"I want to sever the bond. Please handle the ritual documents," Violette said to Joshua Greymoor, the only bond-severance specialist in the neutral territories, as she sat across from him in his stone-walled chamber.

The man studied Violette with careful eyes, as if he couldn't believe that the woman before him was Violette Blackthorn, who had just declared she wanted to dissolve her mate bond with Hans Blackthorn, Alpha of the Blackthorn Pack, one of the most powerful and feared packs in all of Europe.

They had been bonded for fifteen years, and every wolf in the territories agreed they were the perfect mated pair.

Every anniversary of their bonding was spoken of across packs, the union celebrated as proof of the strength between the Ashwood and Blackthorn bloodlines. Yet here sat the Alpha's mate, asking for severance papers without hesitation, her face expressionless, wanting to break the bond with Hans Blackthorn.

"For a bond severance, you must offer proof that the Moon Goddess herself would honor," the ritual specialist explained.

"Yes, I've prepared it," Violette replied calmly as she handed over everything needed to dissolve the mate bond.

She had collected memory stone recordings sent by Irene over the past five years, showing that Hans spent his time in distant territories, disguised as pack alliance meetings, only to be with Irene Thornveil. There were images captured in the stone of Hans and Irene sleeping in the same den. And finally, a recording of Hans with Irene in her private quarters, while Violette herself was held captive by a rogue wolf and stabbed in the chest.

Joshua was silent as he reviewed the recording showing Violette being wounded by the rogue and treating her own injuries. The stone would be sent to Hans once the bond severance was finalized.

"Alright, I'll process your severance," Joshua said.

"Yes, please take care of it as soon as possible," Violette asked, smiling bitterly as she rubbed the still-wet stab wound on her left chest.

---

A week earlier, on the eve of their fifteenth bonding anniversary, Hans had arranged a lavish private gathering at the Great Hall of the Blackthorn pack's central territory, making Violette the center of attention among every wolf of standing.

However, as in previous years, Hans was nowhere to be found. That night, he was at Irene's quarters, keeping her company as she battled a mild fever, not even answering a single mind-link call from the rogue who was holding Violette hostage.

Overcome with rage, the rogue stabbed Violette in the chest, intending to end her life. Fortunately, Violette had a rare condition: her heart was positioned on the right side of her chest, which saved her. As the daughter of the Ashwood Alpha, she had been trained since childhood to handle such attacks, and she managed to save herself.

As Violette treated the bleeding wound on her chest, Hans finally answered his mind-link.

*"Honey, I'm sorry I didn't answer your call. Irene has a fever and is complaining of a headache. I can't leave her. I have to take her to the Healing Hall."*

Hearing this, Violette finally realized that during their fifteen years as mates, Hans had never loved her.

Their mating had been arranged as part of a territorial alliance between the Ashwood and Blackthorn Packs, two of the most powerful bloodlines on the continent. Although they were bonded through arrangement, she and Hans had still respected each other. Hans devoted all his attention to her, and they were praised as the perfect pair.

However, all the warmth and attention he showed her was just a facade and a formality, a performance Hans put on to convince the Ashwood Pack that he was treating their daughter well.

Violette woke up from her fantasy, feeling that her entire life devoted to loving Hans Blackthorn had been exhausting. Now, she just wanted to pursue her freedom.

---

"Mrs. Blackthorn, the documents are ready. You just need to get Alpha Blackthorn's signature." Joshua placed the severance papers in front of Violette.

"I understand. I will get my mate's signature," Violette said calmly.

She left Joshua's chamber and returned to the Blackthorn estate.

Upon arriving, she found several pack members carrying furniture into the main den.

In the great room, Irene sat next to Hans, pointing at the wolves moving her belongings.

"Those are the bed and settee crafted by my late mother. I really can't leave them behind. I can't sleep without them."

Hans sat leaning back against the sofa, his arms stretched out behind Irene as if holding her. He stroked Irene's hair.

"It's okay, just move your things into this house. Consider this your home."

"Thank you, Hans. I know you've always been good to me," Irene smiled sweetly, hugging Hans's neck and kissing his cheek. The scent of night-blooming jasmine and warm honey rolled off her, thick and cloying, layered over something acrid that Violette's wolf had long since learned to distrust.

Hans responded by gently stroking Irene's head.

Violette cleared her throat, drawing their attention.

The two immediately turned their heads and quickly separated, as if to hide their closeness.

