Forest’s amber eyes flickered to mine for a brief moment before he straightened his broad shoulders, his Beta aura tightening around him like a vice. His expression was heavy, almost pained, as he began his explanation.

"Sariyah has remained unmated all these years because of me; she’s almost thirty now, but she’s dying. I need to fulfill her wish." His voice was low, tinged with a sense of duty that made my stomach churn.

My wolf stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, a low growl forming as I tried to process his words. Sariyah, the Omega who had always lingered in the shadows of our mate bond, was now at the forefront of his life again. His next words confirmed my worst fears.

"Sariyah... she’s kept herself pure for me, hasn’t been with anyone else. So I’ve decided I want to have a pup with her."

I stared at him, my hands trembling at my sides. The air in our den felt suffocating, the weight of his words pressing down on me like a storm cloud. My wolf’s growl grew louder, a visceral reaction to the betrayal that was unfolding before me.

"I’ve talked it through with her. The pup will carry your name. Surely you’re okay with that?" he added hastily, as if that would somehow make this acceptable.

My chest tightened, and I shot up from my seat, my voice sharp and unsteady. "Beta Forest, are you serious? You want to have a pup with Sariyah and expect me, your Luna, to raise it?" The title felt heavy on my tongue, a reminder of the bond we shared—or at least, the bond I thought we shared.

"I absolutely won’t agree to this," I continued, my voice rising. "For years, I’ve ignored your affection for Sariyah, but now you’re blatantly telling me you want to betray me. Beta Forest, what’s going on in your head?"

My anger surged, raw and uncontrollable. I had tolerated his lingering feelings for Sariyah, accepted his care for her, all in the name of our mate bond. But this? This was a line he couldn’t cross.

Forest’s jaw tightened, his Beta aura flaring as he squared his shoulders. "Luna Aleena, I’m not seeking your permission; I’m informing you," he said coldly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

He frowned at me, his amber eyes narrowing with displeasure. "Just because I’m mated to you doesn’t mean you own me. Who I choose to have a pup with is my decision, not yours."

His words were laced with bitterness, and for a moment, I saw the flicker of resentment in his gaze. "And if it weren’t for you, I could have run away with Sariyah years ago. You took advantage of the situation."

The accusation hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled back, my wolf whimpering in the back of my mind. I had always known that Forest had never fully let go of Sariyah, but to hear him blame me for their separation was a cruelty I hadn’t expected.

Back then, when Forest had been humiliated after scandalous photos emerged, Sariyah had left the pack territory, disappearing into the night. His parents, respected elders of the Silver Moon Pack, had fallen ill from the distress. It was during that time that I had stepped in, my feelings for him driving me to support him through his darkest days. Yes, I had seized the moment, but it was out of love, not manipulation.

From the moment I had first seen Forest at the pack’s training grounds, I had known he was the one for me. I wouldn’t have interfered in his relationship with Sariyah, but when she left and he was drowning in sorrow, how could I not be there for him?

Two years later, when Forest had finally proposed to me, I thought my dedication had paid off. I thought we had moved past Sariyah. But now, six years into our mate bond, he was throwing it all back in my face.

"Beta Forest, what am I to you? Just a convenient Luna to maintain appearances?" I shouted, my voice breaking as tears stung my eyes.

I couldn’t fathom how he could treat me this way after six years of our bond. Did he even care about me at all?

"Luna Aleena, is this drama really necessary?" His voice was cold, his disdain palpable. "Forget it. Regardless of what you feel, I’m going to give Sariyah this pup."

I opened my mouth to protest, but his phone rang, the ringtone unmistakable—it was Sariyah. Her voice crackled through the speaker, frail and weak, yet it carried a weight that made my blood run cold.

"Beta Forest, my stomach hurts again, I want to see you... can you come?" Her voice was fragile, and I watched as Forest’s expression softened, his concern for her evident in a way it had never been for me.

I instinctively reached for his hand, my voice trembling. "Beta Forest, I don’t want this. You are my mate..."

He shook my hand off, his amber eyes flashing with irritation. "Luna Aleena, stop it. Sariyah is sick and needs me right now."

