It turned out Zevran had seen the moon-net headlines the night before. Afraid I might act recklessly, he searched for me across the territories all night.

I never imagined the last warmth in my world would come from someone outside my own pack.

My eyes burned red as I forced the tears back. “I… I’m fine…”

“No, you’re not,” he said quietly, storm held tight in his voice. “You’re not fine at all. I’m ending my journey early. I’ll come get you.”

“Thank you… I’m sorry…”

“You never need to say that to me, Amarise. My feelings have never changed.”

Years ago, Zevran had once pursued me. But I had been blinded by my devotion to Emric, unable to see anyone else.

I never thought that after thirty years, I would still have a place in his heart.

***

When I returned from the healer’s hall, I found Corinne sprawled across Emric’s black-fur bed, wrapped in a loose men’s shirt, a crystal goblet of wine in her hand. Her legs were shamelessly exposed.

Emric had always been obsessively clean. He once loathed even a trace of my scent in his chamber.

Twenty years ago, before his rise in the Alpha Council, he offended an influential envoy due to his temper. To mend it, I drank until my stomach nearly bled.

When I stumbled home that night, he didn’t ask if I was hurt. He only blocked the doorway, disgust clear on his face.

“You stink. Clean yourself before coming in.”

I was left outside in the snow until dawn. By the time I crawled back to my chamber, fever consumed me for a full week.

And now, Corinne—reeking of alcohol—lay comfortably in his bed.

So those rules were never rules. They were chains meant only for me.

She slowly rose, deliberately tugging the shirt aside, revealing crimson bite-marks blooming across her skin.

“Emric was fierce last night,” she said softly. “Hours without rest. He said you were stiff, dull, never knew how to please him.”

Nausea surged, but I swallowed it and met her gaze without flinching.

“So what?” I said coldly. “You’re still nothing more than a kept she-wolf.”

The words struck her hard. Venom flashed in her eyes. Then she scoffed, lifted the goblet and smashed it against the floor.

Glass shattered.

She screamed and collapsed.

“Corinne!”

Emric burst in, panic flooding his face as he rushed to her side, gathering her into his arms as if she were fragile crystal.

Tears trembled on her lashes as she sobbed, “I only wanted to explain last night to Amarise… but she told me to die and pushed me into the glass…”

Emric clasped her bleeding hand—only a shallow cut—yet rage ignited his eyes as he turned on me.

“Apologize. Now.”

Grief crashed over me and I cried out, “I didn’t do anything! She—”

“I should leave before Amarise finds another way to hurt me!”

Corinne’s wail cut me off as she pretended to pull away.

Instead, Emric held her tighter, shielding her like a sacred treasure. His gaze toward me was pure contempt.

“You’re narrow-minded and cruel. Go reflect on yourself.”

With that, he left, taking her to the healer as if I were the criminal.

***

Later, the guards dragged me into the underground holding chamber like discarded refuse. With no choice left, I called my son.

Ronan’s voice was sharp and distant.

“I already heard from Father. You went too far. It was a small misunderstanding and you actually injured Aunt Corinne?”

“Mother, can’t you be more like her? Be elegant for once. Stop disgracing the pack.”

My heart turned to ice.

Tears streamed silently as I ended the call.

Emric ordered punishment. No food. No water.

After a day and a night of silent torment, my injured leg throbbed violently. At last, the old housekeeper, unable to bear it, secretly released me.

The moment I reached the healer’s hall, I saw Corinne’s newest moon-net post.

The first image showed Emric’s back as he ran errands for her. The second—an expectancy report.

[With someone who truly loves you, the sense of safety is overwhelming.]

The Blackspire pack flooded the comments.

My son: [Congrats to Father for reclaiming his goddess.]

My daughter, from overseas territory: [Didn’t you joke about borrowing Alpha blood to have a cub? Looks like your efforts paid off. Congrats.]

My daughter-in-law: [We must hold a celebration feast.]

Then Emric himself replied.

[Don’t jump to conclusions. I’m only helping Corinne. If you keep stirring trouble, are you trying to force your mother and me to sever our bond?]

My son and daughter-in-law answered together. [Understood. We’ll say no more.]

But my daughter wrote next.

[Everyone knows you never let go of Aunt Corinne. Why not follow your heart? We support you.]

I never imagined the pup I loved most would say such words.

They admired their powerful Alpha father. Their plain, aging mother could never compare to Corinne.

In their eyes, I didn’t deserve to be his Luna—or their mother.