"Violette, you're home! I've been waiting for you! I'm sorry I moved into your den without asking your permission. You're not angry, are you?" Irene looked at Violette anxiously, wringing her hands in front of her chest.

"Vio, let Irene stay at our house. Her quarters had a ruptured ward-line. She's traumatized from living alone. We'll take care of her because we're still her family and she's Damien's biological mother," Hans explained. His scent filled the room, charred oak and black iron, and beneath it something that smelled like old blood never fully washed away. Violette's wolf didn't stir at it. Not anymore.

"It's okay, right, Violette? If you don't like it, I'll find another place to stay," Irene said, her eyes starting to well up, making her look pitiful.

"You've already moved your things into this house, why do you need to ask my permission? You're talking as if I'm kicking you out," Violette replied with a flat smile.

Irene's face reddened; she pursed her lips, then looked at Hans with an expression as if she had been mistreated. She was petite and ten years younger, so her appearance really supported her sad performance.

"Hans, I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry for giving Violette the wrong impression," Irene said to Hans.

Hans's face tensed, and he frowned at Violette. "Don't scare Irene like that. She didn't mean to misunderstand you."

"Don't worry, I'm just kidding. She can stay as long as she wants," Violette replied with a fake smile.

"Hans, there's something I want to talk about. I need your signature to change the territory deed on the island you claimed for our bonding anniversary," she said as she placed the documents on the table, right in front of them.

She sat across from Hans and Irene, who didn't even move and remained seated side by side.

That position made it seem as if Violette were an outsider in her own den.

"It's already yours. No need to change anything," said Hans, reaching for the document to look at it.

However, Violette held the document back so Hans couldn't see its contents.

"Hans, I just need your signature and the island will be mine so I can feel comfortable."

Irene laughed softly and seductively. "Violette, are you worried that Hans is lying about giving you the island? Don't worry, I also received a private island off the western coast as a gift for my Moon Blessing Day last week. If you don't believe me, I'll show you the original documents."

"A private island off the western coast?" Violette smiled meaningfully, but a sharp pain pierced her chest, far more agonizing than the stab wound she had received from the rogue.

It was the island Hans had originally given her, but for some reason, within just a few hours, Hans had changed his gift, replacing it with another island.

Now she understood. Hans was giving the island to Irene.

"What's wrong with the island?" Irene smiled innocently.

"Nothing," Hans replied without explanation, avoiding Violette's gaze. He turned the document to the last page and signed it immediately.

Violette stared at Hans's fingers as he signed the severance papers.

Fifteen years of bonding, the love of her life ended like this. Somewhere deep inside her chest, in the hollow place where the mate bond had once hummed warm and constant, there was only silence now. Her wolf lay still, as if it had already known long before she did.

Violette had known Hans almost her entire life. They were promised when she was five, formally betrothed at ten, and bonded at eighteen. They had been mated for fifteen years.

However, their entire life together was nothing compared to the brief presence of Irene, who immediately stole Hans's heart and became his first love.

Irene was his brother's mate. Hans was even willing to adopt Damien, Irene's pup, as the heir to the Blackthorn Pack, while Irene went abroad to distant territories to pursue her ambitions after her mate's death.

"That's enough, right?" Hans said indifferently without glancing at the document. If he had paid attention, he would have seen that they were bond-severance papers.

"Daddy! Mommy!"

The little five-year-old pup ran and jumped into Hans and Irene's arms, hugging them tightly as if they were his best parents. He smelled of milk and grass and something faintly sour, like unripe fruit. Notably absent of any Blackthorn iron or char.

Violette looked at Damien with sadness in her heart. She had raised the pup since he was a newborn, but Damien never considered her his mother.

Ever since Damien began to remember, Hans repeatedly took him to distant territories to meet his biological mother, Irene, which ultimately led Damien not to consider Violette his mother.

He called Hans "Daddy" and Irene "Mommy," but to Violette, he only called her by her name.

Hans let it be. When Violette protested, he always said, "Irene went through the pain of giving birth to him, so Damien must not forget his mother."

Now she realized that Damien was just a painful reminder that her mate loved Irene.

"Daddy, Mommy! Let's go watch a show!"

"Watch a show? Sure, let's go before dinner." Hans rubbed Damien's head and then stood up, holding his small hand.

"Mommy, let's go. I can't wait!" Damien excitedly grabbed Hans and Irene's hands and pulled them to hurry up and leave.

"Yes, baby. There's no need to rush," Irene said.

