Chapter 4: The Last Night as Luna

Lyra had always believed leaving would be the hardest part.

She was wrong.

The hardest part was staying long enough to say goodbye.

For three years, the Draven estate had been her home.

Or at least, she had tried to make it one.

She had learned the names of every servant.

She had helped heal injured warriors after battles.

She had sat through endless council meetings beside Kael, even when he never once asked what she thought.

She had carried the Luna title with pride because she believed one day it would become more than a title.

She believed one day she would become more than a duty.

But some dreams did not die because they were impossible.

They died because one person kept dreaming alone.

---

The official divorce ceremony would not happen for another week.

Werewolf laws required a period of separation before a bond could be legally broken.

Seven days.

Seven days of still being called Luna.

Seven days of living under the same roof as the man who had already chosen a different woman.

Lyra spent those days preparing quietly.

She transferred her healing records to the medical wing.

She organized the supplies for the young wolves she had been treating.

She wrote instructions for the next healer who would take her place.

Not once did she ask Kael to reconsider.

And that bothered him.

More than he wanted to admit.

---

Kael noticed everything.

He noticed she no longer waited outside his office.

He noticed she stopped preparing his tea.

He noticed she no longer looked at him like he was the center of her world.

At first, he told himself it was expected.

She was hurt.

She would recover.

But then he realized something uncomfortable.

Lyra was not trying to recover.

She was moving on.

And he didn't know why that bothered him.

---

That evening, the pack held a farewell dinner for visiting leaders from neighboring territories.

Lyra dressed as she always had.

Elegant.

Composed.

A Luna.

When she entered the hall beside Kael, the room became quiet.

Not because she was unwanted.

Because everyone knew.

Everyone knew the Luna beside the Alpha was temporary.

Lyra felt it.

The pity.

The curiosity.

The whispers.

But she lifted her chin.

She would not let anyone watch her fall apart.

---

During dinner, one of the elders smiled at Kael.

"Congratulations, Alpha. The pack is relieved that the future is finally clear."

Lyra's hand paused around her glass.

The elder continued.

"With Selene returning, the Draven bloodline will finally continue."

Silence followed.

A small, painful silence.

Everyone heard the meaning behind those words.

Children.

Heirs.

The reason Lyra had secretly blamed herself for years.

Because despite all her achievements, despite all she had done for the pack, there was one thing she had not given Kael.

An heir.

Kael's expression tightened.

But he said nothing.

And that silence hurt.

Because once again, he allowed her to stand alone.

Lyra placed her glass down.

"I think I need some air."

She stood before anyone could stop her.

---

Outside, the cold night air touched her face.

For the first time that evening, she allowed herself to breathe.

A few minutes later, Kael found her.

"You shouldn't have left."

Lyra looked at him.

A tired smile appeared.

"I know. I should have stayed and smiled."

Kael frowned.

"That isn't what I meant."

"No?"

Her voice was soft.

"Then what did you mean, Kael?"

He opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Because he did not know.

He only knew he felt uncomfortable seeing her hurt.

But he still did not understand that he was the reason.

"You know I never wanted to hurt you," he finally said.

Lyra looked at him.

"I believe you."

That answer surprised him.

"Then why..."

"Because sometimes people hurt you without wanting to."

She looked toward the lights of the estate.

"They just keep choosing themselves and calling it something else."

Kael went silent.

---

When Lyra returned to their chambers that night, she removed the Luna necklace.

She placed it carefully on the table.

Then she looked around the room.

The room where she had cried quietly.

The room where she had waited.

The room where she had slowly become a stranger to herself.

And she finally understood.

She wasn't leaving because Kael chose Selene.

She was leaving because she had stopped choosing herself.

---

The next morning, Kael woke up expecting to see Lyra.

He expected the usual.

Her tea.

Her quiet presence.

Her gentle voice.

Instead, he found an empty room.

On the table was a single envelope.

His name was written on it.

Kael opened it.

Inside were the signed divorce papers.

And one final note.

Only one sentence.

"I loved you enough to wait. I love myself enough to leave."

For the first time in three years...

Alpha Kael Draven felt something he could not control.

Panic.

Because Lyra Ashbourne was not fighting to keep him anymore.

She was letting him go.