Moonlight spilled in, tension thick, pine scent lingering in our small cabin.

Ethan leaned back against the armrest of the worn couch, his amber eyes glinting in the dim light. His voice, calm and low, rumbled like distant thunder.

“Well, losing this place might not be the worst thing,” he said, his gaze lingering on me.

“When we’re bonded, we can build something better—maybe even a bigger den. What do you think?”

He was watching me closely, his wolf-like instincts keen to pick up on my slightest reaction. I knew he was trying to gauge my feelings, but I kept my face blank, pretending to be distracted by the flicker of the dying fire.

Normally, I would’ve been thrilled. Talk of a shared future would’ve sent my heart racing. But tonight, my heart was as cold as the frosty air seeping through the cracks of the cabin walls.

He must have sensed it. His easy confidence faltered, but he didn’t press me. Ethan rarely pushed when it came to emotions—he always seemed to think they’d just work themselves out.

When he disappeared into the bathroom to shower, the silence grew oppressive. It was broken by the insistent buzzing of his phone on the coffee table. The sound grated on my nerves until I gave in and picked it up. The screen lit up with a string of messages.

Vanessa had sent him a dozen photos—pictures of her in wedding dresses. Ethereal white gowns, some traditional, some modern, all framed by her radiant smile.

My chest tightened as an ache spread through me.

So, this was it. His tenderness wasn’t for me.

My thoughts drifted back to the day I’d asked him to go shopping for mating ceremony garb. He’d brushed me off with a dismissive wave, claiming it didn’t matter.

“Just pick something. They all look the same,” he’d said.

That impatience was real. The warmth in Vanessa’s photos was real, too.

The bathroom door opened with a sharp creak, and steam rolled into the room like a ghostly mist. Ethan’s hair dripped water onto his broad shoulders as he stalked toward me, his eyes darkening when he saw the phone in my hand.

“What the hell are you doing?” His growl was low and menacing, more wolf than man.

Before I could answer, he snatched the phone from me with a rough tug, causing me to stumble back onto the couch. His grip was so strong it left a scratch on my hand.

“Do you not understand the concept of privacy?” His tone was icy, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of guilt.

I glanced down at the shallow cut on my palm, crimson droplets forming against pale skin.

Even without seeing more, I already knew the story behind those photos. I’d pieced it together in countless sleepless nights, scrolling through their exchanges, drowning in his betrayals.

Seven years together, and I’d become little more than background noise in his life.

“Sorry,” I muttered, my voice soft as I pulled my hand close. “I won’t touch your phone again.”

His posture stiffened, surprise flickering across his face.

“The photos—” he started, his voice unsteady. “Vanessa said trying on wedding dresses was exhausting, so I… I just helped her out. That’s all. You know her brother died… I was just doing this for him. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

I let his excuses wash over me, empty and hollow.

Vanessa’s brother, Kurt, had been Ethan’s closest friend, his packmate. When Kurt had died in a car accident, Ethan had vowed to look after his sister. And he had—far beyond what anyone would expect.

As his excuses continued to tumble out, I interrupted him, my voice steady and soft.

“Don’t worry. I’m not getting the wrong idea.” I met his gaze, unflinching. “Honestly, if you and Vanessa bonded, it’d make sense. She’d be a good mate for you.”

The slap came faster than I could blink. His hand struck my cheek, the sting sharp and shocking.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he snarled, his eyes glowing faintly in the dark, the wolf inside him bubbling to the surface. “Vanessa only sees me as a brother. Do you think she’s as cheap as you?”

The fire burning on my cheek was nothing compared to the searing pain in my chest.

But even as tears welled up, I saw something flicker in his eyes—panic, regret.

“I didn’t mean that,” he said, his tone softening. “I’m sorry.”

I opened my mouth, the words on the tip of my tongue. Ethan, I’m leaving.

But before I could speak, his phone rang again. He answered quickly, and a familiar voice spilled into the silence.

“Ethan! I had a nightmare… I dreamed about my brother…” Vanessa’s voice trembled, fragile and needy. “I’m so scared…”

And just like that, I faded into the background again.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m on my way now.” Ethan’s voice rumbled through the phone, steady but laced with urgency.

