Moonbreak My Alpha Ex-Husband's Regret After I Left

I was the Luna who gave my Alpha everything—my heart, my loyalty, my dignity. Ethan repaid me by bedding she-wolf after she-wolf, while our mate bond slowly poisoned what was left of my soul. When he suggested we "play the field separately," I finally broke. I found Cameron, a young Alpha whose gentle touch healed every wound Ethan carved into me. Now I've slipped Ethan the Moonbreak Herb to sever our bond forever. Thirty days, and I'll be free. But Ethan never bothered to ask what I gave him to drink—he was too busy running to his latest omega. He has no idea that when the moon breaks, so will we. And by then, it'll be too late for regrets. Chapter 1 Aria's POV I handed Ethan the wine mixed with Moonbreak Herb while he was busy sweet-talking his 99th bed partner. "Ethan, let's break the mate bond. In thirty days, once the Moonbreak Herb takes effect, I'll leave Blood Moon Pack, and we'll be done for good." He hummed in response and took the glass without even looking at it. He downed it in one gulp and went right back to coaxing the little omega on the phone. "Okay, okay, I'm coming over to see you right now, alright?" After he cut the mind link, Ethan headed for the door, but then he suddenly turned back. "Oh, Aria, what was that you just gave me to drink?" I forced a smile. "Moonbreak—" Ethan waved his hand dismissively. "Doesn't matter. I need to go see Lily now. I'll come back and have dinner with you next time." Then he left. I still remember the first time we met at Howling Bar. I was there to pick up a friend, and I happened to catch Ethan stumbling drunk. He looked up at me once, and that was it—he fell for me. I knew he was a playboy, so I turned him down right away. But as he kept pursuing me, my heart slowly gave in. After we made it official, he stopped sleeping around and stayed by my side. I thought he'd changed, so when he suggested marking me as his mate, I agreed. Not long after we bonded, he started hooking up with other she-wolves every few days. We fought endlessly. Countless times, I stood in our wrecked living room screaming myself hoarse while he pinched the bridge of his nose, looking exhausted. Finally, he came up with the idea of "playing the field separately until we're both ready to settle down." He said, "Aria, I love you, but being with just one person forever gets boring. Let's each do our own thing, but we can't catch real feelings for anyone else. When we're done playing around, we'll come back and be a real family, okay?" I refused to agree, but he didn't care. He kept doing whatever he wanted. Slowly, I broke down too, and I found a young wolf named Cameron. At first, I just wanted to spite Ethan. But Cameron was gentle with me. He showed up whenever I needed him most. When I got hurt, his eyes would turn red, and he'd stay by my side, going with me to every follow-up appointment. Over time, he healed my shattered heart piece by piece. I considered giving him territory or money, but he didn't want either of them. He only wanted one thing—to be official. "Aria, break the bond with him and give me a chance." The young wolf's eyes were full of love, clear and bright, reflecting back a whole version of me. In that moment, I suddenly understood. What had I been doing all these years, tearing myself apart over Ethan? So I agreed. I promised Cameron I'd make it official with him and end this mate bond with Ethan once and for all. Chapter 2 Aria's POV Ethan had barely left when Cameron's video call came through. "Baby, how'd it go?" I was years older than him and had been through plenty, but every time I saw his face, my heart still raced and my cheeks flushed. I cleared my throat. "He drank it." Cameron's lips curved into a smile, and his voice dropped low. "Good. Then you can't let him touch you until this is over. I'm gonna check, you know." I hadn't expected him to say something like that. My face heated up, and I tried to look stern. "Stop talking nonsense." "Baby, I'm only young in age," he said. "Everything else... not so young. And I'm an alpha, not a kid." Before things could get any more inappropriate, I quickly cut him off and sweet-talked him for a bit until he finally agreed to hang up. After the call ended, I went out and bought a calendar. Every day that passed, I tore off another page. From October 1st to the 10th, Ethan didn't come home once. But I knew exactly where he'd been, who he'd seen, and what he'd done. Lily made sure to post every move on social media, subtly showcasing herself. Afternoon tea at fancy restaurants, watching his wolf form at the training grounds, stargazing from his mountaintop villa, soaking together in hot springs. It was strange, really. With Ethan's player reputation, he never wasted this much time on one omega. His past flings—no matter how pretty—lasted a month at most before he got bored. But this Lily, whatever hold she had on him, had kept his attention for three whole months now. That unusually long shelf life gave her confidence. Unlike other omegas who knew their place, she'd actually added me on social media and used it to poke at me in her passive-aggressive way. I ignored her little games. I was about to sever the bond anyway, so why would I care? With nothing but time on my hands, I spent the next few days clearing out the house. The razor I'd carefully selected, the suits I'd ironed and organized daily, the limited edition watch I'd stayed up all night to order... No matter how expensive or small, if I'd given it to him, I packed it up and threw it away. I tossed out everything—all the hurt I'd endured in this mate bond, and every bit of genuine feeling I'd ever had for Ethan. I'd already decided to leave the past behind and start a new life. Two days later, Ethan finally came home. He looked around at the noticeably emptier villa and frowned. "Aria, you threw out my stuff?" I flipped through the magazine in my hands and hummed in acknowledgment. "Yeah, I did. I bought them, so I can throw them out if I want. What's the problem? Besides, you never come home anyway, so you weren't using them." Ethan thought I was