Chapter 3

There was a time I dreamed of traveling the world with Luke.

But he always had responsibilities in the pack.

He needed to stay in his territory. He was always “too busy”—even for a short vacation with his mate.

Each time, I gave in. I stayed behind.

I felt sorry for how hard he worked. So, for seven years, I worked as his assistant, never once complaining.

But everything changed the moment Doris arrived.

Luke, the same man who had said he had no time for travel, suddenly made time for her—by shoving his work onto me.

At first, I truly believed he was away on pack business.

That was until Doris began posting photos on social media.

In every picture, they smiled intimately beneath famous landmarks.

Each caption oozed with flirtation and double meanings.

I felt like a fool.

All my patience and understanding—turned into permission for him to treat me however he pleased.

In those photos, he did all the things he’d never done for me.

The proud Alpha who refused to lift a finger in our home… was now hand-brewing fruit wine for her family.

He who once said he couldn’t sleep outside his own bed now slept peacefully on her shoulder.

He laughed beside her clan’s hearth, clinked tea cups with her elders, and played the devoted mate.

All of it—things I had begged for, things I had dreamed of—he gave to her.

When I saw the latest photo she posted just after I left, I simply gave it a like.

No comments.

Then I blocked them both.

I was done.

I spent the next few days quietly visiting nearby packs, waiting for the bond-breaking certificate.

When I finally received it, I felt… calm.

A wave of relief surged through my inner wolf.

I returned to the temple and picked up the broken bond string.

As I stared at it in my hands, I felt light.

I was no longer Luke’s mate.

Then I made my way back to our den to pack up the last of my things.

But the moment I stepped inside, voices drifted through the hall.

“Luke, Doris might come from an omega family, but she’s far more dependable than Alice,” a woman said.

I recognized the voice instantly—it was Luke’s mother.

Not realizing I had entered, she continued:

“She doesn’t have any bad habits. Well, except for the occasional drink. But once she’s pregnant, she’ll stop.”

Luke’s voice rose in response, but it sounded more smug than serious.

“Mom, what are you talking about? Alice is my mate.”

Her words stung. This was the same woman who had chosen me—years ago—because of my powerful bloodline.

And now… I wasn’t good enough?

I let out a cold laugh.

I had never touched a drink. I had no vices.

But to them, I had never been “feminine” enough.

“So what if she’s your Luna?” Luke’s father added. His tone was filled with disdain.

“You can still break the bond. Doris is solid. Much better than that good-for-nothing Alice, who only knows how to do paperwork.”

Seven years ago, they had chosen me for my lineage, my capabilities, my loyalty.

Now, they threw it all away.

My hands curled into fists as I drew in a breath to steady my wolf.

I had heard enough. So I stepped into the room.

Their expressions froze the moment they saw me.

Luke was the first to speak. His expression twisted in irritation as he snapped,

“Alice, so you remember where your den is. Coming back this late—is our bond meaningless to you now?

Keep throwing tantrums and I’ll really lock you out next time. Let’s see how long you last out there!”

I stared at him, stunned.

He still didn’t realize what I had done.

He didn’t know our bond was already broken.

He had locked me out so many times before.

No matter the freezing wind or pouring rain, he never once cared.

Once, he threw me out just because Doris had gotten a small scratch during a hunt, and he claimed it was because I hadn’t “taught her properly.”

That night, he held Doris in his arms and slammed the door in my face.

Their laughter echoed from behind the door like blades slicing into me.

And now—again—he tried to throw me out.

Doris’s voice floated down from the stairs, laced with annoyance.

“What’s all this noise? Just throw her out already. I dare her to make a scene.”

She came downstairs, clad in silk pajamas, clearly just waking up from a comfortable nap.

Luke hesitated for a moment.

But his parents didn’t.

“Throw her out. A leech like her needs to be disciplined,” his mother urged.

“You can’t let her trample over you,” his father added.

Fueled by their words, Luke’s face darkened.

“Just go,” he said dismissively. “Let me cool off for a few days. Doris will stay here to keep me company.

Keep acting out, Alice, and I’ll really sever the bond. You’ll regret it.”

He waved me away like I was a stray mutt.

I let out a cold, sharp laugh.

“No need to wait.”

Under their stunned gazes, I reached into my bag and pulled out the broken bond string.

I placed it gently on the table.

“You can relax now. You have what you wanted. The bond is already broken.”

The room went silent.

They stared at the string in shock, expressions frozen.

Doris narrowed her eyes and stepped forward, snatching up both halves to inspect them.

“A she-wolf like you—with no future—actually gave up her Luna position? These must be fake,” she said coldly.

Luke’s expression relaxed for a moment. But then it darkened again.

He turned to me and sneered,

“Alice, still playing your dirty little games? How many times have I told you to stop this nonsense?

Should I throw you into the basement again? Is that what you want?”

He expected me to beg. To cry. To plead.

But I simply smiled.

A cold, mocking smile.

He froze. For the first time—his smugness wavered.

“What are you laughing at?” he asked.

“I’m laughing… because you forgot.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“You forgot the bond-breaking document you signed.”

His mouth opened to retort—but stopped.

His face paled instantly.

He remembered.

He remembered the documents I had handed him.

The ones he signed… without even reading.