Four years into our mate bond, Gregory, the Alpha of the White Pack, took me on a run through the dense forests near our territory. It was supposed to be a chance to reconnect, to remind ourselves of the bond we once shared. But that night, he left me alone in the woods to pick up Amaris, a Delta from our pack, from the airport. A sudden storm rolled in, and as I tried to make my way back to the packhouse, I slipped and broke my leg. I don’t know how many times I mind-linked Gregory before he finally answered.

“Adele, can’t you stop calling? It’s just a bit of rain. Can’t you stay in the clearing?” Amaris’s voice echoed in my mind, her tone dripping with mockery.

“The sky looks crystal clear; where’s the rain?” I shot back, my voice trembling with pain and frustration.

“Don’t mind her; she’s always so dramatic,” Gregory interjected, his tone dismissive.

I wanted to say more, but the mind-link had already been severed. The pain in my leg was nothing compared to the despair in my heart. This four-year bond felt truly over.

By the time the pack’s warriors found me and brought me to the healer’s den, I had already lost consciousness. When I woke up, Gregory was nowhere to be seen.

“Thankfully, you were brought in on time. You’re going to be fine, but you should contact your family,” the healer kindly reminded me as she noticed I was awake.

Even though I’d been contemplating letting go of these past four years, Gregory’s indifference made my heart ache inexplicably. Gregory was listed as my emergency contact; the warriors must have notified him. Yet, he probably dismissed this as just another of my supposed stunts to get him back.

I hobbled through the discharge process, ready to return to the packhouse for some quiet recovery. At home, Gregory was still absent. Looking at the cast on my leg, I mind-linked Ellis, the Beta of the White Pack and my trusted advisor.

“Have the Gamma handle the pack affairs for now. If any important decisions need my attention, bring them to my quarters.”

Just as I finished giving instructions, Gregory returned.

“For now, I’m not going to the office,” I said, my voice cold.

Seeing me end the mind-link, Gregory immediately started probing.

“Where are you going if you’re not going to the office?” he asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

I looked at him, pointed at the thick cast on my leg.

“Home.”

Gregory followed my gaze and finally noticed my leg. He seemed to struggle believing I was truly injured.

“Adele, I told you to stay put in the clearing. You got hurt because you didn’t listen.”

Gregory immediately deflected any blame and went on to accuse me, showing no concern for the severity of my injury. Unlike usual, I quietly sat there, listening to him berate me.

Perhaps sensing something unusual, Gregory noticed my lack of reaction.

“I mind-linked the healer. Your leg will be fine as long as you rest at home.”

To Gregory, my fracture was merely an inconvenience requiring a few days lying in my quarters. I responded with a simple “Mm,” acknowledging his words.

Since waking up in the healer’s den, I hadn’t eaten anything. As I struggled to get up, Gregory supported me.

“I’m kind of hungry,” I explained.

“I’ll handle it.”

This was Gregory’s offer to cook something for me. In our four years as mates, he’d rarely ventured into the kitchen. I didn’t object and settled back onto the couch.

He was a stranger to kitchen duties, rummaging around until he found a pot and decided to make some frozen ravioli. Just as the water started boiling, Gregory’s phone rang.

“Amaris, don’t worry, I’m on my way!” he exclaimed, his voice urgent.

Gregory hastily turned off the stove and rushed out to get dressed.

“Amaris thinks there might be a rogue near her house. I need to check it out. Just order some delivery for yourself!” he shouted as he grabbed his jacket.

The ordeal of supposed rogues at Amaris’s place occurred so often; usually, it turned out her cat could open doors or had gone missing. We’ve argued countless times over this, but Gregory always excused it by saying Amaris had psychological issues and bothering the patrols frequently wasn’t good.

“Is it her cat again?” I barely managed to ask before the door slammed shut.

Feeling empty inside, I hopped to the kitchen on one leg to finish cooking the ravioli myself. After cleaning up, I mind-linked Ellis again.

“Help me draft a divorce agreement, and do it quickly.”

My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, her voice weak but resolute. *He’s not worth it, Adele. Let him go.*

For the first time in years, I agreed with her.

Gregory didn’t come home last night.

