Chapter 3

I stayed in bed for two whole days. The wounds had scabbed over, but they still burned—like someone kept rubbing salt into them. But what hurt more than the wounds was the silence. Ben never came. And I knew exactly where he was. With her. Just like all the other times. This time, I didn’t even try to reach him through the mate bond. What was the point? On the morning of the third day, with frost lingering in the air, I slowly sat up. I stared at the photo wall I’d once cherished—the one I now despised. A photo of the three of us. Chloe always had the brightest smile. Ben’s gaze had never once landed on me. “Enough.” I whispered, as if declaring a final verdict on all my years of self-deception. I began to pack. All the things I once held dear—gifts from Ben, necklaces, photos, handwritten notes—I tossed them into the fireplace. When the flames roared to life, I heard it: The sound of something inside me breaking. Snap. Like a lock I'd carried for years… finally shattered. Then the door opened. Ben. He was finally here. His eyes immediately landed on the burning photos, and his face darkened. “What the hell are you doing?” He stormed over, fury blazing in his gaze. “Susan, you think this kind of drama is going to get my attention?” I stared calmly at the fire. “It’s not about you. I just wanted those memories to die with a little dignity.” Ben frowned, grabbing my shoulder tightly. “Stop playing these little games. You know I’m not moved by this. You’d better behave, or else—” “Or else you’ll ‘abandon’ me?” I cut him off, looking up at him, my voice flat and lifeless. “You already did, Ben. You just won’t admit it.” He froze, just for a moment. Then laughed coldly. “Still acting out, huh? Fine. Let’s talk like adults. Tonight, you’ll have dinner with me and Chloe. You’re practically her mother—show some maturity and fix your relationship with her.” I stared at him, my voice hoarse: “Ben, I’m only two years older than Chloe. And you want me to be her mother? Don’t you think that’s a little twisted?” He blinked. Like it had just occurred to him. But he recovered quickly. “She lost her parents young. I’ve raised her since then. She’s never known hardship, and I won’t let her start now.” I fell silent for a moment… then chuckled. Because I had never known hardship either—until I fell in love with him. That night at dinner, Chloe beamed like nothing had ever happened. Ben peeled shrimp for her with a smile, Chloe fed him side dishes. They whispered and laughed together, practically glowing. Ben, perhaps trying to maintain some sense of fairness, placed a piece of food in my bowl. I looked down. Lemon-baked bass. Chloe’s favorite. My most hated. I didn’t say a word. I simply placed it back on the serving plate. The whole meal felt like a silent joke, where the only warmth came from their intimacy—and the only thing growing in me was the cold, final resolve. After dinner, Chloe tugged on Ben’s sleeve and whined, “Daddy, take me to a movie, please?” Ben wiped his mouth and smiled. “Of course. Susan, get some rest.” Before leaving, he turned to me, smiling. “I won’t forget the next marking ceremony. This time, I’ll plan it myself. I promise—there’ll be a big surprise.” A surprise. I smiled sweetly. “Alright. I’ll wait.” He looked relieved, then turned and left with Chloe. I didn’t go back to my room. Instead, I picked up my dagger, wrapped myself in my cloak, and walked deep into the forest. There were no paths here. Only trial and spirit. I knelt before the Moonstone Altar, placed both hands over my heart, and bit my finger. Blood dripped into the rune-carved stone trough. Then, I whispered the severance rite: “By the name of Frostfang—I break the soul chain.” In the next instant, a searing pain erupted in my chest, like claws digging into my core and tearing a piece of my soul free. I felt it. The bond that had barely kept me tied to Ben—shattered. The psychic backlash hit me like a tidal wave. I collapsed forward, nearly unconscious from the sheer agony. But I didn’t turn back. Because this pain— Was my freedom. I summoned my wolf form, and with a howl that echoed through the mountains, I ran toward the Frostfang Pack. Home.