throwing a tantrum because he'd missed our dinner the other day and was just saying things to get a reaction. He sat down beside me and tried to smooth things over, his tone casual and coaxing. "Come on, we agreed we'd each do our own thing outside, no real feelings involved. You're still my luna, my only mate. Why are you suddenly bothered by this now?" I didn't want to waste time arguing over pointless things anymore. I snapped the magazine shut and got up, heading for the stairs with ice in my voice. "You're reading too much into it. I don't care at all." Ethan immediately assumed I was pretending not to care. He stood up and grabbed my hand, his alpha strength making it impossible to break free. Then, under my impatient stare, he pulled an invitation from his pocket and placed it in my palm. "Don't be mad. I'll take you to an auction tomorrow, and you can bid on whatever you want. Cheer yourself up, okay? As the pack's luna, you deserve the best." My first instinct was to refuse. However, after giving it some thought, I agreed. The bond would be broken soon anyway. I could use his money to buy myself some happiness while I still can. Chapter 3 Aria's POV The next afternoon at five, Ethan showed up right on time to pick me up. I was about to get in the passenger seat when I saw Lily already sitting there. She had a massive bag of snacks and drinks in her lap, and her sickly-sweet omega scent flooded the entire car—deliberate and provocative. She looked up at me with fake innocence. "Luna, I don't really do well in the back seat. Mind sitting back there today?" I caught the flash of smugness in her eyes and looked down. That's when I spotted a little decorative wolf figurine on the dashboard—custom-made, fluffy silver-gray fur, with "Lily's special seat!" written across it. When I didn't move or say anything, Ethan realized I was pissed again. He tried to smooth things over in that low voice of his. "Lily's never been to an auction before. I'm bringing her to show her how these things work. She's more delicate than you, Aria. Just let her have this." His alpha eyes fixed on me. "You're my luna. You should be more generous." Let her have it? Sure, why not? I was done with this alpha anyway, so what was one seat? I laughed softly and climbed into the back. The whole drive, Lily kept eating cake after cake and feeding Ethan with the same spoon she'd been using. She was showing off like she owned him, making sure I knew exactly where I stood. They chatted about random pack gossip the entire time, and he couldn't stop smiling at her stupid comments about omega training classes and her constant whining. His face lit up every time she touched his arm. I didn't even bother looking at them. I rolled down the window and watched the autumn scenery fly by, letting the cold air clear out their mixed scents. When we got to the venue, Lily started complaining that her heels hurt after just a few steps. Ethan laughed and called her spoiled, but he took her straight to the nearest mall anyway. He personally picked out flat shoes for her and helped her try on pair after pair. Watching him be so attentive made me think about two weeks ago when I had moon fever—that werewolf-specific condition that nearly killed me. I'd asked him to bring me a cup of silverleaf tea to break the fever, and he'd refused like I was asking for the world. When you're the precious little omega he's obsessed with, you get treated differently. But I used to be the one he treated like that. Back then, I didn't want to date him, so I tested him. I told him if he could get me a moonberry cake from that century-old shop on the south side of town before the full moon, I'd consider it. The place was far away, and there was a blizzard that night—anyone could see I was being difficult on purpose. He didn't hesitate. He ran out the door, and five hours later, he showed up with a moonberry cake still warm from the shop. Snow clung to his jacket, and his alpha scent carried that wild edge from running in wolf form. I've thought about it so many times since then—how could love that real turn fake so fast? How could he change like that? But now I know he didn't change. I just never saw him clearly. I never saw the player underneath, never understood that alpha instinct to claim multiple omegas. I smiled bitterly to myself and walked into the venue alone with my invitation. The first item was already up for auction by the time Ethan finally showed up with Lily. The event combined an auction with a formal dinner, and the tables were laden with elegant appetizers and cuisine. Lily whined that she wanted steak, loud enough that nearby alphas turned to look—omegas usually acted more reserved at events like this. Ethan just laughed and adjusted her dress before cutting up her steak and feeding her himself. I watched the whole thing in silence. Lily kept eating and casually pointed at something on stage. Ethan raised his paddle without even looking. "Bidder seventeen—three hundred million coins!" The room went silent. Nobody dared bid higher. That kind of money could support a mid-sized pack for ten years. During intermission, alphas and their lunas swarmed our table with wine glasses in hand, clearly trying to cozy up to a powerful pack like Shadowmoon. They saw how Ethan doted on Lily and noticed the temporary mark on her neck—shallow tooth marks from an alpha bite. It wasn't a permanent mating mark, but it was enough to show ownership. The guests started kissing up to her, calling her luna and the future pack mother. Ethan glanced at me, and his alpha instincts seemed to pick up on something wrong. His scent turned sharp with displeasure and warning. He corrected them casually. "You've got the wrong person. That's my luna." His golden eyes shifted to me. "She's my true mate. The one who bears my permanent mark." The guests who'd made the mistake looked mortified and quickly corrected themselves. I stayed quiet and ignored their pitying looks. They hadn't gotten it wrong. Soon, I wouldn't be Shadowmoon Pack's luna anymore. And the way Ethan spoiled Lily, he'd give her a permanent mating mark the second our bond