Chapter 1On April Fools' Day, my Alpha shoved bond-severing papers at me.
"Your two ex-Alpha-mates bet you can't take a joke. Sign it - prove them WRONG."
I'd been mated twice before.
First - helped my childhood packmate Theodore secure his birthright.
Second - got my best friend William out of a forced alliance.
"Both were clean. No love, no mess. But if you're concerned - "
Back then, Killian grabbed my wrist, his wolf surging behind his eyes.
"Stop. I don't care about your past. You're MINE now. ONLY mine."
After the mating ceremony, he was perfect - sweet, protective, everything I craved.
I thought I'd finally found my fated mate.
Until I came home early from a border patrol - and caught him laughing with my ex-Alpha-mates.
"Dude, she's signed severance papers TWICE. A pro."
"Just break the mate bond on April Fools'. Say it's a joke after."
"Flora is getting mated next week. We promised - her last hunt, we all show up unmated."
I stood frozen outside the door, my wolf trembling inside me.
So when Killian slid those papers toward me, I just signed.
No whines. No snarls.
But next time he showed up, I was six months heavy with twin pups.
"You were right. I CAN'T take a joke."
"So I took your April Fools' prank seriously, asshole."
...
I sat in the coffee den across the street for an hour.
When their scents faded, I slipped back inside.
Killian caught my scent, put down his phone, and padded over for my bag.
"You didn't tell me you were coming back. I could've picked you up."
He took my luggage with one hand, wrapped the other around my waist, pulling me into his chest.
Gentle. Caring. Same soothing Alpha scent.
"Did you eat?"
"Yeah."
He nodded, then his ears twitched like he just recalled something.
"Oh, little wolf, I need to talk to you about something."
I set down my things and met his eyes.
He sighed, slid a stack of papers across the table.
"The pack's business is in a bind. We need to separate our assets."
"The pack attorney says we should sever the bond - just temporarily."
I glanced down. Bond-break papers.
Already stamped with his paw-print signature.
"Once things settle, we'll re-mate. Just a few moons."
I said nothing.
"I know it's sudden," he squeezed my fingers.
"But Theodore and William called, taunting me today."
"Said when you helped them, you didn't hesitate. But with me, suddenly it's a problem."
"They even said a she-wolf who's severed twice wouldn't dare a third, that you can't handle it."
"So I figured - tomorrow's April Fools' Day."
"We'll shove the papers in their faces, scare the fur off them."
"Show them they can't look down on you."
"It's April Fools', right? Everything's a joke."
"Once the business stuff settles, we'll just re-mate. No one will say anything."
He looked at me, his gaze full of fake hurt and hope. "You won't let them think less of me, will you?"
I stared into those perfect, caring eyes.
The same ones that had just been howling with those two ex-Alphas, saying "she won't make a fuss."
"I'll sign," I said, just as he wished.
He relaxed instantly, his wolf settling behind his ribs.
"Okay, you rest up. Tomorrow we'll sign and then - "
I picked up the pen, flipped to the last page, and scratched my mark.
"Call them, tell them to stop yapping."
Killian froze. Probably didn't expect me to be so quick.
Then he grinned, tucked the papers into his drawer, and leaned in to kiss my forehead.
"You're the best, little wolf."
I let him kiss me. Felt nothing but ice in my veins.
He took the papers to his den to make a call.
Voice low, but through the oak door, my wolf ears caught every word.
"She signed."
Theodore's growl came through faintly on the other end.
"Told you. Irene's easy."
"Alright, you guys keep Flora calm. I'll head over once I'm done here."
I sat in the main hall for a long time, my wolf pacing beneath my skin.
My phone buzzed. A text from William.
"Long time no see. Want to grab a bite?"
I stared at it.
Used to be, I'd answer before the second buzz.
I'd think about which scent oils to wear, how to tame my mane.
I'd figure out how to make Killian look strong in front of them, show them I'd chosen well.
Make sure they didn't challenge him.
After all, one side were my childhood packmates. The other was my mate. The ones I'd die for.
I didn't want them to tear each other's throats out.
But now? I didn't even bother replying.
I set my phone face-down on the table and went to the terrace to fetch the dried pelts.
Passing the den, I saw Killian still on the phone.
Voice quiet, but with a lazy, careless rumble I'd never heard from him.
I realized - after all this time together, he'd never once used that tone with me.
The wind was sharp on the terrace, carrying scents from the distant woods.
As I folded the last piece, my phone glowed again.
This time it was Theodore.
"Heard you're severing again?"
"Killian's a mangy mutt. He doesn't deserve you. Don't whine."
"Your grandpa's 80th hunt-day is coming up. William and I will be there. Let's catch up!"
I let out a dry, bitter laugh.
Such pretty lies.
Like he wasn't the one in the main hall earlier, plotting the whole farce.
I switched off my phone and shoved it in my pocket.
For a second, I wondered what Flora really was.
What made her worth all this scheming from three full-grown wolves.
Worth them using me like a chew toy to keep some stupid promise.
But then I let it go.
None of it mattered anymore.
I picked up the basket and walked back inside. I didn't pause when I passed the den.
Warm amber light bled through the gap in the door.
That glow. This territory. This Alpha.
Tomorrow, none of it would be mine anymore.
