Lianne's POV:
The next morning, sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows and filled my room.
I endured the constant ache in my fractured ribs, then covered the lifeless color of my face with thick concealer before changing into a clean, tailored business suit.
Ethan wasn't only the Alpha of the Thorn Pack. He was also the CEO of Voss Group. And I was his chief secretary.
To everyone in the company, I was the person he relied on most. Calm, capable, efficient. The perfect secretary who handled every problem without hesitation.
Only a few in the pack knew I was his mate.
I knew Ethan hated the fact that I had lost my wolf. That was why he'd never acknowledged our bond in public. For a long time, I'd waited quietly, hoping one day, he'd accept me openly.
But now, none of that mattered anymore.
I walked into the company building and went straight to the HR department. Then I placed my resignation letter on the manager's desk.
"You're resigning?" The HR manager adjusted her glasses in disbelief. "Lianne, you're the person Mr. Voss trusts more than anyone. The company would fall apart without you. Does Mr. Voss know about this?"
"He won't mind," I replied calmly, keeping the same polished smile I used at work every day. "I'll finish the transition over the next few days. Nothing at the company will be affected."
The manager looked like she wanted to say more, but in the end, she only sighed and signed the resignation letter.
After leaving her office, I stopped in the hallway and took a slow breath. A sharp pain spread through my chest, reminding me that the injuries from the car crash were far worse than they looked.
I was about to return to my desk when quiet voices drifted out from the break room nearby.
"Did you hear? The one Alpha loves is back."
"You mean Ivy? No wonder Alpha spent so much at the auction. He paid fifty million for the 'Tears of Moonstone' necklace."
"Seriously? That's the necklace that represents eternal devotion. He really treats her like a queen."
I stopped walking.
Tears of Moonstone.
Three years ago, on the day Ethan and I formed our mate bond, I'd seen that necklace in a magazine.
The crystal was said to glow blue beneath moonlight, a gift blessed by the Moon Goddess for true mates.
Back then, I'd pointed at the picture shyly and whispered to Ethan, "It's beautiful."
He hadn't even looked at the picture for more than a second before answering casually, "That necklace is meant for she-wolves who've gone through the official Luna ceremony. You don't even have a wolf, Lianne. If you wore it, the pack would only complain. Stop making things harder for me."
So that was the truth. It had never been about pack traditions. I simply wasn't worthy enough in his eyes.
"Lianne, this document needs Alpha's signature right away. Could you bring it in for me?" A junior secretary hurried toward me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I accepted the document, though my fingers shook slightly around it.
Then I walked to the CEO's office and pushed the door open. The moment I stepped inside, the scene before me froze me in place.
Ethan sat behind his large desk while Ivy perched casually along the edge beside him.
She wore a flawless silk dress that made her seem delicate enough to break.
The coldness in Ethan's eyes had completely disappeared. He let her wrap her arms around his neck, and when she leaned over to kiss his cheek, he didn't pull away.
Suddenly, the document slipped from my numb fingers. Papers scattered across the floor with a sharp rustle, as though my heart had shattered along with them.
Both of them looked toward me at once.
The tenderness on Ethan's face vanished instantly, replaced by the familiar icy expression I knew too well. Irritation flickered in his eyes.
"Do you not know how to knock before entering?" he said sharply.
Ivy quickly jumped off the desk, acting startled by the situation. Then she walked over to me and took my hand, as though she was trying to comfort me. "Lianne, please don't misunderstand anything. I'm just really happy today. Ethan gave me such an amazing gift."
Her fingers tightened around mine while she tilted her head to show off the necklace resting against her throat.
The huge moonstone shimmered beneath the sunlight pouring through the windows, its glare so bright it almost hurt to look at.
"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" Ivy smiled sweetly, but the provocation in her eyes was meant only for me. "Ethan told me I'm the only person worthy of this symbol of eternal devotion."
A sharp pain twisted through my chest, dull and brutal, like a blunt knife dragging back and forth inside me.
Still, I forced myself to remain standing. Somehow, I even managed a steady smile. "It's beautiful. It looks perfect on you."
I crouched down slowly, pain shooting through my ribs as I gathered the scattered papers. After straightening them neatly, I placed them on Ethan's desk. "Alpha, this document needs your signature."
My composure seemed to unsettle Ethan.
A trace of discomfort crossed his face as he watched me turn toward the door. Then, almost awkwardly, he spoke up to explain himself. "Ivy just returned to the pack. The necklace was only meant as a welcome-back gift. Don't overthink it."
"Alright." I nodded lightly, said nothing else, and walked out without looking back.
That evening, I returned home and quietly began packing my things.
Everything in the house carried traces of the life Ethan and I had shared together. Now all of it felt like a cruel reminder of how foolish I'd been.
I folded my clothes carefully and placed them inside the suitcase one by one. As for the expensive jewelry Ethan had given me over the years, I left every piece behind.
I only wanted to take the things that truly belonged to me.
The moment I closed the suitcase, hurried footsteps sounded from behind me.
Then Ethan's voice rang out in panic. "Lianne! What do you think you're doing?"
