Chapter 4

Screams and cries jolted me awake in the dead of night. Wolf hearing let me pick up the chaotic footsteps downstairs.

Before I could fully sit up, my door was kicked open with a crash.

Linda charged in, tears streaming down her face, and slapped me hard across the cheek again and again, her rage unbridled.

She shrieked, her voice raw with fury, "How could you be so cruel? Have you no heart left?

"Hurting her during the day wasn't enough, and you want to kill her, don't you?"

She collapsed into Marcus' arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "She knows Ella's weak, even as a wolf. Ella is deathly allergic to high concentrations of evening primrose pollen. And she deliberately sprinkled it on Ella's bed and pillows!

"She's trying to murder our daughter! All because Ella's dog accidentally knocked over her mother's evening primrose! She's letting her rage destroy everything!"

"Alright, stop crying. Thankfully, Ella took the allergy antidote in time, so she's alright," Dad said gently, trying to soothe Linda.

As he spoke, he shot me a look of utter disappointment. "Ivy, you've disappointed me beyond words. Tomorrow, you're moving out.

"Keeping you here will only bring chaos to our family. I won't risk the future Luna's safety by letting someone as dangerous as you stay."

Linda's sobs stopped instantly.

I stared at the man who'd once been my closest family, the Elder of Frostfang Clan, who'd doted on me, his only pure-blood daughter, like a treasure.

But everything had changed, and there was no going back.

I became like a heroine fallen from grace, stripped of all my light, losing everything piece by piece.

I'd once cried, argued, begged to understand why he'd turned on me.

Now, clarity hit hard: our father-daughter bond was broken, irreparably.

The day I moved out of Frostfang Manor, Marcus told me, "After your mother's memorial day is over, I'll let you come back home.

"Until then, you need to reflect on yourself and learn to control your wolf instincts."

I said nothing, not a single word.

Once they left, I gathered every photo of Ethan and me, of Marcus and me, and tore them to shreds, tossing the pieces into the fireplace.

I cut them up and tossed the pieces into the fireplace, watching the flames devour them.

Finally, I pulled out the moon-white robe I'd secretly ordered three years earlier, woven from rare moon silk.

It was the sacred gown I had imagined countless times since girlhood, the one I would wear during the marking ritual on a full moon night, pure and shimmering, when I would finally become his.

I watched it burn, the flames devouring the fabric, along with the last of my longing for this Pack, for the family that had betrayed me, for the mate who'd broken my heart.

*****

What remained were the trinkets Ethan had given me over three years: rune amulets unique to Silvermoon Pack, precious gems, and deeds to land in the territory.

I sorted out the expensive items, planning to ask my best friend to hold them temporarily.

Once I left Silvermoon Territory, she'd return them to the Silvermoon Clan anonymously—clean, no strings attached, no lingering scents to tie me to this place.

The small, trivial things, gifts meant to cheer me up, to keep me waiting, went into a box to be thrown away.

Once, I'd cherished even a tiny crescent pendant, just because it carried his scent, because it felt like a piece of him.

Now, tossing them felt like nothing, a meaningless chore. My wolf didn't even glance their way, its apathy a testament to how far we'd come.

When I finished, I wrapped my mother's photo and her moonstone necklace, which was infused with powerful, calming energy, carefully, tucking them into the lining of my suitcase.

Without looking back, I walked out of the place I'd called home for ten years.

As I stepped through the manor gates, Ethan's signature black SUV pulled up.

I didn't spare it a glance, but it came to a stop beside me, the window rolling down to reveal his handsome face, Alpha aura radiating from him, commanding attention.

My gaze slid past him, feet still moving, eager to leave.

"Ivy, where are you going? You're carrying so much luggage," he called, frowning at my coldness, his tone edged with irritation.

Dragging two large suitcases made walking difficult enough; I had no patience for his feigned concern, no desire for small talk.

I kept going, but he jumped out of the car, stepping in front of me seconds later, blocking my path.

"Let me give you a ride?" he offered, his voice softening.

"No, thanks," I replied.

"No, thanks," I said, stepping around him, my voice flat, no emotion left.

But he grabbed my wrist, his Alpha strength holding me in place. "Ivy, why are you being so stubborn this time?

"Cry for me like you used to, bare your neck and show weakness. Maybe I'll soften up again. Maybe I'll give you another chance."

I wrenched my hand free, staring at him with a calm I'd never felt before. "Ethan, I don't need to."

No more tears, no more begging for his mercy, no more waiting for him to choose me.

My wolf was tired, worn out, and had no desire left for him.

"Fine, suit yourself," he said with a scoff, doubt flickering in his eyes.

No wolf, he thought, could walk away from their fated mate so easily.