Chapter 3

In the days after Sebastian left, I began packing up my belongings and decluttering the house of things we no longer needed.

This had been our home for three years. Nearly every item had been chosen by me in an effort to bring warmth to the empty house.

But looking back now, it seemed I had been the only one trying to nurture our relationship.

I brought fresh flowers to brighten the living room, but Sebastian never remembered to water them. Instead, he let them wither.

Dirty clothes piled up in the basket, completely ignored. Books lay scattered across the shelves, and he never bothered to organize them.

Even our wedding photo on the nightstand had gathered a thin layer of dust. In contrast, the picture of him with Roxanne as children sat spotless in his study, as if freshly printed.

Every trace of warmth in this house had been nothing but a facade I kept up on my own.

With my belly growing heavier, even simple movements like bending or crouching felt torturous. After each brief stint of cleaning, I had to press a hand to my aching back, sink onto the couch, and gasp for breath.

The weight in my stomach reminded me constantly that I wasn't alone. Yet, every time I looked around the empty house, I felt lonelier than ever.

The Moon Goddess had once told me that love was fragile. But I had been naive enough to believe that if I loved hard enough, Sebastian and I could be happy forever.

In hindsight, it had all been nothing but wishful thinking.

I piled the boxes holding our memories into a corner, determined to leave the past behind me.

…

Sebastian didn't come home over the next few days, yet I always knew what he was up to. After all, Roxanne posted on social media constantly.

She shared breathtaking views of snowcapped mountains and photos of him draping his jacket over her shoulders. Every caption hinted at his unwavering attention to her.

Once, images like these would have torn me apart. But now, they barely stirred a flicker of emotion.

I had moved past the pain and was finally starting to see a new future.

…

When most of the packing was done, I went to visit my parents. I told them I had decided to sever my mate bond with Sebastian, and that I had accepted the Temple of the Moon's invitation to serve as the Chief Oracle.

In an instant, tears welled up in my mother's eyes. She clutched my hand, her voice trembling as she asked, "Olivia, are you sure? Moving into the Temple of the Moon is a lifetime commitment. And you're carrying a pup now. How are you supposed to manage on your own?"

Beside her, my father sighed heavily.

"Severing your mate bond isn't something to take lightly. You and Sebastian are fated mates, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself," he said with a frown.

"Did you two fight? Are you acting on impulse? We've seen how much you love him. Please don't do anything you'll regret."

I met their worried eyes, shook my head, and replied calmly, "I'm not acting on impulse. I've thought about this far longer than you realize."

They studied me. When they found no trace of doubt in my eyes, they finally relented.

Eventually, my mother stepped forward and wrapped me in a warm embrace. My father followed, gently patting my back.

"Whatever you decide, we'll support you," he reassured me. "If you believe this is right, then go ahead and do it."

I hadn't told them that Sebastian had swapped my prenatal report with Roxanne's, or that he had tried to make me give my pup to her. I was worried it would be too much for them to bear.

…

Later, I invited my best friend, Felicia Reed, over to help me sort through the boxes.

I told her everything—how Sebastian had switched my prenatal report with Roxanne's and how he had made me exchange my pup for hers.

All at once, Felicia exploded in fury, trembling as she shouted, "What? How could he do something like that? It's like a knife to the heart!

"Has he lost his mind? Roxanne may have been his childhood sweetheart, but you're his fated mate! And now, for her sake, he'd even give up his own pup?"

I shook my head and said nothing.

Maybe Sebastian really wanted to help Roxanne. Or maybe he was simply tired of me.

But none of it mattered anymore.

I was leaving. Once I was gone, Sebastian would never be able to hold onto me again.