chapter 8

That night, Bella had just stepped through the door when her phone buzzed. Ryan's name glowed on the screen. He was calling from the werewolf hospital.

“Bella, I'm sorry. Liliana's still not feeling well. She has to stay a few more days.”

His voice carried a hint of guilt. “I'll stay with her, so I won't be able to come home,” he added.

Bella kept her tone even. “It's fine. Stay with her as much as you have to.”

From now on, Ryan could stay with Liliana as much as he wanted.

There were only three days left before Bella's departure.

Out of nowhere, Liliana sent Bella a video.

The holy chamber looked unchanged. Liliana stood in the center wearing a princess gown and a crown, surrounded by towers of gifts.

Ryan slipped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pressed a kiss to her earlobe. “Happy birthday, princess. What's your wish?”

Liliana lifted her chin with pride. “I want the same deal Bella had. No matter what I ask, you have to give it to me.”

Ryan teased her with a playful tug on her wolf ears. “Alright. Whatever you want, princess.”

Bella didn't respond. She saved the video in silence and went to her bedroom.

Expressionless, she let a drop of her blood fall onto the parchment that dissolved the mate bond.

From that moment on, she and Ryan were nothing more than strangers.

Two days remained until her departure.

Liliana sent another video.

This time, Ryan pressed his ear against her stomach, his face looked serious.

Liliana smirked. “The baby's only three months along. What could you possibly hear?”

Ryan answered with complete seriousness. “I heard him call me Dad.”

Liliana laughed, tugging her nightdress down just enough to tease. “He can't talk yet. But if you want to hear it, I'll give you the thrill, daddy.”

Ryan's throat tightened. His body moved on instinct. He flipped her onto the bed in an instant.

The mattress shuddered under their weight, shaking hard and fast again and again.

Liliana's breath caught. “Ryan, no! Don't fuck me while you're standing up and holding me!”

His voice turned rough. “I'm your daddy now, and this is how I carry my girl.”

Bella still didn't respond. She contacted a neutral pack and traded Nightshade Pack resources for human-world currency. It was enough to let her disappear anywhere and live in peace for the rest of her life.

On the morning of her departure, Bella woke before sunrise.

She had three tasks to complete.

First, she gathered every gift Ryan had given her. A vanity box carved from a rival Alpha's skull. A shawl spun from thousand-year silkworm silk. Hairpins sculpted from rare beast horns. All treasures she had once cherished, now nothing but cruel reminders.

She handed them to the villa's servants without asking for anything in return. The servants were ecstatic but confused, since each piece of gift was priceless on their own.

Bella only smiled. “Something really good happened to me. I wanted to share the joy. Don't feel guilty about it. Just take them.”

Then she added, “No chores today for you guys either. No cleaning, no cooking, and no watering the flowers. You can all go home early.”

The servants left beaming, their arms full of treasures. They thanked Bella before they departed.

Her second task was dealing with Liliana's videos and recordings. Bella reached out to a black-market dealer near the border and purchased three things: a flying device that could scatter papers across the werewolf territory, a device to loop footage on the pack's massive screen, and a loudspeaker powerful enough to echo through a hundred mountains.

The flying devices carried photos of Ryan and Liliana wrapped together in bed. The video showed Liliana's shameless games. The recordings carried their moans and whispers. It was enough for the entire Nightshade Pack to see what their 'loyal and loving' Alpha truly was.

Her final task was simple. She packed her luggage and placed the mate dissolution contract neatly on the table.

Just then, her phone rang again. Ryan's name glowed across the screen.

His voice was soft. “Bella, I'm almost done here. Once I finish, I'll come back to you.”

Bella answered with a hum. “Perfect timing. I prepared a surprise for you.”

Ryan sounded eager. “Really? What did you prepare for me?”

Her tone stayed level. “You'll find out when you get back.”

And maybe, if fate was kind, he'd see the flying devices, the videos, and the recordings before he reached home.

Ryan hung up full of excitement.

Bella pulled her suitcase straight out the door.

Familiar werewolves waved to her while she walked down the boulevard.

“Heading out for some fun, Luna?”

Bella nodded warmly. “Yeah, just heading out.”

She didn't say that she was never coming back.

The sun blazed overhead as Bella climbed into the car bound for the border.

As the werewolf territory blurred in the distance, she smiled.

Ryan, this is goodbye forever.