As I sat at the kitchen island, sipping my coffee, I absently scrolled through my phone. My finger paused when I saw Amaris’ latest post. The picture showed her snuggling with Whiskers, her head resting on Gregory’s shoulder, a lavish spread of breakfast dishes spread across the table. The caption read: *"Family breakfast at the cool spot!"*

My jaw tightened. I immediately opened her profile, unfollowed her, and blocked her. When Amaris had first joined the White Pack, she’d approached me, claiming she was new to the city and didn’t have many friends. She’d asked me to show her around, and I’d agreed—partly to keep Gregory happy, partly because I’d felt sorry for her. But since then, she’d made it a habit to post pictures with Gregory, each one sparking arguments between us.

Now that I’d decided to divorce Gregory, there was no reason to keep Amaris in my life. I didn’t need her constant reminders of Gregory’s infidelity.

The front door opened just as I was finishing my coffee. Gregory walked in, a takeout bag in his hand. I recognized the logo—it was from the same upscale breakfast spot Amaris had posted about.

“I brought you breakfast,” he said, his tone casual. “Didn’t expect you to be up so early.”

I set my cup down and glanced at the bag. “Let me guess. Leftovers packed up for me?”

His expression darkened instantly. “Adele, I thought that since you didn’t call me last night, you were finally starting to understand. But it seems you’re still as unreasonable as ever.”

In the past, if Amaris called him away late at night, I’d check in, asking when he’d be back. But last night, I’d turned off my phone and hadn’t called him once.

“Am I wrong?” I asked, my voice steady.

Gregory hesitated, his eyes flickering away from mine. He tossed the bag onto the counter. “Eat it or forget it.”

I wasn’t bothered by his attitude. Instead, my gaze caught on a faint mark on his neck—a small, crescent-shaped bruise just above his collar.

“What happened to your neck?” I asked, my tone deliberately light.

Gregory’s hand flew to his neck, rubbing it vigorously. “Must’ve been bitten by something while helping Amaris find her cat.”

I didn’t press further, and Gregory visibly relaxed. He disappeared into the bedroom, changed clothes, and returned a few minutes later. He sat down next to me, his posture casual, and handed me a small gift box.

“Open it,” he said. “See if you like it.”

I unwrapped the box to find a delicate bracelet inside. I recognized it immediately—it was part of a set, usually sold alongside a matching necklace from a high-end brand. Gregory had bought the set, but only the bracelet was here. It wasn’t hard to guess where the necklace had ended up.

I set the bracelet on the counter without a word.

“Want me to help you put it on?” Gregory asked, his tone softening.

“No,” I replied coolly. “It’s inconvenient on my wrist.”

Gregory rarely gave me gifts, and in the past, I’d been thrilled whenever he did. This bracelet was supposed to be for our fourth anniversary, but during a summer getaway, he’d been called away by Amaris before he could give it to me.

Clearly, my indifference was starting to irritate him.

“If you don’t like it,” he said, forcing a smile, “once your leg’s better, I’ll take you to the boutique to pick something else.”

I was surprised by his patience, but his next words explained it.

“Sweetheart,” he began, his tone shifting to something more ingratiating, “about the Westside project—can you pull some strings for me? If I can secure it, it’ll be a huge win for the pack. I’ll get recognition from the Alpha Council, maybe even a seat at the table.”

I looked at him, my expression unreadable. “Sure.”

Throughout our four years together, I’d used my connections to help him secure alliances and projects for the White Pack. And this time, as I agreed to help him like before, he didn’t notice anything unusual in my demeanor.

But this time, things were different. This time, I had my own plans.

Two days later, my Beta, Ellis Price, contacted me to discuss the specifics of the mate bond dissolution agreement in person. Concerned that Gregory might unexpectedly return and overhear our conversation, I opted to meet at a café outside the White Pack’s territory.

Even with my left leg in a cast after a fall during a pack run, I could still manage to get around. Ellis wasted no time when he saw me, his posture respectful yet urgent. As a Beta, he always carried himself with a sense of duty, and today was no exception.

“Luna Adele,” he began, his voice low and steady, “I’ve been reviewing the pack assets and noticed that Alpha Gregory has been transferring them recently. Are you aware of this?”

