As I glanced at the list Alaric had given me, I recognized each ingredient as if it were etched into my memory. They were all for his favorite herb cake, a treat I had been making him by hand every year since we first started dating.

It was no easy feat to gather the herbs.

Some grew only on the steep cliffs near our territory. Climbing up to collect them was dangerous and exhausting.

The silence in the room was thick, but Alaric remained oblivious to how absurd his request was, especially given my bandaged arms and legs, which he seemed to overlook entirely.

I took a steadying breath, masking any hint of pain as I nodded. "No problem," I replied, keeping my voice neutral as I forced myself to stand. "I'll head out now and gather everything you need."

Each step toward the door felt heavier than the last, weighted with both physical pain and lost love.

As I reached for the door, I couldn't help but recall a memory from years before, when I had nearly fallen to my death collecting those same herbs. I was younger then, desperate to impress Alaric, to show him that I was serious about building a future together. He had once looked at me with warmth, with a spark that made me feel special.

But those days felt like they belonged to someone else now, a distant stranger.

Alaric's voice cut through the silence. "Lyra…" he said, sounding almost uncertain.

I stopped but didn't turn around. "Anything else?" I asked, a touch of exhaustion slipping into my tone.

There was a pause, then he muttered, "...It's fine if you use substitutes for some of the ingredients."

I almost laughed at his sudden consideration, realizing he did notice my injuries after all. So he knew. And yet, he hadn't thought twice about asking me to go.

I walked out without another word.

Reaching the cliffs, I began my task, methodically picking the herbs and leaves needed for the cake. Alaric's voice called through our telepathic link a few times, but I didn't respond.

I had called him many times in the past when I needed him, during my darkest moments—even when I lost our child—but he ignored me every time.

I pushed through the pain in my muscles, barely noticing as I reopened a few stitches, determined to finish gathering the ingredients by mid-afternoon.

Back at the healer's hut, I finally allowed myself to rest, letting the healer tend to my wounds, some of which were now bleeding anew.

Not long after, I sensed Alaric's presence through the link, and, grudgingly, I answered him.

"Where are you?" He asked, something almost like concern in his voice.

I leaned back, feeling the ache in my body from the long climb. "What's up?" I responded flatly, sidestepping his question.

"I was worried...you didn't send the herbs yourself," he admitted, his tone softening. "I just wanted to say…"

There was a pause before his voice fell silent, and a moment later, he appeared at the healer's hut, his eyes widening slightly as they landed on the fresh bandages. For a brief second, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt on his face.

"Thanks," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "I know it must have been a lot of effort."

But before I could even respond, I heard a light, sugary voice chiming in. Selene's heels clicked against the stone floor as she approached, her eyes wide with mock surprise and delight.

"Lyra!" she called out, her tone dripping with sweetness. "I heard from Alaric that you're the one who gathered the special herbs for my birthday cake! How talented you are."

Alaric nodded, smiling in agreement as he glanced at her. "Yes, she is."

Selene clasped her delicate, well-manicured hands in front of her and giggled. "I wish I could be like that… but look at these hands!" She stretched them out to show her pale, smooth skin. "They're not made for rough work like Lyra's. Alaric always calls me his ‘little dummy' because I'm so clumsy." She glanced at me with a coy smile, her words as sharp as they were sweet.

I didn't respond, simply meeting her gaze with an unwavering stare that gave nothing away. She might have thought her comments would sting, but I had already learned not to expect anything more.

Selene's smile lingered as she continued, "Anyway, since you finished gathering the herbs so early, we'll be starting the cake soon. Why don't you join us at the party?"

But before I could say anything, Alaric cut in, his tone firmer than before. "Actually, you don't need to come, Lyra. We… don't really need you there."

I hadn't gone to the party. In the end, I wasn't invited.

As I packed up my few remaining things, my gaze landed on a bundle of silk cloth tucked in the corner. When I unwrapped it, I found our marriage emblem—the symbol that had once bound Alaric and me in a connection.

The emblem had once meant the world to me, symbolizing a cherished, sacred bond.