Even across the distance, I could feel the pull of his alpha energy, a force as constant as the moon. He was mine—or at least, he used to be.

I heard the clatter of his movements, the sound of him throwing on clothes. Just as he reached the door, his voice softened. “What were you about to say earlier?”

But I’d already buried my emotions deep. “Nothing. We’ll talk when you’re back.”

The next morning, his scent on the sheets was faint, his side of the bed untouched.

With only days left before I planned to leave the pack, I made my move. I quit my job at the local clinic and began packing.

Most of the clothes I folded weren’t even meant for me anymore—just donations. I carried the bags to the front porch, where the delivery driver waited.

But then I heard it: voices, movement, the low hum of new energy in the pack house across the courtyard.

Curiosity tugged me closer. Workers were bustling in and out, hauling furniture into what was supposed to be a vacant den.

Even amid the chaos, my wolf sharpened my senses, and my eyes locked on Ethan. He stood at the center of it all, his arm draped around Vanessa’s shoulders.

She wasn’t packed. Not yet.

His deep voice carried over the crowd as he directed the workers, the faintest growl laced in his tone when one of them misstepped.

That attention to detail? Classic Ethan. When we first mated and moved in together, he’d done the same thing—insisted on every detail being just right.

“Home should feel safe,” he’d said back then.

But now, this wasn’t my home. Not anymore.

“Miss? Hey, Miss? Your shipping code?” The delivery driver’s voice jolted me from my thoughts.

The noise must’ve caught their attention too because, as soon as I handed off the bags, Vanessa appeared. Her energy bristled against mine, sickly sweet and faintly metallic, like a predator trying too hard to play prey.

“Hey,” she said, her voice lilting. “I’ve been having these awful nightmares. Ethan thought it’d be best if I stayed close.” She smiled, too wide, her eyes glittering with mischief. “We’re neighbors now.”

I turned to leave, my wolf snarling under my skin. But then, suddenly, she stumbled backward.

Her hands flailed, catching on nothing, and she crashed into one of the workers carrying a heavy cabinet. The sharp edge caught her back, and she cried out in pain, tears springing to her eyes.

“Ahhh!”

Ethan was on her instantly, his movements a blur as he closed the distance. He caught her shoulders gently, his hands moving instinctively to soothe the spot where she’d been hurt.

“Lila,” he growled, his amber eyes darkening as they locked onto mine. “Can you stop acting like a jealous little pup?”

The accusation struck like claws to my heart.

Vanessa let out a weak whimper, her hands trembling as she waved them in protest. “Ethan, no… Don’t be mad at her. This is my fault. I’m just not strong enough for all of this.”

“Don’t say that,” Ethan said, his voice softening. “You’re my sister.”

His words felt like a blow. Sister or not, she wasn’t pack. And the way she clung to him, the way his touch lingered… it wasn’t right. My wolf growled low in my chest, aching to lash out, but I shoved it down.

“Apologize to her,” Ethan demanded, his tone hard as stone.

I barked a laugh, bitter and sharp. “Why should I apologize for something I didn’t do?”

His expression darkened. “Because you’ve done worse plenty of times!”

Vanessa shook her head, her voice trembling. “Please don’t fight because of me. I’m sorry—it’s my fault for being in the way.”

Her innocent act was infuriating. Ethan scooped her up as though she were a fragile pup and carried her toward the car. The sight of her wrapped in his arms made my wolf’s fury blaze hotter, but I held my ground, refusing to let him see me break.

As they disappeared, I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, my breaths coming hard and fast. My wolf paced inside me, restless and on edge. I needed to get out of here.

The hospital was quieter than usual, the sterile scent doing little to calm me. I picked up my prescription quickly, grateful for the distraction. But, as if the fates were mocking me, I saw them again on my way out.

Vanessa clung to Ethan like a lifeline, her arms around his neck as he carried her, a bottle of painkillers dangling from his hand. People stopped to stare, their whispers echoing in my ears.

“Look at her boyfriend,” a pregnant woman murmured, elbowing her partner. “She’s so lucky.”

I tightened my grip on the prescription bag, my wolf snarling silently.

Lucky? No.

She wasn’t lucky. She was playing a game.

And I wasn’t about to let her win.

