Kristine POV

“Prepare the rejection ritual,” I said, not wavering. “I’m severing my bond with Alpha Hunter Deveron. Our marriage bond ends today.”

He froze. I could almost hear the weight of my words crushing him. No Luna had ever made such a request in Moonveil Pack history. Not one until me.

“Luna… are you certain?” he asked, voice laced with dread. “You know how sacred the bond is. You know the consequences. If you go through with this, you will—”

“I’ve made up my mind, Elder Albert,” I cut him off coldly, even as my heart throbbed painfully inside me.

I remembered it all too clearly the way he left me to die in that freezing forest, poisoned. Poisoned by him.

He said he’d come back. Swore on our fifth anniversary that he would. We were supposed to be celebrating five years of marriage. But instead… he fed me berries, knowing damn well I was allergic.

Did he just want to get rid of me? Was Ellena really that important to him?

He never came back. And I waited. I hoped. God, I really did.

But... he never returned.

My eyes burned with unshed tears as I swallowed the lump in my throat and clenched my fists.

“Luna, maybe you should talk to Alpha—”

“No,” I snapped, sharper than I intended. “Just do it. This is what he wants, anyway. Have you forgotten he left me after the mating ceremony? Didn’t even look back. He said it to my face—he’d only ever love Ellena.”

Her name tasted like acid on my tongue. Ellena. The fake daughter everyone adored. Even my parents… the Edelworth Pack cherished her more than their real daughter.

Elder Albert’s expression shifted into something soft. Pity.

But he didn’t argue. Without another word, he turned and began the preparations.

My phone rang. And saw it was Hunter. Of course.

I picked it up.

“Where are you?” he barked, like I was just another one of his damn staff. Like I hadn’t been his wife for five years.

“I’m heading to the pack house,” I replied, exhausted.

“I thought so... So Ellena was right…”

“She’s always right to you,” I said flatly, no emotion in my voice.

“Are you playing me, Kristine? I thought—”

“Are you mad that I’m still alive?” I cut in, my voice trembling but firm. “Is that it? You're disappointed I didn’t die out there?”

“What are you talking about?” he growled. “You’re the one playing me! Acting like you were dying just to what? Guilt-trip me? Feel sorry for you? Kristine, no matter what you do, I will never pity a liar like you!”

His words stung, but I refused to let him hear the pain in my silence.

“Don’t worry,” I whispered. “I’m done.”

I ended the call.

He rang again. I didn’t pick up.

I kept walking straight to the pack house.

Everyone outside the pack thought Alpha Hunter and Ellena were meant to be. The Alpha and his Luna-to-be. They believed Ellena was the rightful daughter of the Edelworth pack.

No one cared that I was the true daughter. That I’d been switched at birth out of Uncle Timothy’s anger toward my father for he did not even help him when he was accused of trying to kill the king. He was branded as rogue. Uncle Timothy raised me like his own, but when I was returned to my real family, all they saw was Ellena.

Hunter and I were close once when I was returned to the Edelworth since Moonveil and my parents pack where long have been friends. He used to be kind. But everything changed, suddenly. No explanation. No reason.

Maybe it was because it was me who ended up marrying him when it should’ve been Ellena. But she ran away—two days before the wedding.

And I was just the stand-in. Maybe, that’s when he hated me even more.

And me? I was so blinded by love, I thought I could fix it. I chased after him like a fool. Loving a man who despised every part of me.

When I saw him approaching, my chest tightened—but I didn’t flinch.

I handed him the papers.

“Sign it.”

Kristine's POV

“What do you mean you’re done? Are you going against me now, Kristine?”

His voice was laced with fury. Hunter hated being challenged—and what I just did? That was outright war to him.

He glanced down at the paper I’d handed him, then back at me.

“What the hell is this?” His expression twisted. “You’re such a liar. Always have been. You never even looked sick! You begged me for help, acting like you were dying out of nowhere.”

