“Lucien’s throwing fits again, and now you’re doing the same?” Nathan snapped, his voice rough with impatience. His golden Alpha eyes flashed as his jaw tightened. “He’s only a cub. You’re the grown one here. Why can’t you meet him halfway? When he’s older, he’ll understand.”

I leaned back against the bed, exhaustion weighing down my bones after a full day of pack affairs and patrol scheduling. “I just came back from dealing with territory disputes,” I murmured. “I’m worn out, Nathan. Please don’t pile more problems onto me tonight. I don’t have the strength to argue.”

What I wanted to say was simple: I didn’t need him to fix anything. I only needed him to hear me.

But to him, every word I spoke sounded like whining.

The warmth drained from his face. The desire that had lingered in his gaze a moment earlier vanished, replaced by frost.

“I still have reports to finish,” he said flatly, already turning away. He yanked the door open and let it slam shut behind him. “Don’t wait up. I won’t be sharing a bed with you tonight.”

I didn’t even bother counting how often he abandoned me like that anymore. Somewhere along the way, I had stopped being his Luna and turned into something disposable—used when convenient, forgotten the rest of the time.

But tonight was the last time I would let anyone treat me like a spare.

I sat at the dining table until dawn, my fingers sticky with glue, trying to piece my mother’s shattered jade bracelet back together. It was a foolish effort. Wolf jade fractures deep; no cheap adhesive could ever make it whole again. Still, I kept pressing the fragments together, whispering silent apologies to her memory.

By the time I looked up, pale sunlight had begun to creep through the windows.

Mrs. Everwood sent me a message, asking me to come over. I pulled on a coat and left without breakfast.

She was waiting in her sitting room when I arrived, worry etched into every line on her face. She exhaled heavily when she saw me.

“I heard about last night,” she said. “Lucien is stubborn—he takes after Nathan far too much. But you’ve raised that cub since he could barely walk, Everly. Somewhere in that heart of his, there’s still room for you. You just need to be patient.”

Then she reached out and took my hand. “Are you truly prepared to abandon the family you’ve worked so hard to build?”

Her question made my throat tighten.

But what kind of family survives without love?

My thoughts drifted to Celeste, the sister I had lost.

She and Nathan were bonded since they were young wolves—training together, running together, growing into their fated roles side by side. They were admired by every pack in the region. A perfect Alpha and Luna.

Until the night Celeste never came home.

Nathan’s spirit shattered with hers. He became hollow, neglecting his duties, barely noticing Lucien’s cries. Mrs. Everwood was terrified her grandson would grow up without a mother’s warmth, so she came to me with a desperate plan: step into Celeste’s place. Become Lucien’s guardian. Hold the pack together until Nathan healed.

So I sacrificed five years of my life.

I molded myself into the perfect Luna, turned Lucien into the golden cub the elders adored, shouldered Nathan’s grief, and swallowed every slight.

And still, I never earned a single ounce of their love.

To Nathan, I was nothing more than a body he reached for in moments of need.

To Lucien, I was an enemy.

How could something so broken ever be called a family?

Mrs. Everwood finally stopped trying to persuade me. Instead, she slid the divorce documents across the table. “Once you sign these, you’re free.”

My heart pounded as I picked up the pen. I didn’t hesitate.

That evening, when I returned to the manor, the sky was already dark. My key no longer worked. Confused, I knocked, but no one answered.

Then the door cracked open.

Lucien stood there with his arms folded, eyes full of contempt.

“Well, well,” he scoffed. “Look who remembered this place exists. Why didn’t you just die somewhere today? Then you wouldn’t have to cook for me and Dad anymore.”

He was furious I hadn’t prepared his meals. I had once taken cooking lessons just to accommodate his sensitive stomach. Back then, he’d hugged me after dinner and chirped,

“Mommy, your food is the best in the pack! I want to eat it forever.”

Now he wouldn’t even let me step inside.

The sky growled. Thunder rolled overhead, and rain burst down in sheets. In seconds, I was soaked.

“Lucien,” I said softly, water dripping from my hair. “Please let me in. I’ll get sick out here.”

He laughed. “Why should I care? You wanted to leave so badly—why don’t you stay gone?”

A sweet voice floated from behind him. “Lucien, who are you talking to?”

Ophelia Byrnes approached in towering heels, slipping her arms around his shoulders like she belonged there.

Her lips curved when she saw me.

“Oh. It’s you. Sorry, darling, but Nathan said he’d be with me tonight. You’ll have to find somewhere else to sleep.”

