Chapter 4

I threw out everything I'd brought into the home Kyle and I shared. This was never really my place, and now, there wasn't a single trace of me left.

Only my handmade travel journal was left, with old boarding passes pasted in, each one from a trip I'd taken just to be with him. Beneath each one, I'd written down the details of our time together.

I once believed it proved how much we meant to each other, but now it just felt like something sad I made up to feel less alone.

I hesitated for a beat, then ripped each page from the binding and hurled them into the fireplace. The flames devoured them, turning ten years of Kyle and me into nothing but choking ash and bitter smoke.

…

The scent of breakfast dragged me from the depths of sleep the next morning. From the kitchen, Kyle's voice drifted to me.

"Serene, go wash up. I made your favorite pancakes."

He casually packed a portion to go. "Eat up. I'm taking some of this to Vivian. She was pretty shaken up yesterday."

I gave a flat hum, expressionless.

My indifference unsettled him. He walked over, grabbed the first-aid kit, and carefully dressed the wounds on my knees.

"Serene, we've loved each other for so many years. Everything I've done has been for your sake. I don't want you standing alone at our mate-bonding ceremony with no family by your side."

He hesitated before adding, probing for a reaction. "Didn't you say you couldn't find a bridesmaid? I already asked Vivian to stand in for you."

"Fine."

My quick agreement made his eyes flicker with disbelief. Then, he took my hand and brushed a kiss across the back, as though it were a reward for behaving.

He left to bring Vivian breakfast and never returned. His call didn't come until I'd finished packing.

"Serene, just head straight to the garage when you're done. I'll be waiting in the car."

When I got there, I instinctively walked toward the passenger seat, only to see Vivian already in it. I slid into the back without a word.

Kyle glanced at me in the rearview mirror, approval flickering in his eyes.

"Serene, Vivian's a jewelry designer. She'll help us pick the perfect ring."

I just closed my eyes, pretending to drift off.

Kyle and Vivian flirted as if I weren't even in the car.

…

The moment we stepped into the store, a sales associate hurried over to Vivian, who was practically glued to Kyle's side.

"Sir, what would you like to pick out for your fiancee today?" the associate asked.

Vivian's lips curled in a smug smile. Kyle cleared his throat, then abruptly yanked me forward.

"Why are you standing back there? Come pick your ring!" he commanded.

The sales associate mumbled an awkward apology and quickly brought out the store's finest diamond rings for me to choose from.

But Vivian was quicker. Her fingers—one already flaunting her engagement ring—drifted over the display as she made a show of dismissing each piece.

"The moonstone on this one's too small."

"This one's got terrible clarity."

She kept going without missing a beat.

Compared to the massive, gleaming moonstone on her own finger, none of them were good enough.

In the end, she begrudgingly picked out a ring with the plainest design.

"Serene, just take this one. It'll do for the mate-bonding ceremony. I'll design you something better later, something that'll outshine mine."

She shoved her ring in my face with a smug smile. "My fiance picked this out just for me. It's one of a kind."

Beside us, Kyle said nothing, his lips curved in an indulgent smile.

"We'll take this one, then!" he chirped.

He didn't even ask if I liked it before paying. He took out the ring and slipped it onto my finger, his expression completely blank. He didn't get down on one knee or say any vows.

The ring was painfully small, and he had to force it over my knuckle.

I knew Vivian did it on purpose. As the pack armorer, there was no way she misjudged the size.

I couldn't be bothered to play along with their charade any longer. With a sharp pull, I yanked the ring off my finger.

The sales associate kindly suggested I could exchange it for a different design.

"No, that's okay. It's just for show anyway," I said.

Kyle's expression darkened. "We don't have to buy it if you're not happy. Vivian can design something for you later."

"This one's fine," I said flatly, with no intention of saying anything more.

Vivian, of course, didn't hold back. Her eyes were already swimming with tears, and the guilt practically radiated off her.

"Serene, this is all my fault for picking the wrong design. I'm going straight to the studio now. I swear I'll design you the perfect ring!"

Without another word, she spun around and took off, ignoring Kyle as he called after her down the street.

Kyle turned on me, furious. "Serene, what are you freaking out about? It's just a damn ring!"

I kept my voice steady. "Freaking out? Really? You asked me to let Vivian sit up front, and I did. You wanted me to wear this ring, and I wore it. What else do you want from me, Kyle?"

He was left speechless by my calm, unwavering tone. He stared for a long moment before finally pulling me into a light hug.

"Serene, once everything's settled, I'll take you on a honeymoon. We'll do the travel wedding shoot then."

It sounded less like a promise and more like a slap in the face.

In the past two years, he hadn't visited me once, but somehow, he'd found all the time in the world to travel the globe with Vivian.

I stared at his location on my phone's GPS, watching it speed toward Vivian's studio.

I turned back into the store and dropped the ring on the counter.

…

The next day, I saw a new post on Vivian's best friend's feed.

"Huge congrats to my dearest Vivian on expecting a little Alpha!"

The photo showed Kyle and Vivian in an intimate pose. And there, around Vivian's neck, was the moonstone necklace—the unmistakable symbol of the Faucher family's Luna.

Without a second thought, I hauled my suitcase outside and flagged a cab to the airport.

Just as the flight attendant announced it was time to power down all devices, Kyle's calls started pouring in relentlessly.

One by one, I blocked him on every platform, then held down the power button until the screen went dark.

With my eyes closed, I drank the potion I'd gone to great lengths to get—one that would break the mate bond between us.

White-hot, suffocating agony ripped through me, making it feel just like death was coming for me. Drenched in cold sweat and gasping for air, I suddenly felt a freedom I hadn't known in years.

From now on, I'd live only for myself.