What I hadn't foreseen was running into Raiden and Kaia at the neutral den where I was meeting the Red Moon pack Alpha.

I had come early, hoping to find a quiet place to get ready. My fears were soon calmed by the moon brew scent coming from the rear, till they entered and laughed heartily.

Kaia's hand rested in Raiden's arms. Her flawless smile was more radiant than the overhead moonstone. He laughed at what she whispered as she leaned closer.

I forced myself to remain composed as I gazed at my goblet, but Raiden saw me.

"Freya," he called out. I could hear the surprise and guilt in his voice

I forced myself to keep my face straight. "Alpha Raiden."

Kaia flowed to his side, pulling out a chair at my stone-hewn table. "Do you mind if we join your den-space?"

I wanted to say yes, but they sat down uninvited.

"This little den is charming," Kaia said sweetly. "Do you come here often, Freya?"

"Occasionally," I sharply retorted.

"Are you meeting someone?" Raiden asked, studying me with too much interest.

"Yes, the Red Moon pack Alpha."

"Always working," he smirked. "So dedicated."

I ignored him, checking the time as the moments stretched painfully long. Kaia giggled at her crystal communicator, occasionally showing Raiden something that made him laugh.

"Isn't this adorable?" she cooed, showing a pup wearing tiny fur clothes. "Raiden, we should do this someday, don't you think?"

My jaw clenched, but I refused to react.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Kaia," Raiden replied awkwardly.

She pouted, then smirked at me. "Oh, right. Freya doesn't like pups. Or was it that you can't … "

"That's enough, Kaia," Raiden cut her off sharply.

My future ally, Rowan William, showed up shortly after, providing a much-needed diversion. He was tall, with a friendly handshake that made me feel at ease right away. "Sorry, I'm late," he said.

"No problem." I smiled, grateful for the excuse to shift my attention.

Raiden extended his arm. "Raiden of the Ironwood pack. Freya and I hunt under the same Alpha. Would you mind if I joined your counsel?"

I sent him a warning look, but Rowan nodded courteously, unaware of the tension.

The discussion of territory lines and moon-tithe began, but Raiden kept inserting himself, interrupting with unsought opinions. His presence was a weight in the air, suffocating.

By the time Rowan took his leave, I was fuming. "What was that about?" I snapped.

Raiden feigned innocence. "What do you mean?"

"You had no business being here," I growled.

Kaia smirked. "Relax, Freya. Raiden was just helping. Isn't that what packmates do?"

"Packmates?" I repeated, locking my gaze with hers. "Strange, I scent no bond-of-oath that ties you to this duty."

Her smirk faltered briefly before she turned to Raiden. "Darling, would you fetch us some refreshment? A moon-mint elixir for me."

Raiden hesitated, his eyes darting between us. "Keep the peace, both of you."

The moment he moved toward the server corner, Kaia leaned across the table. All her false sweetness was gone in an instant.

"Let's be honest, Freya," she remarked sternly. "You don't matter. Raiden is mine now. You're just an obstacle."

I refused to show any sign of weakness. "And yet you are the one putting forth such effort to provoke me. It would appear that you are the one who senses a threat."

Kaia's lip twitched. She extended her hand across the table with a fake smile. "A truce, then?"

"I think not." I moved to dismiss her gesture, but she seized the moment.

She grabbed my hand, twisted and threw herself to the ground with a dramatic gasp.

The Moonbrew den fell into a chilling silence, every head turning toward the commotion.

With tears in her eyes, Kaia gripped her wrist. "Why did you push me, Freya?"

My jaw dropped. "I didn't … "

Before I could continue, Raiden dashed back, dropping two goblets onto the table as he crouched beside her.

"Kaia! Are you alright?" he inquired. His voice was full of panic.

She whimpered as she leaned into his compassion. "She simply pushed me. I tried to reconcile with her, but she ... "

The absurdity of the situation left me stunned. The other folks' judgment was oppressive as they glared and murmured.

"What on earth, Freya?" Raiden became enraged.

"She's lying!" I shot back. "You weren't here. You didn't see … "

"I've seen enough!" he interrupted. His glare was piercing through me.