broke. She'd be the new pack luna in no time. After the break, the second half of the auction featured antiques. I didn't care about any of it, so I bought a few of the most expensive pieces and left early. I'd just reached the elevator when I heard Lily's sugary voice behind me. "Luna, got a minute to talk?" I stopped. "I don't have anything to say to—" Before I could finish, I saw Lily's hand coming up. Sharp claws raked across my face. Chapter 4 Aria's POV Lily's claws tore across my cheek with full force, and three bloody scratches opened up on my face. I grabbed my cheek instinctively. "Lily! What the hell are you doing!" Rage flooded through me a second later, and I moved to strike back without thinking. But then a powerful alpha grip locked around my wrist, and I could feel the mate bond itself forcing me to submit. Ethan had my wrist in his hand, and anger simmered in his voice. "Aria, Lily didn't do anything to you. Why are you attacking her?" I yanked my numb wrist back. "I attacked her? Ethan, ask any of these people who hit first!" Lily immediately put on this pitiful expression. "Ethan, you said I was too weak and that pack members need to build courage, so I thought I'd try challenging the luna in public to practice. I couldn't find any other opportunity. But luna was so fierce just now, and her wolf almost dominated mine. I got so scared." After hearing this explanation, Ethan frowned. "I told you to build courage, but how could you use your claws to hurt someone? And she's my luna!" Lily started crying. "I'm sorry, I'm just too stupid. You said luna has a good temper, so I thought even if I scratched her, she wouldn't get mad. I didn't expect..." The moment she cried, Ethan forgot all about being angry. "It's fine, no one's blaming you. Stop crying, be good." I snapped at him. "Ethan, I'm the one who got hurt, and you're forgiving her for me? And Lily, what kind of innocent act are you putting on? Who practices building courage by hurting their luna!" Lily flinched at my words and cried even harder, almost hyperventilating. She looked like she was about to pass out. Ethan felt bad for her, and he said dismissively, "How sharp can her claws even be? Do you really have to make such a big deal out of this? She feels so guilty she's about to faint. Aria, that's enough. You're a luna, act like one." After dropping that line, he picked Lily up and left. I never thought I'd hear something like that from him. I stood there in disbelief, and coldness seeped into my bones. When I got home, the maid saw the blood on my face and freaked out. She kept asking what happened and if someone had bullied me, and she wanted to call Ethan to make him come home and get justice for me. "Don't bother." I stopped her quietly. All my pain came from his own hands. I sat by the window with an ice pack for an hour, and the swelling had barely gone down when I got a message from Lily. "Luna, did you make it home? I'm at the hospital now. Ethan is so worried about me. I just had an emotional breakdown and fainted, but he booked the entire VIP floor and got more than ten healers to check on me." She continued, "Oh, how's your injury? It's my fault for not controlling my strength. It must hurt a lot, right? Why don't you come to the hospital, and I'll be generous enough to spare you one doctor to check if it'll scar? After all, as luna, it wouldn't look good to have scars on your face." I looked at it once and forwarded it straight to Ethan. It wasn't until the early morning that he replied with just a few words. "Lily means well." I laughed, and tears came with it. "You're protecting her this much? Why don't you just mark her now? I'll step aside and wish you both eternal happiness. Early mark and happy bond." This time, Ethan replied instantly, "Aria, why are you saying things you don't mean again? I've told you so many times—you're my only luna, and my mate bond belongs only to you. I'm just playing around with these omegas, so can you please not make such a big deal out of it? Get some rest. I'll come home tomorrow to spend time with you." I laughed bitterly at myself and started getting ready for bed. I didn't want to play along with this boring charade anymore. Chapter 5 Aria's POV The next day after lunch, I drove over to Ethan's parents' house. Felicia and Keiran had always been kind to me, but today I wasn't there for a visit. I brought the moonstone necklace Felicia had given me at our wedding—the one she'd called a family heirloom, passed down through generations. The house was quiet when I arrived, and the staff told me Felicia and Keiran had left for Bali that morning. They wouldn't be back for a month. I handed the necklace to the housekeeper and left without another word. When I got home, Ethan was sprawled on the couch with gift boxes piled on the coffee table. He glanced up from his phone as I walked in. "The housekeeper called. You returned the heirloom?" "Yeah." He sighed and walked over to me. "Still mad? Come on, I got you all these gifts. Can't you forgive me just this once? I'm sorry, my luna." Even after I'd returned his family's heirloom, his first thought was that I was still angry. It didn't occur to him that I wanted to cut him entirely out of my life. He was so sure of himself, so certain that I loved him and would never leave. That's why he could be so reckless, why he thought we could have an open relationship, and why he kept parading other omegas around, breaking my heart over and over. I didn't answer. I just looked at the familiar logo on the boxes, and something cold twisted in my chest. "The things I want have to be mine alone." Lily had texted me earlier, showing off the jewelry Ethan had bought her—from the same brand. Ethan didn't even look embarrassed. "Aria, you've got it wrong. I really wanted to apologize, so I asked Lily to help me pick something out. She liked what we found, so I bought two sets. Don't make a big deal out of nothing, okay? We're mates, bonded for life." I swept my arm across the table and sent the boxes crashing to the floor. "You can buy endless gifts and split your love into a thousand pieces, can't