was numb to it all.

Then a college friend called, inviting me to a reunion. Knowing Dominic never showed up to these things, I agreed. But when I pushed open the door to the private room, my heart stopped.

There he was, lounging on a corner sofa with Aurora pressed close. He draped his jacket over her bare legs, then took a drink meant for her and downed it in one go.

[Knew it! Clara shows up, and Dominic's there like a moth to a flame!]

[Aurora's such a tagalong, trailing Dominic everywhere. Shameless!]

[Chill with the hate. Without Aurora, we wouldn't get to see Clara jealous and Dominic secretly loving it. Bet Aurora stirs up some drama soon-can't wait for the showdown!]

My gut twisted. I knew this wasn't going to end well.

Sure enough, Aurora roped Dominic and our old classmates into a game of truth or dare. Dominic lost the first round, and his penalty was to show us his phone. Everyone leaned in, eager to see if the untouchable wolf had fallen for me after all these years.

But his photo gallery? Empty. Notes app? Blank. WhatsApp chats? Just "yeah" and "uh-huh" over and over.

It was obvious to everyone: even after seven years as mates, Dominic didn't love me. Not one photo of us together.

The room went silent. My classmates exchanged awkward glances, at a loss for words.

Aurora was practically glowing with smugness as she seized the moment to needle Dominic. "You've been with Clara forever, but your phone's got nothing about her. Don't tell me you forget your binding anniversary, her birthday, and never even celebrate with her?"

Dominic's gaze flickered, landing on my pale face. "Every day's the same to me," he said flatly. "No need to make a fuss over any of them."

Each word was a dagger, slicing into my heart, leaving me speechless with pain.

The room grew heavy with awkwardness, and our old classmates quickly jumped in to change the subject, kicking off another round of the game.

Aurora lost next, drawing a dare card: pick someone in the room and eat a chocolate stick together, lips only. Her eyes locked on Dominic instantly, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "Dominic, you're the one I know best here. Help me out with this, yeah?"

The room tensed. Everyone's eyes darted to me, voices overlapping as they tried to shut it down. "He's bound, Aurora. Pick a she-wolf instead."

"It's just a game," Aurora whined, tugging at Dominic's sleeve, throwing me a taunting glance. "Clara's chill, right? She won't mind."

Dominic's eyes slid to me, like he was waiting for a reaction. I kept my head down, acting like I didn't see or hear a thing.

Seconds ticked by, and his face darkened. The comments exploded in my vision.

[Clara, say something! If you tell him no, Dominic will shut this down. He always listens to you!]

[He's waiting for you to get jealous. How can you just sit there? You're pouring gas on the fire!]

I didn't budge.

Finally, Dominic let out a cold laugh and grabbed the chocolate stick. "Fine. Let's do it."

The room gasped as they started the ridiculous game. The chocolate stick shrank, their breaths mingling, closer and closer. Just as their lips nearly met, Aurora "accidentally" stumbled into his arms, planting a kiss on him.

The room erupted in shocked cries. I snapped my head up, meeting Dominic's stunned gaze. The red lipstick on his mouth was a knife to my chest. I gripped my skirt, knuckles white, forcing my face to stay calm.

Dominic froze for a split second before shoving Aurora away, quickly changing the subject. "Just an accident. Next round."

The group moved on, but I couldn't stay. I stood, legs shaky, and headed for the door. Dominic started to follow, but Aurora grabbed him.

"My bad," she said. "I'll go talk to Clara. I don't want you two fighting over me."

He hesitated, then nodded, letting her go after me.

Outside, Aurora cornered me at the stairwell, her tone venomous. "What, can't handle one little kiss? I thought you were tougher than that! But no matter how mad you get, Dominic doesn't care about you. You've been clinging to him for years, and he's sick of it. He can't even be bothered to fake it anymore. You're pathetic, still hanging on like this."

I yanked my arm free, my voice ice-cold. "My business with Dominic isn't your place to judge. Everything you're throwing at me? Right back at you. Have some self-respect and stop thinking you can claw your way to the top. Even if I break the bond with Dominic, he'd never look at you."

I turned to leave, but Aurora's face twisted with rage. In a flash, she shoved me down the stairs.

I tumbled from the third floor to the basement, crashing into a storage room. Bruises bloomed across my body, blood pooling beneath me. I choked out a desperate cry for help, but no one came.

Pain surged like a tidal wave, shredding my nerves. My voice weakened, my vision blurred. With my last ounce of strength, I dialed Dominic's number.

One call. Two. Three. All went unanswered, each one cut off.

As despair swallowed me, the comments flickered.

[Aurora lied to Dominic, saying Clara stormed off jealous. He's thrilled, thinking she cares, and has no idea she's hurt so bad. He's ignoring her calls to keep up his cool act. What now?]

What now? Either I bleed out here, or I survive and cut him out of my life for good.

That was my last thought before everything went black.

---

When I woke, it was the next afternoon. Someone was gripping my hand tightly. I opened my eyes to find Dominic, his eyes bloodshot. The moment our gazes met, he dropped my hand like it burned him, his face shifting back to that familiar, detached mask.

I knew he was playing his part again. I didn't call him out, just struggled to sit up and reach for water. My bag slipped off the table, spilling its contents across the floor.

I tried to get up to grab it, but Dominic beat me to it, picking up my makeup, keys, tissues. Then he grabbed a thick stack of papers, frowning as he flipped it open. The bold words "Bond-Breaking Agreement" stared back at him.