Chapter 3. This Is Not My Place

Sunna's POV

The moment I appeared at the door, the air in the living room froze.

Simon's expression faltered; Elis's eyes widened, then narrowed with venom.

"You shameless woman!" she snapped, pointing at me with trembling fingers. "How dare you eavesdrop on our conversation?"

I used to avoid arguing with her-always thinking of Simon, always swallowing my pride for the sake of peace.

But something inside me had changed. My heart no longer trembled for anyone's comfort.

"This is my home," I said, my voice low but steady. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, golden light flickering in my eyes. "I didn't hide. I didn't eavesdrop. Watch your words."

Elis blinked, stunned for a heartbeat. Then her face twisted in rage. "Your home? Don't make me laugh. Simon only let you stay here. Don't overestimate your worth!"

Hoyle slammed her cane on the floor, her voice shrill and sharp. "You still refuse to leave? You should be grateful Simon hasn't thrown you out yet! Caroline is a thousand times better than you-and she's not even complaining! What are you? Nothing but a disgrace to the Sky Pack!"

"Elis," Hoyle gasped suddenly, clutching her chest, "get Simon to remove her before I lose my sight again! The witch doctor said my emotions must stay calm, or I'll go blind!"

Simon's brows furrowed. For a brief second, I thought he might defend me.

But then he looked at me with that same tired impatience I'd seen too many times before.

"Sunna," he sighed, "just leave for now. We'll talk later." I took a step forward, my pulse quickening. "No. We'll talk now."

"Don't make this difficult for me," he warned, his tone turning cold.

A bitter laugh broke from my lips. "Difficult for you? Simon, I've never made things difficult for you. For three years, I stood by your side, helped you rise from nothing -without complaint, without demanding anything in return! Even today at the hotel, when Caroline humiliated me, you told me to walk away, and I did. For you!"

My voice cracked into a growl as I pointed at Elis. "Your sister-if it weren't for me-would've been rotting in a cell right now! I begged the elders, pulled every favor I had, to protect her!"

Then I turned to Hoyle, trembling with fury. "And you! When your eyes began to fail, when even the healers gave up, who searched all across Hunterston for the witch doctor Marzaha? Who brought him here to save you? I did!"

The heat in my veins burned, my wolf pushing closer to the surface.

"I treated you all as family," I shouted, my voice raw, eyes glinting gold. "I gave everything-my heart, my loyalty, my life! And this is how you repay me? By turning me into a joke in front of everyone?"

Silence fell. Only my ragged breathing echoed through the vast house.

But instead of shame, Elis laughed-cold and cruel. "Oh, don't flatter yourself. Simon's success, our pack's strength-none of it came from you. He achieved it on his own. You were just... convenient."

Hoyle shrieked, "Simon! Are you going to let this wolf run wild in my house? Throw her out before I lose my sight again!"

Simon's jaw clenched. "Sunna, don't push me."

My heart clenched, then broke into something harder.

"Or what?" I whispered. "You'll raise a hand against me?"

His silence was the answer.

"I love my mother," he finally said, voice cold as steel. "If anything happens to her... I won't forgive you."

For a moment, all sound vanished. Even my wolf went still.

And then I understood-he'd already chosen.

The man I had built my world around, the Alpha I had trusted with my life, saw me as nothing more than a burden.

The pain didn't even reach me anymore. Only clarity did. I straightened, smoothing back my hair, and said to my wolf. "It's alright, we're leaving."

Then I looked at Simon-really looked-and for the first time, I wasn't begging for his understanding.

"Alright, as you wish," I said, my voice calm, cold, final.

"I'll leave-with my parents, with what's mine. Forever."

I met his gaze, the fire in me burning brighter than ever before. "But before I go, hear me, Simon Duke."

The air shimmered around me, my wolf's aura breaking free, fierce and commanding.

"I, Luna Sunna Constance, reject you, Alpha Simon Duke, as my mate. From this moment on, there is nothing between us."