you? Ethan, I only regret—" I regret ever believing you. I didn't finish, but Ethan understood. His expression shifted, and he grabbed my hand. "Aria, you have to know—you're the only one I really care about. I wouldn't have marked you in front of the Moon Goddess and made you my mate if that wasn't true. Just give me a few more years. Once I've had my fun, I'll come back to you. I'll be yours alone." The same empty promises, over and over. I didn't want to hear any more of it. I pulled my hand away, my voice flat. "Fine. I'll wait." My calm tone reassured him. His face relaxed, and I could tell he thought I'd given in again, that I was willing to sit around while he played with other women. He had no idea I was just counting down the days until our mate bond broke. Since my birthday was coming up soon, and even though Felicia and Keiran were traveling abroad, they still remembered. They had someone deliver an expensive crown as my birthday gift. When I got the message, I wanted to tell them I'd taken the severing potion and was planning to break the mate bond. But I didn't want to ruin their vacation, so I kept quiet. I came home and pushed open the door, and there was Lily with the gift already unwrapped. She had that dazzling crown sitting on her head. The moment she saw me, panic flashed across her face, and she put on this timid, frightened look. "Luna, what are you doing here?" I wasn't interested in watching her little performance. I walked over and reached up to take the crown off her head. "That's mine." Something jealous and bitter flickered in Lily's eyes, and she grabbed onto the Luna's crown with both hands. She wouldn't let go. I was about to release it when I saw her deliberately press her finger down onto the sharp silverstone at the top. Bright red blood welled up from her fingertip, and she immediately went limp and collapsed onto the couch. She started crying softly. "Luna, I just thought the crown was beautiful and wanted to look at it a little longer. Why would you do this to me?" I hadn't even figured out what game she was playing when someone shoved me hard. My back slammed into the edge of the table, and my forehead hit the surface. Something warm instantly trickled down from my brow bone. The metallic scent of blood spread through the air. I sucked in a sharp breath and looked up to see Ethan hovering over Lily, asking her in a low voice if she was okay. He didn't even glance at me. His entire focus was on Lily. That's when I finally understood what performance Lily had just put on. I got up from the floor, trembling, and bent down to pick up the blood-stained crown. I held it out to Lily. Ethan thought I was showing off and asserting my position as Luna. His pheromones started going wild, and the scent of pine and ice carried a clear warning. But I didn't give him a chance to explode. "If you like it so much, you can have it. Take it." Lily froze. Ethan frowned too, his voice dropping low. "Mom and Dad gave that to you." To me? No. They gave it to Ethan's Luna. And I wouldn't be that much longer. I set the crown on the table, my voice eerily calm. "I'm particular about cleanliness. Blood-stained things are bad luck. It's hers now." I turned and walked out without looking back. Behind me, I could hear Ethan speaking softly to Lily. I caught him saying, "Why is she acting so strange today?" I stopped in the hallway and touched the wound on my forehead. Before, whenever I got hurt, Ethan would notice immediately. He'd gently lick my wounds with his tongue to help them heal. Now, he didn't even notice I was bleeding. I let out a bitter laugh and stepped into the elevator. Chapter 6 Aria’s POV On my birthday, I threw a party at home. But when it was time to start, Ethan still hadn't shown up. Everyone at the party kept asking where he was and whether he was planning a surprise. After all, every year before this, he'd stayed by my side the entire time on my birthday. I didn't answer their questions. I just grabbed a bottle of champagne and popped it open like a firecracker. "Happy birthday to me!" Everyone laughed and raised their glasses. "Happy birthday to our most beautiful and powerful Luna!" I smiled. "I'm ready to tell Ethan that we should—" The sound of the door slamming open cut me off. All the guests in the living room turned around, and then everyone gasped at the same time. Lily stood in the doorway, supporting a very drunk Ethan. When she noticed everyone staring at her, her face flushed red, and she started stammering. "S-sorry to interrupt. I just brought Ethan home." Today was my birthday, and he'd gotten drunk with another woman. I set down my glass and walked calmly to the door. I reached out to help him inside. But he shoved my hand away. He clung tightly to Lily, and right in front of every pack member, he kissed her forehead. The guests stared in shock. A few of the older wolves even started growling low in their throats—their anger at an Alpha publicly humiliating his Luna. But I just stepped back and cleared the way. Ethan buried his face in Lily's neck and breathed in deeply, his voice thick with satisfaction. "God, you smell so good. How do you smell this good?" The entire living room went silent. Lily's face turned even redder, but her eyes gleamed with triumph. Still, she kept up her act of looking troubled. "Luna, Ethan's drunk and talking nonsense. He's just been so busy with work that he forgot about your birthday..." I kept my voice calm. "The bedroom's upstairs, last door on the left. You can take him up." Lily froze. She clearly hadn't expected me to stay this composed. She gave a stiff nod and helped Ethan up the stairs. After they disappeared, I picked up the champagne bottle again and smiled at the guests around me. "Anyone else want a drink?" People stayed for a few more drinks out of politeness, then started making excuses to leave. A few she-wolves I was close with gave me pitying looks on their way out, but they didn't say anything. In the pack, that was just reality—the Alpha could do whatever he wanted, and the Luna had to endure it silently. I leaned back on the couch and sipped my wine