The house was quiet when I returned. Too quiet.

I moved through the rooms with a purpose, gathering the tiny clothes and supplies I had bought for my boys, folding each piece with trembling fingers. Packing wasn’t just about preparing for their birth anymore—it was about escape.

Dorian should have been home by now, but of course, he wasn’t. He was still at Palmcreek River with Beatrice, swimming, laughing—living. The images sent to my phone were burned into my mind, the way he looked at her, the joy on his face. It was the same look he once reserved for me.

Was I ever truly his choice? Or was I merely a duty—a bond forced upon him by the Moon Goddess?

My phone buzzed again. Another message.

Beatrice: You were just a duty to him. I own his heart, and very soon, everyone will know it.

I stared at the words, my lips curving into a humorless smile. First attack from Beatrice. We’re getting serious about this betrayal thing now. I laughed to myself, but the sound was hollow.

A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

When I opened it, a young pack errand boy stood there, his arms struggling to hold two dozen white roses. His face lit up with excitement.

"From the Alpha to his Luna," he announced, as if he was delivering a grand love declaration.

I took the roses without a word, shutting the door in his eager face.

Dorian was nothing if not predictable. He knew he wouldn’t be home for Lunch, so he sent flowers. A poor attempt at guilt-ridden affection.

A moment later, my phone rang. His name flashed across the screen.

I took a breath, steadying myself before answering. "Dorian?"

"Love, I won’t make it to Lunch." His voice was smooth, almost rehearsed. "There was an issue with the Elders’ Council. It’s taking longer than expected, but I promise I’ll be home in time for the hospital."

I let out a soft laugh, one that I knew he would mistake for understanding. "That’s okay," I said lightly. "I’ll see you when you get back."

If he noticed the shift in my tone, he didn’t mention it.

As soon as the call ended, I turned to the pile of gifts and clothes he had bought me over the past few weeks. Luxurious silks, expensive baby items, meaningless tokens meant to distract me.

I picked up my phone again and dialed the errand boy’s number.

"Come back," I told him. "Take everything. Sell it. Discreetly."

There was a stunned silence before he finally stammered, "Luna… are you sure?"

"Positive."

The moment the boy left with the gifts, I grabbed my coat and headed out.

There was only one person in this pack who could help me disappear.

---

The high pack witch lived in a secluded part of the territory, her home filled with the scent of burning sage and dried lavender. Candles flickered along the wooden shelves, illuminating ancient books and vials of dark potions.

She sat across from me, eyes wise and knowing, as if she had already foreseen my arrival.

"You wish to sever your bond," she murmured.

"I do," I confirmed, my voice steady. "And I need protection spells for my sons."

She sighed, shaking her head. "Luna, this is not a decision to be made lightly. You are heavily pregnant. Breaking a mate bond now could cause you great harm."

"What’s harming me is staying here," I countered.

She studied me for a long moment before finally nodding. "Very well. But you must wait until after the birth. Your body is already under immense strain. Severing the bond before then could put the pups at risk."

I clenched my fists. "I don’t have time to wait."

"You do," she said firmly. "And you will. If you still wish to go through with this after they are born, I will do as you ask."

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to accept the delay. "Fine. But the moment they are born, I want the bond burned away."

The witch nodded. "It will be done."

As I left her home, my mind was already made up.

I was done waiting.

---

I made one more stop before heading home.

The midwife’s cottage was warm, the air thick with the scent of medicinal herbs. The older woman looked up as I entered, her gaze flickering with surprise.

"Luna," she greeted, standing. "I wasn’t expecting you tonight. Is something wrong?"

I shook my head, placing a protective hand over my belly. "I need to move the delivery up. Tonight."

Her brows furrowed in concern. "That’s… highly unusual. The Alpha—"

I cut her off before she could finish. "Dorian isn’t here."

She hesitated. "Even so, it's customary for the father—"

"I am their mother," I said firmly. "I will bring them into this world on my terms."

A long silence stretched between us. Then, with a nod, she sighed. "Very well. But this won’t be easy. I’ll need to prepare everything immediately."

"I understand."

I was ready.

By dawn, I would hold my sons.

And by nightfall, I would sever every tie that bound me to this place.

---

By the time I returned home, the sun had set, casting long shadows over the house.