But now, severing this connection might be the best choice.

All I needed to break it was a trace of Alaric's blood, placed upon it by his own hand. The thought crossed my mind briefly to wait for another time, but I wasn't willing to wait. I made my way to the party, fully aware that it wasn't my place to be there.

When I pushed the door open and stepped into the room, it wasn't difficult to spot Alaric. He sat with Selene on his lap, gently feeding her a slice of cake. She looked up at him with wide, doe-like eyes, clearly spoiled by his attention.

My entrance drew the room's attention. Every pair of eyes turned toward me, and an uncomfortable silence settled over the celebration.

Alaric looked over his shoulder, and the instant he saw me, his expression soured. His gaze darkened, frustration clearly visible in his eyes. I knew exactly what he was thinking — he had told me not to come.

"Lyra!" Selene called out, waving at me with an almost saccharine smile. She made no move to rise from Alaric's lap, savoring the scene with smug satisfaction. "Oh dear, there aren't enough chairs here. You wouldn't mind if I stay here on Alaric's lap, would you?"

Alaric's expression grew even more irritated, though he kept his focus fixed on me.

"Didn't I tell you not to come?" he snapped, his irritation plain for everyone to see.

I was about to respond, but Selene interrupted, pouting cutely. "Oh, Alaric, poor Lyra must feel so lonely, sitting by herself all the time," she said in a mock-sweet tone, clearly reveling in the tension she was stirring. "Let her join us, won't you?"

For a moment, Alaric's hardened expression softened. He reached out, affectionately ruffling Selene's hair. "It's your birthday, so I suppose you're the one who gets to decide."

I simply watched them, then took this chance to speak up.

I reached into my pocket, pulling out the marriage emblem, which I disguised as a capstone, a stone used for trade discounts in our community if marked by an alpha. Alaric, as a recognized alpha, would be able to get significant discounts, even free goods.

"Alaric," I said, stepping forward, holding out the emblem. "I'm planning to buy some new fabric for the house tomorrow. It's a bit pricey. Could you leave your mark here for a discount?"

The room's dim lighting cast long shadows across Alaric's face as he briefly glanced at the stone. Without a second thought, he smeared it with his blood, too focused on Selene to notice anything outside of the ordinary.

He didn't seem to feel the severance of our bond, but I did — a small, nearly imperceptible sting in my heart as it unraveled.

As I was about to put the emblem away, Alaric suddenly grasped my hand, his brow furrowing. "You… You came here just for this?" he asked, his voice low, tinged with a hint of incredulity.

I nodded, not saying a word.

His lips curved into a smirk, and he turned to Selene, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Then perhaps you can also look for a leopard print while you're at it. Selene's been wanting one."

I didn't respond, simply staring at the two of them.

For a second, Alaric's face darkened as if he were about to say something, but he stopped short, his hand pulling back as if burned. His fingers had grazed the loose bandage wrapped around my palm, the one I'd hastily covered before coming.

He flinched, his expression contorting with what looked like disgust.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Selene's eyes light up with interest. "Oh, Lyra, that red bracelet you're wearing…" she said, leaning forward with a smile. "It looks oddly familiar. I think I saw something just like it in Alaric's trash the other day."

I noticed Alaric subtly hiding his wrist, but I pretended not to see. I met Selene's gaze, my tone neutral. "These bracelets are pretty common. If you like it, I could give it to you."

Selene's smile faltered, and she fell silent.

When I finally left the room, I headed to the nearest trash can, dropping the bracelet inside without a second thought. I had worn it for seven years, but now, it was no more than garbage, stripped of the meaning it once held.

Returning home, I tossed the severed marriage emblem into the bottom of my bag, alongside the remnants of a life now gone. I packed the last of my belongings—a few clothes, a couple of personal items, leaving behind anything Alaric had ever given me, which wasn't much.

Stepping outside, I looked up at the sky, searching for the moon, but it was hidden behind a veil of clouds. I gave the house one final glance. The home I had once cherished and believed would always be warm.

And then, without a second look back, I walked forward, leaving it all behind.