Breaking the Bond

When Ryan finally came home, I was sitting on the living room sofa, staring into space.

Ryan and I have been mated for five years, but we've never been able to conceive. The pack elders had already started whispering, claiming my bloodline was too weak—that I wasn't fit to be the Luna of the Dark Moon Pack.

I found out I was two weeks pregnant a few days ago. I was planning to surprise him during the Full Moon Ceremony. Now, it seems he doesn't need that surprise anymore.

Ryan set a takeout bag on the table and leaned in to hug me.

"Celine, I brought you some beef stew. Drink it while it's hot."

I glanced at the bag. It was mostly broth with a few pathetic shreds of beef and barely any meat to speak of. It felt like a joke.

It was probably someone's leftovers.

I dodged his touch and pushed the bag away.

"I'm not hungry."

Ryan took it as me being difficult. He poured the soup into a bowl and held it to my lips.

"Stop acting up. Isn't beef stew your favorite?"

The fishy, cold scent of the stew hit my nose. I couldn't take it anymore. I bolted to the bathroom and started dry heaving.

Ryan tried to pat my back, but I slapped his hand away with a loud crack. I looked at him, my eyes rimmed with red.

"Don't touch me!"

Enraged by my repeated rejection, Ryan's voice rose in frustration.

"What do you want from me? I'm practically groveling here! Isn't that enough?"

"I haven't even called you out for that passive-aggressive comment on Instagram yet, and here you are, picking a fight!"

He sounded so righteous, as if I were the one who had done something wrong.

I looked at him in disbelief, my voice trembling.

"Are you seriously expecting me to be 'big-hearted' enough to congratulate another female for carrying my mate's pup?"

Ryan tugged irritably at the wolf-tooth pendant around his neck.

"Kaleb is dead! Is it so wrong for Clara to want a pup for companionship? I was Kaleb's best friend. It's my responsibility to take care of his mate and fulfill her final wishes."

"Besides, Clara and I didn't actually do it. I just gave her my seed through a Bloodline Sowing Ceremony. Do you have to make such a big deal out of nothing?"

"You're acting like a pathetic, jealous bitch!"

A jealous bitch?

When Kaleb first died, I felt sorry for Clara too. She was so young to be a widow. I looked after her, invited her over for dinner constantly, and whenever her pipes leaked or her power went out, Ryan and I went over to fix it together.

Clara would say with teary eyes that if Kaleb were still here, she wouldn't have to bother us.

I'd smile and tell her it was no trouble.

Ryan would nod firmly, telling her to call him whenever she needed anything and that he'd never say no.

Back then, I thought it was just his loyalty to Kaleb—taking care of his brother's widow.

But then, things started to change.

Without telling me, Ryan started doing her grocery shopping alone. He'd go to her place to assemble furniture. When she was scared of thunderstorms, he'd stay by her side all night and not come home...

And yet, he never stepped up to help me with those things at home.

I felt uneasy, but Ryan always insisted he was just "looking after Kaleb's widow," so I didn't push it.

I just never expected he'd go as far as "sowing" his seed for her!

Did he even stop to think? Once that pup is born, it will call him 'Father' and Clara 'Mother.' Where does that leave me as the Luna? What about our future pups?

I had wanted to have a real talk with him, but the moment I heard his accusations over the phone, the urge vanished.

Looking at him now—completely convinced he's done nothing wrong—I realized there was no point.

Ryan vented all his frustrations at once, ending with a final blow:

"Think about what you've done." Stop being so small-minded!"

He slammed the door and left.

It was late, but it wasn't hard to guess where he was going.

Sure enough, Clara's Instagram updated shortly after.

The photo showed Ryan's large hand resting on Clara's slightly rounded belly.

The caption read: The father of my pup came to spend the night with us. He says this is where he feels the warmth of a home.

Looking at the photo, I laughed at my own stupidity.

I should have known the moment Ryan stopped calling her "Kaleb's Mate" and started calling her "Clara."

Fine. If that's how it is, it's time to cut my losses.