As they were about to leave, Violette stood up and walked behind them. Damien, as if sensing Violette's presence, immediately snapped and pushed her away.

"Why are you coming? I don't want you to come with us!"

"I'm not coming. I'm going to my room," Violette replied, walking straight to her quarters.

She heard Irene ask Hans worriedly behind her. "Hans, is Violette angry because we didn't invite her?"

"It's okay. Violette never liked outings like that. She always gets a headache from the noise and the crowds."

"Thank goodness. I feel so guilty that the three of us went without inviting her," Irene said.

Violette clenched her fists, a bitter smile on her lips. In her heart, she said, *Hans, do you know that I always liked going out together?*

Every time Violette asked Hans to spend an evening out, he would just clear the gathering ground for her alone.

However, Violette always went alone and felt lonely. After going alone several times, Violette finally gave up inviting Hans and began to hate those outings altogether.

Hans had the wealth and power to appease his mate, but he was never there for her. However, for another woman, he was willing to cancel every obligation and cross entire territories to be by Irene's side.

But that's all in the past now. All she had to do was send the severance papers to Joshua.

Once the bond severance officially took effect, she'd be free again.

Just then, Irene sent her a memory stone recording of the three of them having dinner and playing together at a festival ground. The recording showed their closeness, like a family, with Damien calling Hans "Daddy" and Irene "Mommy," showing them as his parents.

Violette saved the recording and sent the severance papers signed by Hans to Joshua Greymoor.

"Mr. Greymoor, I have sent the documents. I will pay whatever it costs—in gold, in territory, in pack-bond—to speed up the severance."

"Understood, Mrs. Blackthorn. I will notify you as soon as the bond severance is finalized. The ritual requires a full moon cycle to complete."

"All right, thank you, Mr. Greymoor."

Violette ended the mind-link call. Next, she prepared the documents she needed to take with her when she left the pack estate.

The estate, which they had built together during their fifteen years of mating, was now meaningless. She threw away all the gifts and moonstone jewelry, even the first preserved flowers Hans had given her when their bond was sealed.

There was nothing she needed to take. All the territory holdings and businesses Hans had given her over the years were bound to this pack's lands.

Violette would leave all of it behind to free herself from her ties to Hans Blackthorn.

Violette had not told her family that she was severing the bond with Hans. They believed Violette was contentedly mated, and Hans was a strong Alpha ally in their eyes.

If her parents knew Violette wanted the bond broken, they would try to talk her out of it and tell Hans.

Then the severance would never happen, preserving the alliance between the two packs.

Violette would tell them after the ritual was finalized. At that point, there would be nothing they could do to prevent her from leaving.

Hans, Irene, and Damien had returned to the estate. Violette did not greet them and went to the bathing chamber to freshen up.

When she came out wearing a sleeping robe, Hans was already in the chamber and had unbuttoned his shirt. Calmly, Violette went to the dressing table and began her evening routine.

Hans stood behind her and gently squeezed her shoulders.

"Sorry I'm home late. Damien insisted on going to the festival grounds and lost track of time."

"Hm. It's okay."

Hans leaned down, resting his chin on Violette's shoulder and kissing her neck.

The scent of charred oak and black iron that clung to Hans's skin was threaded through with something else. Night-blooming jasmine and warm honey, sweet enough to make her teeth ache. Irene's scent, layered over his like a second skin. Violette's stomach churned. Her lips smiled bitterly as she recognized who that cloying sweetness belonged to.

"Vio, just be quiet today," Hans whispered, kissing her earlobe. "Are you uncomfortable with Irene being here?"

"No," Violette replied with a fake smile.

"Irene is just our sister by mating. She's part of the Blackthorn Pack."

"I know."

"Is it because Damien is too close to Irene that you're upset?"

"No. They should be close because they are mother and son."

Hans stared at Violette through the reflection in the dressing table mirror, sensing her unusual change. He had felt it since Irene moved into their den. He thought it was because Violette didn't like Damien being close to his biological mother.

Violette stared back calmly, trying not to appear cold in front of him. Her wolf lay still inside her chest, watchful and quiet, offering nothing.

"Don't be too angry with Damien for being close to his mother. We have to raise him because he is the heir to the Blackthorn Pack since we cannot have pups."

"Hm," Violette replied indifferently.

"If only you could have..." Hans stopped himself before he finished the sentence that would hurt Violette.

