I must've fallen asleep without realising it. When my eyes opened, the room was already dark, and the sound of the door opening pulled me fully awake.
Ethan stood there, cold as always and expressionless. His sharp blue eyes scanned the room like I was just another object in it.
It was already past 7 PM. and I didn't move or say a word.
I just sat there on the bed, staring blankly at him. For the first time, I didn't feel that old panic that usually came whenever he walked in.
He froze for a second, probably surprised that I wasn't rushing toward him like some desperate Luna begging for his affection. Then his gaze fell on the papers beside me.
"What's this?" His brows furrowed but I met his eyes.
"What do you think it is? Of course it's your precious papers, terminating our mating bond legally. The ones you've been begging me to sign."
Before he could answer, I threw them at his chest. The papers fluttered and scattered across the floor between us. Ethan's jaw tightened, shock flashing across his face.
He wasn't used to me talking back. I used to be quiet, obedient. His perfect little Luna who smiled through every insult, and every betrayal. But not anymore.
"This is what you wanted, right?" I said, my voice trembling but fierce. "A mate bond termination. Congratulations, Alpha. You got your wish. We'll make it official tomorrow, and then you'll never have to see me again."
For a long moment, he just stood there staring at me. Then that familiar arrogance slipped back onto his face, calm and cruel.
"Fine," he said at last. "Tomorrow morning, we'll finalize everything. You'll get your alimony, and then you're gone from my life for good."
The words hit harder than I expected. My wolf whimpered inside, but I bit my lip to keep my tears from falling. He wasn't going to see me break like in the past.
"I don't want your money. Let's just get the termination done and I'll leave without taking anything."
That made him pause. He narrowed his eyes, studying me like he didn't believe it. "You're serious?"
"Yes, I don't need anything from you."
"Good," he muttered, and held out his hand. "Hand over your phone to me."
"What?" I frowned.
"You heard me, hand it over!"
I glared at him, then grabbed my phone from the bedside table and shoved it into his palm.
"Here, knock yourself out."
He started scrolling through it immediately, like some jealous fool searching for proof I'd done something wrong. His thumb moved fast, his expression darkening each time he found nothing.
I watched him quietly, a bitter laugh catching in my throat. So this was the man I once thought I loved... a paranoid Alpha with no trust left in him.
After a minute, he dropped the phone onto the bed.
"You've packed," he said flatly, nodding at the suitcase beside me. "I assume everything in there was bought with my money?"
I felt my stomach twist. "So what if it was?"
"Then you leave it." Ethan's face hardened. "All of it."
"What?" I gasped in shock.
"You said you don't need my money," he uttered coldly. "So you don't get to take anything that came from it, not a single thing."
I stared at him in disbelief, heat rising behind my eyes. "You can't be serious."
"Oh, I'm deadly serious," he replied, his tone cutting like ice. "You made your choice, now live with it."
"Do... you have to go... this low?" My voice shook.
Ethan smirked, stepping closer. "I'll go as low as I want. Maybe then you'll realise you can't survive without me. You'll come crawling back… begging for that alimony you just refused."
His words twisted deep inside me, cruel and deliberate. But I straightened my shoulders and met his gaze anyway.
"I'd rather starve, than ever beg you again!"
For a second, his eyes flickered with disbelief. "Then get out," he ordered. "Now, tonight!"
I froze. "You're throwing me out? At this hour?"
"Out!" he repeated, his alpha tone booming through the room. "This is my house and you're no longer welcome here."
A sharp ache tore through my chest, but I swallowed it down. Without another word, I stood and walked past him.
As I stepped into the hall, the grand corridors of Silverpine Pack house stretched before me with family portraits. Not a single photo of me or one trace of the woman who once shared this life with him.
I reached the front door, but before I could open it, a voice came from behind me. "Well, look who finally got kicked out."
I turned and saw Lara Doyle stood there, leaning casually against the doorway, her smirk gleaming under the chandelier.
"Let me guess, mate bond termination has been finalized?"
I didn't answer and just pushed past her, but she stepped in front of me.
"You know," she said, twirling a strand of her black hair, "Ethan told me you were crazy, guess he wasn't wrong. Bringing another man's baby into his pack? How did you expect him to forgive that?"
I went numb, my hands curled into fists. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, come on." Lara laughed softly. "Everyone knows you lost that child for a reason. Maybe the Moon Goddess took pity on the poor Alpha."
That did it. Before I could think, my palm connected with her cheek, the sharp crack echoed through the foyer.
"You don't know anything!" I snapped. "You don't know what really happened five years ago!"
Her eyes widened with shock before turning venomous. "You bitch!"
The front door burst open, and Ethan stormed out. His wolf aura hit the air like lightning. Before I could move, his hand struck across my face, sending me stumbling back.
"You dare touch her?" he roared, eyes glowing bright red. "You filthy, ungrateful woman!"
My cheek burned. My vision blurred with tears. "You're a beast, Ethan!" I screamed.
He grabbed my arm roughly and dragged me toward the door. "You want to leave? Fine, then get out... and don't ever come back!"
Outside, the night air was freezing. The ground was rough beneath my bare feet. Ethan shoved me past the gate, his voice cold as steel.
"If I ever see you again, Riley," he growled, "I'll make you regret it!"
The gate slammed shut behind me. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the mansion I once called home. The moon watched as I silently took my first step away.
No phone, or money. Nothing but the clothes I wore. My wolf stirred in fury knowing he had taken everything from us.
Under that moon, I made a silent vow... One day, Ethan Hartley and Silverpine Pack would pay for every scar they left on my soul!