"Understood, Mrs. Blackthorn. I will notify you as soon as the bond severance is finalized. The ritual requires a full moon cycle to complete."
"All right, thank you, Mr. Greymoor."
Violette ended the mind-link call. Next, she prepared the documents she needed to take with her when she left the pack estate.
The estate, which they had built together during their fifteen years of mating, was now meaningless. She threw away all the gifts and moonstone jewelry, even the first preserved flowers Hans had given her when their bond was sealed.
There was nothing she needed to take. All the territory holdings and businesses Hans had given her over the years were bound to this pack's lands.
Violette would leave all of it behind to free herself from her ties to Hans Blackthorn.
Violette had not told her family that she was severing the bond with Hans. They believed Violette was contentedly mated, and Hans was a strong Alpha ally in their eyes.
If her parents knew Violette wanted the bond broken, they would try to talk her out of it and tell Hans.
Then the severance would never happen, preserving the alliance between the two packs.
Violette would tell them after the ritual was finalized. At that point, there would be nothing they could do to prevent her from leaving.
Hans, Irene, and Damien had returned to the estate. Violette did not greet them and went to the bathing chamber to freshen up.
When she came out wearing a sleeping robe, Hans was already in the chamber and had unbuttoned his shirt. Calmly, Violette went to the dressing table and began her evening routine.
Hans stood behind her and gently squeezed her shoulders.
"Sorry I'm home late. Damien insisted on going to the festival grounds and lost track of time."
"Hm. It's okay."
Hans leaned down, resting his chin on Violette's shoulder and kissing her neck.
The scent of charred oak and black iron that clung to Hans's skin was threaded through with something else. Night-blooming jasmine and warm honey, sweet enough to make her teeth ache. Irene's scent, layered over his like a second skin. Violette's stomach churned. Her lips smiled bitterly as she recognized who that cloying sweetness belonged to.
"Vio, just be quiet today," Hans whispered, kissing her earlobe. "Are you uncomfortable with Irene being here?"
"No," Violette replied with a fake smile.
"Irene is just our sister by mating. She's part of the Blackthorn Pack."
"I know."
"Is it because Damien is too close to Irene that you're upset?"
"No. They should be close because they are mother and son."
Hans stared at Violette through the reflection in the dressing table mirror, sensing her unusual change. He had felt it since Irene moved into their den. He thought it was because Violette didn't like Damien being close to his biological mother.
Violette stared back calmly, trying not to appear cold in front of him. Her wolf lay still inside her chest, watchful and quiet, offering nothing.
"Don't be too angry with Damien for being close to his mother. We have to raise him because he is the heir to the Blackthorn Pack since we cannot have pups."
"Hm," Violette replied indifferently.
"If only you could have..." Hans stopped himself before he finished the sentence that would hurt Violette.
They had been without pups for fifteen years. Hans had never made an issue of it because Violette was the daughter of the Ashwood Alpha. Their mating was intended to maintain the alliance between the two powerful packs.
"Don't give up, we'll try again," Hans whispered in Violette's ear.
Violette's body tensed as Hans's lips kissed the corner of her mouth and his hand pulled down her sleeping robe. She immediately pushed Hans's hand away before he could see the scar on her chest.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm not feeling well. My cycle started today," Violette said coldly.
Suddenly, the mind-link stone on the bedside table pulsed with light.
"Your stone is ringing." Violette turned her face away.
Hans grumbled, picking up the stone without moving away from Violette's body.
*"Hans, can you come here?"* Irene's voice sounded frightened through the stone-link.
"What's going on?" Hans's voice was full of concern.
*"I think I heard an intruder in my chamber. I'm really scared, Hans."*
"Don't be afraid. I'll be right there." He hurriedly moved away from Violette and took the silver-edged blade from the desk drawer.
"Wait here, I'll check what's going on," he said without looking at Violette and rushed out of the chamber.
Violette scoffed, knowing what drama Irene was creating. She had heard from one of the pack servants that Irene had been terrified to find her chamber window open while she was bathing, and she had seen a shadow pass by outside.
However, shortly after, Hans and Irene appeared at her door.
"What?" Violette stood in front of them.
"Vio, Irene's chamber isn't safe, and we haven't found the intruder yet. Irene is scared and doesn't dare to stay in her chamber. So, for the time being, Irene will stay in this chamber."
Violette's face paled as she stared at Hans in disbelief.
"Hans, have you lost your mind?"
Hans's expression immediately turned stern. "This chamber has the strongest wards. Irene will be safe here. You can move to the next chamber."
"This is our chamber, Hans! How dare you bring another female into our chamber!" Violette refused, her chest felt hot, and her tears blurred her vision.
This was the private chamber they had shared for years since they were mated, even before Irene came and destroyed their bond.
Every detail of this chamber's decor was engraved in her heart. She had spent her thoughts and time tracking down the right fabrics and furnishings to prepare the mating chamber. She and Hans had shared many beautiful memories in this chamber over the years.
How could Hans bring another female into their chamber and kick her out without a shred of guilt?
Irene pretended to tremble with fear, hiding behind Hans while clutching his hand.
"Hans, it's okay. I can be placed in any chamber. It's better if I just move out of the estate."
Hans's face softened as he looked at Irene and stroked her arm. "It's not safe for you to go out in the middle of the night like this. That intruder is definitely after you. Of all the wolves in this estate, you're the only one being terrorized. I have to protect you because it's my responsibility."
"But what about Violette...?"
Hans shifted his gaze to Violette indifferently. "Violette, as someone older than Irene, you have to give in. Give this chamber to Irene."
"You're worried about Irene being attacked, but what about me? What if the intruder hurts me—"
Hans interrupted her. "You grew up in the Ashwood Pack. You've faced dangerous situations many times, but you've always been safe all these years. You're different from Irene, who is a turned wolf, weaker and unable to fight back."
Not wanting to hear Violette's refusal, Hans called a pack servant to move Violette's belongings to another chamber.
Violette clenched her hands tightly. Pain pierced her chest. Tears threatened to fall.
Since Irene returned a year ago, Hans's attitude had changed. He cared more about Irene and no longer cared about the image of a devoted mate that he had always projected.
"I'm sorry, Violette. I didn't mean to make you move out of this chamber..." Irene whispered weakly, looking at her with an apologetic gaze. But the corners of her lips curled into a sly smile. Beneath the jasmine and honey, that acrid chemical note sharpened, just for a breath, before sweetening again.
"Don't apologize, it's not your fault," Hans said, glancing indifferently at Violette. "Don't blame Irene."
"I didn't say anything," Violette replied coldly.
"Hans, can you stay with me for a while? I'm afraid to be alone." Irene leaned weakly on Hans as if she were about to faint.
"Okay, I'll keep you company."
Ignoring Violette's reaction, Hans took Irene into their chamber and closed the door right in front of her face.
Violette took a deep breath, her hands clenched into fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white, her chest feeling tight.
