Chapter 1

It had been seven days since I woke up in the hospital, the sterile white walls a constant reminder of the ordeal I'd endured.

My body was battered, bruises dotting my skin, and the faint ache of my wounds was a dull reminder of the ambush I had barely survived.

Thinking of him—my mate, the Alpha of the Nightwish Pack, Ethan—made my chest tighten with a familiar ache.

The memory of his cold decision, the way he had abandoned me without a second glance to save another Omega, another she-wolf named Vanessa, flashed in my mind like shards of glass.

‘Why wasn’t I enough?’

I’d tried to reach out to him, calling out his name through the mindlink. But each attempt was met with a wall of cold darknes.

With a sigh, I picked up my phone, half-expecting there to be a message waiting, some small proof that he cared enough to ask if I was okay.

But the screen was blank.

I was about to turn the phone off when, suddenly, his name appeared across the screen, lighting it up like a lifeline. My heart leapt, a wave of hope flooding through me as I answered, bringing the phone to my ear.

But before I could say anything, his voice, sharp and irritated, cut through the silence.

"Claire, what are you trying to pull now?"

I froze, the harshness in his tone like ice water over my skin. I opened my mouth to respond, to explain, but he didn’t give me the chance.

"Don’t you know that Vanessa has a heart condition?! What’s wrong with me taking her away to safety?” He continued, his voice filled with a righteousness that made my skin prickle.

“We were both rescued, and a second team was on its way for you. Why didn’t you just go back with them? I had to leave because I have a billion-dollar project that’s critical to the pack’s future. You do nothing all day; so what exactly are you so upset about?”

Each word hit me like a blow. My throat went dry as I struggled to form a response, my fingers gripping the edge of the hospital bed. I hadn’t spoken to him in days, and yet here he was, accusing me while defending her.

My mind reeled, searching for something, anything to hold onto. But I couldn’t find my voice, only able to listen in stunned silence as he went on.

"I don’t have time to call you, Claire! I don’t even have time to deal with your shitty moods. You always make everything about yourself,” he snapped, a sneer seeping into his tone. “It’s pathetic. You never trusted me around Vanessa, did you? No wonder she says you're full of schemes."

I swallowed, the anger that had been simmering beneath the surface now turning into a hard, bitter lump in my chest.

How could he not see what this was doing to me?

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, but the sound felt foreign, hollow.

I had spent seven days in this hospital, waiting, hoping, clinging to the bond we shared. And yet, he had not spared a single moment for me.

‘I am nothing,’ I realized, the weight of the truth settling over me like a shroud.

Without a formal Luna ceremony, I was just a lonely Omega, no different from the day I’d first met him. Ethan had never seen me as his equal; he had never wanted me as his true mate. I was a placeholder, someone to be cast aside whenever it was convenient.

‘Maybe I would be better off without him.’

I clutched the hospital bed sheets, my mind reaching out in desperation to the only one who could help me now.

Closing my eyes, I called out in a trembling whisper, “Moon Goddess… please… take this pain away. Sever the bond between us.”

For a moment, I thought she hadn’t heard me. But then, a voice, soft and ancient, resonated in my mind.

“Are you certain, child?” The Moon Goddess asked, her tone filled with both warmth and sorrow. “The bond between mates is sacred and breaking it will bring you immense suffering. From this moment on, your heart will bear endless pain.”

My throat tightened, but I nodded, the tears streaming down my face unbidden. “Yes,” I choked out. “Anything is better than this.”

The Goddess fell silent, and then I felt it—a tearing, searing pain in my chest as the bond was shredded, leaving a gaping hole in its place. I clutched at my heart, gasping as agony shot through me, deeper than any physical wound I had ever known.

The ties that had bound me to him, the strings that had kept me tethered, were gone. It felt like I was being torn apart and pieced together, leaving nothing but a shell of what I once was.

With a hoarse whisper, I finally said the words I had been holding back for so long, words that felt both foreign and freeing.

"Ethan, I can finally stop loving you."

Chapter 2

Ethan’s absence left a void, but I was determined to fill it with my own strength. I wouldn’t let his neglect keep me from healing, from finding my way back to myself.

The doctors told me that, even with surgery, shifting into my wolf form could now bring intense pain to my right leg—pain that might never fade.

This injury would be a scar, an invisible reminder that not all wounds heal.