They had been without pups for fifteen years. Hans had never made an issue of it because Violette was the daughter of the Ashwood Alpha. Their mating was intended to maintain the alliance between the two powerful packs.

"Don't give up, we'll try again," Hans whispered in Violette's ear.

Violette's body tensed as Hans's lips kissed the corner of her mouth and his hand pulled down her sleeping robe. She immediately pushed Hans's hand away before he could see the scar on her chest.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm not feeling well. My cycle started today," Violette said coldly.

Suddenly, the mind-link stone on the bedside table pulsed with light.

"Your stone is ringing." Violette turned her face away.

Hans grumbled, picking up the stone without moving away from Violette's body.

*"Hans, can you come here?"* Irene's voice sounded frightened through the stone-link.

"What's going on?" Hans's voice was full of concern.

*"I think I heard an intruder in my chamber. I'm really scared, Hans."*

"Don't be afraid. I'll be right there." He hurriedly moved away from Violette and took the silver-edged blade from the desk drawer.

"Wait here, I'll check what's going on," he said without looking at Violette and rushed out of the chamber.

Violette scoffed, knowing what drama Irene was creating. She had heard from one of the pack servants that Irene had been terrified to find her chamber window open while she was bathing, and she had seen a shadow pass by outside.

However, shortly after, Hans and Irene appeared at her door.

"What?" Violette stood in front of them.

"Vio, Irene's chamber isn't safe, and we haven't found the intruder yet. Irene is scared and doesn't dare to stay in her chamber. So, for the time being, Irene will stay in this chamber."

Violette's face paled as she stared at Hans in disbelief.

"Hans, have you lost your mind?"

Hans's expression immediately turned stern. "This chamber has the strongest wards. Irene will be safe here. You can move to the next chamber."

"This is our chamber, Hans! How dare you bring another female into our chamber!" Violette refused, her chest felt hot, and her tears blurred her vision.

This was the private chamber they had shared for years since they were mated, even before Irene came and destroyed their bond.

Every detail of this chamber's decor was engraved in her heart. She had spent her thoughts and time tracking down the right fabrics and furnishings to prepare the mating chamber. She and Hans had shared many beautiful memories in this chamber over the years.

How could Hans bring another female into their chamber and kick her out without a shred of guilt?

Irene pretended to tremble with fear, hiding behind Hans while clutching his hand.

"Hans, it's okay. I can be placed in any chamber. It's better if I just move out of the estate."

Hans's face softened as he looked at Irene and stroked her arm. "It's not safe for you to go out in the middle of the night like this. That intruder is definitely after you. Of all the wolves in this estate, you're the only one being terrorized. I have to protect you because it's my responsibility."

"But what about Violette...?"

Hans shifted his gaze to Violette indifferently. "Violette, as someone older than Irene, you have to give in. Give this chamber to Irene."

"You're worried about Irene being attacked, but what about me? What if the intruder hurts me—"

Hans interrupted her. "You grew up in the Ashwood Pack. You've faced dangerous situations many times, but you've always been safe all these years. You're different from Irene, who is a turned wolf, weaker and unable to fight back."

Not wanting to hear Violette's refusal, Hans called a pack servant to move Violette's belongings to another chamber.

Violette clenched her hands tightly. Pain pierced her chest. Tears threatened to fall.

Since Irene returned a year ago, Hans's attitude had changed. He cared more about Irene and no longer cared about the image of a devoted mate that he had always projected.

"I'm sorry, Violette. I didn't mean to make you move out of this chamber..." Irene whispered weakly, looking at her with an apologetic gaze. But the corners of her lips curled into a sly smile. Beneath the jasmine and honey, that acrid chemical note sharpened, just for a breath, before sweetening again.

"Don't apologize, it's not your fault," Hans said, glancing indifferently at Violette. "Don't blame Irene."

"I didn't say anything," Violette replied coldly.

"Hans, can you stay with me for a while? I'm afraid to be alone." Irene leaned weakly on Hans as if she were about to faint.

"Okay, I'll keep you company."

Ignoring Violette's reaction, Hans took Irene into their chamber and closed the door right in front of her face.

Violette took a deep breath, her hands clenched into fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white, her chest feeling tight.

The events of that night spread quickly among the pack servants. They had witnessed Violette being cast out of the Alpha's chambers while Hans escorted Irene inside and closed the heavy oak doors behind them.

