Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I knew I'd been reborn the second I stood in the front hall and saw my Alpha mate, Caden Fellhart, stroll in—with Lilith Morvain at his side. "Brielle, this is Lilith Morvain," he said, all casual. "Childhood friend. Just got back from Fangridge Pack. Her parents are gone, and she's carrying a pup. She's a single mom. "She's living with us now. Take care of her." Lilith gave me this careful look. "Hey, Brielle. Hope we can get along..." My eyes dropped to the Moonstone necklace on her neck. Caden dropped a fortune at last week's auction for that Moonstone. Said it was a birthday gift for me. Custom-made. Now it was hanging from her neck. In my last life, seeing that necklace—my necklace—around Lilith's neck kept me up all night. I thought she was here to steal Caden's heart. Next morning, I handed her some cash and told her to leave. Said she should rest somewhere else while carrying her pup. Didn't expect her to get hit by a car the same day. She lost the pup... and the crash made it impossible for her to have more. Caden snapped after that. His eyes went ice-cold. "Brielle Brightfall, I'm done. Never thought you'd really banish an expecting she-wolf?" He never smiled at me again. Not once. I took care of Lilith myself—every single day. Cooked her food, cleaned up after her, handled everything. Walked on eggshells, hoping Caden might forgive me eventually. But the stress wrecked me. I got sick—bone-deep, wolf-weak sick. Thought maybe that'd finally crack something in him. All he said was, "Once you're gone, I'll be with Lilith. I'll take care of her. Help her heal from losing the pup." Now that the Moon Goddess gave me a second shot—I'm letting them have each other. So when Caden said—again—that Lilith would be staying with us, I just nodded. "Alright." The way I agreed threw him off. He'd been pushing it for days. I'd shot him down every time. "You're not upset?" he asked. I gave him a small smile. "You're right. She lost her parents, and she's carrying a pup. Poor thing." Caden looked at me hard. "You really don't care?" Of course he didn't buy it. Everyone knew how deep I used to be in love with him. Back then, if a she-wolf even looked at him too long, I'd bare my claws. He was mine. Now? I just pulled out a document, folded it so only the signature line showed—the mate bond severance clause—and handed it over. "I found a house I want. Buy it for me, and I won't care. I'll even look after Lilith." He paused, then gave this smug little chuckle. "That's it? No other conditions?" Didn't even read it—just signed. The second I held that signed severance, my wolf howled inside me. Freedom. I slipped it into my bag and walked out without looking back. Caden stepped in front of me, frowning. "Where are you going? Thought you said you weren't upset. You leaving?" I looked him in the eye. "Didn't you ask me to take care of Lilith? I'm grabbing her a few things." His expression softened. "She likes rose-scented body wash, doesn't drink milk, and her sleepwear's gotta be silk. Don't mess that up." My chest clenched. He remembered everything about her. Every scent, every habit. But never once had he known those things about me, his mate. Yeah. He really did care about her. I nodded and walked out—straight to the city hall. The clerk gave me a warm smile. "Ms. Brightfall, the severance is active. In seven days, your bond with Caden Fellhart will be fully dissolved." I nodded. Seven days. Seven days, and he'd mean nothing to me.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Before heading to the city hall, I'd already arranged for a full set of bedding and supplies to be delivered to the mansion—all tailored to Lilith's picky preferences. When I got back, Caden was in her room, struggling to stretch a fitted sheet over the mattress. Lilith sat on the bed, beaming up at him, casually dabbing sweat from his forehead with the back of her hand. I froze in the hallway, took it all in—then turned and headed for my room. Caden trailed behind and stepped in front of me, voice sharp. "Brielle, Lilith's a clean freak. Doesn't let just anyone touch her stuff. I had to help—don't get the wrong idea." My chest pulled tight. Since the mate bond locked us together, I handled everything. Meals. Chores. Even laid out his clothes every night. Now he was making her bed himself. I gave a small nod, voice soft. "Of course. She's carrying a pup—she shouldn't be bending over like that." His shoulders relaxed. He leaned in and kissed my forehead. "You've changed. When did you get so... thoughtful?" Then he added, like it just popped into his head, "Oh—Lilith's birthday's in a couple days. She's never had a real party. After her parents died... no one celebrated her." He let out a soft sigh. I told myself not to care. To stop comparing. But yeah—it stung. My birthday was around the same time. Caden used to book the banquet hall weeks ahead, handpick my gift, make it this huge deal. This year? He forgot. Still, I nodded. "Got it. I'll handle it. I'll make sure it fits her style." Caden paused, something flickering in his eyes. We used to fight non-stop about Lilith. Now I was planning her birthday? He didn't know what to make of it. He opened his mouth, then just nodded. "Handle it how you want. She's pretty far along—skip the fancy stuff." I swallowed the bitterness. "Alright." His gaze softened. He moved like he was about to follow me back to our room, but I stopped him with a gentle hand. "Go help Lilith. Unpacking's rough for a she-wolf that far along." Caden frowned. "You really don't mind me being alone with her?" I used to bristle when any she-wolf got near him. Now, I just shook my head. "Of course not. She's your pack sister. It's only right you look after her." This time, I wouldn't stand in their way. Not once. His expression warmed. "You've finally grown up. Lilith's been through hell. We need to protect her. Don't slip back into being jealous." No. Jealousy was done. I'd hand him over to her myself—wrapped with a bow—so they could have the life they wanted. Over the next two days, I threw myself into planning her birthday. Every detail was mine—venue style, cream source, imported florals. Even the Moonlight Roses were shipped straight from the Dark Forest. No expense spared. The place looked like royalty was about to walk in.