Chapter 3

The sharp stench of disinfectant mixed with the bitter scent of herbal medicine pulled me back to consciousness.

I opened my eyes to the cracked, timeworn ceiling of the healing ward.

The burning in my lungs had eased, but every breath still stabbed deep.

"You're finally awake."

Warm hands immediately steadied me.

It was Ella Maxwell.

She was a friend I had brought with me from Northland, and the only Beta in this pack I trusted without reservation.

Right now, her usually smiling eyes were swollen like walnuts. She had clearly been crying.

I looked around. The room was empty.

The last trace of foolish hope inside me went out completely, leaving nothing but cold ash.

"How long was I out?" I asked hoarsely.

"Three full days," Ella said through tears. "The doctor said the silver poison almost reached your heart. If you hadn't held on, you might've…"

Three days.

Seventy-two hours balanced on the edge between life and death.

My voice was eerily calm. "Did Jack come to see me?"

Ella dropped her head, hesitating, unable to look at me.

"Just tell me."

"He…didn't come," Ella forced out. "These past three days, he's been with Ms. Baker the whole time. He said Ms. Baker was badly shaken and needed spiritual energy to calm her. He even…"

Ella paused as tears spilled over.

"He even took her to Starfall Ridge to pray."

My fingers clenched the bedsheet until my knuckles turned white.

Starfall Ridge. The sacred place where wolves prayed to the Moon Goddess for eternal blessings.

Because I had never conceived, I had wanted to go there to pray for a pup.

I had asked him for three years. Every time, he said he was too busy with pack affairs.

Turns out he wasn't too busy. He just didn't want to waste time on me.

"There's more…"

Ella paused and studied my expression carefully.

"People are saying you're consumed by jealousy and unfit to be Luna. They say Ms. Baker is gentle, kind, and saved Alpha's life, which makes her the best choice for the next Luna. Everyone says that once this full-moon festival ends, Alpha will make it official."

"Cough, cough…!"

The surge of emotion tore at my injured lungs, pain ripping through me.

However, it also cleared my mind completely.

Strip me of my title? Who the hell did he think he was?

"Ella, help me up."

I threw back the blanket and forced myself out of bed despite the dizziness.

"Luna, you can't! You're not healed yet. The doctor said you need rest!" Ella cried.

"I'll rest later. Notify the Northland guard unit stationed here. I want a full inventory of all assets under my name, including mines and territorial deeds."

I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

My face was pale, but my spine was straight.

"If they say I'm unworthy of being Luna, then I won't sit in that seat anymore. But I'm taking everything that belongs to me, even if it's a single stone. I want Jack to understand that without the support of my family, his so-called Alpha status means nothing."

I was going to rip out his foundation and watch him struggle in the mud.

After changing into a sleek set of black hunting gear, I pushed open the doors of the healing ward and headed straight for the pack's Council Hall.

That was where mate bonds and territorial ownership were governed.

Without hesitation, I signed my name on the Mate Bond Severance Form. The pen scratched across the parchment, sounding the final note for my ridiculous five years of devotion.

When I stepped outside, the sunlight felt harsh.

Of all the luck…

On the lawn not far away, Jack was strolling with Lily wrapped in his arms. Lily wore a soft pink-and-white dress, looking fragile as she tilted her head up and smiled sweetly at him.

The moment Jack saw me, the smile vanished, replaced by open disgust and impatience.

"Were you following us?" He strode over and positioned himself in front of Lily. "Let me make this clear. Don't think I'll soften just because you look sick. You brought all of this on yourself."

Lily peeked out from behind him, covering her mouth in fake surprise. "Rowena, are you better already? Jack just brought me out for some fresh air. Please don't misunderstand and fight with him again because of this…"

"Shut up. I'm talking to the Alpha. Since when does an Omega get to interrupt?"

I cut her off and locked my gaze on Jack.

"Jack, you've been enjoying yourself these past three days, haven't you?"

Jack frowned deeply and snapped back without hesitation.

"Lily got hurt saving me. What's wrong with my taking care of her?

"And you! You're such a narrow-minded Luna. You hid in the healing ward for days without showing your face. Was I supposed to personally drag you back out?

"Do you have any idea how unhappy the elders have been with you lately? I'm so disappointed in you."

Looking at the wolf I once loved, seeing nothing but cold indifference between his brows, the last ripple in my heart finally settled.

"If you're that disappointed, then there's no point pretending."

I raised my hand and slowly removed the ring that symbolized the Luna's honor and our mate vows.

Inside the band was the vow he had made the day he went down on one knee and proposed: that we would be together in life and in death, in honor and in ruin.

Jack froze for a second. Panic flickered in his eyes before it was swallowed by anger.

"What are you doing?! Taking off your ring in public? Are you threatening me? Enough with this reckless behavior!"

"This isn't a threat. It's a notice."

I gathered all my strength and hurled the ring hard into his chest.

"Jack, we're done."

I looked straight at his stunned expression and spoke each word clearly.

"From this moment on, I'm no longer your Luna. And you're no longer my Alpha. We have nothing to do with each other anymore."