I stared at the separation decree in Dorian’s hand, my entire body trembling.
The parchment felt heavier than it should have — as if the Moon Goddess herself had written my fate into its fibers.
“Sign it,” Dorian repeated, his voice flat, emotionless, as though the years we spent together meant nothing. As though the mate bond between us had never existed.
My fingers shook as I took the papers from him.
Then I tore them apart.
The sound of ripping parchment echoed sharply through the room.
Dorian’s eyes darkened slightly, but instead of anger, a slow smirk spread across his face — like he had expected nothing less.
With calm, calculated ease, he reached into his coat and pulled out a small velvet pouch. He tossed it casually onto the coffee table.
It landed with a soft thud.
“There’s a million gold marks in that,” he said lazily. “Your severance compensation.”
My breath hitched.
Severance compensation?
Like I was nothing more than a servant dismissed from duty.
Like I had simply outlived my usefulness.
Like I had never been his mate.
Fury surged through me.
Before I could stop myself, I slapped him.
Hard.
The crack of my palm against his cheek echoed across the quiet room.
Dorian barely moved.
He slowly turned his head back, touching his cheek with mild amusement, like the slap had been nothing more than a breeze.
“Feel better now?” he murmured.
My chest heaved.
I grabbed the velvet pouch and hurled it back at him.
“Go to hell, Dorian.”
His smirk deepened.
“Already there, sweetheart.”
Then he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, his Alpha aura pressing down on me — not enough to dominate, but enough to remind me of the power imbalance between us.
“You know,” he said softly, his voice smooth but taunting, “Aiden has already accepted Elira as his new mother.”
My blood ran cold.
Before I could respond, the kitchen door creaked open.
Elira stepped out.
Holding Aiden’s tiny hand.
They were both smiling.
My stomach twisted violently.
Aiden — my baby — clutched a large mechanical wolf toy in his arms, carved with silver runes and moonstone accents. I recognized it instantly — an expensive toy imported from the northern packs.
His eyes sparkled as he looked up at Elira, admiration shining brightly in them.
“Thank you, Mommy Elira!” he beamed.
My heart stopped.
Mommy… Elira?
My throat tightened painfully.
“Aiden… baby… I’m…” My voice came out as a whisper.
He turned to me.
But there was no excitement in his eyes.
No joy.
Only mild curiosity.
“Mommy, why are you mad?” he asked innocently. “Mommy Elira bought me this! She’s the best!”
Elira laughed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Oh, Aiden, sweetie, I just want you to be happy.”
Then she looked at me, her smile faintly smug.
“Evelina, don’t look so hurt. Aiden is just being honest. I’ve been the one taking care of him lately, after all.”
Aiden nodded eagerly.
“Mommy Elira is nice to me, Mommy. She plays with me. She makes Daddy happy.” He hesitated, then added softly, “You should sign the papers so we can be a happy family.”
The air left my lungs.
Before I could even process his words, Elira turned to Dorian.
And kissed him.
Right in front of me.
Slowly.
Intimately.
Like they belonged together.
Like I wasn’t even there.
Aiden giggled happily.
“Mommy Elira and Daddy love each other!”
Something inside me shattered completely.
But I couldn’t move.
I just stood there.
Frozen.
Watching my mate — my first love — kiss my sister while my son cheered them on.
This wasn’t real.
It couldn’t be real.
But it was.
Dorian pulled away from Elira, a satisfied smirk on his lips. Then he turned to me, his golden eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
“Now, be a good Luna and sign the decree, Evelina.”
He handed me another copy.
Aiden looked at me pleadingly.
“Yeah, Mommy… sign it. Please.”
Happy?
They already looked happy.
Like a perfect family.
Double betrayal.
A blade driven straight through my heart.
I stumbled backward, my vision blurring.
“I… I need to be alone,” I whispered.
Without waiting for a response, I turned and rushed toward my chamber, slamming the door behind me.
And then I broke.
I collapsed onto the floor, my body shaking with silent sobs.
I had lost everything.
My mate.
My son.
My family.
Why?
Why wasn’t I enough?
Why was I the one suffering while they got to be happy?
I curled into myself, clutching my head as pain throbbed violently through my skull, mixing with the unbearable ache in my chest.
I didn’t know how long I stayed like that.
Minutes.
Hours.
Eventually, I reached for the small communication stone beside my bed.
There was only one person left.
With shaking hands, I activated it.
The connection formed quickly.
“Evelina?”
Cassian’s familiar voice filled the room.
A sob escaped me.
“Cassian… please help me.”
There was a sharp intake of breath.
“Evelina, what happened?” His voice tightened with concern.
“Dorian… Aiden… they…” My voice broke. “They don’t need me anymore. I have nothing left, Cassian. Nothing.”
“Evelina, listen to me,” he said firmly. “You have me. I’m not letting you go through this alone.”
Tears streamed down my face.
“Come to me,” he urged. “I’ll help you disappear. I’ll get you out of the Ashclaw territory.”
There was a pause.
Then his voice softened.
“And… there’s something else. I didn’t want to tell you through the link, but you need to know.”
I wiped my tears.
“What is it?”
“Our healer circle is conducting a trial,” Cassian said carefully. “A new experimental treatment for soul sickness — brain cancer. It’s dangerous, but… it may be your best chance.”
I froze.
“You knew?” I whispered.
“I suspected,” he admitted quietly. “I saw your healer records. I know you’ve been fighting this alone.”
My chest tightened painfully.
“Come to me,” he pleaded softly. “Let me help you, Evelina. Not just with the treatment… but with everything. Let me take you away from all of this.”
I gripped the stone tightly.
This was my chance.
To leave.
To survive.
To fight.
I took a deep breath.
“I’m coming, Cassian.”
