I did not know when I lost consciousness.When I finally woke up,I was already inside the healer hall.

My mother kept complaining beside me.

"You just went through surgery,and he still left for pack duties?Darion is truly unbelievable!"

"Mom,stop worrying.I'm alright now,aren't I?"

"Darion has always been like this.His entire heart belongs to moon research and ancient wolf magic.So serious and devoted.That was what made you fall for him in the first place."

Back then,I was still making excuses for him,forgetting that I was the one lying sick in bed,the one being ignored and abandoned.

Pain tightened around my heart like claws crushing everything inside my chest.

I slowly walked toward the ice chest and took out the mooncake I had bought for myself.

I blew out the candles alone.The sweetness of the cake mixed with the bitterness of my tears as I swallowed both together.

From this day onward,I would place my own feelings first.Always.

A birthday.

And a completely new beginning.

The next morning,I woke up and discovered Darion's hidden moon journal had been updated during the late hours of the night for the first time in four years.

“After all this time,you are still the only one who can stir my wolf's heart.”

The picture beneath the words showed Briona asleep peacefully with her eyes closed.

She was wrapped in the fur blanket I had left inside Darion's carriage.The healing crystal connected to her arm rested carefully in his hand while he used his warmth to keep it from turning cold.

The woman looked peaceful while the man beside her looked gentle and attentive.They truly looked perfect together.

If only that man had not been my mate…

I swallowed the pain rising inside my chest and took a carriage toward the kingdom office to apply for my travel permit and overseas residency seal.

This assignment beyond the sea would keep me away from the werewolf kingdoms for a very long time.I likely would not return anytime soon.

Before leaving these lands,I planned to settle every remaining matter completely,including ending my mate bond with Darion.

Inside the carriage,a message crystal suddenly lit up.

I'll be traveling overseas for a week soon.There will be an exchange meeting with another moon research tower.

I glanced at the message before putting the crystal away without replying.

When I arrived at the permit hall,I saw them through the glass doors.

Darion and Briona.

They kept a careful distance between them,never touching each other openly.Yet their eyes continued searching for one another,and every glance carried emotions too deep to hide.

My fists tightened as I forced myself to stay calm,but something bitter and burning spread through my chest.Before I realized it,my feet had already moved closer.

"Darion,your research tower is already busy enough.You truly don't need to accompany me to Whisperpine Territory."

My breathing stopped for a moment before I heard Darion answer softly.

"Watching the Aurora Moonlights together was a promise I made to you long ago.Back then,I lacked the power and status to fulfill it.Now I finally can.Why would I not keep that promise?"

"Briona,once this journey ends,I will return to being a proper mate and Alpha.Don’t worry."

A sharp pain pierced through my chest instantly.Every word cut into me again and again like silver blades.

When we first completed our mating ceremony,I had once made the same request.

"Darion,look at these pictures.The Aurora Moonlights in Whisperpine are so beautiful.Let's go there for our bonding journey."

He had gone still for a second before rejecting me immediately.

"No.Whisperpine is too far from the pack territories.I cannot leave my duties for that long."

I had pulled on his sleeve while trying to persuade him playfully,but all I received was his sudden anger.

"I already said no,Isara!Choose another place,or we cancel the bonding journey completely."

So it was never because Whisperpine was too far away.It was never because he could not leave work behind.

The truth was simple.

The person Darion wanted to watch the Aurora Moonlights with had always been someone else.

A silent laugh escaped me as I wiped away the cold tears on my cheeks.

Good.

One week was more than enough time for me to finish everything.

By the time I walked out with my travel permit and residency seal,the sky above the territory had already turned dark.

I returned home by carriage and saw Darion and Briona standing downstairs.

Briona seemed ready to leave,yet Darion still held onto her arm while the two stood close together beneath the moonlight.

I stood there quietly for a moment,watching them.Briona was the first to notice me.

"Isara..."

She looked startled like a frightened rabbit and immediately tried harder to free herself from Darion's grip.

"Darion,let go of me.Isara’s here..."

But Darion did not react at all.Even with me standing right there,there was not the slightest guilt on his face.

"What are you nervous about?"

He continued holding her arm firmly before turning toward me and speaking calmly.

"Briona's apartment inside the western district had a water pipe burst from unstable moon frost magic.I told her she can stay here for a few days."

I looked at how natural and comfortable Darion appeared and suddenly laughed softly.

"Why not arrange a room for her at one of the grand inns in the central territory?It would be much more comfortable there than staying here."

His brows furrowed immediately.

"I'm not asking for your approval.I'm only informing you.Isara,don't start causing trouble..."

"I don't mind."

I interrupted him before he could continue lecturing me.

"But I've been busy lately,so you'll have to take care of your guest personally."

"Alright,I'm going upstairs.You two continue."

I turned and walked into the pack house,pretending not to notice the confusion flashing briefly across Darion's face.

Once,during a gathering with his pack brothers,one of them became drunk on spirit wine and suddenly asked him:

"Darion,have you truly forgotten Briona?"

That night,we argued terribly after returning home.I kept questioning him about his past with Briona,and all I received in return was three full days of silence.

After that,every matter related to Briona became a thorn in my heart.Even the smallest thing could make me lose control and cling to Darion for answers for hours.

He probably could not understand why I was not creating a scene this time,or why my reaction had changed so completely.

But I understood very clearly.

