Chapter 2

Cain was being carried into the healer's treatment room just as the Alpha Council enforcers arrived at the pack house gates.

The two groups nearly crossed paths, but Cain only had eyes for Vivienne — draped over his chest, sobbing as if the world were ending. He didn't even notice the enforcers.

I stood at the far end of the second-floor corridor, watching them disappear behind the treatment room doors.

Then I turned and went back to my room.

The enforcer was already waiting inside. He spread the Mate Bond dissolution papers on the table and walked me through each clause, his tone clinical and professional.

I wiped the last trace of moisture from the corner of my eye, picked up the pen, and signed my name with a perfectly steady hand.

Seven years of a mate bond.

Ended by a single document.

So that was all it took.

The next day, I brought the papers to Cain's treatment room.

Before I even reached the door, voices leaked through.

"The Luna's heartless, isn't she? Cain nearly died in the sacred grounds, and she didn't show her face all night?"

"Look at Vivienne — stayed by his side the entire time. Changed his bandages, cleaned the blood, didn't sleep a wink. If you ask me, that's what a real Luna looks like…"

I kicked the door open.

The voices died instantly. I walked in, my boots sharp on the floor, and swept my gaze across their faces. One by one, they lowered their heads.

Vivienne was already positioned in front of Cain's bed, eyes swollen and red, her voice trembling.

"Luna, I followed him into the Alpha Trial of my own free will. If you still want someone to blame, then punish me… Please, don't torment him anymore. His wounds can't take any more…"

She bit her lip. Tears rolled down one after another.

On the bed, Cain's face was ashen — but the instant he looked at Vivienne, a flash of anguish crossed his eyes. He reached out and pulled her behind him, shielding her with an arm that was barely functional.

Then he looked up at me, his gaze cold as tempered ice.

"Wren, whatever problem you have, take it up with me. Vivienne passed the Moon Goddess's trial. She has every right to stay in this pack now."

"I won't let you hurt her again."

The way he said it — guarded, defensive — as if I were the one who'd forced my way into someone else's marriage.

Before, I would have thrown every last piece of evidence in his face without a second thought. Gone through it point by point until he couldn't deny who had hurt whom.

But now I simply walked to the bedside and tossed the papers in front of him.

"Sign."

Cain glanced down. Assuming it was a routine pack administrative document, he didn't even look up.

"Pack business can go through the Beta. But since you're here—"

He propped himself up slightly. A softness crept into his voice — something he had never once shown me.

"About Vivienne. I need to make some new arrangements. She'll take the Alpha suite — best exposure, closest to the treatment room. She's been through hell out there after you drove her out of the pack. Her health is wrecked. I'm going to take care of her recovery personally."

Personally.

Those words coming out of his mouth nearly made me think I was hallucinating.

Three years ago, a rogue wolf ambush hit my patrol on the northern border. A mutant rogue crushed my left leg — bone broke through skin, blood trailing behind me the whole way back.

The Beta carried me to the outpost and called Cain.

The pack healer said another thirty minutes and the leg would've been lost for good.

When the call connected, Cain's voice was as flat as if he were discussing the weather.

"You're the Luna. You should learn to handle these things yourself."

Then he hung up.

I bit down on a strip of leather and held on until I made it onto the treatment table. Held my own wound closed while the healer worked.

The wound got infected. The fever kept coming back. Recovery took three full months.

Cain never visited. Not once.

I'd told myself back then that it was just who he was. Cold by nature. Not that he didn't care — he just didn't know how to show it.

But now, here he was, eyes full of tenderness, talking about moving another woman into his room and nursing her back to health himself.

My silence must have meant something else to him. He frowned. "You don't agree? Let me be clear — this isn't up for discussion—"

"I agree."

I cut him off quietly.

"Just sign these papers, and I won't say another word."

That caught him off guard. He blinked, then picked up the documents. Barely glanced at them. Signed his name without hesitation and tossed them back.

"Done." He was already turning to look at Vivienne. "I hope you mean what you say. Leave her alone from now on."

I folded the papers, slipped them into my pocket, and walked toward the door.

At the threshold, I said softly:

"I hope you two are happy."

Cain was wiping Vivienne's tears. He didn't hear a word.