The elevator hummed softly as I stepped in, clutching a vial of calming herbs for insomnia. My senses immediately picked up his presence—a woodsy, rugged scent mingled with a faint trace of pine.

Ethan’s sharp eyes flicked to mine, then down to Vanessa, who was cradled in his arms. She wriggled slightly, her cheeks burning as red as the sunset.

“Ethan, put me down already,” she whispered, voice shaking.

He frowned, his lips pulling into a thin line. “You’re hurt. Stop moving.”

He turned to me then, his piercing gaze making my heart stutter. “What are you doing here? Are you unwell?”

I held up the vial in my hand, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Just trouble sleeping.”

He tilted his head as though considering something. “I’ll send over some dried chamomile from the pack. It might help.”

Before he could say more, Vanessa whimpered softly, her voice small, like a distressed cub.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the shaft, and the elevator shuddered to a halt. Darkness enveloped us like a suffocating cloak, and my chest tightened with fear.

The primal panic surged, the same one that had haunted me for years. My knees buckled, and I slid to the floor, trembling.

“Lila?” Ethan’s voice cut through the silence, steady and commanding. “Are you okay?”

I managed a shaky nod, though my voice betrayed me with a weak, “M-Mm.”

He sighed, his tone softening. “Vanessa, I need to help her. Just hold on for a moment.”

“But I’m scared too, Ethan!” Vanessa clung tighter to him, her voice rising. “Please don’t leave me.”

He paused, torn, and then chose. His strong arms stayed wrapped around her as he whispered reassurances, his low voice rumbling like a soothing growl.

I pressed my palms against my ears, trying to drown out the sound of their closeness, but my mind betrayed me with memories.

Years ago, we’d been trapped in an elevator just like this. The same suffocating dark, the same paralyzing fear.

Back then, he’d held me, his warmth chasing away the cold terror. I remembered his embrace, how his wolf had settled, calm and protective, as though he knew instinctively what I needed.

But now, that same warmth was reserved for her.

“E-Ethan…” I whispered, the darkness stripping away my defenses. Tears streamed silently down my cheeks, mingling with the ache in my chest.

“Vanessa’s injured,” he replied curtly, his words cutting through the fragile thread of hope.

I curled into myself, swallowing my sobs. The minutes stretched unbearably until the lights flickered back on, and the elevator began its descent once more.

The moment the doors opened, I bolted, leaving them behind.

When I got home, my claws itched for release. My wolf simmered beneath my skin, restless and betrayed. Mom had sent me images of ornate gowns to prepare for the upcoming Pack Ceremony, but I couldn’t focus on any of them.

Hours passed before Ethan came home. He strode in, his usual commanding presence tempered with guilt. In his hand was a bouquet of lavender and a container of food.

“I brought dinner,” he said, setting it down.

I opened the container, the familiar scent of venison stew wafting up. My stomach churned. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

He blinked, confused.

“My allergy.”

His jaw tightened, and he muttered an apology. “I’ll… I’ll do better next time.”

I smiled bitterly. “Don’t bother.”

The rest of the night passed in quiet turmoil. I cooked a meal for his birthday—something I hadn’t done in years—but he never showed. Instead, a phone call shattered what little resolve I had left.

“Vanessa’s shifted unexpectedly. I need to help her through it,” he said, his voice rushed. “Eat without me.”

He hung up before I could reply.

But my alternate account told me the truth. There he was, with her. The Pack Alpha and his mate-to-be, cutting a cake in a room filled with celebration. Streamers floated mid-air as though frozen in time. Their smiles glowed with the bond I’d never share with him.

The wolf in me howled with grief, and I let it.

I packed my bags in silence, my mind calculating every step to sever our bond. Years of quiet sacrifices, of dimming my own light to bask in his shadow, meant nothing now.

Before I boarded the train, I sent him one last message:

[Happy birthday. Goodbye.]

Then, as the train carried me far from the Pack, I set the wheels of truth in motion. Every secret, every betrayal he thought buried, I unearthed and sent into the world with a single post.

If I couldn’t have the life I deserved, I would at least leave knowing the lies he built his life upon would crumble.

And as the moonlight painted the forest in silver, I swore to never let anyone chain me again.