Kaia wiped nonexistent tears from her eyes. "I shouldn't have reached out. I just thought … maybe we could finally move forward."

Raiden's expression darkened. "You've crossed a line this time, Freya. This behavior won't be tolerated in any pack."

My hands trembled as I looked at him, not because of his words, but because of the realization that came over me.

Raiden would trust Kaia no matter what. No matter what deception she spun, no matter what truth I voiced, he had made his choice.

And it wasn't me.

The silence that followed Raiden's words was deafening.

His accusation hung in the air like a gathering storm, thick with an Alpha pressure. It pressed on my lungs until it hurt to breathe.

I stared at him and my heart splintered beneath the weight of a blame I didn't deserve. After everything he had done, every humiliation, every betrayal of our bond, he still saw me as the problem.

I swallowed the howl rising in my throat. "You speak truth, Raiden."

My voice, my body, every shard of me quivered with pain and exhaustion.

"I've crossed the line … so far in loving an Alpha who was never worthy of the bond. I'm done. I want to sever our bond."

When I stated those words, his mouth dropped and his eyes widened. His expression briefly changed from shock to rage.

"Sever the bond?" he spat in disbelief. "You're being ridiculous."

I kept my eyes on him. Even though tears were on the verge of spilling, I was strengthening myself. "I've never been more serious."

Raiden's jaw hardened, his fists clenched at his sides. Without another exchange, he spun and stormed out.

Kaia, who had been observing the turmoil with barely concealed triumph, lingered momentarily. She stepped closer. There was that familiar smug smile playing on her lips.

"Sever the bond?" she purred with feigned compassion. "I suppose it was unavoidable. But don't worry, Freya. I will tend to your Alpha. Better than you ever could."

Her remarks were painful, but I declined to give her the satisfaction of a reply.

Instead, I turned away, fixing my attention on the untouched elixir before me. Its heat had long since dissipated.

Minutes after their departure, I finally gathered my belongings and exited the place.

The evening air brushed my face, but it did nothing to steady the whirlwind inside me. My chest ached relentlessly. Now, the world around me felt blurred and distant.

Raiden's voice echoed in my mind as I crossed the cobbled road. I was too consumed by my own thoughts to notice the deafening roars.

Everything seemed to slow down at that moment.

A swirl of dust blinded my eyes. Instantly, panic surged through my veins.

Yet my body froze, unable to move, as the carriage sped toward me.

But out of nowhere, a firm hand grabbed my arm and yanked me back onto the sidewalk.

I stumbled, my ears filled with the frantic drumming of my heart. When I looked up, I saw a face I recognized.

"Freya. Are you harmed?"

It was Rowan, the leader of the Red Moon pack earlier. His brow was furrowed with concern as he steadied me.

"I … I didn't see it," I stammered.

"You were distracted," he replied. Then he guided me to a nearby bench. "You could've been seriously hurt."

I nodded, the shock leaving my legs useless. My legs felt weak, like newborn wolf-cubs' and I was grateful for his presence as I slumped onto the bench.

He crouched before me. "Allow me to escort you to your den. You're in no condition to be walking around alone."

I wavered, embarrassed by my lapse but too distressed to decline the offer. "I … very well. I thank you."

He directed me to the neighboring location where his carriage was, then helped me inside.

The journey was quiet at first. After a few moments, Rowan glanced my way. "Forgive the intrusion into your affairs, but … what's your relationship with Raiden Thatcher?"

The inquiry caught me off guard. I looked down at my hands, my fingers tightly interlaced. "It's … complicated," I almost whispered.

He nodded. "Alright then. I won't press."

Silence fell between us once more.

As we neared my dwelling, I turned to voice my gratitude. "I appreciate the escort, Rowan. And I apologize again for today's disruptions."

He shook his head, dismissing my apology. "No apology needed, Freya. You held your ground well, especially under those circumstances."

His words were unexpected. For an instant, I felt acknowledged, truly seen, in a way I had not been in cycles.

He stepped out and opened the door for me. "And regarding the pact you proposed earlier," he added with a slight smile. "I have chosen to proceed with your firm's proposal. I sense we will form a formidable alliance."

I froze, caught off guard. "Are you serious?"

