Chapter 2

Damien came home fast.

I almost laughed—when it came to Serene, he was never late.

He acted like he didn’t see my small suitcase by the door. His brows were tight with anger.

“I texted you. You didn’t respond.”

Flatly, I said, “I saw it. I didn’t want to.”

Damien looked at me like I’d said something ridiculous.

“I told you why I had dinner with her. She earned it.”

“You know half the pack already misunderstands her. Your comment—how is she supposed to lead now?”

I couldn’t help the cold laugh.

“So people aren’t blind after all. Someone noticed what she’s been doing.”

Then I met his eyes.

“And I’m not her mother. Why should I care whether she’s comfortable in the pack?”

His face darkened.

“Elara, when did you become the type to believe gossip?”

“You know how hard it is for a young Beta woman to stand at the center of power in a wolf society.”

“Why would you humiliate another capable woman like this?”

His gaze was tired—judging, like I’d disappointed him.

“You want to live like a caged bird who contributes nothing? Fine. I’ve been willing to feed you.”

“But not every woman is as shortsighted and useless as you.”

Then he paused—like pulling out the sharpest weapon in his pocket.

“If you keep targeting Serene…”

“Think about your foster mother.”

I actually laughed.

It wasn’t humor.

It was pain.

I opened my suitcase right in front of him.

“Luxury?”

“Look at the luxury life you gave me.”

“I can’t even find four decent dresses in this house.”

“A haircut. A bottle of medicine. I have to submit paperwork to your Pack Secretary.”

“A kitchen servant earns more in a month than your Luna.”

I dragged him to the wardrobe and pointed at the moon-silver lock.

“You know how this opens?”

“Code first. Fingerprint. Then a mind-mark scan.”

“You don’t even lock the armory this tight.”

“What kind of Luna lives like this—like a mistress begging permission from an Pack Secretary?”

Damien looked genuinely confused.

He actually asked:

“This is why?”

“This is why you’re jealous of Serene and went to the council hall to ruin her reputation?”

My heart sank.

Everything I’d said was meaningless to him.

If he’d ever believed this was humiliation, he never would’ve allowed it to exist for three years.

I lowered my eyes.

“Whatever.”

“Believe what you want.”

“I’m dissolving the bond. We’re done.”

Damien laughed—like he finally “understood” the game.

“Enough. I’m not here to entertain you.”

“You’re just jealous. Fighting for attention with my Pack Secretary.”

“Don’t assume every woman is as small and bitter as you.”

He smoothed the wrinkle I’d pulled into his sleeve, like he was generously compromising.

“Tomorrow, I’ll have the Healers’ Circle send the best treatment pod.”

“I’ll tell Serene to give you the lock codes to the wardrobe and safe. I’ll switch the fingerprints to yours.”

“I’ll authorize a monthly allowance—one hundred thousand. No approvals needed.”

To him, that was the maximum concession.

But I was tired of this three-person bond.

No—maybe I’d never truly been in it.

He offered a pile of promises and didn’t mention Serene’s sabotage once.

Because he didn’t care.

Which meant if I stayed, Serene would keep crushing me under the word “procedure.”

“I don’t want anything,” I said. “I want the bond dissolved.”

Damien finally realized I wasn’t playing.

His anger snapped loose.

“Elara, don’t forget our bonding agreement. If you leave, you don’t get a single coin.”

“And your foster mother’s treatment—without me, do you think your foster father will give a damn about her?”

Of course he wouldn’t.

That was why I’d signed the bond in the first place.

We were never meant to intersect.

This was just life returning to its original path.

I pulled the suitcase shut.

“Do whatever you want,” I said.

Damien froze.

He didn’t understand why his threats weren’t working anymore.

But his pride wouldn’t let him soften.

So he watched me walk to the door in silence.

When I opened it, he almost called my name—

but he remembered what Serene had said:

“The Luna is bored. She’s copying romance dramas.”

“I’ve seen women like this. Don’t respond. Leave her alone a few days, she’ll crawl back and apologize on her knees.”

He shoved a hand into his pocket, irritated, and found only a piece of herbal throat candy.

Something I’d mixed myself because he kept coughing in the dry season.

“She’s not completely useless,” he told himself.

“When she comes back, I’ll make her admit she was wrong.”

And just like that, he believed his own lie.