Chapter 1I've bonded with the same Alpha seven times.
The first time we stood under the full moon, he swore it to the goddess herself: "You're my only mate. Forever."
But every time Jade Ashwood came back? Different story.
"Can't you just be cool about this? You really want everyone calling her a homewrecker?"
That first severance, I grabbed a blade and opened my own wrists. Thought maybe the scent of my blood would wake something in him.
Owen dragged me to the healer's den. Ryker never showed.
Third time around, I masked my scent, played omega, just to catch glimpses of him during patrols.
By number six, I'd learned. Pack my stuff, walk out quiet, don't make a scene.
All that begging. All those compromises. Me bending until I broke.
And what did it get me?
Him coming back right on schedule. Re-marking me like clockwork. Then doing it all over again.
But this time when I heard she was coming back, I didn't wait for him to bring it up.
I handed him the severance scroll myself.
He set our re-bonding date like always.
Totally clueless that this time, I'm done.
---
"Jade's back."
I slide the scroll across the table between us. Already signed.
"Let's sever the bond."
Ryker blinks. For a second, something flickers across his face. Surprise, maybe.
Then it's gone.
He presses his thumb to the parchment. The runes flare silver, then fade to ash. Muscle memory at this point.
First time I ever handed it to him first.
But just like the last six times, he hits me with the same line:
"When she leaves next month, we'll re-bond."
Used to be, that promise would've meant everything. I would've made him swear it on his Alpha blood. Carve it into stone.
Now? I feel nothing.
"Aria Moonshadow. You listening?"
He's frowning now. Doesn't like that I'm not falling apart.
I nod. "Yeah."
My hands keep moving. Folding clothes. Shoving them into my pack.
Here's the thing about Ryker. When he says he'll do something, he does it. Guy's word is solid. Every pack within a hundred miles knows that.
Problem is, we were never really mates.
More like a contract that kept expiring. Sign the bond scroll, burn the severance scroll, repeat every few months.
Twelve scrolls so far. Twelve times I watched the parchment turn to ash.
I remember what he told me at our first ceremony. That he'd never betray me while we were bonded.
And technically? He kept that promise.
Because once the bond was severed, he could do whatever he wanted with whoever he wanted.
The only cost was me becoming pack gossip. The girl who kept coming back. The one he could drop and pick up whenever.
But today, I'm not playing my usual role.
And it's throwing him off.
He's used to the hysterics. The crying. That time with the blade.
Now he's watching me pack faster than I ever have before, and his voice goes quiet.
"Maybe I should be the one leaving."
I snap the buckle on my bag. The sound cuts him off mid-thought.
"Already told Briar I'm crashing with her."
His jaw tightens. "Don't tell me you're gonna pull that stunt again. Masking your scent, sneaking around pack grounds, playing spy."
"Aria, don't you have anything better to do? Can't function without a mate?"
I get it. He doesn't want me anywhere near Nightfall territory while Jade's around.
Which makes sense. She's back, he'll want her close. Probably give her some made-up title. Keep her in his den.
After severance number two, I actually did it. Suppressed my scent, played submissive, got past the border patrols.
Pushed open his office door thinking maybe he'd be happy to see me.
Instead, I walked in on her legs wrapped around him.
I lost it. Went for her.
He hit me with an Alpha command so hard I hit the floor.
Pack members crowded the hallway outside. Staring.
Most of them thought I was still his Luna. They looked at Jade like she was dirt.
So to protect her, Ryker grabbed my bag and dumped it out right there.
The burned severance scroll rolled across the floor. Proof we weren't bonded anymore.
After that, he started announcing every severance on the pack. Made sure everyone knew.
Made sure they all knew Jade was the one he wanted. And I was just the pathetic one who wouldn't let go.
This time though, he's got nothing to worry about.
I sling my pack over my shoulder. "Relax. I'm not gonna bother you two."
He stares at me for a long moment.
I'm halfway out the door when he calls after me.
"Thirteenth of next month. We re-bond then. Don't forget."
I stop.
Funny coincidence.
The thirteenth is also the day I'm leaving pack lands for good.
Chapter 2
Once Jade was back, Ryker forgot I existed.
Which was fine. Because I stopped doing what I used to do—tracking his every move, lurking around places he might show up, obsessing over scraps of information.
Instead, I spent my days with Briar. Ate whatever I wanted. Laughed until my sides hurt. Actually slept through the night for once.
Twenty days flew by.
