Chapter 5

Aria's POV

The next day after lunch, I drove over to Ethan's parents' house. Felicia and Keiran had always been kind to me, but today I wasn't there for a visit. I brought the moonstone necklace Felicia had given me at our wedding—the one she'd called a family heirloom, passed down through generations.

The house was quiet when I arrived, and the staff told me Felicia and Keiran had left for Bali that morning. They wouldn't be back for a month. I handed the necklace to the housekeeper and left without another word.

When I got home, Ethan was sprawled on the couch with gift boxes piled on the coffee table. He glanced up from his phone as I walked in.

"The housekeeper called. You returned the heirloom?"

"Yeah."

He sighed and walked over to me. "Still mad? Come on, I got you all these gifts. Can't you forgive me just this once? I'm sorry, my luna."

Even after I'd returned his family's heirloom, his first thought was that I was still angry. It didn't occur to him that I wanted to cut him entirely out of my life.

He was so sure of himself, so certain that I loved him and would never leave. That's why he could be so reckless, why he thought we could have an open relationship, and why he kept parading other omegas around, breaking my heart over and over.

I didn't answer. I just looked at the familiar logo on the boxes, and something cold twisted in my chest. "The things I want have to be mine alone."

Lily had texted me earlier, showing off the jewelry Ethan had bought her—from the same brand.

Ethan didn't even look embarrassed. "Aria, you've got it wrong. I really wanted to apologize, so I asked Lily to help me pick something out. She liked what we found, so I bought two sets. Don't make a big deal out of nothing, okay? We're mates, bonded for life."

I swept my arm across the table and sent the boxes crashing to the floor. "You can buy endless gifts and split your love into a thousand pieces, can't you? Ethan, I only regret—"

I regret ever believing you.

I didn't finish, but Ethan understood. His expression shifted, and he grabbed my hand. "Aria, you have to know—you're the only one I really care about. I wouldn't have marked you in front of the Moon Goddess and made you my mate if that wasn't true. Just give me a few more years. Once I've had my fun, I'll come back to you. I'll be yours alone."

The same empty promises, over and over.

I didn't want to hear any more of it.

I pulled my hand away, my voice flat. "Fine. I'll wait."

My calm tone reassured him. His face relaxed, and I could tell he thought I'd given in again, that I was willing to sit around while he played with other women.

He had no idea I was just counting down the days until our mate bond broke.

Since my birthday was coming up soon, and even though Felicia and Keiran were traveling abroad, they still remembered. They had someone deliver an expensive crown as my birthday gift.

When I got the message, I wanted to tell them I'd taken the severing potion and was planning to break the mate bond. But I didn't want to ruin their vacation, so I kept quiet.

I came home and pushed open the door, and there was Lily with the gift already unwrapped. She had that dazzling crown sitting on her head.

The moment she saw me, panic flashed across her face, and she put on this timid, frightened look. "Luna, what are you doing here?"

I wasn't interested in watching her little performance. I walked over and reached up to take the crown off her head. "That's mine."

Something jealous and bitter flickered in Lily's eyes, and she grabbed onto the Luna's crown with both hands. She wouldn't let go.

I was about to release it when I saw her deliberately press her finger down onto the sharp silverstone at the top.

Bright red blood welled up from her fingertip, and she immediately went limp and collapsed onto the couch. She started crying softly.

"Luna, I just thought the crown was beautiful and wanted to look at it a little longer. Why would you do this to me?"

I hadn't even figured out what game she was playing when someone shoved me hard. My back slammed into the edge of the table, and my forehead hit the surface. Something warm instantly trickled down from my brow bone.

The metallic scent of blood spread through the air.

I sucked in a sharp breath and looked up to see Ethan hovering over Lily, asking her in a low voice if she was okay.

He didn't even glance at me. His entire focus was on Lily.

That's when I finally understood what performance Lily had just put on.

I got up from the floor, trembling, and bent down to pick up the blood-stained crown. I held it out to Lily.

Ethan thought I was showing off and asserting my position as Luna. His pheromones started going wild, and the scent of pine and ice carried a clear warning.

But I didn't give him a chance to explode. "If you like it so much, you can have it. Take it."

Lily froze.

Ethan frowned too, his voice dropping low. "Mom and Dad gave that to you."

To me? No. They gave it to Ethan's Luna.

And I wouldn't be that much longer.

I set the crown on the table, my voice eerily calm. "I'm particular about cleanliness. Blood-stained things are bad luck. It's hers now."

I turned and walked out without looking back.

Behind me, I could hear Ethan speaking softly to Lily. I caught him saying, "Why is she acting so strange today?"

I stopped in the hallway and touched the wound on my forehead.

Before, whenever I got hurt, Ethan would notice immediately. He'd gently lick my wounds with his tongue to help them heal.

Now, he didn't even notice I was bleeding.

I let out a bitter laugh and stepped into the elevator.