alone. The burning in my chest started again. That was the Moonbreak Herb kicking in, reminding me that the mate bond was breaking apart piece by piece. ***** Lily finally came downstairs at eleven. With no one else around, she dropped the act completely. She slammed the door on her way out, head held high, strutting like she owned the place. She was marking her territory. I watched her leave, my face blank. The second she was gone, my phone rang. Cameron's name flashed on the screen, and I smiled—my first genuine smile all night. I picked up. "Didn't we just talk this morning?" His voice came through the line, a little sulky. "It's your birthday, Aria. You won't even come see me, and I can't call to wish you happy birthday?" I thought about how hurt he'd looked this morning when I told him I couldn't make it, and my heart softened. "Don't pout," I said gently. "This is the last birthday I'll ever spend in this bond. If it makes you feel better, you can plan all my birthdays from now on. Deal?" I could hear the smile creep into his voice. "Celebrate however I want? Aria, you better not back out." I laughed softly. "I'm severing a mate bond for you. When have I ever lied to you?" We talked for a long time after that. Just before we hung up, I heard fireworks exploding outside my window. I turned and saw the night sky burst into color—fireworks blooming one after another, so bright they turned the darkness into daylight. Cameron's voice came through the phone, soft and serious. "Happy birthday, Aria." "From now on, I'll be right there beside you. Every single year." I froze. Cameron did this? I rushed to the window and realized the fireworks stretched across the entire city skyline. This must have cost a fortune. Cameron was just a regular wolf. How could he possibly afford something like this? It had to be just a coincidence. But my heart warmed anyway, and I couldn't stop it. Chapter 7 Ethan's POV I woke up with my head pounding. All I did was have a few drinks with Lily last night. How the hell did I end up this wrecked? I dragged myself to the living room and stopped cold when I saw birthday decorations everywhere. I stared at them before it finally hit me—yesterday was Aria's birthday. I rubbed my temples and called my Beta, James. "Pick out a few of the best moonstone necklaces and bring them over. Now." But when the door opened, it wasn't James standing there. It was Lily. The sight of her at my villa entrance made my headache even worse. "Why are you here?" Her lips immediately curved into a pout, and her eyes filled with tears as that soft Omega scent started rolling off her in waves. "I just wanted to see you, so I volunteered to make the delivery. I'm sorry—if you're mad, I won't come again." I caved instantly and pulled her close. "Hey, that's not what I meant. Don't cry, okay?" But Lily kept sniffling, tears streaming down her cheeks as her pheromones grew thicker. I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. Just to end this whole scene, I said, "Stop crying. Whatever you want, just name it. I'll give you anything." That finally got her to stop. Her voice turned soft and sweet. "Anything?" "Yeah, anything." "How about I stay here for a few days?" Lily smiled. "We could spend more time together. Wouldn't that be nice?" The smile on my face froze instantly. I'd made a promise to Aria long ago that I would never bring anyone else into our home. It was the most basic respect in wolf culture, the last boundary a mate should never cross. I was about to refuse when I heard footsteps on the stairs and one of the maids greeting someone. "Good morning, Luna." I stood up quickly, ready to explain. But Lily spoke first. "Good morning, Luna." Lily held up the velvet box containing the moonstone necklace. "I was just delivering your birthday gift from Ethan." She paused, her voice sweet and casual. "Oh, and there have been some rogues spotted near my place lately. It's not safe, so the Alpha said I could stay here for a few days. I hope that's alright with you?" I frowned at her boldness. I'd never agreed to that. I braced myself for Aria's reaction. She was going to lose it—I knew her temper. And then I'd have to spend the rest of the day calming her down. But that didn't happen. "Sure. Make yourself at home." Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion. Lily was about to say something else, but Aria's words stopped her cold. I hadn't expected Aria to agree so easily either. I was just about to speak when Lily suddenly wrapped herself around my arm. "Ethan, see? Even Luna's okay with it." She pressed herself against me deliberately, and her pheromones seeped into my skin. The rejection I'd been about to voice got stuck in my throat. I looked up at Aria and finally noticed something was off. Her eyes were too calm—flat and still. And that signature scent of hers had almost completely vanished, like she was deliberately erasing her own presence. I frowned. "Aria, you really don't mind?" Her gaze swept over me, then dropped to where Lily's hands clutched my arm, but her expression didn't waver. "There's nothing to mind. She can stay wherever she wants." She signaled for the maid to bring breakfast, then walked back to her room without another word. Something about her retreating figure sent an unexpected chill down my spine. Lily was thrilled and immediately said she needed to go pack. After she left, the whole villa went silent—so quiet it made me uneasy. I couldn't focus for the rest of the morning. I tried to handle the pack business, but nothing sank in. