Chapter 2

My Kaden was a pureblooded pup of the Nightshade Pack. What right did anyone have to make him suffer like this?

My eyes went red. I threw myself in front of Kaden, snarling like a wolf that had lost all control: "Get away! I will die before I let you take him!"

Seeing the wound on my forehead still bleeding, Cain's eyes flickered briefly with something soft.

Ella immediately burst into tears, speaking in a persuasive tone: "Sister, you're harming Kaden like this. If he's made mistakes and you won't correct them, and you stop others from helping discipline him — even if his wolf spirit awakens, he'll only grow more extreme."

Cain set aside his hesitation.

He yanked me aside and let those tall werewolves roughly drag Kaden into the van.

"Mama! Mama, save me!" Kaden's cries tore through my wolf spirit.

I chased after the van and slipped on the moss of the stone path, falling to the ground in a heap.

Passersby who didn't understand the situation, seeing Cain sheltering Ella and her pup, assumed I was a low-ranking female clinging to the Alpha.

They pulled out their communicators to record my collapse. The pack's public channel was flooded with mockery.

"This female has no shame — acting like a mistress and daring to make a scene."

"Clinging to the Alpha like a rogue wolf. The guards should throw her into the punishment cell."

Not far away, Ella leaned into Cain's arms, as docile as a tame little wolf.

But her eyes were filled with thick contempt. She mouthed two words at me —

"Useless."

A trace of reluctance crossed Cain's face and he moved to help me up.

Ella immediately collapsed against him, clutching her head: "Cain, my wolf spirit is in so much pain."

Cain withdrew his gaze and carried Ella horizontally in his arms, walking to the car.

As the car passed me, Ella rolled down the window and flashed the smile of a victor.

But by now, I no longer cared about any of this.

I rushed back to the main house, packed bags for Kaden and myself, and used private resources to hire three high-ranking wolf warriors as escorts.

Everything was prepared. I only had to wait for dawn to go and break Kaden out of the training camp.

At midnight, Cain — whom I'd thought would never come back — pushed open the door of the main house.

He was thoroughly drunk, his wolf spirit's aura in disarray. The moment he saw me, he grabbed my jaw.

"Isolde, what's with that look on your face."

"Ella and Bailey — I'll keep them in the secondary residence. They won't threaten your position as Luna. Why won't you just give a little ground?"

Give ground?

Five years ago I gave ground.

And what happened? He and Ella had a pup together.

My Kaden suffered every indignity.

Ella's social platform was filled with photos of their family of three celebrating a birthday in the Full Moon Forest.

And now Kaden was still trapped in the cold Iron Blood Training Camp.

Cain's palm smoothed across my cheek, infatuation in his red eyes. "Isolde, let's have another pup — a girl this time. Once we have both a son and a daughter, you won't want to leave me anymore."

He pinned me on the sofa, his hand sliding up my thigh, his wolf spirit's aura wrapping around me with possessiveness.

I raised my hand and slapped him across the face.

The sound rang out sharp and piercing in the quiet main house.

Cain froze. "Have you lost your mind!"

I pushed him off, pulled out the mate bond dissolution agreement I'd already prepared, and flung it in front of him.

"Sign it."

Cain's expression turned ominous. The alcohol had dulled his reason.

This was the first time he hadn't backed down in front of me. He picked up the pen and pointed at the signature line: "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

I enunciated each word.

Cain's eyes went bloodshot, the veins in his neck standing out. He signed his name cleanly.

"Isolde, I'll be waiting for you to come crawling back."

I paid him no attention. I picked up the signed agreement and my bags, pushed open the door, and walked out of the main house I had lived in for seven years.