Chapter 3
Three days have passed since our argument, and neither Forest nor I have made an effort to reach out. The silence between us feels heavier than ever, a tangible reminder of the mate bond that still lingers, despite the cracks that have formed.
In the meantime, Forest has been flooding the pack’s shared mind link with vague updates, mostly about him and Sariyah. Every time his voice echoes in my head, it’s always the same—him talking about her, laughing with her, showing off their time together. It’s as if he’s deliberately trying to provoke me, to remind me of his presence in her life.
What a pair of shameless wolves.
I know exactly what he’s doing. He’s trying to get under my skin, to make me react. In the past, seeing Forest with another woman would have shattered me. The thought of him sharing those intimate moments with someone else would have sent me spiraling.
But now? I don’t love him anymore. The jealousy that once consumed me feels like a distant memory. These past three days have been a whirlwind of activity for me. I’ve already contacted the pack’s healer and our Beta to draft the dissolution papers for our mate bond. Today, I leave them behind, a final declaration that this chapter of my life is over.
Six years as his Luna, and yet I have so few belongings that they all fit into one suitcase. I move to a small den near the pack’s headquarters, a place I purchased years ago for convenience during my duties. Yet, after bonding with Forest, I never stayed there. Even when my duties kept me late, I always returned to him, to our shared den.
But now, seeing how it all turned out, I realize how foolish I’ve been. Making Forest the center of my life didn’t earn his loyalty or love. He just assumed I couldn’t live without him, dismissing my feelings no matter what he did.
As I finish packing, I notice that Forest has tried to reach me through the mind link multiple times. When I didn’t respond, he sent a barrage of messages, his voice sharp and demanding.
“Aleena, do you really want to dissolve our bond? Didn’t you promise to always stand by me? How can you break that vow now?”
“Remember, you begged my parents, swearing you’d treat me well forever. Have you forgotten?”
“If you insist on this, you must publicly claim it was your fault, not mine. My parents can’t handle the truth.”
“Aleena, I’m willing to compromise. After Sariyah and I have our pup, we can have one too. Haven’t you always wanted a child?”
Reading that last message almost makes me laugh. Is this Forest’s grand solution? To have a pup with me to placate my hurt? The absurdity of it all strikes me, and I let out a bitter chuckle.
At first, when Forest reached out, I thought it might be a sign that he still cared, that he regretted what he’d done. But no. He’s just afraid I’ll expose his behavior to the pack, especially to his parents. After all, cheating on a mate is a disgrace in our world, a betrayal that even the most lenient pack members would struggle to forgive.
But why should I bear the weight of his mistakes? Back then, to protect Forest, I bonded with him despite everyone’s disapproval. I spent a fortune to buy off compromising evidence, to shield him from the consequences of his actions. Because Forest found it inconvenient, I respected his wish not to have pups, telling my own parents that it was my decision, my health issue, to spare him any pressure.
And what do I get in return? A mate who wants to be with his childhood friend, who plans to have a pup with her and expects me to simply accept it.
I clench my fists, my wolf stirring restlessly within me. She’s been quiet these past few days, but now I can feel her anger, her pain echoing mine.
*He’s not worth it,* she growls softly, her voice a low rumble in my mind. *You’re stronger than this.*
I nod, though there’s no one here to see it. She’s right. I’ve spent too long bending to Forest’s will, too long putting his needs above my own. It’s time to move on, to leave him and his selfishness behind.
I pick up the dissolution papers, the weight of them heavy in my hands. This is it. The end of our bond, the end of our life together. I place them on the table where he’ll see them, then take one last look around the den that was once our home.
It’s strange, how empty it feels now, how hollow. But there’s also a sense of relief, of freedom. I’ve spent too long tied to someone who didn’t value me, who took me for granted. Now, I’m finally breaking free.
With a deep breath, I pick up my suitcase and head for the door. I don’t look back. There’s nothing left for me here.
You may also like
