I threw myself into the sea out of despair. Unexpectedly, I returned to the fifth year after I became mates with Alpha Ethan Grant.

Ethan is my mate. He is the strongest Alpha among all the packs.

Our son, Chester Grant, inherited his bloodline. Like Ethan, he is a powerful, unyielding, born leader.

To the world, I am the noble Luna. I am the one every she-wolf envies and strives to be.

Yet, the first thing I did was venture deep into the forest where a witch lived. I asked the witch for a bone ring that would sever the blood bond with Ethan and Chester.

"Wear this, and the bond between you and your mate and child will gradually sever within five days. The process is painful and irreversible. You mustn't regret it," the witch says.

I immediately place the pale bone ring on my finger. While enduring the pain that pierces directly into my soul, I reply while trembling, "I will never regret it."

Ethan's first love is Angelina Lark. In my previous life, Ethan permitted her to dethrone me from my Luna position. I was also injured in the process. Additionally, Chester complained that my scent was repulsive and called Angelina "Mommy".

So, in this life, I don't want my mate or my son. I just want the freedom to live my own life.

But after leaving, I hear that the strongest Alpha and his heir are searching the world with soldiers in tow. They swear to find the Luna who had taken their hearts.

The dark room was thick with the scent of herbs and dust. A white-haired witch placed an ancient-looking bone ring in front of me.

"You know the price of this thing, don't you? Once you wear it, the bond between mates will be severed gradually over five days. However, the process is painful. You'll feel as though your heart is being ripped out while still alive. The process is also irreversible," the witch warned.

Her clouded eyes were filled with obvious contempt as they swept over me.

"You naive fools always end up crying on your knees at my feet, begging me to take the ring off. You won't be any different. Are you sure you want to buy it?" the witch added.

I felt a phantom ache in my chest at her words. Still, I simply took a deep breath and handed over the locked case of cash I had prepared in advance. It held all of my savings.

"I'm sure," I answered.

The witch snorted derisively. Then, she tossed the bone ring to me with careless ease.

Just as I was about to step out the door, she called after me.

"You have 24 hours to change your mind. Don't say I didn't warn you!"

With the bone ring clutched tightly in my hand, I returned to the home I shared with my mate, Ethan Grant.

When I opened the door, the villa was unexpectedly lively. The living room was decorated with pink balloons and streamers, like something out of a dream.

Cake and exquisite dishes were laid out on a long table. Every detail spoke of care and thoughtfulness.

Against my will, my heart skipped a beat. Did… Did Ethan remember what today meant? It was our fifth anniversary of becoming mates.

Yet, in the very next second, my delusion was shattered entirely.

Right there, in the center of the living room, hung a banner that read "Happy Birthday, Angelina".

I froze in place, feeling as though someone had punched me hard in the gut.

Light footsteps came from upstairs. My son, Chester Grant, looked princely in his children's tuxedo. He came bounding down the stairs—only to bypass me entirely and throw himself into the arms of Ethan's first love, Angelina Lark.

"Happy birthday, Angie!" he said enthusiastically.

Angelina smiled tenderly at Chester and bent down to his forehead. Then, she looked up and saw me standing at the door. The glint of disdain that flashed across her eyes pierced straight through me.

"Luna, you're back. It's my birthday today! I forgot to let you know in advance. I hope you're not mad?" she said with a fake smile.

I took a deep breath and calmly replied, "But I remember your birthday isn't actually today."

Angelina's birthday was on a round-numbered date. Chester used to chatter about it all the time, so I couldn't possibly have gotten it wrong.

Angelina's smile froze for a split second and then grew even sweeter.

She replied, "Your memory is impressive, Luna. You even remembered my birthday. Alpha Ethan bought me a new villa today.

"Since we wanted to celebrate this occasion, I figured I may as well move my birthday celebration earlier to today too. Alpha Ethan's been planning this party since early this morning."

Angelina's every word felt like a knife to my heart.

Just then, Ethan walked out of the study. The first thing he saw was Angelina and Chester. The usual sternness between his brows melted instantly into tenderness. A smile even appeared on his lips. It had been a long time since I had seen it.

But the moment Ethan's gaze landed on me, that smile vanished. With a frown, he spat coldly, "What are you doing here?"

His one sentence left me feeling so humiliated that I wanted to disappear. All of Ethan's careful party preparations had nothing to do with me. He was even questioning why I was here.

Just then, Ethan took out a velvet box from his pocket and handed it to Angelina.

In a sincere tone, he said, "I prepared this birthday gift for you a long time ago. Happy birthday."

