Returns Home

(Third-person's POV)

A little past nine in the evening, Ethan Silver and his daughter returned home. Emma Silver clutched at Ethan's coat hem as she stepped off the car, moving with deliberate slowness.

The night air was crisp against their skin as they approached the grand entrance of the Manor. Emma's small fingers tightened around the fabric of her father's expensive coat, her eyes darting nervously toward the windows.

"Is Mom still here?" she whispered, her voice barely audible even in the quiet night.

Ethan's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Let's go inside and see."

Despite her mother's presence earlier, Emma had refused all night to return to the Manor. Olivia Stone had crouched down to her level, tucking a strand of hair behind Emma's ear with gentle fingers.

"Mom came just to keep us company," Olivia had explained softly. "If we don't go back tonight, she'll be sad."

Emma's green eyes—so like her mother's—had filled with uncertainty. She'd turned to her father, tugging at his sleeve.

"Father, what if Mom insists on coming with us tomorrow?" The question had tumbled from her lips, heavy with childish worry.

Ethan had looked down at his daughter, his gray eyes unreadable. "She won't."

His tone carried such unshakeable certainty that Emma trusted it more than her own longing. Now, she sprang into the villa, already dreaming of finishing the Moonstone Seashell Necklace with her mother's help.

Inside, Martha Wilson, the pack housekeeper, quietly placed a cream-colored envelope bearing the Moonstone Pack's legal seal on Ethan's desk. The envelope contained the Mate Separation Agreement.

"Alpha King, this is from Luna," she said softly, her eyes downcast.

Startled, Ethan glanced up from removing his coat. "Where is she?"

Martha hesitated, her hands clasped tightly before her. "She packed her things and flew back to the Northern Territory at noon."

A flicker of surprise crossed his handsome features, but he only offered a curt smile and headed toward the stairs.

"Father!" Emma called out, her small voice echoing in the foyer. "Where's Mom?"

Martha knelt beside the child, her weathered face gentle. "Your mother had to return home, Young Miss."

Emma's small heart sank, her shoulders slumping visibly. "But she didn't even see me."

"Luna looked angry when she left," Martha added, glancing toward Ethan.

Yet Ethan Silver barely reacted. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he checked the screen, his expression softened slightly.

"Olivia," he murmured, accepting the call and stepping away from his daughter and the housekeeper.

The cream-colored envelope slipped from his fingers, clattering to the floor as he walked out of the room. He did not return that night.

At dawn, Martha discovered the fallen envelope and placed it in a cabinet, assuming it had already been read.

(Grace's POV)

The Northern Territory welcomed me back with familiar scents and sounds as I stepped off the plane. My heart felt oddly hollow, emptied of the hope I'd carried to the Eastern Territory just yesterday.

I headed straight to the Silvercliff Pack House to pack my things. Six years of marriage had accumulated so many possessions, yet I found myself selecting only the essentials—a few sets of clothes, two packages of daily necessities, and my professional therapy textbooks.

My fingers lingered on a framed photo of Emma, her smile bright and carefree. I left it on the nightstand.

The Northern Territory gifts I had carefully brought for my family remained sealed in my luggage. I couldn't bear to unpack them now.

I checked my bank card balance, finding a sizable amount—money related to my Luna status and past employment. I had rarely touched it, preferring to use the allowances Ethan provided for Emma and me.

Without hesitation, I transferred the money to my personal account and placed the two cards neatly on the nightstand beside Emma's photo. The platinum cards gleamed in the soft light, a final surrender of my position as Luna.

Pulling my suitcase out of the Pack House, I left without looking back. The weight of my decision pressed against my chest, but I kept moving forward.

Shadow Peak Apartments welcomed me with its modest facade. I owned this small apartment near the Silvercliff pack medical headquarters, maintaining it as a quiet retreat when pack life became overwhelming.

The apartment greeted me with spotless floors and a peaceful atmosphere, maintained by a cleaner who visited weekly. Everything was exactly as I had left it months ago—untouched, waiting.

After a hot shower, exhaustion hit me like a physical force. I sank into bed, a mixture of relief and sadness washing over me as I drifted into sleep.

At one in the morning, a sharp alarm jolted me awake. Disoriented for a moment, I blinked at the ceiling before remembering—it was seven o'clock in the Eastern Territory. Breakfast time for Emma.

I had set this alarm months ago to avoid missing her calls. Over time, those calls had transformed from eager "I miss you, Mom" whispers to curt, impatient responses.

Staring at the ceiling in the dim room, I felt a wistful ache spread through my chest. This ritual had lost its meaning.

With a steady hand, I deleted the alarm and powered off my phone. The screen went black, and I finally drifted into a deeper sleep.

(Third-person's POV)

Hours later, at the villa in the Eastern Territory, Ethan Silver and Emma Silver sat at the breakfast table. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, casting golden patterns across the polished wood.

Though Ethan noted the absence of Grace Morgan's morning call, he did not comment. His attention remained fixed on the financial report before him, occasionally taking measured sips of his coffee.

Emma, on the other hand, saw an opportunity to avoid another strained conversation. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and darted for the door.

Martha Wilson hustled after her, concern etched on her face. "Young Miss, it's still early—you can leave in a few minutes."

Emma shook her head, cheeks flushed with mischief. "If I wait, Mom will ring and make me talk to her—I'd rather not!"

Laughing, she raced outside and climbed into the car, relieved to postpone the moment when she'd have to face her mother's voice.

Ethan watched through the window as his daughter departed, his expression unreadable.

(Grace's POV)

After the mating ceremony many years ago, I had joined the Silvercliff Pack's medical headquarters. I'd held various positions in the vast medical technology center, my role changing frequently at Ethan's discretion.

Since I was now determined to sever my mating bond, there was no reason for me to remain in Ethan's organization. The thought brought both terror and relief.

The next morning, I arrived at the company headquarters in the Northern Territory. The familiar glass building towered above me, reflecting the morning sun. I had spent countless hours within these walls, trying to prove my worth.

Today would be different.

I straightened my shoulders and walked through the main entrance, nodding politely to security staff who looked surprised to see me. My heels clicked against the marble floor as I made my way to Jackson Thornton's office.

Jackson was one of Ethan's primary Betas, known for his efficiency and unwavering loyalty to pack protocol. When I knocked on his door, he called for me to enter.

"Luna Morgan," he greeted me, rising from his desk. His use of my maiden name rather than "Madam Silver" didn't escape my notice.

"Good morning, Jackson," I replied, my voice steadier than I expected. "I have something for you."

I handed him my formal Resignation Letter, watching as he accepted it with professional courtesy. A hint of surprise flickered in his eyes at my unexpected decision.

"Are you certain about this?" he asked, scanning the document.

"Completely," I answered, meeting his gaze directly.

Jackson nodded once, his expression returning to its usual neutral state. "I'll process this immediately."

As I turned to leave, he cleared his throat. "Luna—" he began, then corrected himself. "Ms. Morgan. The Alpha King hasn't mentioned any changes to your status."

I paused at the door, a sad smile touching my lips. "He will soon enough."

With that, I walked out of the office, closing the door softly behind me. Another chapter of my life had ended, and for the first time in years, I felt the faintest stirring of freedom.