Chapter 4

The next day, I finished packing up all my things. A new message popped up on my phone, and it was from Bryan.

"Are you free at noon?"

I took one last look at the place I'd lived for five years, then opened the message. "What's up?"

Bryan replied quickly. "I've got some time at noon, so we can grab lunch together. Here's the address."

Over the past five years, whenever things went sour between us, he'd go out of his way to cheer me up. Sometimes he took me out somewhere fun, and sometimes he gave me a gift he'd made himself.

But that changed over time. He hardly ever looked my way anymore, and he couldn't even squeeze out the time to have a meal with me.

"Make sure you come. If there's time afterward, we can catch a movie."

I tapped on the address and saw it was a newly opened restaurant.

My heart had long since frozen over, yet it felt as if something had brushed gently against it. I looked at the potion on the table, the one that would sever our mind-link, and suddenly wanted to give him one last chance.

At 12:00 pm, I followed the address Bryan had sent and arrived at the restaurant. Once I stepped inside, a staff member led me to a table in the corner.

"Luna, Alpha Bryan said that this is your table."

I stared at the table in surprise, then looked up toward the middle of the restaurant. Bryan and Hazel were standing shoulder to shoulder by the table at the center of the room. Draped over Hazel's slender shoulders was a man's cloak, the one I'd once made for Bryan with my own hands.

Everyone around them was singing Bryan's praises, and nobody noticed me sitting in the corner.

Someone asked Bryan how he'd made it through those grueling years when he was trapped in a frenzy. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he and Hazel exchanged a smile, as if those five long years of struggle that had finally paid off were their story.

My mind went completely blank. At that moment, nothing he said mattered anymore.

I watched them finish talking, and then Bryan took a few steps in my direction. I was sure he'd seen me. Maybe he was coming over to find me?

But a second later, he took Hazel's hand and sat down with her.

Sitting there surrounded by all that noise, I felt myself grow calm. So this was what he meant by having lunch together.

Suddenly, the version of me who'd chosen to trust him one more time seemed so ridiculous. After five years, all he had to do was suggest a meal, and I'd shamelessly let my heart flutter again.

I stood up and walked out of the restaurant without drawing anyone's attention.

When I got back to what used to be my home, the first thing I did was take the moonstone necklace off and set it on the table. Then I drank the potion, severing the bond that tied me to Bryan as his mate.

Finally, I grabbed my luggage and headed to the airport.

Before I boarded, my phone screen lit up with a call from Bryan, followed by two messages.

"Hazel's been worn out these past few days, so I'm taking her to see a healer.

"Let's catch the movie tomorrow instead. We can go to that restaurant you mentioned before too."

I ignored them and turned off my phone.

As the plane slowly climbed, the scenery outside the window faded into dusk. Bryan was the Alpha, and maybe he'd already chosen a mate for himself. As for me, I wanted to give myself a fresh start.

Watching the ground below drift farther away, I closed my eyes. I wondered how Bryan would feel once he found out I'd left, but I no longer cared to know.