Every wolf in the Blackthorn estate could read the message clearly enough. Hans had shown the entire household exactly how much Irene mattered to him. Violette lost face in her own den and became the subject of whispered ridicule among wolves who should have bowed their heads when she passed.

Hans did not attempt to remedy the situation or apologize to Violette.

A mind-link message came through from the Ashwood Pack, as if the news had already crossed territories. Her mother, Anna, wasted no time.

"Vio, how could you let another woman treat you like that? Where is your pride as a daughter of the Ashwood bloodline?"

"Mom, what happened was..."

"Forget it. Don't get into a conflict with Hans over some turned wolf. After all, you are still the Luna of the Blackthorn Pack. You have to maintain that status."

"Mom, your daughter was humiliated like this, how can you say that to me?" Violette said in disbelief, her grip tightening on the mind-link stone.

"Violette, how old are you now? You are a mated wolf who has been bonded for fifteen years but have yet to produce an heir for the Blackthorn line. Don't make Hans unhappy and cause him to fight with you because of a mistress. If you sever the bond with Hans, the Ashwood Pack will not accept you anymore."

Violette did not answer. Her hands clenched tightly as she listened to her mother's indifferent words. She understood that she was useless in the eyes of her family because she had not given the Blackthorn Pack any pups.

"Vio, are you listening to me? There's no need to fight with Hans over a mistress. He will get bored eventually and you will remain Luna. It's better to think about how you can conceive an heir."

Violette's heart was so tired that she didn't argue with her mother.

"I understand, Mom." She ended the mind-link.

Her family's attitude made Violette even more determined to keep her bond-severance a secret, and she would not return to the Ashwood Pack.

Hans came home early that day and found Violette in the Alpha's chambers, packing some of her belongings into boxes.

"What did you tell your family?" His expression looked unhappy.

"Nothing," Violette replied briefly and wearily, continuing to fold her clothes into a box.

"Then why did your father contact me and bring up Irene?"

"I don't know, but my mother reached out to me today. She also talked about Irene. It seems they heard the news from last night through a servant. You know, in a pack like ours, there are always wolves with divided loyalties. Spies everywhere."

Hans paused for a moment and then exhaled. "Don't worry too much about what happened last night. Irene wasn't raised like us, growing up in a powerful pack. She was very frightened by the intruder last night."

"Yes. I know." Violette bowed her head, busy packing her belongings into boxes.

"Why are you packing so many things? You don't need to pack so much. Once Irene calms down, you can come back to this room."

"It's okay. She can stay in this chamber as long as she wants. And these things are for me to donate to the pack orphanage."

Hans stared at her for a moment, his brow furrowed. He felt that Violette was indifferent and was even giving up their chambers just like that. She was not the type of person who would give away her belongings to anyone, and she was stubborn.

Hans looked at the items packed in the boxes. They were valuable to Violette because they were gifts from him. The carved wooden wolves were gifts Hans had given Violette from the ages of ten to eighteen, along with a few other keepsakes.

"Those things… don't you really like them? Do you really need to throw them away?"

"Oh, I feel like I'm too old to keep these things. There must be lots of pups in the orphanage who would love these." Violette smiled gently at Hans.

Hans didn't think about it any further. He placed an invitation and a gift box on Violette's lap.

"An invitation to the Blackthorn Pack gathering tomorrow night. We both have to attend and show everyone that we're doing well."

"Okay." Violette stroked the gift box Hans had given her.

When she opened it, the contents were stunning: a delicate silk dress threaded with silver moonstone beading and the latest diamonds from a renowned jeweler.

Despite their recent argument, Hans still knew her taste and her preferences. Her heart wavered for a moment. At least Hans still respected her.

"Wear that dress tomorrow night."

Violette looked up and nodded, smiling.

---

The next day at seven in the evening, Violette went to check the dress she had asked a pack servant to wash and press. However, she found Irene standing over the ironing board. The iron was emitting steam, and there was a burning smell that cut through the faint sweetness of jasmine and honey still clinging to the chamber. Next to her, Damien was busy on the floor, snapping apart Violette's jewelry set piece by piece, his small fingers working with deliberate focus.

"Irene, what are you doing?!" Violette rushed to save her dress and pushed Irene aside.

The dress was beyond saving. There were burn marks and a gaping hole scorched through the middle of the fabric, the moonstone beading melted and blackened.

"Oops, sorry Violette... I accidentally burned your dress. You're not going to blame me, right?" Irene said with a cynical smile on her lips, not attempting to hide that it was intentional.