Chapter 1

Elaria’s POV

The air in the dining hall is too cold this morning. Maids stand lined along the walls, their heads lowered but their eyes flicker—curious, watching, assessing, and probably gossiping amongst themselves.

My brows narrow in confusion, my eyes darting around the hall, and even though it is familiar, it feels strange.

How am I here?

I thought… I—

The sound of sharp approaching footsteps and heels clicking against the marble floor like they own the entire place cuts off my thoughts. When I swirl my head towards the entrance, it is my husband.

Elias Graves. Alpha of the Gravemoor Pack. Married to him for five years. His jaw is tight enough to cut through glass, and his green eyes that once stared at me in admiration—like I was the only thing that made sense in his world—are now cold, like I am nothing but a problem he has tolerated for too long.

Beside him walks his bitch, Isolde Marrow. She is elegant and composed, smiling faintly like she has already won everything—him, the pack, and my place beside him.

He stops across from me by the table and reaches into the brown envelope in his hand, retrieving parchment papers and a black pen.

“Sign it,” he says sharply, tossing the paper in front of me along with the pen. “It’s a divorce agreement. You’ve done everything you could to delay this, but it has to be done now.”

“What?!”

I am not surprised because of the divorce—like he said, I have delayed it long enough. Our marriage should have ended six months ago when Isolde Marrow returned to the pack after being away for years when we newly got married.

What surprises me is that this particular scene feels familiar. The air, the tension, the divorce—it has all happened nine times in the past.

In the exact same order.

And the last one happened just two hours ago.

He continues. “You are nothing but a useless barren. I need an heir, which it’s obvious you can’t give me.”

I hear snickers from the maids, and the wave of humiliation that strikes me makes my fingers instinctively tighten around my cutlery.

“And you think you’re better than everyone else, including me.” Still insecure. “Just sign this divorce and let’s end this immediately.”

A bitter laugh bubbles in my throat as I stare at the man I once gave everything to. Love, money, power, and influence. I could have given him my life if he asked for it. I built this small, once-forgotten pack into the biggest and most reputable one in all of the west coastal regions, and yet, he dares to humiliate me like this.

Instead of gratitude, he becomes arrogant and insecure.

It is our fifth-year anniversary, for crying out loud.

My eyes flick to the side, landing on the red velvet cake I spent all night baking, the number five cake topper standing proudly on it. The sight stings. Did he even know it is our anniversary today? He doesn’t look like he remembers.

I stand slowly, gracefully. “Alright then. If it is what you want, then I will do it.”

It feels like the oxygen has been knocked out of the room entirely. Elias’s brows furrow in confusion and disbelief, his jaw dropping slightly. Even Isolde, though pleased, lifts her brows in surprise.

“What did you say?!” he asks, like he didn’t hear me properly.

Of course, he never expects it. In my past life, I begged pathetically for hours, refusing to sign the papers for days until he involved the marriage council, who declared that barrenness was a valid ground for divorce.

“I said,” I press my hands on the table and tilt my face forward so he hears every word clearly, “I will sign the divorce.”

Without wasting time, I pick up the pen and crouch slightly. I scoff when I see he has already signed his—cleanly and legibly. He is so eager to get rid of me.

I sign mine. One stroke, two… and I’m done.

“Here.” I extend the paperwork and pen to him.

He stares down at the paper, his hand reaching out slowly to take it. “Really… is this how you want to play? Feisty, huh? Let’s see how long you can keep that up. I’m sure you’ll come begging me to take you back before the end of today.”

I let out a cold, humorless laugh, shaking my head. “That is never going to happen.” Especially since I know everything now.

Isolde hisses. “If she is accepting the divorce so easily like this… then she must have wanted this for a long time.” Then she slaps her hand dramatically over her mouth. “Maybe she has a secret lover, and that is why she did not give you an heir.”

Elias’s grip on the paperwork tightens, the parchment rustling in his hand. He believes her lies—just like he has done all these years.

I slam my fists on the table. “Don’t you dare accuse me of cheating, Isolde,” I yell, my voice thick with unrestrained rage. “Not everyone is a cheap slut who goes around seducing married men like you. Even Elias wouldn’t deny the fact that I have been nothing but faithful to him.”

Even though we are divorced, my Luna power rolls off me. She falls silent instantly, shrinking into herself like a cold, lost puppy, clinging to Elias’s arm like a lifeline. Elias remains silent too. He knows I am right.

After all, he has never smelled another man’s scent on me—unlike him, whose body constantly carries Isolde’s scent and perfume.

I fold my arms over my chest. “And you should be grateful to me, Isolde. At least now, you will finally become the Luna you’ve always wanted to be.”

Thick silence falls over the room.

Then I raise my hand.

“Let’s complete the separation, Elias,” I sneer. “I, Elaria Virelle, reject you, Elias Graves of the Gravemoor Pack, as my husband and Alpha. I break every bond the Moon has bestowed between us. From now on, I share no connection with you.”

My chest aches as the bond ignites. A golden glow circles my hand, building, tightening—ready to snap—

“You will regret this, Elaria,” he seethes.

“Just accept my rejection,” I choke out, pain exploding inside me.

His eyes dart around, like he doesn’t want to accept—but his pride won’t let him refuse.

“Fine.” He presses his hand against mine. “I accept your rejection. You are no longer my mate or Luna.”

The bond snaps. It breaks completely.

Elias collapses to the floor, gripping his chest tightly. A strangled sound escapes him. But I remain standing.

My body contains the pain—and that surprises me. Although I am Alpha-born, I have always been weak, wolfless, and scentless.

“How are you still standing?” he cries out. A trail of blood slides from the corner of his mouth, and he wipes it quickly.

“Because the woman you married is not the same one you rejected,” I answer.

“What do you mean?”

“You will find out.”

Instantly, I turn away. My legs grow weak beneath me, but I refuse to collapse—not here, not in front of the maids and Isolde.

Staggering, I make my way toward the guest room I have been staying in for months after Elias said he needed space.

I twist the doorknob, but before I go in, my hand slips into my pocket as I retrieve my phone. I dial Ivy—my best friend and Luna assistant.

Her cheerful voice comes through immediately.

“Stop the alliance acquisition with the Dominion Sovereign Pack,” I groan.

I had ordered her to secure an alliance with the Dominion Sovereign Pack whom Elias has wanted to ally with for years as my fifth anniversary gift. She even traveled to the North for it… despite warning me that even if I set myself ablaze for Elias, he still wouldn’t appreciate me.

But I insisted. I believed this would fix everything.

“What do you mean?” she asks, confused. “Wait… are you even okay?” Her voice rises in panic.

I swallow hard. “Yes, I’m fine. Just do it.”

Exhaustion crashes over me. My grip loosens around the phone, and it slips, hitting the floor sharply. I can still hear Ivy’s terrified voice calling my name.

Clutching my aching chest tightly, I slide down slowly and collapse.