After everything, after the loss of so much, I decided that I needed to start loving myself more. I had let myself be diminished for so long, barely a flicker of the person I once was. It was time to change that.

Twenty days passed, and finally, I was ready to be discharged. I was brimming with a cautious hope, ready to return home, maybe to a life I could finally claim as my own. Then, to my surprise, I got a call from Ethan.

My fingers hovered over the phone, reluctant but curious. He’d hardly checked in since I’d been hospitalized, and now, as I was about to leave, he decided to make contact.

Hesitantly, I answered.

“Claire,” he said, his voice somehow both familiar and foreign, “have you thought about what you did wrong?”

My throat tightened. What I did wrong?

“Destroying our bond doesn’t make you right,” he added, his words dripping with that self-assured tone he always used when he felt justified.

I gritted my teeth. “Why should I reflect?” I asked, a hint of defiance coloring my tone. “I’ve been thinking plenty, Ethan, but nothing I come up with would make this my fault.”

His sigh was barely audible, but I sensed his frustration. I could still feel his Alpha energy lingering in the recesses of my mind, stirring my wolf’s instincts despite the severed bond.

“Aren’t mates supposed to trust each other?” He asked, his tone almost condescending. “Vanessa and I have always been innocent, but you overreacted. The disaster was horrific, Claire, and she was terrified. I just wish you’d show some understanding.”

I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. “Understanding?” The word tasted bitter on my tongue. “Do you even hear yourself? You left me there, alone, and now you want me to show you some understanding?”

But he didn’t seem to hear my anger, or if he did, he didn’t care. His voice softened, as though he thought I’d crumble, like always. “I know leaving you that day was wrong. I’ve booked a restaurant for us. How about dinner? Let’s talk this out.”

I almost laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. Even after everything, he couldn’t offer a genuine apology. Yet after all these years together, I knew this was his attempt at making amends, feeble as it was. He would never beg or plead; he’d merely offer an invitation, expecting me to fall back into place.

But I was different now. I had to be. I’d survived these last weeks alone, and I knew I didn’t need him anymore.

A strange calm washed over me as I replied, “Fine. Come pick me up from the hospital.”

I could almost feel his surprise through the phone, the way he paused as if realizing for the first time that I was actually here, injured, not playing some attention-seeking game as he’d accused before.

“Yes,” I said, cutting through his silence, “I’m still in the hospital. Where I’ve been all along, if you’d bothered to check.”

There was a beat of silence. Then, with a hint of forced gentleness, he agreed, saying he’d be there soon.

But soon stretched into hours. I watched the hospital clock as the minutes dragged on, ticking by, each second reinforcing what I already knew deep down.

By midnight, the truth was painfully clear: Ethan wasn’t coming.

I called a cab, feeling a strange detachment as I slid into the cold, vinyl seat, the bright lights of Emerald City flashing past the windows.

Alone… Again.

When I got home, I limped to the fridge and pulled out a box of cold pizza, chewing mechanically as I sat at the kitchen table.

And then my phone buzzed. It was a notification from Vanessa’s social media.

Despite everything, curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked on it, my eyes landing on a photo of her and Ethan.

A candlelit dinner, the table draped in soft light, and her caption read, “I know that when I need you, you’re always there.”

A low growl escaped my lips, an animal sound that surprised even me. I felt my wolf stir, a primal need to be free, to sever this oppressive bond that had held me for so long.

I stared at the screen, at their romantic display, feeling a strange mix of anger and pity.

I folded clothes with care, putting away memories as I packed the last remnants of our life together. My heart was heavy, but it was no longer chained.

Ethan and I were over. My wolf sensed it too, letting out a quiet, triumphant growl that echoed through me.

I'm about to leave him forever.

Chapter 3

I’d planned this, imagining it would be my last night under the roof I once called home. Then a familiar buzzing pulled me from my reverie—a message from Mark, my mentor.

His words were laced with encouragement and recognition. “This project is perfect for you. You worked in medical rescue during the werewolf wars, so you have experience handling emergencies calmly. I know about your history with Ethan, and he doesn’t like you involved in these things. But this is a great opportunity. We truly hope you’ll consider it.”

The weight of his message hung in the air, I didn’t hesitate. I typed, “I’m in.”

Mark’s reply was instantaneous—a call. I could practically feel his energy through the line.