Ethan opened the box. Inside was a diamond necklace that sparkled brilliantly under the light.

"Wow! It's so pretty! It goes perfectly with the diamond hairpin I gave you!" Chester exclaimed with a spark in his eyes.

Then, he personally helped fasten the necklace around Angelina's neck.

Angelina was so moved that her eyes filled with tears. The entire scene looked like a joyful family of three.

Suddenly, Ethan turned to me and asked, "What about you? What present did you prepare for Angelina?"

My throat tightened. Cold sweat pooled in my palms. I had spent all of my savings on the bone ring in my pocket. So, of course, I couldn't possibly have prepared anything for Angelina.

After a brief silence, I could only shake my head.

"Nothing," I answered.

The air turned sharply still.

Ethan's brows knotted tightly. A flicker of disappointment and disgust flashed across his eyes.

"You didn't even prepare the most basic gesture? What exactly do you take yourself for? Do you still think you deserve to be called Luna?" he criticized.

Even Chester pouted and murmured, "How could you, Mommy? Angie's so good to me, and you didn't even give her a present…"

Angelina, pretending to be distressed, clutched her chest and shook her head. "Don't be like this, boys. It's not Luna Tori's fault. Maybe she just forgot."

However, she couldn't hide the triumphant glint in her eyes. Like fire, it burned at my pride.

I heard myself hoarsely say, "I'm sorry. I'll head back to my room so that I won't bother you all anymore."

I turned and went upstairs. The moment I shut the door behind me, tears welled in my eyes, but I forced them down.

I slowly took out the bone ring. Then, I shoved it hard onto my finger. A bone-deep pain instantly tore through my body.

I let out a muffled gasp and collapsed onto the cold floor. Cold sweat drenched my back in seconds. I felt as though my soul was being torn apart.

Yet, compared to the heartbreak from just moments ago, this pain felt much milder.

With my gaze locked on the bone ring, I whispered to myself, "Just five more days, Tori Dawson. Five more days, and you'll be free from this ridiculous farce."

The pain from the bone ring severing the bond was excruciating. It was so overwhelming that I passed out.

By the time I opened my eyes again, it was already noon the next day.

I pushed my sore, weak body out of bed and got ready to head downstairs to grab a bite. However, the sight in the living room made me freeze.

The once luxurious and spotless villa was now in complete disarray. It was also eerily silent, as though all signs of life had been wiped away.

Yesterday's cake and leftover food still littered the table, while the balloons and streamers lay scattered on the floor. It was as if the lively celebration had never happened—only desolation remained.

Instinctively, I called out for the servants a few times, but no one answered. Typically, they should've already been cleaning at this hour.

A chill I couldn't explain crept into my heart. After hurrying to the study, I saw its door wide open, and it was completely empty inside.

Chester's room was the same way too. His neatly arranged clothes and the toys he would leave around carelessly were all gone.

With trembling hands, I dialed Ethan's number.

The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered. I could hear noise in the background along with the faint sound of Chester's and Angelina's laughter.

"What is it?" Ethan asked.

His voice held a trace of irritation, as though my call was an unwelcome intrusion.

I gripped the phone tightly and used every ounce of strength I had to keep my voice steady. "Where are you?"

"We moved," he answered casually. "Angelina likes the villa by Silvermoon Lake. The environment here is nicer, and it's better for Chester too. We shifted here first thing this morning."

My voice cracked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. Then, Ethan explained in a matter-of-fact tone. "Weren't you sleeping really soundly yesterday? You looked exhausted, so we didn't wake you. Besides, it's not like you had anything to do. Just take a cab and come over yourself."

Before I could respond, he abruptly hung up.

My phone clattered to the floor.

I stood there in a daze, feeling as though the floor beneath me had vanished and was unable to hold me up anymore.

They were gone. They moved, and not a single one of them told me about it.

After five years, I thought I had long grown used to Ethan's indifference and coldness. But I never imagined he could go this far.

I went back to my room, opened my suitcase, and began to pack my things. Just then, my phone rang again. It was Ethan.

"Why aren't you here yet? Chester's whining for the pancakes you make. Hurry up and come make them for him," he demanded.

Ethan's tone was as casual as ever. It was as though I hadn't been left behind and was just naturally expected to obey whenever called.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Fine. I was leaving anyway, so this would be the last time.

"Send me the address," I said quietly.

After following the address Ethan sent, I took a cab to the new villa by Silvermoon Lake.

When I opened the door, the first thing I saw was the three pairs of neatly arranged slippers in the entryway. Placed side by side were a pair of pink women's slippers, a pair of blue men's slippers, and a tiny pair of children's slippers.