His words were sharp, and I felt the mate bond between us strain under the weight of his indifference. "Even if you’re upset, you should know better than this. Is this really the right time?"

"Don’t be unreasonable; Sariyah doesn’t have much time left." His final words were spoken with a furrowed brow, as if my reaction was nothing more than an inconvenience.

My heart shattered into pieces, the mate bond screaming its agony through every fiber of my being.

Three days have passed since our argument, and neither Forest nor I have made an effort to reach out. The silence between us feels heavier than ever, a tangible reminder of the mate bond that still lingers, despite the cracks that have formed.

In the meantime, Forest has been flooding the pack’s shared mind link with vague updates, mostly about him and Sariyah. Every time his voice echoes in my head, it’s always the same—him talking about her, laughing with her, showing off their time together. It’s as if he’s deliberately trying to provoke me, to remind me of his presence in her life.

What a pair of shameless wolves.

I know exactly what he’s doing. He’s trying to get under my skin, to make me react. In the past, seeing Forest with another woman would have shattered me. The thought of him sharing those intimate moments with someone else would have sent me spiraling.

But now? I don’t love him anymore. The jealousy that once consumed me feels like a distant memory. These past three days have been a whirlwind of activity for me. I’ve already contacted the pack’s healer and our Beta to draft the dissolution papers for our mate bond. Today, I leave them behind, a final declaration that this chapter of my life is over.

Six years as his Luna, and yet I have so few belongings that they all fit into one suitcase. I move to a small den near the pack’s headquarters, a place I purchased years ago for convenience during my duties. Yet, after bonding with Forest, I never stayed there. Even when my duties kept me late, I always returned to him, to our shared den.

But now, seeing how it all turned out, I realize how foolish I’ve been. Making Forest the center of my life didn’t earn his loyalty or love. He just assumed I couldn’t live without him, dismissing my feelings no matter what he did.

As I finish packing, I notice that Forest has tried to reach me through the mind link multiple times. When I didn’t respond, he sent a barrage of messages, his voice sharp and demanding.

“Aleena, do you really want to dissolve our bond? Didn’t you promise to always stand by me? How can you break that vow now?”

“Remember, you begged my parents, swearing you’d treat me well forever. Have you forgotten?”

“If you insist on this, you must publicly claim it was your fault, not mine. My parents can’t handle the truth.”

“Aleena, I’m willing to compromise. After Sariyah and I have our pup, we can have one too. Haven’t you always wanted a child?”

Reading that last message almost makes me laugh. Is this Forest’s grand solution? To have a pup with me to placate my hurt? The absurdity of it all strikes me, and I let out a bitter chuckle.

At first, when Forest reached out, I thought it might be a sign that he still cared, that he regretted what he’d done. But no. He’s just afraid I’ll expose his behavior to the pack, especially to his parents. After all, cheating on a mate is a disgrace in our world, a betrayal that even the most lenient pack members would struggle to forgive.

But why should I bear the weight of his mistakes? Back then, to protect Forest, I bonded with him despite everyone’s disapproval. I spent a fortune to buy off compromising evidence, to shield him from the consequences of his actions. Because Forest found it inconvenient, I respected his wish not to have pups, telling my own parents that it was my decision, my health issue, to spare him any pressure.

And what do I get in return? A mate who wants to be with his childhood friend, who plans to have a pup with her and expects me to simply accept it.

I clench my fists, my wolf stirring restlessly within me. She’s been quiet these past few days, but now I can feel her anger, her pain echoing mine.

*He’s not worth it,* she growls softly, her voice a low rumble in my mind. *You’re stronger than this.*

I nod, though there’s no one here to see it. She’s right. I’ve spent too long bending to Forest’s will, too long putting his needs above my own. It’s time to move on, to leave him and his selfishness behind.

I pick up the dissolution papers, the weight of them heavy in my hands. This is it. The end of our bond, the end of our life together. I place them on the table where he’ll see them, then take one last look around the den that was once our home.

It’s strange, how empty it feels now, how hollow. But there’s also a sense of relief, of freedom. I’ve spent too long tied to someone who didn’t value me, who took me for granted. Now, I’m finally breaking free.

With a deep breath, I pick up my suitcase and head for the door. I don’t look back. There’s nothing left for me here.