Chapter 4

Elsa messaged me, smug and triumphant: she would be spending a “wonderful night” with Ethan tonight, so of course, he wouldn’t be coming back.

I let out a bitter smile and didn’t bother replaying the videos she’d sent.

What for? The truth was already louder than any footage.

Luckily, the pup slept soundly through the night.

His peaceful breathing comforted me more than I expected.

It kept me from panicking. Maybe even allowed me to fall asleep quickly.

But at 3 A.M., another message from Elsa woke me up:

[Alpha Ethan told me my pup will be the next alpha—and I will be Luna. Isn’t it humiliating for you to still be here?]

Strangely, my heart stayed calm.

Because deep down, I’d already expected this.

There was no need to scream, no need to make a scene.

I silenced my phone and turned back to sleep.

Nothing about this hurt anymore. It was just... numb.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of Ethan’s gentle voice echoing in the room.

“Mia, our pup’s New Moon Day is about to begin. All the clans are waiting for us.”

He spoke like nothing happened—like he hadn’t torn everything apart the night before.

He’d adapted to this new role faster than I could’ve imagined.

He even cooked breakfast for me and prepared formula for the pup, his hands skillful and practiced—as if fatherhood came naturally to him. He smiled, proud and gentle.

It almost looked perfect. Almost.

Maybe they would all be happier without me.

When we arrived at the ritual temple, all the werewolf leaders were already waiting in silence.

Among all the guests, only Ethan and Elsa's eyes held genuine joy—for the pup.

I felt suffocated by the layers of rituals, the chants, the pretentious blessings.

I lowered my head and glanced at my watch, pretending to need to make a phone call—just to escape for a moment.

But before I could leave, Ethan suddenly grabbed my hand and slipped a ring onto my finger.

“Mia, wear it. Let’s pretend it was never lost. It still represents our bond, just as strong as the day we first met.”

A numb, hollow smile tugged at my lips.

But inside, I could hear my wolf whispering:

Ethan, we can never go back to how things were. Not anymore.

I calmed my wolf down and called the werewolf supply house and ordered a complete ignition set—fire starters, accelerants, everything. I wanted to be ready to burn it all if needed.

Just as I ended the call, two shadows darted toward the far corner of the temple.

Then I heard that familiar soft, syrupy voice—Elsa.

“Don’t you love trying something new every time?” she giggled sweetly, her voice echoing through the holy stone walls.

“What about doing it here, right next to your mate?”

Ethan was already breathless, his wolf so desperate that he began tearing at his clothes like he couldn’t wait another second.

“Keep quiet,” he growled lowly. “And listen... I want a second pup.”

Their laughter blurred in my ears, but what cut the deepest was Elsa’s defiant gaze—she looked straight at me, from across the temple, like she wanted me to see.

My body stiffened.

Then my tears broke free, falling uncontrollably.

The wind outside howled like knives, slashing straight through my heart. One cut at a time.

Then came the messages. Like knives laced with sugar.

[Mia, we’ll go hunting after this. Wait for me.]

[And don’t lose your new ring again—this one’s been blessed by the Moon Goddess herself, sanctified through the witch’s hands.]

[What if I miss you for just a second? What then?]

How ironic. How cruel.

The same man who was now buried in another she-wolf's arms whispered sweet nothings to me—as if nothing had happened.

...

When I returned to my den, I found my phone overflowing with a storm of messages from Ethan.

I looked up—only to see a roaring fire blazing in front of me, its flames burning hot against my cheeks.

Without hesitation, I forwarded all of Elsa’s messages and videos to Ethan.

Then, I block my mind links and turned off my phone.

My gaze dropped to the ring still resting on my finger. I touched it—just once—then tore it off and hurled it into the flames.

It cracked against the firewood and vanished in the blaze.

I picked up my luggage, ready to leave this place and everything it carried.

But just as I reached for the door, a loud, frantic pounding came from the other side.