Kaelan got back faster than I expected.

He must have seen my comment. He was furious.

He wasn't here to win me back. He was here to get justice for his loyal Beta. For the pack’s precious "money-keeper."

"Clara!"

Kaelan's roar hit me, carrying the full weight of his Alpha command.

The pressure washed over me, trying to force me to my knees.

Three years ago, that power would have made me tremble. Now, it just filled me with disgust.

I kept walking. The sound of rapid footsteps got closer, and then Kaelan was in front of me.

He was wearing a ten-thousand-dollar Armani suit, his face a mask of rage.

Behind him stood Seraphina, looking fragile and wronged.

Her eyes were red, as if I had bullied her.

"Apologize to Seraphina. Now!" Kaelan roared, pointing at me. "She works tirelessly for this pack! What right do you have to slander her? To accuse her of withholding money?"

I looked at them coldly.

"My money? It was life-or-death money."

"Kaelan, do you even know what happened three days ago?"

He frowned. "What?"

"Do you even know that Seraphina rejected my father’s life-saving funds, calling it a 'budget overrun'? Do you know I was on my knees on the cold clinic floor, begging, while my father died?"

Kaelan froze for a second, turning to look at Seraphina.

She immediately burst into tears.

"Kaelan, I was just following pack financial protocol!"

"It was fifty thousand dollars! That's several months over the limit for a human dependent. If I just approved it, how could I explain that to the Elders? I was afraid she was trying to sell it for cash!"

"How was I supposed to know it was so urgent? Clara never fills out the expense forms correctly!"

She sobbed, a picture of heartbroken innocence.

Kaelan's expression softened.

"Clara, you heard her. It was protocol. She was just doing her job."

"You can't attack her like this because of your own carelessness. Do you have any idea how much money this pack has already spent keeping your father alive?!"

"Your father is fine. Nothing is going to happen to him. But she is one of our pack's most loyal Betas. I will not let you slander her!"

I laughed. A bitter, empty sound.

"Slander?"

Annoyance flashed in Kaelan's eyes.

"That's enough, Clara! Stop making a scene! Seraphina has worked for me for years and never made a mistake! This is your fault for not following the rules!"

"Now, apologize. I'm done with this nonsense! Besides, your father is perfectly fine in the medical wing. What could possibly be wrong?"

I just stared at him.

This man. The Alpha who had once promised to protect me.

He didn't know what had happened. He didn't want to know.

"The application to sever our bond is in the study drawer," I said calmly. "You can go look."

"I already signed it."

Kaelan's face went pale. "What did you say?"

"I said, I'm severing our bond."

"Don't worry. I'm leaving with nothing. I haven't taken a single penny from your pack."

I picked up my suitcase handle to walk around them.

Kaelan grabbed my wrist. "You wouldn't dare! Don't you dare walk away from me!"

"I am your Alpha! You are my mate! You don't go anywhere without my permission!"

I ripped my arm from his grasp.

"Let go of me."

"Clara! What new trick is this? Is that suitcase full of pack supplies?!" he roared, and kicked my suitcase.

The cheap zipper burst. The case flew open, its contents spilling across the pavement.

Books, a photo, old clothes.

There was no stolen cash. No valuable pack property.

Just a simple, white ceramic box.

It rolled to a stop right at Kaelan's feet.

A faint scent of sandalwood and ash filled the air. The smell of death.

Kaelan's wolf blood gave him a sharp sense of smell.

He smelled death. He smelled grief and despair.

His face drained of all color. The rage, the suspicion—it all vanished, as if he’d been physically struck.

"What... what is this?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Seraphina saw the box and covered her mouth.

I bent down and carefully picked up the urn, gently brushing the dust from its surface.

"This is my dad," I said, my voice terrifyingly calm.

"You saved your fifty thousand dollars. Are you happy now, Alpha Kaelan?"