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The Fellhart mansion blazed with lights the night of the birthday banquet. Everything I set up for Lilith—from the roses to the imported wine—screamed elegance. Guests kept rolling in, wide-eyed and gushing. Couldn't wrap their heads around me going all out for a stray she-wolf crashing with us, let alone calling her my pack sister. I smiled like I didn't notice the whispers and nudged Caden. "Let Lilith lead the first dance. Tonight's hers." When gifts rolled out, Caden dropped a bomb—an entire rose garden. Not just any patch of flowers. The biggest in Moonhowl Pack. The one that made the Fellhart name golden. After that, everyone looked at Lilith like she wasn't some random she-wolf anymore. Caden didn't see her as just a guest—or even just a sister. I didn't say a word. Just handed her the box. "Happy birthday." Inside was a thin, high-end bracelet I'd fought for at auction. Pricey, polished—nothing wild, but safe. Or so I thought. The second she popped the lid, a snake launched out, hissing and snapping. She screamed, stumbling back. Caden moved like lightning, knocking it away. Lilith grabbed her stomach, face twisted in fear. "Brielle, why would you do this to me..." Caden scooped her up, eyes like ice. "I actually thought you'd grown up, Brielle. Thought this party meant something. But you used it to attack her." His voice dropped, lethal. "If anything happens to the pup, I'll never forgive you." No—he had it all wrong. There was supposed to be a ruby bracelet in that box. Not a snake. I opened my mouth to explain— Sharp, searing pain ripped through my hand. The snake wasn't done. While no one was watching, it slithered back and sank its fangs deep into my palm. My head spun. Caden didn't even glance my way. Just turned and walked out, Lilith in his arms. Not a word. "Oh Moon Goddess—Luna, you've been bitten! That snake's venomous!" Only then did the crowd snap out of it. They swarmed me, panic rising, and rushed me to the healing center. By then, my palm was pitch black. The nurses hovered, useless. "Alpha Fellhart pulled every healer for Ms. Morvain. There's no one left to treat you." I lay there, limp. Tears soaked the white sheets. He didn't even notice I'd been bitten. The same guy who used to lose it over a scratch, dragging me in for full checkups. Now? Every thought, every healer—gone to Lilith. My head got heavy. Everything faded. ** When I came to, two days had passed. I grabbed my phone. Nothing. Not a single message from Caden. He used to blow up my phone if I vanished for two hours. Now? Two days in a coma, and silence. I exhaled, slow and cold, and put the phone down. It was fine. I was done. Tomorrow, our mate bond would be broken. And I'd walk away from Moonhowl Pack for good. No looking back. Not for him.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I shoved open the mansion doors, dragging my weak body—and stopped cold. Lilith was sprawled on the couch like she owned it. Caden sat beside her, feeding her soup by hand. At the sound, he looked up fast. "You're back?" He set the bowl down, finally catching the ghosted-out look on my face. "What happened to you? You look sick." He had no idea I'd been poisoned. No clue I nearly died. I didn't flinch. "Just a cycle flare." He nodded. "Good. As long as you're fine." I dipped my head, ready to leave, but Caden blocked me. "Brielle, you upset Lilith the other day. It stressed the pup. She's not mad, so no need to apologize—just cook her something nutrient-rich to make up for it." I froze. This was the same guy who used to stop me from lifting a finger—wouldn't even let me pour my own water. Still, I nodded and headed for the kitchen. When I came back with the meal, he was already carrying Lilith out the door. "Her belly's acting up. I'm taking her to the healing center." Then they were gone. Just like that. I set the food down without a word and went straight to my room. Started packing. Everything that was mine—I took. What I couldn't take? I trashed. Once the bags were lined up, I pulled out everything tied to Caden. The love letters in his handwriting. The rare gems. The pelts. The custom mate ring he designed just for me. All proof he once loved me. I tossed it into the fireplace. Watched the flames eat it alive. Just like our bond—burned past saving. After clearing everything out, I walked into the back garden. "Pull all the lilies," I told the servants. Caden planted them himself, because he knew I loved the scent. They hesitated. "But Alpha treasures these. He's never let anyone touch them." I smiled, soft and final. "Pull them. Lilith loves roses. This'll make space." They'd seen how far gone he was for her. They didn't argue. Once the garden was stripped bare, I grabbed my bags and walked away. Never looked back. *** At the healing center, Caden couldn't shake the weird tension crawling under his skin. He tried calling Brielle—straight to voicemail. He got up, restless. From the hospital bed, Lilith grabbed his arm. "Will you take me to that seaside spot later? I've been dying for their ocean fish." He paused, then shook his head. "Let's just go home. Brielle already made you a nutrient meal—loaded it with all your favorites." Lilith pouted, then softened. "Okay. That's her way of loving, huh? I'll finish every bite." Back at the mansion, chaos hit them in the face. The garden was wrecked—lilies yanked out, petals scattered like confetti. "What the hell is this?" Caden snapped, storming over. The servants froze. "Luna told us to remove the lilies... said Ms. Morvain prefers roses." Lilith clapped, grinning. "Perfect! Fill the whole garden with roses. Oh—and maybe add a pavilion over there—" Caden's voice iced over. "Did I approve any of this? Absolute joke." He signaled his Beta. "Find Brielle. Now." Minutes later, the Beta returned—white as a sheet, panting. "Alpha... Luna's gone. Took all her stuff. And this—" He held up a paper. "It's a mate bond severance certificate."