I grinned at his pathetic attempt to repair what was broken beyond fixing. His words were empty, meaningless.
“I heard your explanation and it’s ridiculous,” I said coldly. “I’ve seen your letter to Rachel, Derek. The one you wrote six years
ago.”
His face paled visibly, and his mouth opened and closed several times without producing sound.
“She was your first love, wasn’t she?” I continued mercilessly. “You wrote that if she agreed to stay with you, you wouldn’t
complete the mating ritual with me–even though I was already carrying your child.”
Derek stepped back as if physically struck.
“I’m fulfilling both of your wishes now,” I said, spreading my arms. “I’m removing myself from the equation. What is there for
you not to be satisfied with?”
“Olivia, please-” he started, his voice cracking.
“You kept her as your secretary all these years,” I interrupted. “You encouraged my son to favor her. You spent my hard–earned
money buying her expensive gifts while giving me the freebies.”
Derek reached for me, but I stepped away.
“Those letters–they’re ancient history,” he insisted. “Yes, Rachel and I were together before I met you. But after we mated, I
never cheated on you. Never.”
1/3
Ask me for forgiveness
His eyes pleaded with mine. “You know that’s true. Your wolf would have sensed it if I’d been unfaithful.”
I paused, knowing he was right about that one thing. Ava, my wolf, would have known if Derek had physically betrayed our bond. But there were many ways to betray someone without touching another.
“I’ve never been with Rachel since we mated,” Derek continued, seeing my hesitation. “I swear on the Moon Goddess herself.”
“Stop talking,” I said, holding up my hand. “Just stop. I don’t care if you slept with her or not. Emotional betrayal hurts just as
much.”
Derek’s shoulders slumped.
“I’m definitely going to sever the mate bond,” I told him firmly. “Tonight.”
His head snapped up, panic flashing in his eyes. “No, Olivia, please. We can work through this. For Oliver’s sake-”
“Don’t you dare use Oliver as a shield,” I hissed. “Not after you’ve poisoned him against me.”
I stepped closer, my voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. “If you don’t agree to sever the bond willingly, I’ll apply directly to the Alpha for a ruling.”
Derek’s face blanched. An Alpha’s intervention in a mate dispute was serious–and usually ended badly for the offending party.
“But if the Alpha intervenes,” I continued, “I can’t guarantee that you and Rachel won’t be exiled for your behavior. Manipulating a cub against his mother? Using pack resources for personal gain? The Alpha doesn’t look kindly on such things.”
Derek swallowed hard. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me,” I challenged, my eyes never leaving his.
We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Derek’s shoulders sagged in defeat.
“Fine,” he said, his voice barely audible. “I agree to sever the bond.”
Relief washed over me, mixed with a strange sadness. Despite everything, we had shared five years together. We had created a beautiful son. Once, I had believed we would grow old together.
“Let’s get this over with,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
Derek nodded, his face a mask of misery. We moved to the center of the living room and stood facing each other, the traditional
position for a bond–severing ritual.
“I, Derek Winters,” he began, his voice shaking, “release you, Olivia Winters, from our mate bond. In the name of the Moon
Goddess, I renounce my claim on you as my mate.”
My turn came. The words felt both bitter and sweet on my tongue.
“I, Olivia Winters, release you, Derek Winters, from our mate bond. In the name of the Moon Goddess, I renounce my claim on
you as my mate. From this day forward, you and I shall have no bond between us.”
2/3
As the last word left my lips, I felt a searing pain in my chest. Ava howled in agony within me as the mate bond began to dissolve.
It felt like someone was tearing out a piece of my soul–because they were.
Derek gasped, clutching his chest. I knew he was feeling the same pain. Our eyes met one last time, filled with shared suffering.
Then, suddenly, it was over. The constant awareness of Derek that had been with me for five years vanished. The invisible tether
that had connected us was gone. I felt lighter, emptier, freer.
“It’s done,” I whispered.
Derek stood there, looking lost. “Olivia-”
“You should leave now,” I said, already turning to call the guards.
The bond was gone. My freedom was complete. I was ready to have the guards throw Derek out of my house and out of my life
forever.
Just as I reached for my phone, it buzzed with an incoming call. Sarah’s name flashed on the screen.
“Sarah, what-“I began, but she cut me off, her voice frantic.
“Olivia, you need to come to the treatment center immediately,” she said. “It’s Oliver. He’s been brought in for emergency
resuscitation.”
My heart froze. “What happened?”
“Severe allergic reaction,” Sarah explained quickly. “They’re working on him now, but it’s bad. Really bad.”
“I’m on my way,” I said, already grabbing my keys.
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