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, growling low like he was warning me I'd missed something important. I made up excuses to knock on Aria's door several times. "Lily can be pretty loud. You sure you won't mind her moving in?" Aria was organizing her book collection. She didn't even look up. "I won't." I wasn't ready to give up. "If you're upset, just tell me. I won't let her move in." "I'm not upset." Frustration clawed at me, sharper than anything I'd felt before. I walked into the room and shut the door behind me. I looked at her, really looked at her this time. "Aria, I've told you—those she-wolves out there don't mean anything. They're just distractions. They'll never compare to you. So stop bottling everything up." She finally stopped what she was doing and turned to face me. Her eyes were calm, completely still. No anger, no jealousy, nothing. "I already told you. I really don't mind." Then she pressed her fingers to her forehead like she was exhausted. That look on her face made me drop the careless act I always wore. Panic hit me out of nowhere. "Why don't you mind?" My voice came out tight. "You weren't like this before." She used to snarl at me. She used to rake her claws down the walls. She used to flood the room with her Alpha dominance until every Omega who dared come near me ran. Those fights drove me crazy, but at least they proved she cared. This cold, empty calm terrified me more than her rage ever did. Aria glanced at me and smiled, soft and manageable. "Isn't this better? You always wanted me to be like this, didn't you?" She gestured toward the door. "Ethan, I'm a little tired and I need some rest." And just like that, I was dismissed. Chapter 8 Ethan's POV That night, Lily arrived with two oversized suitcases and moved right in. She walked through the den like she already owned the place, snapping orders at the servants left and right. "These flowers need to go—swap them out for roses. I can't stand the smell of lilies. And for dinner, I want venison, prepared with my favorite herbs." I sat on the couch, pretending to flip through the Pack Council documents, but my eyes kept drifting to Aria. She walked over to the wall and tore a page off the calendar. The sound of ripping paper cut through the quiet living room like nails on a chalkboard, and my chest tightened for no reason I could name. I stared at the calendar. More than half the pages were already gone, and what was left looked pitiful—like some kind of countdown. "You tear off a page every day," I said. "Is there something important coming up?" "Nope. Just something to do." She didn't even look at me when she said it. Her eyes stayed fixed on those few thin pages still hanging on the wall, and her voice was so indifferent it made my skin prickle. That casual attitude only made me more uneasy. I thought about everything she'd done lately—all the things that didn't add up. She'd stopped questioning where I went. She didn't get angry anymore when she caught Lily's Omega scent on me. She'd returned the crescent moon necklace, the one that marked her as my Luna. She hadn't even flinched when Lily moved into our den. Everything started after Lily arrived. No—that wasn't quite right. It started the night Aria poured me that glass of wine. It had tasted bitter, with an herbal edge I couldn't place. But Lily had been upset about something, and I was too distracted trying to calm her down. I'd swallowed the wine without a second thought. I shot to my feet, and my eyes locked on Lily as she directed the maids around on the second floor, telling them where to put her things. That's when it hit me—I'd made a colossal mistake. Aria had to be testing me. She was playing it cool, backing off to see what I'd do. There was no way she'd actually be okay with Lily moving into our home. She loved me too much for that. I turned to Aria. "This is our den, and my promise to you still stands. Lily shouldn't be here, and I'm taking her back today." I strode toward the stairs and called up to Lily. "Pack your things. You're leaving today." Lily froze, and tears welled up in her eyes instantly. "Ethan, you... you just said yes. What happened?" "I changed my mind." My voice came out hard, and my Alpha dominance rolled off me before I could stop it. "This is my nest with Aria. I never should've let anyone else move in. I made her a promise, and I'm not breaking it." The pressure of my aura hit Lily full force, and her face went pale. She trembled but still pushed back. "But Luna already agreed—" "Her agreeing doesn't make it right." I cut her off. "Pack up. I'm taking you back now." A few minutes later, Lily came down with red-rimmed eyes, dragging her suitcase behind her with a pitiful look on her face. We left the villa together. I drove her back to her place, and she cried the whole way. "Ethan, you said you'd do anything for me. I just wanted to spend more time with you. Is that really too much to ask?" Watching her sob like that, I felt myself soften. I'd kept my promise to Aria—I wasn't bringing another woman into our home. This was just a small thing Lily wanted. Aria wouldn't hold it against me. "Fine, stop crying." I sighed. "As long as it's not at my place with Aria, I can make it work." Lily's tears dried up instantly, and a smile broke through. "Really? Then let's go on that trip! The one we talked about before—what do you think?" I smiled back. "Sure. Whatever you want." Aria's POV Three days had passed since Ethan left with Lily, and he hadn't set foot in pack territory once. I didn't care. I just kept packing my things in silence, and the moonlight spilled through the window onto everything I was about to take with me. As his Luna, I used to have full access to the pack vault. Over the years, I'd used his resources to build up properties of my own. Today, I went to the notary's office and ensured that every house and piece of land was legally registered in my name. I deserved all of it. I took the jewelry from dozens of display cases—most of them courting gifts Ethan had given me during our mating pursuit—and moved everything to a bank vault. The gems caught the light and threw off a cold glitter, just like my heart felt right now. Once the mate bond was entirely severed and I officially left the pack, I'd move everything to my new home. I had wasted five years of my life on Ethan. These jewels, these properties—they were my compensation for the damage. As the Alpha's former mate, I had every right to take it all. The days slipped by one after another, and I tore off the last page of my calendar. The Moonbreak Herb should have taken full effect in his system by now. That night, I poured his drink myself, and the bitterness of the herb disappeared