Chapter 1At the Thornveil Pack reunion, I realized I could hear again. Was about to surprise my mate Odin Stormclaw with the news.
He turned back to his pack brothers and kept talking.
"Dude, I seriously regret claiming her."
"Just thinking spending forever with someone who can't shift or link, having to sign every damn thing—makes me sick."
"But Tamsin? She's wild. She's got fire in her. Not like broken Nerida."
"When I'm with Tamsin, I actually feel like an Alpha again. So yeah. I've been fucking her."
That last word hit me like silver through the chest.
Five years I gave up my wolf saving his ass, and this is what I get?
He thinks our bond is disgusting?
Well. Know what's really disgusting?
The proof I'm about to show the entire pack.
Let's see if he can still call himself Alpha after that.
---
Wait, what? Did he actually just say that?
I froze.
Odin's face didn't even twitch. His tone was casual as hell, like he was deciding between a hunt or patrol duty.
"Bro, the other night I'm running territory checks till like 4 AM, right? Get to the den and I'm like... fuck, forgot my keys."
"Most wolves? They'd just link their mate. Me? Can't even do that."
"End up crashing at the packhouse. Get inside, sun's already out. Two hours later I'm back on Alpha duty. Like what the hell am I even doing this for?"
Odin's grip on that glass looked like he was gonna snap it.
"Seriously, what's the point?"
One of his buddies glanced over at me—felt kinda bad I think.
"But dude, that silver attack—Nerida straight up took the hit for you. Could've been you who lost your wolf—"
Didn't finish. Didn't have to.
Odin's voice went flat. "So what, she saves me once, we run together four years, boom—I'm locked in? Taking care of her forever?"
"Nobody asked me jack shit." He paused. "'Cept Tamsin."
Tamsin. I knew that name.
Tamsin Nightshade—new Beta who joined Odin's patrol unit.
She kept screwing up formation. Slowing everyone down. So Odin's there training her till midnight every night.
He used to call her a liability.
"But then she finds out about my whole deal with Nerida, and she goes, 'You deserve to be happy. Like actually happy.'"
"She's wild, she's got energy, she's... whole. Nerida? Total dead weight."
"Only time I feel like myself anymore is when I'm with Tamsin..."
"So yeah. Been hooking up with her."
That one knocked the wind outta me.
My hand slipped—water went everywhere. Odin jumped up, started wiping it down, acting all concerned.
"Not rejecting Nerida though. She's still my mate."
"Tamsin's just—y'know. Something on the side. Gets old, I'm out."
"Nerida won't ever find out anyway."
On the way back to the den, I didn't say a word.
Odin'd picked up on my mood. Wrapped his jacket around me.
Started signing.
"What's wrong, little wolf? Someone piss you off? Want me to handle it?"
He smiled, showing those sharp canines, same as always.
Looking at him now felt like watching a stranger. Where'd my mate go?
That silver attack was brutal. Bullets ripped through my wolf, stole my hearing right there.
I'd collapsed. Couldn't move at all.
Odin went ghost-white, hands shaking like crazy.
The howling from the pack drowned out everything.
He held me so tight, mouth moving nonstop.
We were right next to each other but I could barely hear him through the broken bond.
Took forever to make out what he was saying.
"You always wanted a family, right? I promise—just stay alive and we'll complete the bond."
I spent months with the pack healers. Odin showed up every single day.
Dr. Elowen said simple foods would help me heal, so he'd prepare everything himself and feed me bit by bit.
Didn't want me getting lonely, so he'd skip pack runs and rush straight to the healing den whenever.
Later he learned sign language with me, became my connection to everyone else.
And this same wolf was now saying he couldn't stand me? That he hated being bound to me?
I turned to look at him, dead serious, hands moving.
"If you could do it over, would you still claim me?"
Odin didn't even hesitate.
"Yeah. You're everything to me."
He grabbed my hand and pressed it to his chest where his wolf should've been howling for mine.
I stepped back, pulled away.
"Odin."
"Let's sever the bond."
Chapter 2
Okay, he definitely wasn't expecting that.
He looked stunned for a second before recovering.
"What're you talking about, Nerida?"
"Did I push too hard at training? My bad, won't happen again."
I shook my head.
"Being bonded to me is killing you."
He actually stopped for like three seconds.
"Nah, I'm good. I just wanna be with you."
Just then, his phone rang.
"Pack business. Probably some emergency."
He answered. Tamsin's voice came through.
"Hey Alpha, miss me? Wanna run tonight—"
All breathy.
Odin looked at me, dropped his voice. "Can't tonight. Nerida's acting off..."
Tamsin wasn't having it. "When is she NOT off? You coddle her and she still can't shift, can't link, breaks down whenever."
Odin went quiet.
That silver attack didn't just take my wolf.
Fucked up my whole body. Catch a little cold? Boom, bedridden for days.
All that pain—physical, mental—made me lose it constantly. Just pure rage.
I'd smash shit. Loved the sound of glass shattering.
Odin would clean it up, bring me tea. Like it was nothing.
After I'd calm down, the guilt would crush me. I'd sign sorry.
He'd be like, "I got you. I'm not going anywhere till you're healed."
Odin breathed in. "Where you at?"
"Usual clearing. North border." Tamsin laughed. "Hurry up—got that thing you like ready."
Odin's face went soft. Never seen him look like that.
"Yeah. Gonna make you pay for that."
Then he hung up. Looked at me all apologetic.