Chapter 2
I'd barely set the basket down when my ears caught the scent - three wolves at the door.
Actually, four. One of them reeked of wolfsbane wine.
I started toward the entrance, but Killian's claws were already on the handle.
The she-wolf outside swayed on her paws, fur ruffled, pupils blown wide. Her neck was flushed. Totally soused.
She saw Killian and bared her throat - a slow, sloppy submission. "Knew you'd still be up."
Killian shot a glance over his shoulder at me, then lowered his voice to a growl. "What the hell are you doing here?"
She didn't bother answering, just pushed past him and stumbled inside.
Then her nose twitched. She spotted me in the main hall and froze, ears flattening.
"Oh. Didn't know the pack Luna was home too."
Theodore caught her from behind, steadying her with a hand on her elbow. His eyes met mine.
"Irene, she's wasted. We were dragging her back to her territory, but she insisted on coming here."
William lingered in the doorway, tail flicking awkwardly behind him.
Then his gaze shifted to Killian, and his hackles rose.
"Your mate is standing right there. You want to explain how this looks?"
Killian's jaw tightened, a low growl rumbling in his chest.
"You're the one who got her drunk and hauled her to my doorstep. And I'm supposed to do what - vanish?"
"I got her drunk?" William's teeth flashed. "You're the one who posted about being unmated again!"
He sneered, stepping aside like he couldn't be bothered.
"Fine. You're so noble. So proper. I brought her here for you. Deal with it yourself."
The two Alphas squared off on either side of the entry, fur bristling, growls vibrating through the floor.
Theodore cleared his throat awkwardly, ears twitching.
"Alright, alright, back down. Flora just wanted to drop by - "
I stood in the center of the main hall, watching the whole display.
Too smooth. Their scents didn't even spike with real aggression.
If I hadn't caught them toasting earlier, my wolf might've bought the act.
All these years, I thought my bond with Theodore and William was iron.
I'd even mated both of them to pull them out of fires.
My parents died when I was barely whelped. Grandpa was always running the territory.
They were my whole world growing up.
Theodore taught me how to hunt. William took a silver blade for me once - caught a rogue's strike meant for my throat.
To me, they were pack. Closer than blood.
But when did it start shifting?
Probably around high school. When Flora showed up.
Suddenly there was a new circle. A new scent they followed.
And I was the outsider. The leftover piece they only remembered when they needed a favor.
I looked away, claws pricking at my palms.
Some cracks don't form in a single moon.
You just finally decide to stop ignoring them.
"Good timing. I need all of you to witness something."
I walked to the coffee table and picked up the bond-breaking papers.
"Two copies. Already marked. Since you're all here, might as well take a good sniff."
Chapter 3
Killian's ears flattened for half a beat. Then he caught himself, forcing his hackles down.
I'd dropped the bond-break talk in front of Theodore and William.
To him, that meant I was showing off. Playing the loyal mate. Proving how far I'd go for his pride.
Satisfaction flickered behind his eyes. I caught it.
"Irene," he padded over, voice dropping low, soothing. Trying to pour calm into my wolf.
"We can talk about this in private. You don't need to - "
"Since she already brought it up," Flora cut in, her tail giving a lazy flick, "can I ask something?"
"When are you moving out?"
The room went dead silent. Even the floorboards stopped creaking.
Killian's growl died in his throat. Flora didn't even glance at him. Just stared at me, all wide-eyed innocence.
"This territory's in my name. You can't exactly keep denning here, right?"
I froze.
The territory. In HER name?
I looked at Killian.
He looked away. His throat bobbed. His ears dipped. He didn't deny it.
And just like that, everything crashed back.
When we'd claimed this land together, he promised. "I'll handle the boundary markers. Don't worry your pretty muzzle about it."
I'd spent weeks choosing every scent post, every nesting corner, every pelt.
Every inch of this den, I'd shaped for us. For our future pack.
I'd made it warm the way his wolf liked.
I never cared whose name was scratched on the territory claim.
But I never imagined our home - our mating den - would be registered to another she-wolf.
I glanced down at the papers in my hand and let out a sharp, hollow laugh.
"I'll leave now."
"Irene - " Killian lunged a step toward me, claws scraping the floor.
"Tomorrow. Nine a.m. Boundary Hall."
I didn't look back. Grabbed my bag, scented the door, and shoved it open.
The hallway lights hummed, flickering on and off like my wolf's heartbeat.
Waiting for the elevator, my ears still caught their voices through the wood.
"Damn, she marked faster than when I asked her to mate me!"
Laughter and snarls, muffled and ugly.
I stood there, listening to a story I didn't recognize anymore.
In the elevator's metal reflection, I looked calmer than my wolf felt.
Once I'd slid into the taxi, my phone buzzed against my thigh.
Message from Killian.
"About the territory - I'll explain later..."
"Be good. Find a place to rest your paws. I'll come fetch you in a few days."
I stared at the screen until the light dimmed, then flipped the phone face-down on my lap.
Outside the window, streetlights bled past in golden streaks.
Come fetch me in a few days?
Like I'd just stepped out to patrol the borders. Like I'd be back by moonrise.
I leaned back in the seat and let my eyes close, my wolf finally going still inside me.
No need, Killian.
Never track my scent again.
