Chapter Five

Arabella POV

"Is this really the end of us, Derek? You were supposed to be my mate."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Silence settled over the hall, and for one awful second, I wished I could take them back.

The entire room watched us. No, they watched me. They watched the woman who had just signed away her marriage stand there like a fool, still searching for answers.

Derek stared at me for a long moment, but there was no love in his eyes. No regret. No hesitation. Nothing. The realization hurt far more than the rejection itself.

A muscle ticked in his jaw as he straightened to his full height. My chest tightened at the look on his face.

"You still don't understand, do you?" he asked coldly.

"Derek..." I began, but he cut me off.

"I never wanted this."

His words hit me like a physical blow. A collective gasp rippled through the guests.

"I never wanted a weak Luna, and I certainly never wanted a mate who couldn't even shift."

Every sentence felt like another knife sinking into my chest.

The crowd remained silent. Nobody defended me. Nobody told him to stop. Nobody cared enough to step in.

Instead, Jessica moved closer and slipped her arm around his waist possessively.

"Derek, maybe that's enough," she said softly.

But when she looked at me, her eyes gleamed with triumph.

"No." Derek's gaze never left mine. "She deserves the truth."

The truth.

I almost laughed.

What a cruel word.

"I spent three years trying to convince myself I could tolerate you."

My breath caught.

"Tolerate me?"

He laughed, and the sound was harsh.

"What else was I supposed to do? You followed me everywhere. You worshipped me. You acted like I hung the moon itself."

His expression twisted with disgust.

"It was pathetic."

My entire body went numb.

Deep inside me, my wolf whimpered.

Every memory I had treasured suddenly felt tainted. Every smile. Every kiss. Every promise. Had any of it ever been real?

Jessica rested her head against his shoulder, and I looked at her.

Really looked at her.

The woman I had called my friend for most of my life.

The woman I had trusted.

The woman who had sat beside me countless times and listened while I talked about Derek.

When our eyes met, she smiled.

Proudly.

As though she had won.

And in that moment, something inside me broke for good.

It wasn't my heart. That had already been shattered.

It was something deeper.

Something I would never get back.

And strangely, a sense of calm settled over me.

"You know what's funny?" I asked quietly.

Derek frowned at my tone, and a tired laugh escaped me.

"I spent years wondering what was wrong with me. I thought maybe I wasn't pretty enough. Maybe I wasn't strong enough. Maybe I wasn't good enough for you. I did everything I could to be worthy of you. To be worthy of my place as your Luna. To be everything you needed. I kept thinking that if I just tried a little harder..."

I shook my head as a tear slipped down my cheek.

"But there was never anything wrong with me."

The words came out in a whisper.

Their expressions changed.

Derek's brows drew together.

Jessica's smile faltered.

I lifted my head and met Derek's gaze.

"The problem was you."

Derek's face darkened instantly.

"Watch your mouth," he snapped.

"No."

The word surprised even me.

I took a step forward, and for the first time since entering the hall, I wasn't afraid.

"You call me weak?" My voice echoed through the room. "Yet you're the one who couldn't honor a bond blessed by the Moon Goddess."

The guests exchanged uneasy glances.

"You call me pathetic?" I let out a bitter laugh. "You're the man who cheated on his wife and announced it at her birthday celebration."

Jessica's face flushed red, but I didn't spare her a glance.

Derek growled, the sound vibrating through the hall.

"Enough!"

His nostrils flared.

"No." I lifted my chin. "You said I deserved the truth, didn't you?" I pointed directly at him. "Then here's mine. You are not worthy of being my mate."

The entire hall froze.

Shock swept through the crowd.

Derek's eyes widened, and for the first time all evening, it looked like I had actually gotten through to him.

Only for a second.

Then his face twisted with rage.

"Get out, Arabella!"

I didn't move.

His wolf surged closer to the surface, and Alpha pressure crashed through the room. Several pack members immediately lowered their heads.

My knees nearly buckled.

Still, I refused to look away.

"Get out!" he roared.

The chandeliers trembled overhead.

"Derek, calm down—"

Jessica clung to his arm, struggling against his aura herself.

"No." His eyes burned into mine. "You are no longer welcome in this pack, Arabella."

Pain shot through my chest.

Not because of him.

Not anymore.

Because of what those words meant.

Three years.

Three years spent loving him. Fighting for him. Waiting for him.

Gone.

Just like that.

He pointed toward the doors.

"Leave."

I stared at him for a long moment.

Then I nodded.

"Fine."

I wiped the tears from my face without looking away from him.

"If that's what you want."

I glanced down at the pile of things I had left at my feet.

The ring.

The necklace.

The gifts.

Everything he had ever given me.

They could keep it all.

None of it meant anything anymore.

I turned toward the exit.

There was nothing left for me here.

My footsteps echoed through the silent hall. The crowd parted for me, but nobody stopped me. Nobody called my name. Nobody cared.

Halfway to the door, Derek's voice rang out behind me.

"One more thing."

I paused.

His next words followed me like a curse.

"Don't ever come back."

My heart squeezed painfully, and for a moment I thought I might cry again.

Instead, I drew a breath.

Without turning around, I answered,

"Don't worry, Derek. You'll never see me again."

I pushed the grand doors open, and cool night air rushed against my skin.

And for the first time in years, I walked away from him.

For good.