"Absolutely." His gaze held mine firmly. "My beta will finalize the scrolls tomorrow. I have a feeling we'll be working closely together from now on."

I could still catch the sharp scent of herb clinging to my skin even after I'd changed back into my clothes. I ran a hand over my face as I stepped out of the Healer Sanctum. The healer's verdict echoed in the hollows of my mind.

"This is spirit-drawn depletion. You need to rest, eat properly and take care of yourself."

I'd nodded, but we both knew rest wasn't something I could claim right now. My life was unraveling like a frayed bond-thread and stopping to patch it seemed impossible.

By the time I reached my den, exhaustion was a stone lodged in every muscle. My legs felt heavy, my arms were weak and my head pounded from the lingering dizziness. I gripped the doorknob for a second before turning it, bracing myself for whatever awaited me inside.

What I did not expect was to find my personal nightmare standing in the heart of my kitchen, Kaia.

At that time, she used my handkerchief as a napkin for his dirty hands. She also acted as if she owned the place.

She hummed a cheerful melody as she stirred something in a pan, moving around the room as if she lived there. The scent of honeyed meat instantly filled the air, but instead of being consoling, it was sickening.

Raiden stood beside her. He was leaning against the stone bar while looking as comfortable as ever. My gaze locked on the familiar cloth around his waist.

Our old bonding handkerchief, a foolish thing we'd claimed together during the last moon gathering. Something that once held meaning; something we used to joke about. Now, seeing him using it while standing next to her made my stomach churn.

They hadn't noticed me yet. For a moment, I considered leaving. So, I turned around and pretended I hadn't walked into this mock-den setup they'd created.

Still, something inside me snapped. My satchel hit the floor with a heavy thud and the noise shattered the cozy illusion they had built.

Finally, their heads lifted.

Raiden shook his head after giving me a fleeting glance. "You look awful."

My mouth fell open slightly as raw disbelief surged through me. That was the first thing he had to say? Not, 'Where have you been?' Not, 'Are you unharmed?'

Just another complaint and another cut.

Kaia turned with a practiced look of concern, though the smirk tugging her lips betrayed her. "Freya! You're finally back. We were just talking about you."

I clenched my jaw as I resisted the urge to snap at her. "I can tell."

Raiden sighed and set down his Moonbrew. "You didn't mention going anywhere."

I folded my arms tightly. "I was unaware I required your leave."

His eyes narrowed, but he didn't push. He likely assumed I'd been off brooding somewhere—unaware I'd spent the night under a healer's care, drained and lightheaded because of the near-death experience that I had yesterday.

Kaia wiped her hands on my handkerchief and flashed a bright smile. "We were just making breakfast. Thought I'd do something sweet."

"In my kitchen?" I asked coldly. "Using my handkerchief?"

She glanced down and let out a light laugh. "Oh, this? I just grabbed the first thing I saw. Hope you don't mind."

Mind? I wanted to tear it off her and toss it into the firepit.

Raiden groaned, as though my presence was the problem. "Freya, don't start. She's trying to be nice."

I scoffed, my gaze cutting between them. "You really don't see how this looks, do you?"

Kaia suddenly clapped her hands together. "Oh! That reminds me. Freya, you must come to my moon-birth celebration next week."

I stared at her. "What?"

She nodded. She was all too pleased with herself. "I insist. It'll be a great night. We'll celebrate, have a few drinks and just enjoy ourselves. Right, Raiden?"

He barely looked at me before taking another sip of his moon brew. "It's up to you."

Up to me? As if my decision mattered at all.

I should have refused. Should have told her precisely where she could bury her false invitation.

But something in her smug gaze, the self-satisfied glint in her wolf-bright eyes, gave me pause. She wanted me to refuse. Wanted me to howl my outrage and run, proving once more that I had no place in this picture they were painting.

So I offered a thin, tight smile. "Very well. I will come."

Kaia's expression flickered for the briefest moment before she recovered. "Perfect."

Raiden took a quick look at me. I couldn't figure out what was on his mind, but he said nothing. He had absolutely no idea what he had just agreed to, nor did Kaia.

But I did. Because I was already done playing their game.