The shoe cabinet was full. There was no space left for me.

A brand-new family portrait hung on the living room wall. Ethan, Chester, and Angelina were all smiling brightly in the photo. I wasn't in it.

The air held traces of Angelina's usual perfume. Her cashmere shawl was draped over the sofa. On the coffee table was a fashion magazine, laid open to where she had left off reading it.

Every inch of this place carried traces of Angelina. It felt warm and harmonious.

I stood at the doorway quietly, taking it all in. It was as though I had walked into a world that had absolutely nothing to do with me.

My appearance brought the lively atmosphere in the living room to an abrupt halt.

Angelina immediately walked over to me. With a perfectly measured smile, she said, "Luna, you're here! Come in—just treat it like your own home. They've been making a fuss all morning about wanting to eat your pancakes. I really need to learn how to make them from you."

I didn't respond. I simply walked past Angelina and headed for the kitchen.

Her smile faltered for a moment. Then, she turned to Ethan, looking slightly aggrieved.

"Did I say something wrong, Alpha? Luna Tori… She doesn't seem to like me very much. I just want to get along with her," Angelina whined.

Ethan's expression changed instantly. His once-gentle features turned cold, and his gaze fell on me like ice.

I lowered my eyes and said nothing. In these five years, I had lived through this scene too many times to count.

Angelina gently leaned against his side and softly added, "Chester still loves his mommy's cooking. I could never measure up to her."

The word "Mommy" felt like a deliberate reminder of who no longer deserved to be called that.

When Angelina followed me into the kitchen, the sweetness on her face vanished completely. It was replaced by undisguised smugness.

"Don't waste your energy, Tori. Ethan is mine now. Did you know? Chester's already calling me 'Mommy' in private and even says I'm gentler than you.

"But what can I do? I can't push away such an adorable pup, right? This home needs a she-wolf to run it. Since you can't handle that role, someone has to step in," she bragged.

I simply answered coolly, "Don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon enough."

Angelina thought I was bluffing, and her smile turned even colder.

"Don't flatter yourself, Tori. You really think that kind of talk will rattle me? You can't live without Ethan, and you're even more reluctant to give up Chester. So, who are you trying to fool with this act?" she shot back.

With that, Angelina suddenly grabbed my hand and tried to press it against the boiling kettle.

When I felt the scalding steam against my skin, I instinctively struggled. The kettle tipped over, but instead of backing away, Angelina thrusted her own hand toward it.

Angelina's sharp, piercing scream tore through the air.

Ethan rushed in the moment he heard it. His first instinct was to grab her wrist in alarm. When he saw the glaring red bun on Angelina's skin, he immediately frowned.

Ethan turned to me and questioned, "What happened?"

"It wasn't me—" I started instinctively.

But before I could finish, Angelina cut in.

"Don't blame Luna Tori, Alpha. She… She probably didn't mean it. She just accidentally knocked over the kettle…"

Angelina's feigned victim act, disguised as graciousness, only added fuel to the fire.

At that moment, Ethan's gaze suddenly shifted to my hand. Under the kitchen light, the bone ring's pale, ghostly glow seemed jarringly out of place.

His expression tensed sharply. "That ring on your finger—where did you get it?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I unconsciously clenched my fingers. Pretending to be calm, I hid my hand behind my back and casually answered, "It's just some old thing."

I didn't elaborate, and Ethan didn't press further. However, the chill in his gaze deepened, like he was looking at someone he no longer recognized.

Just then, Chester also ran into the kitchen, drawn by the sound of Angelina's scream. When he saw the burn on her hand while I stood to the side, he immediately burst into tears.

"You're a bad mommy! You hurt Angie! I hate you! I want Angelina to be my mommy!" he yelled at me.

In that instant, I couldn't even breathe.

Ethan was looking at me, but his gaze held no tenderness anymore. All that was left was heavy, bitter disappointment.

"It's been five years, Tori. I thought you would've learned to carry yourself with dignity by now," he criticized.

I kept my mouth shut and no longer tried to explain, because I knew that no one here would believe me.

Calmly, I untied my apron and gently touched my own scalded hand. It had also gotten burned in the chaos. Then, I turned and silently left the villa.

The pain in my hand felt sharp and searing. Still, it paled in comparison to the pain in my heart.

I had dedicated five years to Ethan and Chester. Yet, all I received in return was my husband's cold dismissal and my son's rejection.

I looked down at the bone ring on my fourth finger. Just four more days, and all of this would be over.