That’s what he threw at me—accusations like knives, without a second thought.

To him, I was nothing more than a liar. A burden. A mistake. But never once I lied at him or anyone.

Did I deserve it? Maybe in his eyes.

I bit the inside of my cheek, pressing my lips tightly together. I didn’t explain. There was no point. He wouldn’t believe me anyway. He never did.

My heart felt like it was cracking open inside my chest, but I held my ground. I needed his signature. That was all.

He let out a frustrated sigh and looked at me with those cold, dark blue eyes, the same ones I used to lose myself in. For five long years, I searched those eyes for warmth, even a flicker of care. But it was always cold. Always empty. Gone was the warmth it had he had given to me before he suddenly changed.

I gave everything just to be seen by him. To be loved. Even just liked. But all I ever got... was pain.

“I’m leaving. I won’t be here for a week,” he muttered, as if I wasn’t standing there watching him walk away. He took the paper, about to read it, but then his phone rang.

His entire expression changed. That worry? I already knew.

It was Ellena.

“I need to handle something important,” he said quickly, turning away like I no longer existed.

“Just sign it before you go,” I said, stopping him.

He scowled. “Can’t it wait?”

“No. This is for the best, just like you wanted.”

He glanced between me and his ringing phone, teeth grinding in annoyance. Finally, with a hiss of frustration, he snatched the pen, signed the paper without even reading it, and shoved it back at me.

“Done!”

Some pages fluttered to the ground, but he didn’t care. He shifted and took off in a rush straight to where she was.

I stared at the scattered pages, tears blurring my vision. He didn’t even notice. Didn’t even ask what he signed.

It was our divorce. The rejection of our bond.

I let out a laugh, broken and hollow, as I bent down to pick them up.

Even now, it still hurt so much.

My phone rang as I wiped my tears and checked the screen.

Not him.

I answered.

“Have you done it?” The deep, commanding voice on the other end made my spine stiffen.

I cleared my throat. “Yes. Just like I said. I keep my word.”

“Good. I hope this time you really mean it, Kiki,” he warned. “You know I don’t like being lied to. I’m giving you one week.”

I clenched the phone tighter. “Two weeks. Just give me two.”

“Two? That wasn’t our deal,” he said, disappointed.

“Please, Zeu. Just two weeks. After that… you’ll have me. I promise.”

Silence. The longer he stayed quiet, the more my anxiety clawed up my throat.

“Do you understand me?” I whispered.

He let out a sigh. “How could I not? Fine. Two weeks.”

I exhaled a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Thank you. I need to finish something before I leave.”

“I hope it doesn’t break you more than you already are,” he murmured before the line went dead.

I stared at the wall for a moment, then closed my eyes. I thought it would be easy to walk away.

But it wasn’t.

This place had stolen more tears from me than it ever gave joy.

If it wasn’t for Zeu... today might’ve been my funeral.

The day I begged Hunter to come back… it was Zeu who found me. Zeu who stayed. Zue who saved. He’d always been there.

And now… I’d signed my fate.

This time, I was choosing myself.

I deserved to be happy.

Just two more weeks.

Two weeks to rip the pages apart, to burn the memories, to finally destroy every bridge behind me.

As I packed away everything that tied me to Hunter, my phone rang again. I thought it was Zeu.

But no.

It was her.

My mother.

“Hello?”

The word felt foreign. I never really called her mother anymore. Not after what she said five years ago—how she despised me for being her daughter, how she’d only ever see Ellena as hers.

All because of a broken sapphire necklace, a family heirloom that Ellena destroyed.

But when I tried to explain, I was branded a liar.

Again.

“Where are you? Have you forgotten what day it is today?”

Her voice was cold. Irritated.

No warmth.

No love.

Not the way she spoke to Ellena.

Unfair?

Yes.

Because I’m her real daughter and she despised me.

Kristine's POV

“I—”

“Just be here. Bring a gift. It’s your father’s birthday. He’s expecting you.”

