Chapter 4

That mark was a sting.

Even from so far away, my werewolf hearing picked up their conversation from the terrace.

"Don't worry, Isabella," Damon's voice was gentle, reassuring. "I'll find the right time to deal with the bond with Elena. For good."

Deal with it.

Like a problem to be solved.

"Really?" Isabella's voice trembled with feigned insecurity. "But the Elders said a simple rejection doesn't fully sever a fated mate bond..."

"Then we'll perform the full severance ritual," Damon's tone was firm. "At the next full moon, in front of the entire pack. I'll make her disappear from my life forever."

"But what about the toll it will take on you..." Isabella feigned concern.

"For our future, it's worth it."

I shut off my enhanced hearing and sat back down.

There was no pain in my chest, not like I expected.

Only a sense of relief.

"Heard enough?" Sera asked.

"More than enough." I picked up the pen and signed my name on the contract. "He's making this cleaner than I thought."

"Good." Sera raised her glass. "To new beginnings."

Our glasses clinked, the sound sharp and clear.

After our meeting, we walked to the restaurant's parking garage together.

"Elena, I have something for you." Sera pulled a sleek car key from her purse.

The fob was inlaid with a small crescent moon emblem that sparkled under the lights.

"What's this?"

"Your new ride." She gestured to a spot in the garage. "Custom Maserati. One of only fifty in the world."

I pressed the unlock button.

A short distance away, a sports car's lights flashed.

Its body was sleek and bold, like a swan about to take flight.

"Sera, this is too much..."

"Elena." She looked me right in the eyes. "A rejected Luna can't lose face. You need to show everyone that you're better off without him."

She was right.

If I was going to start a new life, I had to make it more brilliant than my last one.

"Thank you." I took the key, feeling its warmth in my hand.

"That's your commission from your last project. You earned it," Sera said, patting my shoulder. "From now on, you work for you."

I drove the new car back to the apartment.

As I pulled into the underground garage, I saw a familiar figure leaning against a pillar.

Damon.

His arms were crossed, his expression dark. He'd clearly been waiting for a while.

"Elena." His voice echoed in the empty space. "Where were you?"

I got out and grabbed my bag.

"Dinner."

"With who?" He followed me. "You're back late."

"A friend."

"What kind of friend requires you to dress up like that?" His tone grew colder. "Elena, given your... situation, it's not appropriate for you to be meeting with outsiders."

Outsiders.

An interesting choice of words.

"And who, exactly, is an 'outsider'?" I stopped and turned to face him.

"Anyone who isn't a member of the Black Stone Pack," he said, as if it were obvious. "Especially our competitors."

"Like Sera?"

"Exactly like her!" Anger flashed in his eyes. "Elena, how could you be consorting with the Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack? She's only using you!"

Consorting.

What a disgusting word.

"And what's with the car?" He pointed to my new Maserati. "A limited edition, that's at least four hundred thousand. Where did you get that kind of money?"

His eyes were filled with suspicion and a possessive glint.

As if I were still his property.

"I earned it."

"You earned it?" He scoffed. "Elena, all your design fees are turned over to the pack. You don't have that kind of money."

Turned over.

Like an underling reporting to a superior.

I didn't answer, just kept walking toward the elevator.

"Elena!" His voice, laced with his Alpha command, boomed behind me. "I'm talking to you!"

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside.

He followed me in.

In the confined space, I could smell that sweet, cloying Omega scent on him again.

"You need to tell me what you did tonight." He slammed his hand on the stop button. "As your former mate, I have a right to know where you are."

Former mate.

And he still thought he had rights.

"Damon, you're mistaken about one thing." I stared directly into his eyes. "You have no rights whatsoever."

"No rights?" His eyes flashed, a flicker of his wolf's gold surfacing. "Elena, you are still living on my territory!"

"This is my apartment."

"But you are still within the jurisdiction of the Black Stone Pack!"

Jurisdiction.

Such arrogant logic.

The elevator reached my floor.

I stepped out, and he followed close behind.

"Elena, what did you and Sera talk about today?" He followed me into the living room. "Are you two plotting something?"

I walked to the coffee table and pulled a folder from my bag.

If he wanted to know so badly, then I'd let him know.

I pushed the folder toward him. "You should take a look at this."