Chapter 4

It confused me when he didn’t breathe a sigh of relief like I thought he would upon hearing our bond was broken.

Instead, he looked panicked, disbelief flooding his face.

“No… That’s impossible,” he muttered, his voice shaking. “I never meant to actually sever the bond…”

Hearing Luke’s words and seeing his reaction, Doris finally understood—I had really broken the bond.

Though glee flickered in her eyes, she kept her tone cold and mocking.

“Well, at least you’ve developed some self-awareness. Splitting up is the best thing for both of you,” she said smoothly.

But Luke wasn’t calm. He was still visibly rattled.

Then Doris suddenly added, eyes narrowing with suspicion,

“But since Luke didn’t even look through the papers properly, who knows if you slipped something else in there to betray the pack?”

And in that moment—it all made sense.

Luke wasn’t panicking because I was no longer his mate.

He was panicking because he thought I’d taken advantage of his carelessness.

That I might have tricked him into signing something that would harm the pack.

To him, I was that kind of she-wolf.

A traitor waiting for a chance to stab him in the back.

Realizing that, I lost the will to argue.

I turned toward the door, ready to pack my things and leave.

But Doris stepped in front of me, blocking my path with a smirk.

“What, feeling guilty already? Trying to sneak out before we call you out on it?” she sneered.

“Don’t even think about leaving. Before you walk out of here, you’re going to sign a statement saying any other documents Luke signed were under your manipulation. Otherwise, don’t blame me if things get ugly.”

My inner wolf growled in fury. Rage bubbled inside me—but I forced it down.

I turned to Luke, hoping, somehow, that he would say something. Defend me. Deny this madness.

But instead, I saw something strange in his eyes.

A look I couldn’t read.

Was it regret? Was it disappointment? Suspicion?

Did he really believe I would scheme against him and betray his pack?

He betrayed me.

He crushed our bond.

Yet I had stayed—for seven long years.

His parents had clearly made up their minds as well. His mother grabbed the broken bond string and hurled it at me.

“Doris is right! Sign that statement, or we’ll report this to the elders and the temple!” she snapped.

But then, without warning—Luke exploded.

“Enough! All of you, shut up!”

His voice, heavy with authority, rolled across the room like thunder.

Even their inner wolves trembled.

The arrogance drained from their faces in an instant. The room fell silent.

His parents mumbled weakly,

“Luke, we’re just trying to protect you… What if she really tricked you…”

But Luke didn’t look at them.

Instead, he looked straight at me.

“Alice isn’t that kind of mate,” he said firmly.

I stared at him in disbelief.

Those were the words I had waited to hear for years.

And now—now that everything was already broken—he said them?

Then, with a sorrowful look, he took a step closer.

“Alice… I don’t care about the papers. I just want to know… why did you have to go this far?” he asked softly.

His words hit me like ice water.

Did he truly not know?

Did he not understand how deeply he had hurt me? How much I had endured?

He still didn’t get it.

“So what if I took Doris to the mountains and didn’t visit your parents with you?” he continued.

“Was it really worth breaking our bond over that?”

That was what he thought?

After everything?

“I won’t blame you for signing the papers without telling me,” he said. “We can go to the temple and cancel the bond. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”

Without waiting for an answer, he reached out and grabbed my wrist.

Then, he began to drag me toward the door.