Chapter 1

Ella's POV

The second I pushed open the door to the private room, I heard my five-year-old son, Noah, making his birthday wish.

"I want Chloe to be my new mommy."

My hand froze on the doorknob. My wolf gave a soft whimper in my chest.

All because Noah said he wanted a silverleaf cake, I had left at three in the morning. I scaled a slick cliff twice and sliced my right hand open on the rocks just to pick the herb. The cut was still bleeding.

And yet, there I stood in the doorway, soaked to the bone and holding my daughter Lily's hand, listening to the room cheer.

"Noah," Chloe said, her voice dripping with honey. "Don't say that. Your mommy is great."

So fake. It was classic Chloe.

"But..." Noah argued, stubborn like only a five-year-old could be. "Mommy can't do anything. She doesn't even have a wolf. Everyone in the pack says she doesn't deserve to be luna. You're way better than her, Chloe."

More blood oozed from my palm. It dripped onto the cake box's white ribbon, leaving a dark stain.

Damien finally spoke, his voice cold and sharp. "That's enough, Noah."

He didn't tell Noah not to talk about me like that. He just said "enough." He was just stopping a scene, not defending his mate.

"Let's go in," I said, pushing past the pain in my chest. I took Lily's hand and opened the door all the way.

The laughter died instantly.

Everyone turned to look.

Damien sat at the head of the table, looking as indifferent as ever. He just frowned a little when he saw my messy state.

Chloe sat next to him. Noah had his arms around her neck. His smile froze the second he saw me.

"Ella, you made it. Why didn't you bring an umbrella?" Chloe smiled, but her eyes were mocking me.

I ignored her.

I walked to the table, put the box down, and opened it.

It was a three-tier silverleaf cream cake. The frosting on top read, "Happy 5th Birthday, Noah & Lily."

I picked up the knife, trying to steady my hand as I cut a slice.

No one saw me shaking.

I slid the plate over to Noah.

"Happy birthday, Noah."

Noah frowned and pushed the plate away. "I don't want this, Mommy. I want the one Chloe brought." He pointed at a bright, colorful cake on the table.

"Noah." Lily spoke up, stepping forward. "Other cakes give you allergies. Mommy made this just for you."

Chloe laughed, looking down at Noah. Her tone was casual. "Lily worries just like your mom. Kids aren't that fragile. Go ahead and eat it, Noah. The cake I bought is perfectly safe."

Noah looked at Chloe, then back at me, pouting. "I just don't like Mommy's food."

That was the final straw.

It snapped without a sound.

I took a soft breath and kept my voice steady. "Noah, Mommy heard your wish. And it's coming true. I won't be your mom anymore."

The room got so quiet you could hear the AC buzzing.

I turned to Damien. His dark green eyes studied me, like he was trying to figure out if I was just throwing a fit.

"I want to break the mating bond," I said. "I'll take Lily, and you can keep Noah."

Damien's fingers paused on his wine glass.

He lowered his voice so only I could hear. "What are you throwing a fit about now?"

I didn't answer. I grabbed Lily's hand and turned around to leave.

"Ella," Damien called out from behind me. "Don't take a kid so seriously."

I didn't look back. "Tomorrow at 3 PM, at the council hall. I'll have the elders there for a formal rejection."

After I said it, my wolf gave a sharp jolt in my chest.

I pushed the door open and walked out.

Just as the door was closing, I heard Chloe and Damien talking.

"Is Ella mad? Is she really going to break the mating bond? Aren't you going to check on her?"

"No need." Damien's voice was low and cold, just stating a fact. "Where is an omega with no pack protection going to go?"

I laughed to myself as hot tears welled up in my eyes.

The hallway was quiet. Moonlight spilled through the big windows onto the floor.

My right hand was still bleeding, but all I could do was squeeze Lily's hand and keep walking in silence.

"Mommy," she finally whispered. "Are we really leaving Noah?"

I stopped at the corner, feeling like all my energy had just drained away.

I looked down. She was staring up at me, her big blue-grey eyes wet with tears. Her curly blonde hair peeked out from under my jacket like a little sun.

"Mommy, are you crying?"

"No," I said, wiping my cheeks. I crouched down and fixed her hair. "It's just rain."

"I'm sorry, Lily. Mommy didn't give you a good birthday today."

"It's okay, Mommy. I already made a secret wish."

"Oh?" I smiled, feeling a little ray of light through the gloom. "Can you tell me what it was?"

"I wished for Mommy to be happy forever!" Lily smiled brightly, her voice loud and clear.

I looked at her, my eyes tearing up again. She was only five, but she already understood how I felt.

I shouldn't be making her share this sadness.

I gave her a tight hug and quickly wiped away my tears.

Just then, a large hand held out a light blue satin handkerchief.

I turned around. It was Nathan Locke.

I didn't know how long he'd been standing there. In the moonlight, his amber eyes watched me.

He wasn't smiling, and his usual teasing look was gone.

I didn't take the handkerchief.

I just gave him an awkward nod, turned around, and led Lily away.

"Breaking the mating bond?" Nathan's voice came from behind. "If you need a lawyer, I'm free."

I didn't answer. I just walked faster and left.