Chapter 1

On Dominic’s birthday, I sat alone at the dining table in our den, the aroma of freshly prepared dishes filling the air. I waited for Alpha Dominic to return with our daughter, Noelle, but instead, my phone buzzed with another taunt from his Beta, Melina. The video showed Alpha Dominic and Melina in matching ceremonial attire, their lips locked in a passionate kiss in his downtown apartment. By now, I’d grown numb to such displays.

What shattered me was hearing my five-year-old daughter’s voice at the end. "Aunt Melina is so beautiful and strong, not like my mom. I want Melina to be my Luna," Noelle said. In that moment, I knew the mate bond between Alpha Dominic and me was beyond repair. When I handed him the rejection papers, he dismissed it as another one of my “overreactions.”

"Alpha Dominic, let’s sever the bond," I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest.

He tilted his head, his golden eyes narrowing in confusion before he let out a mocking laugh. "Romina, when did you start pulling stunts like this? What would you do without me? Remember, the den you live in, the resources you use, all of this is thanks to me."

Both Alpha Dominic and Noelle wore that familiar, anticipatory look, as if waiting for me to back down. As I listened to his insults, I realized how insignificant I’d become in his world. Even June, our Omega nanny, probably held more importance; at least she had a role in the pack. No wonder Noelle saw me as weak. Like father, like daughter, I suppose.

They both thought I couldn’t survive without this pack, so they felt free to trample on my dignity. I handed Alpha Dominic the rejection papers I’d already signed and said firmly, "I’m not joking, Alpha Dominic. Let’s end this."

He glanced at the agreement and let out a cold laugh. "Romina, you want to sever the bond over just this small portion of territory?"

Each time Alpha Dominic got angry and threatened rejection, he’d offer me a small section of the pack’s land. For him, it was nothing, but for me, it was enough to start my own sanctuary.

Alpha Dominic stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. "Is this really all about the territory?"

"You don’t even want your precious daughter anymore?"

I chuckled. "No, I don’t."

My response stunned the father-daughter duo across from me. Noelle was quick to react, jumping up and cheering. "Does that mean Aunt Melina can be my Luna now?"

I looked at Noelle, who was bursting with joy, and said softly, "Yes, congratulations, you can have a new Luna."

In stark contrast to Noelle’s happiness, Alpha Dominic glared at me, trying to read my expression. Seeing my serious and determined face, he threw the rejection papers down in anger. "Romina, after all we’ve been through, you suddenly go mad?"

"Yes, I’m suddenly going mad."

"It won’t matter if you disagree. I can file for the bond’s severance, and it will be more humiliating for you if it’s made public."

Moments later, Alpha Dominic snatched the papers, signed his name with a sneer, and tossed them back to me. "Are you happy now?"

"Romina, don’t come back crawling."

After all these years together, I’d only threatened to sever the bond once before, when I first found out about Melina. That had been our fiercest argument, but I’d been the one to back down. Alpha Dominic knew my weaknesses and how to hurt me most. But pain only comes when you care, and I no longer cared.

I held the rejection papers and told him, "It’s too late today; we can finalize this tomorrow."

Alpha Dominic stopped mocking me, his expression serious as he looked at me intently. "Romina, are you serious?"

"What will you do without me?"

I gave him a sidelong glance. "Didn’t you offer me territory? That’s enough for a lifetime."

"Or are you saying you won’t even give me that?"

My words seemed to amuse him, and he laughed angrily. "Fine, Romina, don’t regret it."

"But I want to add a clause: after the bond’s severance, you can’t see Noelle without my permission."

Trying to threaten me? Once, this would’ve been my biggest vulnerability, but now I had none. Under Alpha Dominic’s challenging gaze, I nodded calmly, "Alright."

He froze for a moment, then said nothing more. Meanwhile, Noelle, unaware of the tension, ran circles around her father, celebrating the chance to have a new Luna. I was genuinely happy for her, that she could choose a Luna she admired.