And just like that, the line went dead.

I didn’t want to go.

The Edelworth Pack never felt like home. I always felt like a stranger in that place, unseen, unwanted. My mother didn’t want me. Only my father showed me some kindness…

If that’s even what it was. Alpha Robert Hemington gave Ellena everything his love, his pride, his name.

And me?

I was the stray dog at the door, begging for scraps I was never allowed to have. Starving. Desperate.

It’s been three days since Hunter signed the rejection papers.

Three days since my near-death. And I haven’t seen him once.

I knew where he was. Who he was with.

Back then, I would’ve begged. I used to call him, ask him when he’d return to the pack house, ask if he was okay, pretending I wasn’t breaking inside just hearing his voice.

I tried everything. I painted myself in every color, hoping maybe—just maybe—he’d see one that matched him.

But the color faded.

Turned red.

Then dark.

And darker…

Until all that was left was black.

Now? I don’t feel anything. I’m tired of feeling.

I tossed the last of the boxes into the garbage bin. I’d burn them later.

I wasn’t feeling well. Maybe I was still healing. My wolf… she was still weak.

She’d been dying slowly from the moment we married. The bond that should’ve strengthened her, kept her thriving, had only made her weak instead.

Hunter never accepted us neither did his wolf.

And mine? She was fading. I knew if I stayed, I’d lose her. And without her, I’d die too.

We fed off the scraps of affection from the mate who never wanted us. And I was done starving.

---

Edelworth Pack stood proud in the west of the werewolf realm, one of the elite packs trusted by the Werewolf King himself in Crescent City.

I wore a simple dress, nothing extravagant.

Even though I was technically the Luna of the Moonveil Pack, the most powerful pack in Crescent, no one outside the inner circle knew.

It was Hunter’s idea. His parents agreed. Even the council supported it for my safety.

But I knew the truth. He was ashamed of me.

Ashamed that I was his mate.

Because it was supposed to be Ellena.

Everyone around me wore luxury—shimmering dresses, velvet coats, silk ties.

They were Alphas, Betas, Lunas from known packs. No omegas allowed. No servants. No one here knew the truth. No one knew I was the Edelworth pack's real daughter.

My parents buried the truth to protect their reputation. They still let Ellena shine in my place. Still claimed her as their only daughter .

And me?

Just a mistake they were forced to accept.

How cruel.

I walked toward my father and bowed. “Alpha Robert… here’s my gift.”

One of his men took it from my hands. He gave me a nod. Nothing more.

I was used to it.

I thought the truth of being their real daughter would make me feel like I belonged. But it didn’t.

I remember standing her when I was ten, watching my parents laugh and adore Ellena. The one who stole everything that was meant to be mine.

I bit the inside of my cheek and turned to leave.

And that’s when I saw Ellena and Hunter.

Her hand curled around his arm like she owned him. He wore a sharp black coat, tie crisp, eyes calm. She wore lavender silk that shimmered under the lights.

They looked perfect.

Beautiful, even.

And maybe…

Maybe they really were a better match.

They were heading toward us.

My mother passed by me like I was invisible, eyes lit up at the sight of Ellena.

Hunter’s eyes met mine. I clenched my jaw and stepped forward.

To everyone else here, I was nothing but his personal servant.

How cruel. How unfair.

Once, I accepted it.

Just so I could be near him.

So stupid.

“Take this and give it to the Alpha,” Hunter said, holding out a gift box.

I didn’t move.

Ellena and my mother both turned toward me, eyes narrowing.

“Why didn’t you take it?” Ellena asked, her voice sweet but sharp.

Hunter’s tone hardened. “Are you refusing your Alpha now?”

I stared directly into his blue eyes. My voice was calm, empty, dead of all emotion.

“I’m done, Hunter. I’m no longer your servant.”

A gasp rippled through the room.

Hunter’s eyes widened.

And for the first time…

I saw fear in them.