entirely into the burn of the liquor. He didn't notice a thing—just like he never noticed my pain. My phone buzzed suddenly. A message from Lily, accompanied by a photo. It was my grandmother's pocket watch. [Luna, I saw this pretty little watch in your room the other day and just took it. I'm bored with it now, so you can come pick it up yourself.] My wolf spirit howled inside me. But I forced her down. I couldn't lose control now, not when I was this close to the end. I checked the address in her message—the riverbank by Central Bridge—and drove there immediately. I rushed to the riverbank, and there was Lily, standing right at the edge with Grandma's pocket watch held high above her head. Her eyes glowed gold under the moonlight—a telltale sign of a wolf on the verge of losing control. "Aria," she said with a smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I called you here tonight to settle something once and for all." "Settle what?" I kept my voice steady, but my wolf was already pacing beneath my skin. "I want to see who Ethan would choose—you or me." A cold dread crept through my chest, but I couldn't look away from the watch dangling in her grip. It was the only thing I had left of my grandmother, and I wasn't about to let this woman taint it. I stepped forward and reached for it. My indifference only made her angrier. "What makes you think you're so special?" Lily's voice turned shrill. "Just because you're his Luna? Ethan's wolf doesn't even recognize you anymore! His Alpha mark hasn't left a scent on you in months!" Jealousy twisted her features into something ugly. And then she threw the watch into the river. The silver case caught the moonlight as it arced through the air, and I heard the soft splash as it disappeared into the dark water. "You—!" My wolf shattered through my control. I felt my canines lengthen and my nails sharpen into claws. I grabbed her throat and pinned her against the railing. "Lily, how dare you?" That's when I heard the roar of an engine approaching fast. Something shifted in Lily's expression. Her gaze flicked toward the familiar black sports car pulling up, and a slow, satisfied smile spread across her face. Then she shoved me with everything she had. I lost my balance and stumbled backward. In the split second before I hit the water, I watched Lily throw herself in after me. Chapter 9 Aria's POV Cold river water rushed in from every direction, and the freezing chill shot through every pore of my skin. I dove deeper, searching through the murky water for that pocket watch. Moonlight filtered through the surface, barely giving me enough light to make out shapes around me. Finally, my fingers found that familiar shape buried in the mud at the riverbed. I gripped it tight and pushed upward. But I was out of breath. My lungs burned like they were on fire, and my vision started to blur. Werewolves are stronger than humans, but we're not made for water—stay under too long, and we drown just like anyone else. And then there was Lily. She was thrashing in the water, and her arms had tangled around my legs. She couldn't swim. She'd grown up in an inland pack, and she'd been terrified of water her whole life. I tried to break free, but my body wouldn't cooperate anymore. Everything was going dark. Then a massive splash exploded above me. Ethan had jumped in. His Alpha aura hit me like a wall, even underwater. It drowned out everything else in an instant. I wanted to call out to him. Every instinct screamed at me to reach through the bond. But I stopped myself. The Moonbreak Herb had already taken effect. He couldn't sense my call anymore. I forced my eyes open and watched it all unfold beneath the surface. Moonlight cut through the water like a cruel spotlight on this whole scene. Ethan moved through the water with powerful strokes. He was a born Alpha, and even underwater, every movement was quick and precise. He took one look at the situation and made his choice. He swam straight for Lily. He pulled her thrashing body into his arms, wrapped one strong arm around her waist, and kicked toward the surface. He never once looked my way. It was like I'd already vanished from his world. The Moonbreak Herb had severed our mate bond completely. He couldn't sense me anymore—couldn't catch my scent or hear my heartbeat. To him, I'd been erased from his instincts entirely. And his wolf had chosen to save Lily. A coldness spread through my chest, colder than the river had ever been. I used every last bit of strength I had and pushed myself toward the surface. The afternoon sun hit my eyes like a knife. I gasped for air, and my lungs burned as I took in breath after breath. I dragged myself onto the shore and saw Ethan kneeling beside Lily, performing CPR. His movements were precise and practiced, but his face held a desperate look I'd never seen before. "Lily! Wake up! Lily!" He called her name over and over, his voice thick with worry. I looked down at the pocket watch still clutched in my hand. The silver case was covered in mud, but the crescent moon engraving was still visible. I got to my feet, and water dripped steadily from my hair and clothes, pooling on the ground beneath me. I started walking toward the shore. When I passed them, Ethan finally noticed me. "Aria," he said without turning around, "you know how to swim, so I saved Lily first. You okay?" His tone was calm and matter-of-fact, as if he were simply stating the obvious. My steps faltered for just a second. "I'm fine." My voice came out rough and broken, but I didn't care. Just then, Lily stirred awake and immediately grabbed Ethan's arm. "Ethan... I was so scared... I feel dizzy..." Her voice was soft and helpless. Ethan's attention snapped back to her instantly. He glanced at me, and I could see the hesitation in his eyes—like he was torn between two choices. "Go take care of her," I said, my voice hoarse. "Don't worry about me." "I'll take her to the hospital and come right back to be with you," he said quickly. I turned my back to him and shook my head, my eyes stinging with tears he couldn't see. It didn't matter. What I meant was—from now on, you don't