CHAPTER 3

Maya

Every wall in the house seems to hold its breath, as if it knows something sacred has died here.

I sit at the edge of the bed, staring at the untouched bowl of soup cooling on the tray beside me. The smell turns my stomach.

I haven’t eaten in two days. My body feels weak, but it’s my heart that’s truly starving, for the man who once held me like I was his entire world.

I press a trembling hand to my stomach. “I’m sorry.. mama’s trying.”

I lift the spoon and force a small sip, but it tastes like ashes. The moment it touches my mouth, I want to cry.

Then his scent hits my nose. The door opens, and his presence fills the room before his voice does.

“Maya?”

My heart stutters painfully in my chest. The pressure builds until I fear it might burst. I can’t bring myself to turn around and face him. 

He walks in, and Lily reacts to him with a snarl. I ball my hand into a fist when the scent hits.

That woman’s scent… Chloe.

My heart twists painfully, but I force myself to stay still and say nothing. I watch him move toward me, his eyes full of concern.

“I’m so sorry, Maya. I left you all by yourself. The pack has been a mess lately. I’m sorry I haven’t called,” he says softly.

Of course, he expects me to understand. After all, he is the Alpha.

But a bitter laugh slips from my lips. Sorry? He thinks this is about a phone call?

When I finally turned to look at him, his eyes widened. His gaze fixes on the half-packed suitcase beside me.

“Maya, what are you doing?”

“What does it look like to you, Ethan? Packing,” I answer, meeting his eyes.

“Packing? For what?” He frowns, with confusion on his face.

He has to be fucking kidding me. He hasn’t been home for days, lying in the arms of his fated mate, and he dares to ask packing for what?

“Oh, let me spell it out for you, Ethan,” I say quietly. “I’m leaving.”

The words sound steady, but they tear something deep inside me as they leave my mouth.

“Leaving?” He takes a step closer, his jaw tightens as he stares at me. “Maya, what are you talking about?”

I know I can’t fight the bond between him and Chloe. So I meet his gaze and say the words I’ve been rehearsing all night. “I want a divorce.”

“What?” His face turns pale.

I stand, and I force myself to look him in the eye. “You don’t have to pretend anymore, Ethan. I know everything. You were just waiting for your fated mate to move in before you finally admitted the truth.”

He looks stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief. “How… how did you find out?”

I let out a small laugh. “Did you really think I was that blind? That's foolish? I heard you.” I press a hand to my head as a sharp pain begins to throb behind my eyes. 

“Goddess, Ethan… you didn’t even deny it when your mother called me barren.”

He flinches. “Maya..”

“Don’t,” I whisper, raising a trembling hand. 

“Don’t insult me with apologies you don’t mean. Ethan… you made your choice the moment you let her stay.”

I swallow hard, forcing the words out before my courage disappears. “Ava said Chloe wasn’t a rogue slave. She has seen her before.” My voice is careful. “Chloe lied to us.”

His jaw tightens instantly. “Ava can’t be trusted.”

I blink in disbelief. “Ethan, why would you say that?”

“Chloe told me everything.” His voice hardens. “She said Ava treated her horribly. Ava refused to give her painkillers when she was in pain, and didn't even check her injuries properly. She called her a bitch. Chloe suffered because of her.”

I stare at him, stunned. “That.. that’s not true,” I whisper. “Ava would never do that. She has been nothing but loyal to this pack. She has helped everyone..”

“Maya, stop defending her,” he snaps.

“No!” I raise my voice before I can stop myself. “Ava has cared for wolves the moment they walked through the infirmary door. She would never mistreat someone who needed help. I trust her.”

Ethan laughs, it's harsh and humorless. “Do you?” He steps closer, his tone turning icy. “Wasn’t it you who told Ava to teach her a lesson?”

My blood runs cold. “What?”

“Chloe is just a poor woman who’s suffered enough.” His eyes burn with accusation. “And you.. you have everything. You’re my Luna, yet you want her dead?”

I take a step back as if the floor disappears beneath me.

“Mother said you’ve changed,” he adds quietly. “Maybe she wasn’t wrong after all.”

My voice cracks as I breathe out, “How could you think that of me…?”

For a moment, he just stands there, staring at me. I wish he could feel even a fraction of the pain clawing through my chest, but I know he doesn’t.

The room tilts for a moment, and everything blurs. I feel a sharp wave of nausea, and I rush to the bathroom, barely making it to the sink before the sickness takes over. My body trembles violently as I vomit, with tears streaming down my face.

“Maya!” Ethan’s voice echoes behind me. I feel his hand brush my back, but I shove him away.

“Don’t touch me,” I rasp, wiping my mouth with a shaky hand.

He hesitates. “You’re sick..”

“I said don’t!” I snap, turning to face him, my eyes burning with fury and heartbreak. “You don’t get to care now, Ethan. Not when you already gave your heart to someone else.”

His lips part, as if he wants to say something, but before he can, a knock sounds at the door.

One of the maids rushes in, breathless. “Alpha! Miss Chloe has fainted! They’ve taken her to the hospital.”

Just like that, everything inside him shifts. His eyes widened with panic. Without a single word, or glancing back at me, he bolts out of the room.

The sound of the door closing feels like a blade slice through my chest.

I sink to the floor, clutching my stomach as the sobs break free. For the first time, I don’t try to hold them back. I cry until my throat burns, until my body shakes from the force of it.

Then, just as suddenly, the tears stop. I wipe my face and stare into the distance, my heart feels hollow but resolute.

This is the last time. I will never cry for him again.

It takes hours before I can move. When I finally do, I pick up my phone with trembling fingers and dial a number I haven’t called in months.

“Hello?” a familiar voice answers. It’s warm, strong, and instantly comforting.

“Hi, Claire,” I whisper. She’s my sister, the Luna of the Southern Pack.

“Maya? Goddess, it’s been ages! You sound… tired. Is everything all right?” she asks quickly. She’s always had this motherly instinct. Even from miles away, she can sense when something is wrong.

I hesitate. I force a small smile she can’t see. “Everything’s fine. I just… wanted to hear your voice.”

There’s a pause. Then her tone changes, softer but edged with worry. “Maya. Don’t lie to me.”

That breaks me. The tears I promised not to shed return, spills down my cheeks before I can stop them. My voice trembles. “Claire… I want a divorce.”

For a moment, I can only hear her breathing. Then she speaks, her voice low and controlled. “He did something, didn’t he?”

My breath trembles. “He found his fated mate. And I… I can’t fight destiny anymore.” I thought our love could withstand the power of the mate bond, but it’s clear now, it was only an illusion.

She lets out a heavy sigh. “I always told you, Ethan Miller couldn’t be trusted. He wears honor like armor, but his loyalty bends with the wind.”

“Don’t talk about him like…” I stop, my voice cracks. “Like I still love him.”

“Because you do,” she says softly. “But you won’t forever.”

Silence stretches between us before she speaks again, her voice tender. “Pack your things, Maya. I’m sending someone for you. You’re coming home.”

Warmth blooms in my chest, a fragile relief I can’t quite name. Knowing I’m welcome in my sister’s pack, without having to go rogue, it feels like finally breathing after drowning.

Because for once in my life, I choose myself.