I climbed the stairs, only to pause at the sight of Dorian standing in our bedroom, confusion etched across his face as he stared at the packed baby bag on the bed.

"Why are their things packed?" he asked, turning to me.

I forced a soft smile, stepping forward to smooth my hand over my belly. "I packed earlier so I wouldn’t forget anything," I said lightly.

His golden eyes searched mine, doubt flickering across his features. But he shook it off, pulling a set of documents from his pocket.

"I bought something for you," he said, handing them over.

I took the papers, scanning the words. A property deed. A home—large, luxurious, meant for me and the twins.

A celebration of our family.

A family he was already tearing apart.

I looked up at him, my lips curling into something resembling gratitude. "It’s beautiful," I murmured, my fingers tightening around the papers.

I would return them when I left.

Dorian leaned in, brushing a kiss over my forehead. "I just want you and the boys to have everything."

Liar.

His phone buzzed.

His body tensed.

Then, with practiced ease, he turned away. "The Elders need me again," he said, already walking toward the door. "I’ll be back soon."

I didn’t bother asking if he was telling the truth.

I already knew where he was going.

As the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a quiet laugh.

Not out of humor.

Not out of pain.

But because this was it.

This was the moment I stopped being the Luna who waited for her mate to come home.

By this time tomorrow, I would no longer be Dorian’s anything.

And he would never see it coming.

The house felt colder now.

I stood in the center of our bedroom, my hands resting protectively over my belly. Seven years. Seven years of love—at least as far as I had known. But love wasn’t meant to be a question. Love wasn’t meant to feel like waiting for someone to come home, hoping you were enough.

I walked to the dresser, pulling out a sheet of parchment. My fingers trembled slightly as I dipped the pen into ink. I wasn’t going to scream. I wasn’t going to beg. I was simply going to tell the truth.

Dorian,

Thank you for seven years of love—at least, what I believed was love. Maybe it was, once. Maybe it never was. But it’s obvious now that Beatrice has always been the one you truly wanted.

I won’t stand in your way any longer.

The deed to the property you bought me is in the top drawer. A gift, I suppose, in exchange for the life we built together. Keep it. I don’t need it.

By the time you read this, I’ll be gone.

I sealed the letter and placed it carefully inside the drawer, my wedding ring resting on top of the folded parchment. A final token of what once was.

The phone in my pocket buzzed.

Beatrice: Hope the birth goes smoothly. I’ll be keeping him warm while you’re gone.

I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head. She wanted me to react. She wanted me to fight her for him.

She had no idea she had already won.

---

The midwife’s cottage was quiet when I arrived, the soft flicker of candlelight illuminating the small room. The scent of dried herbs filled the air, a stark contrast to the turmoil in my chest.

"You’re early," the midwife noted, her eyes scanning my face. She saw it then—the resignation, the quiet determination.

"My sons are coming tonight," I told her. "And once they’re here, I need your help to leave."

The older woman’s brows furrowed, but she nodded. "You’re certain?"

"As certain as I’ve ever been."

She sighed. "Then we must be quick."

I pulled out my phone, my fingers hovering over the screen. A courtesy call, nothing more.

Dorian didn’t answer.

Of course, he didn’t.

The second call went to the Beta. His voice was strained when he picked up.

"Luna? What’s wrong?"

"The labor came early," I lied smoothly. "I thought he should know."

A pause. Then, "I’ll find him."

I didn’t tell him not to bother.

I already knew where he was.

---

Pain came in waves, sharp and relentless. The midwife’s voice guided me through it, her hands steady as she worked.

Hours passed. Then, a cry.

Then another.

Two sons. My sons.

I exhaled shakily, tears slipping down my cheeks as the midwife placed them in my arms. They were perfect—tiny fingers, soft tufts of dark hair, the warmth of their little bodies melting into mine.

For a moment, I allowed myself to feel it. The overwhelming love, the fierce protectiveness, the unshakable truth that they were mine.

And then the door burst open.

Dorian.

He was breathless, his golden eyes wide as he took in the sight before him. "They’re here?" He rushed to my side, his smile radiant. "Gods, they’re perfect."

I forced my own smile, though my heart remained distant. "They are."

He kissed my forehead. "I knew you’d be strong enough to do this. I knew—"

I placed a hand on his chest, stopping him. "You should rest, Dorian. I’ll be staying here for a few days to recover."