"Border patrol emergency. You know the way back to the den—you good by yourself?"
I stared at him like he was a total stranger.
One second claiming I'm his everything, next second planning to fuck someone else?
That young Alpha who swore he'd protect me was long gone, I guess.
Before I could respond, Odin had already shifted and bolted into the trees.
The path back to the den was less than half a mile, but with broken pack territory markers it felt dangerous as hell.
Didn't wanna stick around, so I walked fast.
But then I caught a scent behind me.
Someone grabbed my shoulder.
I spun around. Rogue. He leaned in.
"Hey sweetheart, what's a broken little wolf doing out here alone?"
I punched him in the throat and ran.
Guy didn't chase—probably figured I wasn't worth it.
I sprinted back to the den, slammed the door.
Heart pounding, back drenched in sweat.
While I'm still catching my breath, my phone buzzes. Message from Odin.
Photo of him in Alpha office.
"Little wolf, get some rest. Back soon."
I opened the image. Spotted the timestamp in the corner.
Two nights ago.
Right when I'd barely escaped that rogue, he was busy stripping down and climbing into bed with her.
Or hell, maybe they'd already been going at it by then.
Cheating on his mate but still playing devoted Alpha? Seriously?
"What a fucking joke."
I'd been thinking it. Guess I said it out loud too.
Tested my voice again. Everything worked perfect.
Figured this was the Moon Goddess giving me a shot.
Letting me see Odin's real face, then handing me the strength to break free.
Chapter 3
The next day I got Cedric Thornveil to draft bond severance papers.
Video call—he looked shocked.
"You guys having issues or something? Odin's devoted to you—the whole pack sees it."
I kept my face blank. "I can feel the bond again."
His eyes went huge. Before he could say anything, I kept going.
"He said he's sick of being stuck with someone who can't shift or link. Said I'm dead weight. So he's been fucking some younger Beta."
I looked down. My mating mark felt like it was burning.
"Odin feels trapped. So I'm done. Breaking the bond."
He sighed.
"He's been running himself into the ground for years trying to help you heal, and right when things are getting better..."
"This shit happens..."
No clue what was going on in Odin's head.
Maybe dealing with a broken mate destroyed him. Or maybe being bonded to someone who can't shift or link just got old.
Whatever good he had in him got twisted somewhere.
4 AM. Den door opened. Woke me up.
Odin had showered. Trying to be quiet slipping into bed.
Put his arm around me, nose buried in my neck. Breathing in my scent like he couldn't get enough.
"Nerida..."
I turned over. Looked at him.
That look in his eyes? Gone instantly. "Can you hear me?"
Didn't tell him. Just like him, I lied.
Shook my head.
"Just felt you through the bond."
"Why do you smell like her?"
Guilt all over his face.
"New Beta won't stop rubbing up against me during patrols. You want me to reassign her?"
"Get some sleep. Healer appointment's tomorrow."
He chose to lie. I chose not to call him out.
Odin had on a flannel, collar loose. Tamsin's bite mark right there on his neck.
Thought rock bottom meant you stop feeling anything.
But that mark? Still felt like claws ripping through my chest.
I closed my eyes. Didn't say anything.
Then his phone buzzed. Tamsin again.
"So? What'd she do?"
Odin sounded like he thought it was funny.
"Nothing. Acted like she didn't notice."
"Ha! Called it."
Tamsin laughed. "She can't speak—even if she knows you're screwing around, what's she gonna do about it?"
"Odin, tomorrow let's do something even crazier."
Odin's voice got all soft. "You're wild. Where do you come up with this stuff?"
They stayed on the phone forever.
Talked about everything—pack gossip, territory runs, hunts, supply orders. Even made plans for the full moon.
Sun was coming up by the time Odin hung up.
Recording on my phone: two hours thirty-seven minutes.
Next morning, Odin took me to see Dr. Elowen.
She knew my case. "Nerida's healing beautifully. One more treatment cycle and her wolf should resurface fully."
She looked happy for me. Then Odin smiled, cut her off.
"Actually, we're stopping treatment."
"Just maintenance herbs from here."
Dr. Elowen's smile froze. I turned to stare at Odin.
He put on this regretful look.
Signed to me: "Healer says your wolf might not come back."
"But I'm here, okay?"
Thinking I couldn't hear, he said it out loud.
"If her wolf came back, she'd sense me with Tamsin through the bond. Pain in the ass."
"She's been broken five years anyway. What's another fifty?"
Then pressed his forehead to mine. I wanted to throw up.
If I hadn't gotten the bond back, I would've eaten that shit up. Would've loved him forever.
Now all I felt was sick.
Back at the den, I rested in the bedroom while Odin cooked.
Just then, someone knocked.
"Odin!"
Tamsin didn't bother being quiet.
Odin rushed to cover her mouth. "Shh."
Tamsin threw herself at him, hands everywhere.
"She can't hear anyway."
Tamsin's voice dropped as she bit his jaw. "Look at you, already hard."
"Let's fuck right next to her room. God that'd be hot."
Odin's breathing got heavy. He picked Tamsin up.
"Fuck yeah."
They locked the office door. Could hear them going at it.
Tamsin moaning. Odin growling that she's been bad.
I stood there feeling nothing. Pulled out my phone, texted his parents Ragnar and Ingrid.
"Odin's in serious trouble. Get to the den NOW."
I couldn't help but smile.
This was gonna be fun to watch.
