Serena’s POV

Lyra immediately burst into tears. “Kael! Thank goddess you’re here!”

I started to push myself up from the floor, my shoulder aching.

“She—she attacked me!” Lyra sobbed, her voice breaking. “I just came to apologize, to try to make peace, and she got so angry! She accused me of trying to steal you away, and when I tried to leave, she shoved me! The pup, Kael, what if something happened to the pup?”

“What?” I stared at her in disbelief, then turned to Kael. “That’s not what happened. She came in here and—”

“Enough!” Kael roared, his face contorted with rage.

I tried again, standing up fully. “Kael, please, just listen to me. She’s lying. She admitted that—”

The slap came out of nowhere.

My head snapped to the side, pain exploding across my cheek. The force of it made me stumble backward, my hand flying up to touch my burning face.

The room fell silent.

I looked up at Kael, stunned, and saw the horror dawning in his eyes as he realized what he had done. His hand was still raised, trembling slightly, his expression shifting from rage to shock.

Lyra’s eyes twinkled with glee and mischief, and a small smirk tugged on her lips.

“Sera, I—” He stepped forward, reaching for me.

“Don’t touch me,” I whispered, backing away from him.

“Kael!” Lyra’s voice cut through the tension, sharp with pain. “Kael, please! My stomach hurts, something’s wrong! The pup!”

Kael’s attention immediately snapped to Lyra, all thoughts of me forgotten in an instant. He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands hovering over her belly.

“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?” His voice was frantic with worry.

“It hurts, it hurts so much,” Lyra whimpered, clutching her stomach. “Please, we need to go to the clinic. Now!”

Kael scooped her up in his arms without hesitation, already moving toward the door. He paused just for a second, glancing back at me with something that might have been regret.

But Lyra let out another pained whimper, and he was gone, rushing down the stairs with her in his arms, calling for his beta to prepare the car.

I stood alone in the guest room, my cheek still burning from his strike.

It was the first time he had ever laid a hand on me in six years.

And it would be the last.

***

Finally, the day of the fourth mating ceremony arrived.

It was the perfect weather for a ceremony that I wouldn’t be attending.

I stood in the guest room, watching through the window as Kael helped Lyra into the car. He was taking her to the pack clinic for a final check-up before the ceremony.

“I’ll be back in two hours,” Kael had told me earlier that morning with a soft look in his eyes. “The ceremony starts at noon. Sera. I promise, this time will be different.”

I had simply nodded, giving him the same blank expression I had worn for the past three days.

As I watched the car pull away from the house, I finally moved.

My bags were already packed, hidden in the closet. I had spent the past three days quietly preparing, making sure I had everything I needed.

The signed release papers were in my bag, but I had made copies to send to Kael.

I had three hours before the ceremony was supposed to start. Three hours before Kael would realize I wasn’t coming. Three hours before he would understand that I was gone.

It was more than enough time.

I pulled out my phone and sent a quick message to my father.

— I’m leaving now.

His response came almost immediately.

— The driver is waiting for you, sweetheart. We love you.

I took one last look around the guest room. Then I walked to the master bedroom, the room that had been mine, but now belonged to Lyra.

The Luna necklace sat on the dresser. Lyra had left it there carelessly, almost like she was taunting me with it.

I grabbed my bags from the guest room and headed downstairs. The house was empty.

Claire had sent me three messages this morning, excited about finally seeing me become Luna. I hadn’t responded. I would explain everything to her later, once I was safely away from here.

As I reached the front door, I paused and took one final look at the house I had called home for six years. The house where I had laughed and cried.

Then I walked out of the door without looking back.