Twenty days until I left pack lands for good.
That afternoon, Briar and I were at the tavern near the eastern border, waiting on roasted venison, when they walked in.
Ryker had his arm around Jade's waist. Both of them laughing. Looking like they belonged together.
"Aria?"
His eyes locked onto me.
Jade didn't miss a beat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, all sweetness and smiles.
"Oh wow, Aria. What a coincidence. You're here too?"
I saw the shift in Ryker's posture. The way he stepped in front of her. Like he thought I was about to lunge.
Used to be, I would have.
But this time, I just grabbed Briar's arm before she could stand up and start something.
I smiled. Calm. Neutral.
"Yeah. Small world."
Jade's grin widened. She could smell the shift in me. The lack of fight.
"Sorry, Aria. Ryker actually reserved the whole tavern tonight. Just for us. You wouldn't mind finding somewhere else, would you?"
She tilted her head up at him, voice dripping with fake concern.
"Right, Ry? Tell her. Or she'll think I'm being mean on purpose."
Ryker met my eyes. For a second, something flickered there. Hesitation, maybe.
Then he nodded.
Didn't say a word. Just nodded.
Somehow, that was worse.
Briar was already halfway to her feet, ready to throw down.
I pressed a hand to her arm. "It's fine. We'll go."
Somewhere else. Somewhere he isn't.
I had twenty days left. I wasn't about to waste them on a guy I'd already written off.
Far as I was concerned, Ryker Blackthorn was already dead to me.
The tavern keeper chose that exact moment to pipe up, all eager to kiss up to the Alpha.
"You two make such a beautiful pair. Truly blessed by the goddess."
I saw Ryker's jaw tighten. His eyes cut toward me, like he was bracing for something. Waiting to see if I'd snap.
I didn't.
I just stood up, took Briar's hand, and headed for the door.
Ryker stared after me. Like he couldn't process what he was seeing.
Jade had to call his name three times before he finally looked away.
By then, we were already gone.
Chapter 3
The night I officially cut ties with Nightfall Pack, Ryker called me.
First time ever.
I stared at my phone for a solid ten seconds before I answered. Voice only.
"Why'd you block the image?"
His voice came through sharp. Annoyed.
I kept my tone flat. "I just woke up. Not exactly camera-ready."
Regretted it the second I said it. Made it sound like I still cared what he thought.
Sure enough, he laughed. Like I'd just made his whole night.
"We've been bonded seven times. Pretty sure I've seen you at your worst."
The playful edge in his voice made my skin crawl.
"Did you need something?"
That shut him up. I heard him shift, like he'd been lounging and suddenly sat up straight.
"Owen told me you're leaving the pack."
"Yeah."
Silence.
Then he tried again, but his voice had this forced lightness to it.
"Probably for the best. You were never cut out for patrol duty anyway. And honestly, you barely showed up. The others were starting to talk."
I cut him off. "Shouldn't you be with Jade right now?"
He went quiet for a beat.
"I'm not with her. We're not—there's nothing to keep company."
But even he didn't sound convinced.
Because it hit him mid-sentence. I wasn't his mate anymore. Hadn't been for weeks.
His voice softened. Guilt creeping in.
"Look, about the bond severances. I'm sorry. I just didn't want people talking about her like she was—"
"A homewrecker?"
I finished for him.
My voice came out colder than I meant it to.
"If that's all, I'm done here."
"Wait."
Now he sounded desperate.
"The twelfth. That's our anniversary. Jasper's doing a performance at the northern falls that night. I know you wanted to go. Let's go together. Just us."
For half a second, I almost believed him.
Then I heard her voice in the background.
"Ry, I forgot my towel. Can you bring it in?"
Ryker froze. I could practically feel him staring at the phone, torn.
I didn't give him the satisfaction of waiting.
"Go ahead."
He hesitated. Then I heard him moving.
"Hold on, Aria. Just give me a second—"
He didn't hang up.
So I got to hear everything.
The sound of a door opening. Jade's breathy little laugh. Then the wet, unmistakable sound of them kissing.
Ryker groaned.
Door slammed shut.
I ended the call.
Didn't even feel anything. Just cold, bitter amusement.
Right then, Briar burst through the door, grinning like a lunatic.
"Get up. We're going out."
I stood, grabbed my cloak, and looped my arm through hers.
There were so many better things I could be doing with my time.
I used to think he was everything.
Turns out, he was just in the way.