“It’s fantastic to have you on board,” he said, voice brimming with excitement. “Our team really needs you, Claire. If you do well, you’ll be making a big impact on the entire werewolf community.”

“Thank you, Mark,” I replied, a rare confidence seeping into my voice. “I’ll handle things with Ethan.”

Mark was the head of the Halix Club—a public health organization, mostly composed of rogue wolves. They had a unique approach, often providing aid in the shadows where packs wouldn’t.

They were my way out, my first step into a world I controlled. As we ended the call, he sent a stack of files that arrived immediately, one after another, each document a testament to how far the Halix Club had come.

But as I began reading, the updates knocked the air out of me. While I’d spent years bending myself to fit into Ethan’s life, catering to his needs and desires, the world had changed.

Halix had changed. And I hadn’t noticed.

The unspoken resentment I’d buried came rising up.

But no more.

This time, I was moving forward. I would spend my remaining time here, not in servitude, but strengthening myself, sharpening my skills, ensuring my readiness for Halix’s mission.

And Ethan?

He didn’t need to know. We weren’t mates anymore.

Moments later, a loud, persistent knock sounded on the guest room door.

“Claire, I know you’re there.” His voice was firm, a tone I knew too well—one he used when he didn’t plan on taking no for an answer.

I forced myself up, every step reminding me of the injury I’d fought through. The sharp pain in my leg shot through me as I limped over to the door, steadying myself before opening it.

Ethan’s face was a mask of anger, but his expression shifted the second he saw me, his gaze falling to my injured leg. The hint of guilt was there, barely perceptible, but enough.

“When did you get back? Why didn’t you wait for me to pick you up?” His voice softened slightly, but his grip on my arm was demanding, as if he could still control my every move.

I met his gaze without flinching. “I didn’t feel right bothering you to pick me up.” My words were cold, distant. I glanced at my phone, feigning indifference.

His hand tightened around my wrist, his brow furrowing in shock as he saw my packed suitcases. “You’re leaving the Nightwish Pack?”

“We’re not mates anymore, Ethan. I’m not part of your pack,” I replied, voice as calm as the storm churning inside me. “Keep this up, and I’ll report you for harassment.” I held his gaze, refusing to let him see the nausea rising in my gut. The touch that once felt like everything now felt like poison.

His grip fell away as if burned. He looked at me, hurt glinting in his eyes. “Do you know how worried I was?”

I sighed. “But I made it back myself, didn’t I? I can’t just wait around for you forever.”

The disappointment etched across his face was almost amusing. He was used to control, not compromise, to me bending without a second thought.

He cleared his throat, his voice softer. “How’s your leg?”

“Thanks to the rescue chopper, I didn’t need amputation,” I replied with a faint smile, a bitterness I couldn’t fully conceal.

He flinched, and I almost felt a twinge of pity. Almost.

“Claire, it was an emergency. Vanessa has a heart condition, so I took her first. If I’d known how badly you were hurt, I would never have left you like that…”

I interrupted him, my voice hollow. “Understood. Anything else?”

He looked at me, taken aback. His mouth opened, but words failed him.

He took a step closer, trying to explain himself further. “I know you’re angry, but she does have a genetic condition, Claire. Could you stop being so negative?”

I laughed, a short, cold sound. “I’m not being negative. I’m a doctor, Ethan. I’m fully aware of her condition. That’s why I don’t blame you. I completely understand.”

He seemed to deflate slightly, but his stubbornness lingered, his hand reaching out as if to console me, as if he had the right.

“Ethan,” I said, cutting him off, “If you want to be with her, just be with her.”

I held his gaze, his face a mix of anger and resignation. I dismissed him with a tilt of my head toward the door, a silent command to leave.

“I’m not used to having someone around anymore, Ethan. It’s inconvenient. So for now, I’m staying in the guest room.”

I ignored the flash of anger that twisted his features, my heart as unmoved as the words on my lips. I turned my back on him, forcing the door shut with a soft but final click.

For a moment, he lingered outside. I could hear him muttering, a low, bitter string of words I couldn’t fully make out. But I knew what he was saying, what he was feeling.

He’d never been told no, never been forced to accept rejection. For him, this was uncharted territory.

A deep, unexpected calm settled over me, a newfound sense of freedom. I didn’t need him. I didn’t need his approval, his excuses, or his love. I was done waiting for him to see my worth.