Then she turned to Lucien brightly. “Come on, sweetheart. Dinner’s ready. Your dad’s waiting.”

Lucien grinned and took her hand. “I love eating with you, Aunt Vee. You’re the best.”

I stood there in the rain and watched them disappear into the warmth of the house, their figures blurred behind the glowing windows. My chest felt like it was being squeezed from the inside.

The cub I had raised, the one I had poured every scrap of love into, couldn’t remember a single thing I had done for him. Instead, he clung to the woman Nathan had dragged home simply because her face reminded him of Celeste.

By the time I realized I couldn’t even call for a car, the rain had turned vicious. I curled up beside the iron gate like a drenched stray wolf, folding my arms over my head, trying to keep the cold from seeping into my bones.

I don’t know how long I stayed there before the front door creaked open again.

The housekeeper hurried out, holding an umbrella over my head. “Madam… Mr. Everwood said you may come inside.”

My thoughts felt frozen, but I nodded and staggered in.

The sight that greeted me was almost laughable. Lucien was nestled comfortably in Ophelia’s arms, his attention fixed on the holo-screen, while Nathan sat nearby slicing fruit for them. If anyone walked in at that moment, they would’ve sworn they were looking at a perfect Alpha family.

I turned toward the stairs, wanting nothing more than to disappear into the guest room, but Nathan stopped me.

“You know Lucien can only eat the meals you prepare. Don’t wander off for too long anymore,” he said, as if issuing a pack command.

I forced a thin smile. “Then I suggest you hire a nutrition wolf right away. Or teach Miss Byrnes how to cook. I’ve already written everything down.” I met his eyes coolly. “After all, we’ll be separated soon.”

The knife in his hand struck the plate with a harsh clang.

“Everly.” His chair scraped loudly as he stood. “Have I spoiled you too much? Is that why you think you can speak to me like this?” He crossed the room in three strides and seized my wrist. His grip was brutal. “You throw around the word ‘divorce’ as if it’s a joke. Do you really think I won’t make it official?”

Why wouldn’t he? He had never loved me. The only reason he’d kept me around was so Lucien could pretend he still had a complete family.

I looked straight at him, my voice steady. “Then ask your son what he wants. Ask him if he even cares whether I stay.”

As if summoned, Lucien spoke from the sofa, his tone sharp with disgust.

“Dad, I’ve wanted you to get rid of her for years. I don’t like her. I like Aunt Vee better.”

Ophelia rushed to cover his mouth. “Sweetheart, don’t say things like that—it’ll hurt her feelings.”

She said the words, but the gleam in her eyes told a different story.

“She’s not my mom!” Lucien shouted, wrenching free. “I don’t want a killer as my mother!”

I glanced back at Nathan and gave a tired shrug. “There you have it. He doesn’t want me. So why don’t we end this already?”

Nathan’s face tightened. He turned to Ophelia. “Take Lucien downstairs.”

She paused, disappointment flickering across her face, then nodded and led Lucien away.

Watching them go, I said again, “You both like her so much—why not make her Luna instead? I’m done playing this role.”

“You’re really that desperate to push me into another woman’s arms?” Nathan’s voice dropped dangerously low.

I looked at him, confused. Everyone in the pack knew he had only ever loved Celeste. Even after all these years, he still lived in her shadow. I was never more than a substitute, a body to warm his bed when he needed release. And now he had found Ophelia, a woman who mirrored Celeste so eerily it made my skin crawl. Shouldn’t he be glad?

Instead of answering, he turned sharply. “Ophelia, come back.”

She poked her head into the room, startled. Without warning, Nathan grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the bedroom.

“You want proof, Everly?” he snapped. “Then watch.”

The door slammed.

Moments later, muffled moans seeped through the walls.

I felt nothing.

I never came here for love. I came to repay a debt and nothing more. Nathan had his ghost, and now he had a living version of her. He should have been satisfied.

I checked the time. My flight would be boarding soon.

Silently, I slid the signed divorce papers under his bedroom door, collected my suitcase, and headed for the exit.

Before I could reach the front door, Lucien stepped into my path.

With a sudden kick, he sent my suitcase tumbling across the floor.

“What, you’re leaving just because of a few harsh words?” he mocked. “You think Dad’s going to chase you like in some drama? You’re ridiculous.”

I said nothing. I bent down, lifted my suitcase, and tried to walk past him.

Then he snatched the fruit knife from the table.

And rushed me.