Chapter 1

I knew I'd been reborn the second I stood in the front hall and saw my Alpha mate, Caden Fellhart, stroll in—with Lilith Morvain at his side.

"Brielle, this is Lilith Morvain," he said, all casual. "Childhood friend. Just got back from Fangridge Pack. Her parents are gone, and she's carrying a pup. She's a single mom.

"She's living with us now. Take care of her."

Lilith gave me this careful look. "Hey, Brielle. Hope we can get along..."

My eyes dropped to the Moonstone necklace on her neck.

Caden dropped a fortune at last week's auction for that Moonstone. Said it was a birthday gift for me. Custom-made.

Now it was hanging from her neck.

In my last life, seeing that necklace—my necklace—around Lilith's neck kept me up all night. I thought she was here to steal Caden's heart.

Next morning, I handed her some cash and told her to leave. Said she should rest somewhere else while carrying her pup.

Didn't expect her to get hit by a car the same day. She lost the pup... and the crash made it impossible for her to have more.

Caden snapped after that.

His eyes went ice-cold. "Brielle Brightfall, I'm done. Never thought you'd really banish an expecting she-wolf?"

He never smiled at me again. Not once.

I took care of Lilith myself—every single day. Cooked her food, cleaned up after her, handled everything.

Walked on eggshells, hoping Caden might forgive me eventually.

But the stress wrecked me. I got sick—bone-deep, wolf-weak sick. Thought maybe that'd finally crack something in him.

All he said was, "Once you're gone, I'll be with Lilith. I'll take care of her. Help her heal from losing the pup."

Now that the Moon Goddess gave me a second shot—I'm letting them have each other.

So when Caden said—again—that Lilith would be staying with us, I just nodded.

"Alright."

The way I agreed threw him off.

He'd been pushing it for days. I'd shot him down every time.

"You're not upset?" he asked.

I gave him a small smile. "You're right. She lost her parents, and she's carrying a pup. Poor thing."

Caden looked at me hard. "You really don't care?"

Of course he didn't buy it. Everyone knew how deep I used to be in love with him.

Back then, if a she-wolf even looked at him too long, I'd bare my claws. He was mine.

Now? I just pulled out a document, folded it so only the signature line showed—the mate bond severance clause—and handed it over.

"I found a house I want. Buy it for me, and I won't care. I'll even look after Lilith."

He paused, then gave this smug little chuckle. "That's it? No other conditions?"

Didn't even read it—just signed.

The second I held that signed severance, my wolf howled inside me.

Freedom.

I slipped it into my bag and walked out without looking back.

Caden stepped in front of me, frowning. "Where are you going? Thought you said you weren't upset. You leaving?"

I looked him in the eye. "Didn't you ask me to take care of Lilith? I'm grabbing her a few things."

His expression softened. "She likes rose-scented body wash, doesn't drink milk, and her sleepwear's gotta be silk. Don't mess that up."

My chest clenched.

He remembered everything about her. Every scent, every habit. But never once had he known those things about me, his mate.

Yeah. He really did care about her.

I nodded and walked out—straight to the city hall.

The clerk gave me a warm smile. "Ms. Brightfall, the severance is active. In seven days, your bond with Caden Fellhart will be fully dissolved."

I nodded. Seven days.

Seven days, and he'd mean nothing to me.