So everything I had given, all the years of sacrifice, meant nothing.

Now that the mate bond was broken and the family I protected had turned cold, I had nothing left to lose.

I typed slowly.

[Congratulations on gaining a cub in your later years. Don’t worry, I won’t disturb your happiness. Emric and I are severing our mate bond.]

The moment I sent it, my communicator began to ring nonstop.

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Emric snarled. “Corinne and I aren’t what you’re imagining. She wanted a cub and I merely lent my bloodline to help her.”

I wiped my swollen, burning eyes and let out a bitter laugh. “Is that so? Since when did betrayal gain such a sacred-sounding excuse?”

As the words left my mouth, I lifted my gaze—and there they were. Emric and Corinne walking side by side down the healer hall’s moonlit corridor.

The moment he saw me, his expression darkened. He strode over, lifting his communicator as if it were a weapon.

“What are you doing here? Following us now?”

Leaning on my crutch, I answered evenly, “My foot was injured and I nearly collapsed from hunger. I came to see the healers.”

Corinne scoffed softly. “Really, Amarise? You’ve always acted unbreakable. Since when did you become so delicate, falling ill over every little thing?”

Emric hesitated. His anger faltered as his gaze lingered on my pale lips and unsteady stance. His voice softened.

“What happened to your foot? Why didn’t you tell me?”

I looked at him in silence, a cold curve at the corner of my mouth.

Why did it hurt? Even now, he believed it was an act.

He had disappeared for an entire week, celebrating with his chosen she-wolf. When he returned and saw me limping with a crutch, he sneered, saying I was improving at pretending pain to win sympathy.

For Corinne’s sake, he had thrown me into the underground chamber to “learn my place.” I could already picture the humiliation waiting there.

But since I was leaving anyway, there was nothing left to explain.

I bit my lip and said nothing.

Something finally shifted in him. Unease flickered across his face. He grabbed my hand, panic seeping into his voice.

“Corinne and I only underwent a healer’s ritual, I swear. She and the cub won’t affect our mate bond. Tomorrow is our thirtieth bond anniversary. I’ve prepared something special for you.”

Watching him cling to words he thought would bind me again, I nearly laughed.

“I’ve prepared a surprise for you too.”

Perhaps driven by guilt, he personally arranged my admission and even went out to buy spirit fruit. A rare sight.

My son and his mate arrived soon after, their expressions stiff as they tried to smooth things over.

“Dad and Aunt Corinne aren’t what you think.”

“Mom, they ended things decades ago. They’re just pack allies now.”

“Allies who share blood for conception,” I replied calmly. “I’m tired. If that’s all, you may leave.”

They froze. I had always spoken gently. My cold tone struck them hard.

Just then, my communicator vibrated.

[I’ll come get you tonight. Be ready. If not, I’ll carry you away myself.]

I typed back without hesitation. [Be on time.]

Emric entered with a bag of fruit, his eyes flicking to my screen. “Who are you talking to?” he asked softly.

“The bank rune,” I replied. “Time to settle an account.”

He chuckled. “If you need resources, just ask. I’ve never let you lack anything.”

True. Even chained wolves were fed enough to stay alive.

That day, Emric played the devoted Alpha mate—pouring tea, peeling fruit, ordering meals.

But I knew the truth. It wasn’t affection. It was guilt.

As night fell, his communicator rang.

He glanced at it, locked the screen and slipped it away. Then he bent down, kissed my forehead and murmured, “An urgent matter in the territory. I’ll return soon. Rest.”

Minutes after he hurried away, a message flashed onto my screen.

[Don’t get arrogant, bitch. One call from me and he already chose not to come back tonight.]

Attached was a photo—Emric kneeling on the ground, reverently pressing his lips to her swollen belly.

I turned off the communicator, opened the cabinet, took out my suitcase and walked out of the healer hall.

A black rune-carriage waited beneath the streetlamp. The window slid down, revealing the calm, handsome face of a mature Alpha.

Once inside, I opened my moon-net account and carefully selected several images.

One of the mating ring and the bond-severance decree locked in the safe.

One of my healer records after the carriage accident.

One of them entwined in heat at an inn while I clung to life.

And finally, a photo of my notebook, where I had silently recorded sixty-six moments of betrayal.

When the moon crossed its highest point, I pressed send and tagged Emric.

[After the 66th disappointment, I am finally free. Enjoy your thirtieth bond anniversary gift. Happy severance.]