need to worry about me anymore. Because starting today, our mate bond is completely severed. I'm finally free. I stumbled to the roadside and yanked the car door open. "Aria!" His voice came from behind me, laced with something like panic. I didn't look back. The engine roared to life, and I pulled away from the riverbank. In the rearview mirror, I watched him standing frozen in place with one arm still wrapped around Lily. Confusion flickered across his face—he was probably wondering why his chest suddenly felt hollow. That was the aftermath of a severed mate bond. But he'd get used to it soon enough. When I got back to the villa, the butler had already prepared hot water and herbal tea. He must have received word ahead of time. "Luna, the Alpha instructed me to have these ready for you. He said he'll be home for dinner tonight, and he specifically asked me to prepare your favorite—" "That won't be necessary," I cut him off. I went upstairs and changed into clean clothes, then came back down, dragging the suitcase I'd packed days ago. The butler stared at me in shock. "Luna, what are you—" "When Ethan gets back, tell him to take a good look at what I slipped into his drink thirty days ago." My voice was terrifyingly calm. "Tell him his role in my life has officially wrapped. We're done." I walked to the front door and unclasped the necklace from my throat—the silver moonstone pendant I'd worn since the day I became the Alpha's mate, placed around my neck before the entire pack as witness. I set it down on the foyer table. ***** My car rolled to a stop just outside my South Bay Villa, and I cut the engine. I pulled off my sunglasses and scanned the entrance, but there was no one in sight. Where was Cameron? He'd promised me a surprise. I'd just severed my mate bond and won my freedom—shouldn't he be here to greet me? Confused, I pushed open the heavy gate. It was eerily quiet. The moment it thudded shut behind me, a bright piano melody filled the air. The great hall—pitch black just seconds ago—flooded with light, revealing everything that had been hidden in the darkness. Silver evening primrose decorated every corner, and the faint scent of herbs drifted through the space. Dozens of wolves, some familiar and some I'd never seen before, stepped out from the shadows with wide smiles on their faces. They pushed an enormous celebration cake between them. And there, seated at the grand piano in a fitted black suit, was Cameron. His delicate features were sharp with concentration, and his slender fingers danced across the keys as music poured out like a rushing stream. I watched the scene unfold like something out of a dream, and my heart skipped several beats. It didn't feel real. My feet moved on their own, carrying me toward the piano one step at a time. I reached him just as the final note faded into silence. Cameron looked up, his golden eyes brighter than starlight, and produced a bouquet of evening primrose like a magician pulling flowers from thin air. He held them out to me with a soft smile. "Aria, thank you for choosing me. Thank you for coming back to me." The room erupted behind us. "Aria, congrats on cutting the old bond!" "Congratulations!" I wasn't used to this kind of attention—not after everything with Ethan. I pressed my lips together and felt heat creep up to the tips of my ears. Cameron noticed. A gentle smile tugged at his lips, and he rose from the piano bench to pull me into his arms. The cheering around us grew louder and louder, and I buried my face in the crook of Cameron's neck. His voice drifted down to me, warm with amusement. "Aria, you once said you'd give me a title in your life. Does that promise still stand?" I froze for a moment, then lifted my head to look at him in surprise. Under his steady gaze, I gave a slight nod. The next second, Cameron released his hold on my waist and stepped back. Then he dropped to one knee. The pack members around us erupted into screams loud enough to shake the rafters. When he pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a ring set with a glowing moonstone, I felt like all the air had been stolen from my lungs. And suddenly I understood. This whole elaborate surprise, that question he'd asked me—it had all been leading to this moment. Cameron took my hand and pressed a feather-light kiss to the ring finger of my right hand. Then he looked up at me, his voice ringing out clear and reverent for everyone to hear. "Aria, will you give me the chance to be your mate?" The entire hall fell silent, every wolf holding their breath. The moment the words left his lips, the crowd burst into a unified chant. "Accept the bond! Accept the bond!" My heart pounded harder with each wave of their voices. I stared into those golden eyes so close to mine, bright with hope, and memories flooded through me in a rush. The night we first met. I'd been drowning my sorrows at a bar, broken and bleeding from a shattered bond, and he'd caught me when I stumbled. He'd wiped my tears with such gentleness while I sobbed so hard I couldn't breathe. When I'd jokingly offered to be his sugar mommy, he'd just laughed and pulled me close, saying he was honored to catch my eye. All those endless nights when the ghost of my old bond kept me tossing and turning in agony, he'd stayed by my side. He'd talk about random things, silly things, anything to make me smile and forget the pain. Cameron had shown me that my life as a wolf wasn't over. That I still had a chance to start again. He'd made me believe that my love—the kind I'd thrown myself into like a moth to flame—wouldn't drown in a hopeless bond forever. It could rise from the ashes and be reborn. I made it through the nightmare and finally reached the dawn. And the one who kept me going, the one waiting for me at the end of it all—it had always been Cameron. So even though part of me still felt lost about what came next, even though the thought of forming a new bond so soon after breaking free made my wolf restless, none of that mattered anymore. Not with him. I made the choice my heart had been begging for, and I gave him my answer without a single doubt. "I do."