Arguing and competing for his heart had always been meaningless.Every time I became jealous,Darion only remembered Briona's gentleness even more,and our relationship grew colder afterward.

Besides,I no longer wanted to care anymore.

That night,I felt the bed sink slightly behind me.Darion wrapped his arms around me from behind.

He sighed softly while rubbing circles against my hand with his thumb.

"Isara,I know I've neglected you recently,and I know you've suffered because of it.But you must trust me.There is nothing between Briona and me anymore.We are only old friends now."

I laughed bitterly inside my heart.

How could he speak those words so calmly without feeling ashamed?

If I had not witnessed everything he did for Briona with my own eyes,perhaps I truly would have been foolish enough to believe him.

"Isara,once I return from this journey,we'll live properly together again.No one will stand between us."

Darion whispered softly against my hair.I could not tell whether he was comforting me or trying to convince himself.

I closed my eyes and forced all the painful emotions back down into silence.

The next morning,I was awakened by a call crystal from Keegan Ravenhurst.

The place beside me on the bed was already empty,so I accepted the call.

"Have you finished all the travel paperwork?Should I reserve a sky journey for five days later?"

I silently counted the days in my mind.

"Yes.That timing is fine."

"Have you spoken to Darion about ending the mate bond yet?"

"Not yet.Can you help me contact a lawyer from the Moon Council to prepare the separation agreement?"

He agreed quickly before the call ended.

I pushed open the bedroom door.

Darion,wearing a kitchen apron for the first time in a very long while,was pouring fresh milk into a cup for Briona.The dining table was filled with a rich breakfast feast.

The moment Briona noticed me,she smiled and waved naturally as though she belonged there.

"Isara,come eat.Darion prepared so much food.I've stayed overseas for years.His cooking is what I missed the most."

Then she smiled brightly again.

"Honestly,Isara,I envy you so much.You get to eat meals like this every single day.Darion must prepare all kinds of breakfasts and dinners for you,right?"

The moment those words fell,Darion suddenly stiffened.

Meanwhile,I only smiled quietly and shook my head.

Darion had never once prepared breakfast for me.

I glanced at the table filled with bread,pastries,and fresh milk before quietly turning toward the bathroom.

My stomach had always been weak.Ever since childhood,I could not drink milk or eat foods that easily upset my body.

The day Darion and Briona left the kingdom,his hidden moon journal updated once again.

One final selfish wish.Let me love you one more time.

Looking at that single sentence made me feel sick to my stomach.I immediately blocked the account.

The lawyer Keegan introduced to me was extremely careful.From the mate bond separation agreement to the division of property and assets,everything was arranged clearly,saving me from unnecessary trouble.

I sent the magical document file directly to Darion through the communication crystal.

He never replied.

Over the next three days,I removed every trace of myself from the pack house.

The clothes and cosmetics I still needed were packed neatly into storage boxes.Everything else was donated through my assistant.

I tore apart every photograph of Darion and me together.The matching couple items I once begged him to buy were thrown directly into the trash.

After everything was packed,all my belongings fit into one single suitcase.

Suddenly,a memory surfaced inside my mind.

The first day we met.

Back then,after I boldly confessed my feelings to him,Darion became so nervous that his face turned red.His eyes wandered everywhere except toward mine before he finally stuttered awkwardly.

"Y...Yes."

"I mean...Isara,let's become mates."

A laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.

The young man who once knew nothing about romance yet still treated me with sincerity and care was already gone.

No.

Maybe he had never changed at all.

The truth was simply that every beautiful image I created of him shattered completely the moment I saw how deeply he could love someone else.

Enough.

A clean ending was the best outcome for both of us.

I exhaled softly before calling Darion through the communication crystal.

The call rang twice before someone answered.

"Darion,check the file I sent you on..."

"Isara,Darion is busy right now.I'll tell him to contact you later."

Briona's voice no longer sounded gentle and harmless.There was now an obvious hint of provocation hidden beneath her tone.

I smiled faintly and answered calmly,"Fine.Then remember to tell him to check the file I sent.It's urgent.The sooner he reads it,the better."

"Isara,don't you understand yet?The woman inside his heart has always been me.Never you."

Her voice carried pity and mockery together.

"It must have been painful for you,spending three years beside a man who never truly loved you."

I answered immediately without hesitation,"Still better than becoming the woman who destroys another person's mate bond."

"Darion may not know the true reason you returned to the kingdom,but do you really think I know nothing?"

"I have no interest in interfering with whatever relationship exists between the two of you.But don't force me again."

I ended the call cleanly before summoning a carriage to the airport port.

Right before boarding the flight beast,a message from Darion finally arrived.

[Isara,what exactly did you say to Briona?]

[Fine.I admit I lied to you.Briona and I are together now.But if you are angry,direct it at me.What does this have to do with her?]

[When we return,you will apologize to Briona,and we'll forget this entire matter.]

The accusing tone and his shameless self righteousness made me laugh coldly.Every word only proved how unreasonable he had already become.

What right did he have to protect Briona like this?

And what gave him the authority to question me?

Then I sent him some replies.

[Darion,I want to end our mate bond.]

[The agreement is inside the file I sent you.Sign it and return the magical copy to me.]

I turned off my communication crystal,lifted my suitcase,and walked forward without turning back.

From this moment onward,our paths would never meet again.

There would no longer be an Alpha Darion Silverclaw in my world.