Chapter 1

"Seven days from now, everything will be back to normal."

Silas Blackthorn took the document with practiced hands, not even glancing at the cover. He assumed it was the Luna authorization form. Once he signed it, Iris Nightingale could move into the main house under his protection. No one would call her a third party. I signed without a flicker of emotion. I did not even want to respond.

"Calla."

Silas frowned. My silence annoyed him, so he repeated himself.

"Fine."

I paused while packing and looked at him. Silas was a man who kept his promises. Every time I gave up the Luna position, he told me when it would be restored. He had only lied once before.

He had held me, voice low: “From now on, you are the only one.”

Men who speak are always liars.

He seemed surprised by my calm. In the past, after signing the form, I would break down. I would cry until I could not speak, letting my wolf soul ache.

"This time, I will move to the side wing..."

I interrupted him.

"No. I will move out."

A flash of shock crossed his face. The first time I gave way, I threw all his belongings out of the main bedroom. The moonstone lamp broke. His wolf-hide coat hung on the thorns outside the door. The entire Blackthorn Pack knew I had lost it.

The third time, I had knelt, begging him to leave some of the luggage behind. I said the side wing was too cold. I said the windows could not see the moon. I feared he would never come back.

The fifth time, I had learned to quietly fold each coat, place his favorite belt on top of the luggage, and stay out of his way. I feared his anger.

My breakdowns. My pleas. My obedience. Each time, his promise came back. And again, I gave way.

Three days ago, Silas gave me a gift. Simple, but thoughtful. A moonstone necklace set in black silver, the style I liked. I smiled bitterly. In his world, occasional gentleness always meant pain was coming. This was the lesson of six times giving way.

That night, I could not sleep. I opened my phone. At the top was Iris Nightingale.

"I will return to the Blackthorn territory next Wednesday."

Her words marked the start of the sixth time I had to give way.

I opened another message. A conversation between Silas and his brother, Nolan.

"Calla is really good to you. Don't let her go this time."

"For what this time?"

Silas' reply was simple.

"Iris was attacked. She needs protection. Without the Luna title, if she moves into the main house, people will call her a third party."

"What about Calla?"

"This is a temporary arrangement. She will understand."

All the accumulated heartache from countless nights fell silent at that moment. Not gone, just dead.

I pulled myself out of the memory. Under Silas' gaze, I packed the last pieces of clothing into my suitcase. I lifted my luggage and walked out, planning to leave the Blackthorn territory for good.

Coincidentally, the flight I booked to leave this place was also in seven days.