Chapter 3

As I walked away, I heard Damon curse behind me. His Alpha instincts wanted to chase after his mate, but Sophia's whimpers stopped him cold.

"Damon, the bleeding won't stop," she gasped, pressing her hand to her head wound. "But go after Aria. She needs you more than I do."

Damon's voice was firm. "Stop talking. You're bleeding because of her. Your safety comes first."

I paused at the elevator, hearing every word through my enhanced wolf hearing.

"Aria's just having a breakdown," he muttered to the doctor. "Pregnancy hormones. She'll come running back once she realizes I'm not chasing her anymore."

The elevator doors closed, sealing away the sound of him comforting another woman while I bled inside.

When I reached our packhouse, I stood outside staring at the building that was supposed to be our den. Since Sophia returned, Damon spent most nights at her apartment. This place felt empty, cold, stripped of any warmth we'd once shared.

I walked straight to our bedroom and ripped down our mating ceremony portrait. The glass shattered when I hurled it against the wall.

I didn't want to leave behind any trace of the fool I'd been. Any reminder of the love I'd wasted on him.

I started gathering everything that connected us—his gifts, our couple photos, the blanket we'd shared during movie nights. I shoved it all into garbage bags, erasing three years of marriage like it never happened.

I was dragging the bags downstairs when the front door burst open. Damon walked in carrying Sophia bridal-style, her head wrapped in white bandages.

When he saw me standing there with the trash bags, something flickered in his eyes. Guilt, maybe. Or just annoyance.

"She got dizzy from blood loss," he said, like that justified everything. "The doctor said she needs monitoring."

"Monitoring?" I laughed bitterly. "Then why isn't she in the pack medical center? Why the hell are you bringing your mistress into our home?"

"Watch your mouth, Aria," he snapped. "I'm trying to do the right thing here. Sophia is staying in this house whether you like it or not."

Sophia's voice was weak. "I'm sorry, Luna Aria. I don't want to cause problems between mates. I'm only here because of the pup."

She said it to twist the knife deeper.

Rage exploded in my chest. I looked directly at Damon and said, loud and clear, "This is our den, Damon. I don't want her sleeping here."

Damon hesitated. His face showed conflict for exactly two seconds. Then Sophia reached up and placed his hand on her belly.

"The pup is kicking," she whispered. "I think they can sense their daddy's voice."

Damon's expression melted completely. When he looked back at me, his eyes were cold as winter.

"Enough!" he roared. "You're carrying pups too—how can you be so heartless to another pregnant female?"

"Sophia got hurt because you attacked her. I'm just taking care of my responsibilities. If you can't handle sharing this space, then maybe you should find somewhere else to sleep."

His words hit me like silver bullets to the heart.

I stared at him, feeling all the blood drain from my face. My entire body shook with fury and heartbreak.

"As you wish, Alpha," I said, my voice deadly quiet.

Tonight would be my last night in this packhouse. After this, Damon Reed would be nothing but a painful memory.

I grabbed my trash bags and headed for the door.

Sophia's voice followed me, dripping with fake concern.

"Please don't leave because of me, Aria. Look, Damon—she's so upset she threw away your mating portrait."

Damon's growl rumbled through the house. "She's just being dramatic. Once she realizes I won't play her games, she'll come crawling back like always."

A single tear rolled down my cheek as I stepped into the cold night air.