His brows furrowed. "But the house—"

"I need time to heal," I said firmly. "And…I have something for you. A gift."

Curiosity flickered across his face.

"I left it for you in our room," I told him. "But don’t open it until I return."

He nodded slowly, pressing a final kiss to my forehead. "I love you, Luna."

I said nothing.

---

Beatrice came later.

She stood at the foot of my bed, her lips curved into something that was meant to be a smile.

"Congratulations," she said, her voice dripping with false warmth.

The midwife, who had been silent in the corner, suddenly straightened.

"Enough," she snapped. "The Luna and her sons need rest. Get out."

Beatrice’s eyes flashed with annoyance, but she obeyed.

As soon as the door shut behind her, the midwife turned back to me, her expression shifting. "We don’t have much time."

I nodded. "Let’s do it."

---

The witch’s chamber was dark, the scent of burning sage thick in the air.

The moment I stepped inside, she reached for my wrist. The mark of the pack—the bond that tied me to Dorian—glowed faintly beneath her fingers.

"This will hurt," she warned.

I didn’t care.

Flames erupted along my skin, burning away the mark that had once tethered me to him. I bit back a cry, clutching my sons tighter as the magic seared through me.

Then it was done.

The witch pressed a vial into my hands. "A potion to fade the mate bond. It won’t break it completely, but it will weaken it enough that you won’t feel his emotions anymore."

I drank it without hesitation.

Another vial was handed to me—this one for my sons. "A protection charm. It will keep them hidden from the pack’s magic."

I pressed a kiss to their foreheads before letting a single drop touch their tiny lips.

It was time.

---

The car was waiting outside. James, the midwife’s husband, stood by the open door, his expression grim. "Are you ready?"

I exhaled, looking down at my sons. Their small fingers curled around mine, their breathing soft and steady.

I had never been more ready.

As the car sped away, leaving the pack’s territory behind, I pulled out my phone one final time.

I typed a message, letting the words sink in before pressing send.

Beatrice: Congratulations. You’ve won yourself an Alpha.

Then, with a flick of my wrist, I tossed the phone out the window.

No more messages. No more ties.

I was gone.

And I was never coming back.

The scent of burning wood and herbs filled the cottage, wrapping around Dorian like a warm embrace. Beatrice sat across from him, her fingers lightly tracing circles on his wrist, her smile soft and satisfied. The flickering firelight cast shadows on her face, making her seem almost ethereal, almost perfect.

But something was wrong.

It started as a dull ache in his chest, an unsettling shift in his gut. A feeling of loss, of emptiness, as if something inside him was snapping, tearing away piece by piece. His wolf stirred uneasily, growling low in his mind.

“Beatrice,” he muttered, rubbing his sternum. “Something’s wrong. The bond… it feels—”

“You’re just overthinking it,” she interrupted smoothly. Her nails skimmed over his skin, trying to soothe him. “She knows we’ve won, Dorian. She’s just accepting her fate.”

She lifted her phone for a brief second, just enough for him to glimpse the screen before tucking it away.

His stomach twisted. Something about the way she moved, the way she concealed whatever she had been looking at—it unsettled him.

“She’ll be home soon,” he said, running a hand down his face. “Let’s not—let’s not rush into anything. We can talk to the Beta first, figure out how to—”

“Dorian.” Beatrice’s voice turned sharp. “Why should we wait? She’s out of the picture. The sooner we announce our plans, the better.”

He shook his head, the unease clawing at him. “After she gets home,” he insisted. “That’s final.”

Beatrice huffed but nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But don’t make me wait too long.”

---

Dorian returned home just past midnight. The house was dark. Too dark.

A strange silence hung in the air, thick and suffocating. His fingers twitched on the door handle before he pushed inside.

The first thing he noticed was the emptiness.

The small touches of warmth that Luna Silvia had filled the house with—the candles she loved, the woven blankets draped over the couch, the delicate vases of wildflowers—gone. The walls looked bare. Cold.

His heart pounded as he took the stairs two at a time, rushing into their bedroom.

The closets were empty.

His blood turned to ice.

Not just her things.

The boys’ things.

Their clothes, their blankets, the tiny bassinet she had insisted on keeping by the bed—everything was gone.

