---- shock. He softened his tone, putting on a performance of carefully crafted exhaustion. "Lyra, I wasn't trying to hurt you at the ritual last night. I can apologize. There's no need to destroy everything we've built over something so small." His posture was humble, but his eyes screamed that I was being hysterical. Small? Asharp pain stabbed through my heart. His "small thing" was staying out late on our anniversary. Coming home reeking of another woman. A she-wolf I knew and despised: Aurora. His first love. Ihad spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen preparing for our full moon ritual. ---- When he walked in, I smiled and moved to greet him. He didn't even grant mea glance. During the ritual, the critical look on his face shattered what was left of my spirit. My composure finally broke, my voice trembling as I fought back tears. "Is my food not to your liking? Or is Aurora's scent so intoxicating that you can't stand the sight of me anymore?" Eric's face instantly darkened. He slammed his fork and knife on the table. "T'll hire an Omega for the housework tomorrow! If you don't want to do it, there are plenty of wolves who would kill for the position!" River had inherited his father's temper perfectly. He stared at me with icy eyes and, without a word, swept his entire plate of roasted meat onto the floor. "Dad said it's burnt. I think it's disgusting, too." The two of them never saw their own faults. ---- They just blamed me for everything, trampling my dignity underfoot. They were so brazen because they thought I was broken, conditioned to obey without ever fighting back. Even a fraying of the mate bond was agony. To sever it completely... But my mind was made up. There was no turning back. The next day, the severance ritual was complete. Ten years. It was finally over. Eric was generous in the division of our assets. I received everything I was entitled to. My things were all packed. "] thought we agreed to tell River after the trials. If you move out now, he'll get suspicious." ---- Eric leaned against the doorframe, his voice a mix of confusion and a nearly imperceptible hint of panic. "T'm just moving to the guest room," I said, my voice shaking as I fought to keep it steady. With my back to him, my eyes were already burning with unshed tears. "You're in there so often, you know the way," I murmured, my nails digging into my palms. My words left him speechless. I dragged my suitcase toward the door, my eyes scanning the nightstand. A photo of the three of us, our smiles frozen on the faded print. Though we were destined to part, the memory of that warmth was the one thing that had kept me going. A familiar ache returned. I wiped the tears from my eyes. Then, I turned and walked away without looking back.