The amounts Gregory transferred were relatively small; I suspected he was being discreet to avoid my detection, moving modest sums each time. Throughout our four-year mate bond, I was always willing to help him financially and never questioned his needs. Pack members often remarked that Gregory was with me for the resources, using my connections to strengthen the White Pack’s position.

However, I believed Gregory had potential and willingly used my network to create opportunities for him. As a Luna, it was my duty to ensure the pack’s prosperity, even if it meant sacrificing some of my own.

“Luna Adele, if you agree with this, here’s the draft of the mate bond dissolution settlement for your review,” Ellis said, offering me the paperwork.

Fifty thousand dollars wasn’t a significant amount to me. I simply wanted the dissolution to be finalized quickly so I could move on and focus on rebuilding my life.

As I left the café, I unexpectedly ran into Gregory and Amaris. The sight of them together made my stomach churn, but I held my composure. As a former Luna, I couldn’t afford to show weakness.

“Luna Adele, is that you?” Amaris called out, her voice dripping with false cheerfulness. She was a Delta in the pack, and her tone grated on my nerves.

“What a coincidence,” I replied, letting my words carry a loaded meaning. My wolf stirred in the back of my mind, a low growl echoing in my thoughts. I silenced her, not wanting to give Amaris the satisfaction of seeing me unsettled.

Gregory’s expression darkened, and he narrowed his eyes in irritation. As an Alpha, he carried himself with an air of authority, but today it felt more like arrogance.

“Luna Adele, I heard you injured your leg during the pack run. Seeing you here, it doesn’t look as bad as I thought. I was worried,” Amaris said, playing the concerned pack member in front of Gregory. But today, I didn’t have the patience for her act.

“If it weren’t for you calling Alpha Gregory to pick you up from the airport, my leg wouldn’t be in this state.”

Surprised by my words, Amaris quickly adopted a sorrowful demeanor, her eyes widening with feigned guilt. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have asked Alpha Gregory to pick me up,” she lamented, her voice trembling slightly.

Gregory, always quick to defend Amaris, couldn’t stand seeing her upset and immediately directed his anger at me. His Alpha tone was sharp, cutting through the air like a command. “Luna Adele, you injured your leg and now you’re blaming Amaris? Apologize to her right now!”

I cast a cold glance at Gregory and Amaris, then started to hail a cab to head home. My wolf growled again, urging me to stand my ground, but I ignored her. I wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me argue.

Just as I was about to leave, Gregory grabbed my arm, his grip firm and unyielding. “I’m saying you need to apologize to Amaris, Luna Adele. Do you understand?”

Amaris approached, gently tugging at Gregory’s arm, her voice dripping with faux sincerity. “Alpha Gregory, Luna Adele is just frustrated because of her injury. I’m okay.”

Gregory relented, no longer pressing me to apologize, but his expression remained stormy.

As I walked away, Amaris called out once again, her tone laced with triumph. “Luna Adele, why don’t you join us for dinner later? It’s my birthday today, and Alpha Gregory got me a special gift.”

She waved her hand in front of me, flaunting a massive diamond ring that sparkled obnoxiously. When Gregory and I formed our mate bond, he couldn’t afford a diamond ring for me. Even after I helped him secure several lucrative pack alliances, he never bought me a ring this large.

“Isn’t a diamond like that practically a mate bond proposal?” I asked, my voice cold and cutting.

“Luna Adele, you’re being ridiculous. It’s just Amaris’ birthday, and she liked the ring. Cut the sarcasm,” Gregory snapped, his Alpha tone harsh and commanding.

He yelled at me and then hurried Amaris away, his words biting. “If she comes, it’ll just ruin the evening. If we’re late, we won’t get a table!”

This time, Amaris didn’t bother defending me, instead looking at me with smug satisfaction. Her eyes gleamed with triumph, and I could feel my wolf’s frustration boiling beneath the surface. But I kept my composure, refusing to let them see how much their actions hurt.

As I watched them walk away, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. Not for Gregory, but for the life I thought we could have had. My wolf whined softly, a sound of shared pain, but I pushed her down. I couldn’t afford to dwell on the past. There was too much at stake, and I needed to focus on the future—whatever it might hold.