A shuddering breath tore through his chest. “No… No, no, no.”

His mind scrambled for an explanation. A trip? A mistake? Maybe she—

He turned sharply and ran out the door, his feet hitting the dirt path toward the midwife’s cottage. He barely knocked before shoving inside, his golden eyes frantic.

“Where is she?” His voice came out ragged.

The midwife, startled, glanced up from the herbs she was grinding. “Alpha? What’s wrong?”

“Silvia,” he choked out. “She’s not home. Where is she?”

The midwife’s expression flickered with something—pity, sadness.

“She left here hours ago,” she admitted carefully. “Said she was heading home.”

Dorian swayed slightly, his wolf clawing inside him. “That’s not possible. She—”

“Oh, wait.” The midwife paused as if remembering something. “She told me to remind you… she left something in your drawer at home. A gift, she said.”

A gift.

Dorian’s legs felt weak as he stumbled back toward the house, his breathing shallow.

The moment he entered, he went straight to the bedroom, to the small drawer in the corner. His hands trembled as he yanked it open.

Inside, resting atop a folded cloth, was an envelope.

His pulse pounded in his ears as he picked it up, unfolding the letter with shaking hands. His eyes scanned the words, his chest tightening with every line.

Thank you for seven years of love—at least, what I believed was love. Maybe it was, once. Maybe it never was…

No.

His hands clenched around the paper, his vision blurring. His pulse roared in his ears as he tore out of the house, his mind a whirlwind of denial and panic. He fumbled for his phone, calling the only person who might know.

Beatrice picked up on the first ring.

“She’s gone,” he rasped. “Do you know where she went?”

Beatrice sighed dramatically. “Dorian, calm down. She probably just—”

“Do you know?” His voice was sharp, desperate.

A pause. Then, “No.”

But she was lying. He could hear it in her tone.

By the time he got back to the house, Beatrice was waiting at the doorstep. She reached for him, but he shoved past her, storming inside.

Something wasn’t right.

He moved blindly, searching, needing to find something—anything. His breath caught when he opened another drawer.

The jewelry box. The one he had given Silvia for their fifth anniversary.

Gone.

Another drawer. A silver locket with their first son’s name engraved on the back.

Gone.

Piece by piece, every gift, every sentimental token he had given her over the years—missing.

His chest rose and fell erratically, his body trembling.

Beatrice laughed lightly. “Why are you acting so surprised? She sold them. To second buyers, too, so don’t even think about getting them back.”

Dorian’s head snapped toward her.

Beatrice faltered at the look in his eyes.

“She sold them?” His voice was eerily quiet.

Beatrice crossed her arms. “Well, yeah. Isn’t that a good thing? She’s cutting ties, just like we wanted.” She reached for him again, her smile turning soft. “Now we can finally—”

“No.”

Beatrice flinched at the sharpness in his tone.

“No, she can’t leave me,” Dorian rasped, his body shaking violently. “She’s my Luna. I get to leave—not her.”

Before Beatrice could respond, his phone rang.

His Beta.

Dorian answered immediately. “Tell me you found her.”

The Beta’s voice was strained. “Alpha… you need to sit down.”

His stomach twisted. “Just say it.”

“She went to the pack witch.” A deep breath. “She cut off her connection to the pack. And she—she took a potion. To sever the mate bond.”

The world blurred.

Dorian roared, the sound ripping through the house as he stumbled backward, his fingers digging into his hair. His vision swam as he bolted upstairs, tearing through the room, searching for something—anything.

Then he saw it.

The letter.

The last thing she had left for him.

His fingers trembled as he read the words. His breathing turned erratic.

And then—

A sharp, searing rip tore through his chest.

His wolf howled in agony, clawing at the bond that had once been strong, once been unbreakable. The pain was unbearable, like claws raking through his soul, tearing him apart from the inside out. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, his body convulsing as the mate bond snapped—frayed threads disintegrating into nothingness.

His mind reeled. No. No, no, no.

Then, like a whisper in the void, her voice echoed in his mind.

"Please, Luna. Come home. I promise I’ll do better."

Silence.

Then—

"Nope. Too little, too late. I reject you, Dorian Gray, as my Alpha and my mate."

A final, unbearable tear.

Dorian collapsed to his knees, his body wracked with violent, heart-shattering sobs.