LOGINASTRIDThe shift wasn’t subtle anymore.It was overwhelming.It started the next morning.A box sat at the edge of Astrid’s bed.Neatly wrapped.Too neatly.She frowned, walking closer like it might explode if she touched it wrong.“Damien?” she called.No answer.Her fingers hesitated before untying the ribbon.Inside—A dress.Soft, elegant, expensive.Exactly her taste.Her stomach tightened.Not because she didn’t like it.But because he knew she would.Behind her, his voice came quietly.“You used to like that color.”Astrid turned sharply.“I don’t remember telling you that.”“You didn’t.”That didn’t make it better.“Then how—”“I pay attention.”The words weren’t meant to sound heavy.But they did.Astrid closed the box slowly. “I don’t want gifts.”“You didn’t say that was a boundary.”Her jaw tightened. “I’m saying it now.”A pause.Then—“Noted.”Too easy.Too calm.That should’ve been the end of it.It wasn’t.By afternoon—Another box.Jewelry this time.Simple.Beautiful
The shift didn’t happen all at once.It built.Quietly.Carefully.Like Damien had decided—if he couldn’t pull Astrid toward him…He would remove everything pulling her away.Astrid noticed it in pieces.A canceled meeting.A missed call.Then another.Sebastian wasn’t the type to disappear.Not like this.She stood by the window, her phone pressed to her ear, listening to it ring… and ring… and ring.Nothing.Her chest tightened.“Why isn’t he picking up?” she muttered.Behind her, Damien’s voice came calm.“Maybe he’s busy.”Astrid turned sharply. “He’s not.”A pause.Then her eyes narrowed slightly.“Did you do something?”Damien didn’t react.Didn’t even blink.“I said I wouldn’t interfere with who you talk to,” he replied.“That’s not an answer.”“It is.”Her grip tightened around her phone. “Damien—”“I haven’t touched him,” he added, his tone steady.Not a lie.But not the truth either.And something in Astrid felt that.By evening—Her patience snapped.She grabbed her keys.“
The days didn’t pass.They pressed.Every hour in that house felt like something tightening around Astrid—quietly, steadily—waiting for her to slip.And she almost didn’t.Almost.It started small.Too small to notice at first.Astrid was in the living room, scrolling through her phone, trying—failing—to focus on anything that wasn’t Damien’s presence somewhere in the house.A message came in.Sebastian.“Can I see you today?”Her chest softened instantly.Safe.Simple.She typed back: “Yes.”That should’ve been it.But when she stepped outside—Damien was already there.Leaning against the car.Waiting.Her steps slowed. “What are you doing?”“I’m driving you.”“I didn’t ask you to.”“I know.”Her brows furrowed. “Then don’t.”Silence.Then—“You’re going to see him,” Damien said.Not a question.Astrid’s grip tightened around her phone. “That’s none of your business.”“It is if you’re still my wife.”The words hit harder than they should have.“Only on paper,” she snapped.His gaze
ASTRIDThe papers sat between them.Clean.Final.Terrifying.Astrid stared at the signature line like it was both her freedom… and something she didn’t fully understand yet.Damien stood across from her, calm—too calm—watching her reaction like he had already anticipated every thought running through her mind.“You wanted this,” he said quietly.Astrid swallowed.“Yes.”Her voice didn’t shake this time.Because she meant it.“I’m ready to sign.”A small pause.Then Damien reached forward—slowly—and placed his hand over the papers.Stopping her.Astrid’s brows furrowed. “What are you doing?”“I’ll sign,” he said.Relief flickered in her chest—too quickly.Because the next words killed it.“But not for free.”Her stomach tightened.“This isn’t a negotiation,” she said immediately. “It’s a divorce.”“It’s both.”His tone was calm. Certain.Controlled.Astrid shook her head, stepping back slightly. “No. You don’t get to bargain with my freedom.”Damien’s gaze didn’t waver.“I already am.
It would be a mistake. Astrid didn’t move. For a long moment, it felt like the entire world had narrowed down to just the two of them—his confession still hanging in the air, heavy and suffocating. I destroyed someone. I would do worse. Her heart was still racing. But something inside her… shifted. Not toward him. Away. Slowly, Astrid took a step back. This time, it felt different. Not hesitation. Not confusion. Clarity. “I believe you,” she said quietly. Damien’s expression didn’t change—but his eyes sharpened. “About everything,” she added. “About what you did. About what you’d do again.” Another step back. “And that’s exactly why I can’t stay.” Silence. The kind that feels like it’s holding its breath. Damien didn’t move. Didn’t reach for her. But something in the room tightened. “You’re walking away,” he said, his voice low—not surprised. Just… controlled. Astrid nodded, even though her chest ached in a way she hadn’t expected. “Yes.” It hurt. That wa
It would be a mistake.Astrid didn’t move.For a long moment, it felt like the entire world had narrowed down to just the two of them—his confession still hanging in the air, heavy and suffocating.I destroyed someone.I would do worse.Her heart was still racing.But something inside her… shifted.Not toward him.Away.Slowly, Astrid took a step back.This time, it felt different.Not hesitation.Not confusion.Clarity.“I believe you,” she said quietly.Damien’s expression didn’t change—but his eyes sharpened.“About everything,” she added. “About what you did. About what you’d do again.”Another step back.“And that’s exactly why I can’t stay.”Silence.The kind that feels like it’s holding its breath.Damien didn’t move.Didn’t reach for her.But something in the room tightened.“You’re walking away,” he said, his voice low—not surprised.Just… controlled.Astrid nodded, even though her chest ached in a way she hadn’t expected.“Yes.”It hurt.That was the problem.It shouldn’t hu
Astrid’s POV “Finally, all set…”The words left my lips with a soft smile as I lit the last lavender candle on the dining table. For a heartbeat, the scene before me looked exactly as it had before—it looked elegant, warm, carefully prepared. Five hours of effort arranged into something that rese
Sebastian’s POVBeing in love does not mean the war has ended. It only sharpens the war.That truth settled into my bones as the moon slipped behind clouds and the city’s heartbeat returned—uneven, frantic, afraid. Somewhere beneath the courtyard, alarms rang in staggered waves. Not a call to arms
Astrid’s POVThe pack continued to burn, but not in fire. The packs burned in the lingering shadows, the packs burned in the hunger of ancient entities that stayed beneath the foundations of the Council. The rift that Selene tried so hard to exploit, the rift that Alpha Lucian had manipulated into
Astrid’s POVThe first thing that broke was not the floor.It was the council members' trust that broke instantly. No one knew who or what to trust anymore.A wave of cold air rushed upward from beneath; it was sharp and ancient, carrying a smell of wet stone and old bones. Not decay. Memory. Panic







