CHAPTER 4

Sera

My wolf paced nervously beneath my skin.

Are we really doing this?

Yes.

For once, there wasn’t even hesitation in my answer.

I held the dissolution agreement paper in my hand as I headed toward the Alpha's office.

A maid nearly dropped her tray when she saw me.

“L-Luna…”

I kept walking. The whispers started instantly. Apparently, the news had already spread to the pack members

“She came back?”

“I heard Alpha Rylan was looking everywhere for her.”

“Do you think they reconciled?”

I almost laughed. Reconciled. Right. I stopped outside the office doors and inhaled slowly.

Then pushed them open.

Rylan looked up so fast his chair nearly scraped backward. “Sera.”

He crossed the room immediately.

“Where the hell have you been?” He stopped inches away from me. “I’ve been trying to find you since last night. Who were you with? Are you cheating on me too?”

I stepped back before he could touch me. I kept my expression blank as I gave him the papers.

“I want you to sign this,” I said.

He frowned and took the papers from my hand. I watched the exact moment realization hit him.

Mate Bond Dissolution Agreement.

His face lost all color.

“No.”His eyes snapped back to mine and shook his head. “No.”

I crossed my arms. "I'm leaving the pack."

A small laugh escaped his lips. "To go where? Why do you want to do this?"

My eyes narrowed.

"Why?" I glared at him. “You cheated on me with your beta.”

His jaw tightened.

“And?” he snapped suddenly. “You’re my mate, Sera. My Luna. Do you really think one mistake is enough reason to destroy everything?”

One mistake? I looked at the man standing in front of me and for the first time... I saw nothing worth saving.

“You don’t own me anymore.”

“The hell I don’t!”

The possessiveness in his voice made my stomach twist. He moved toward me again.

“You’re upset,” he said, voice softer now. “I understand that. But this?” He held up the papers. “This is insanity.”

“No,” I barked. “Staying was insanity.”

His face shone with fear because for the first time since we married, I wasn't begging him to love me.

I was walking away.

The office door opened behind me. I turned. Three council elders entered.

Perfect timing.

Elder Marcus frowned immediately when he saw the papers in Rylan’s hand. “What is this?”

Rylan answered before I could. “She’s just overreacting.”

My jaw clenched.

Elder Naomi sighed after scanning the document.

“A dissolution request?” Her sharp brown eyes landed on me. “Luna Sera, surely this is unnecessary.”

“I’ve made my decision.”

“You are the Luna of Crimson pack,” Elder Marcus snapped. “You cannot abandon your duties over a private marital disagreement.”

Oh my.

I almost laughed. “Really?”

The elders exchanged uneasy glances. Clearly, the council had no idea Rylan was sleeping with a man. I refused to be the one who exposed him.

“Infidelity is unfortunate,” Naomi admitted, “but it does not justify destabilizing pack leadership.”

My chest tightened painfully. Of course. Of course that was what mattered.

Not my humiliation. Not my pain. The image of Rylan and Dorian flashed through my head again so vividly I almost felt sick.

They wanted me to stay. So he could continue making a fool out of me?

Absolutely not.

“I want the bond severed.”

“That's not happening!” Rylan screamed. His voice thundered through the office. His Alpha command pressed down on me. I clenched my fist at my side, steadying myself.

“You belong here,” he murmured. “With me.”

Before anyone could speak again, another voice cut through the tension.

“Well,” Dorian drawled from the doorway. “This looks dramatic.”

I turned sharply. There he was. Perfectly dressed. Perfectly smug. His green eyes slid over me slowly.

“Aw,” he mocked. “The little Luna found her backbone.”

Rylan’s jaw tightened. “Dorian...”

“No, really,” Dorian interrupted with a smirk. “This is adorable.”

I felt my nails digging into my palms. Dorian walked further inside like he owned the room.

“She won’t leave,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Where would she even go?”

The words hit harder because part of me had asked myself the same thing all night. Dorian noticed the flicker in my expression and smiled wider.

“There it is,” he purred. “That scared little look.”

My wolf growled weakly beneath my skin.

“She knows she’ll come crawling back,” Dorian continued. “They always do.”

Rylan didn’t deny it. That hurt more than it should have. Dorian folded his arms. “Honestly, Rylan, just sign it.”

Rylan frowned. “What?”

“She’s bluffing.”Dorian shrugged.  His eyes locked onto mine. “She wants attention. Once reality hits, she’ll realize nobody else would ever want a weak Luna who can’t even produce an heir.”

My breath caught. The council looked uncomfortable again but nobody defended me.

Silence stretched awkwardly in the office. Then... Rylan grabbed the papers violently.

My heart pounded. For one second, I thought maybe he would tear them apart.

Instead, he signed. Just like that.

“You want to leave?” he snapped, shoving the papers back toward me. “Fine.”

My chest tightened.Even knowing this was what I wanted…It still hurt.

Rylan’s blue eyes burned into mine.

“But don’t expect me to wait for you when you come crawling back.”

Something cold settled into my chest. I took the papers with trembling fingers. Then I lifted my gaze to Rylan one final time.

“I won’t come back.”

I turned and walked out before either of them could see my hands shaking.

Once I got to my room, I moved quickly. Clothes. Money. My mother’s ring. The silver locket from the drawer.

I shoved everything into my suitcase with numb hands while tears blurred my vision again.

Not because of Rylan. Not anymore.

I was crying for the version of myself that stayed too long hoping love could survive humiliation.

A soft knock sounded behind me.

“Elara?” I guessed. The maid stepped inside slowly, eyes already red.

“You’re really leaving.”

“Yes.”

My heart was pounding in my chest, whether in fear of not what the future entails or excitement that I was leaving.

I couldn't tell. But this time it was real.

“Where will you go?” Elara asked.

My fingers brushed against the black card sitting inside my coat pocket.

A single phone number. Alaric. My pulse quickened. I pulled out my phone before I could overthink it. Elara watched silently as I dialed the number.

The call rang once. Twice.Then...

“Tell me you changed your mind.”

That deep voice sent heat racing unexpectedly through my chest.I swallowed hard.

“Sera?” he asked again.

I tightened my grip on the phone. Then whispered the words that would change everything.

“I’m coming with you to Valdris.”