Chapter 3

Sloane kept her head high, entered the cabin, and softly closed the door behind her. Her heart was thundering in her chest, Ava was growling in anger. Keeping her emotions under wraps, she met Damon’s thundering gaze. She could feel his wolf was in control, but as soon as he came, Damon was back. “May I know Mr. Blackthorn, what are you doing here in my cabin?” She asked. “You may not.” he growled. “Very well then. I guess you are here for Miss Lyra’s reports. A nurse can help you with that. If there is nothing else you can leave.” Damon was sitting on her chair, commanding the room with his Alpha aura. His aura was overwhelming, trying to make Sloane’s knees buckle. But she was not going to let that happen. Ava willed to stay in place, never backing down. “What was that thing that you left for me?” He narrowed his eyes. “You are well aware what that was,” she answered unapologetically. “Let me guess.” Damon Blackthorn leaned back in a leather chair, lips twisting into a humorless smile. “You’re still jealous. Over a little incident? Over Lyra? An Omega?” Not just any Omega. Sloane stood across from him, spine straight, expression unreadable. “I’m not jealous, Damon. I’m done.” His golden eyes sharpened, Alpha aura rolling off him like a storm. “You think you can sever the bond and walk away? You’re Luna Blackthorn. My mate. Without me, you’re nothing.” Sloane’s lips curved in a faint, icy smile. “Even the strongest leash can’t hold a wolf that chooses to run. And frankly? I’d rather cut the chain myself than wait for it to choke me.” “You!” He surged to his feet, jaw clenched, standing up and taking steps toward her, hand gripping her chin with punishing force. “Sloane, you’ve grown a spine, haven’t you?” Sloane’s eyes glittered with golden blaze, her wolf in charge, something colder than fear. “Are we done here, Alpha Blackthorn? Or would you like to keep proving how little our bond means?” “You will be nothing without me. I will cut you off and will make sure that you stay a lone wolf. And you know what happens to lone wolves, they become rogues. I am giving you a chance, so stop throwing tantrums. Come back home and I will consider forgiving you.” Ava growled, Solene’s eyes glowed golden, “What forgiveness. I will happily become a rogue if that means I get a break from you and your toxic relationship. Keep your paws out of my life. You might be an Alpha, but remember, I am not an Omega who will whimper. Your Alpha bark does nothing to me.” Damon’s nostrils flared. A beat passed. Then, with a frustrated growl, he shoved her back. “Fine. This afternoon. At the Council of Bonds. We’ll see if you’re brave enough to go through with it.” Sloane smoothed her blouse, utterly composed. “I’ll be there.” That afternoon, the gleaming lobby of the Council headquarters was a stage for humiliation. Damon arrived in his obsidian Bentley, Lyra on his arm, her beauty camera-ready even with a cast around her hand. Caleb followed close behind, small hand clinging to Lyra’s skirt. “If there’s going to be a bond severance,” Damon said smoothly, “my son deserves to know why his mother is destroying our family.” Reporters caught them, circling them like bloodhounds bombarding them with questions. They were already there, Solane was sure that Lyra tipped them. She wanted this to be a nationwide spectacle. “The more the merrier.” she smiled. The reporters kept on questioning them. “Is it true that you married your wife only because of your son?” “What is the reason behind this tragic incident?” “Is Miss Lyra the homewrecker?” “Is she the reason Luna is leaving the family behind?” Damon gritted his teeth, and Lyra became a little rigid. They were escorted inside the council chambers. Sloane, already waiting by the marble steps, lifted her chin. The flashing cameras never caught her, she was there like a shadow, her calm smile cutting sharper than any dagger. She joined them. Caleb’s voice rang out, trembling. “I don’t want Mom. I want Aunt Lyra to be my real mother!” The words should have gutted her. Instead, they set her free. “Relax,” Sloane said evenly. “I won’t fight for custody. I’m giving you both exactly what you wanted. Caleb will get a new mom, the one he really likes, and Damon will get the love of his life.” Lyra’s eyes glistened as she played her part, voice syrupy with false pity. “Sloane, please don’t do this. Damon never meant to hurt you. He.” Sloane tilted her head, smile sharp as glass. “Are you a mind reader, or a witch well-versed in magical craft? How do you know what he meant, or both of you know each other so intimately that…” Lyra’s facade cracked, her lips twitching. Damon snarled, his Alpha aura whipping through the room, sending weaker wolves trembling to their knees. “Sloane, enough! You want to dissolve the mate bond? Fine. But don’t crawl back later.” Sloane’s voice cut through the chaos, calm and clear. “Oh please, if I ever regret this, I would swallow the whole silver bar.” Gasps rippled through the crowd. Damon froze, disbelief flickering in his eyes. He thought she’d beg, as she always had. Instead, she walked past him into the Council chamber, heels clicking like war drums. Behind her, Lyra’s whisper hissed like venom. “In the end, Damon still chose me.” Sloane paused, her smile never faltering. “Is that a compliment? Just think, Alpha, who can betray his own mate, will ever remain loyal to a weakling Omega. Count your days, darling.” Lyra’s face paled. And with that, Sloane walked inside to sign away her bond, her freedom blazing brighter with every step. ** They all were sitting before the council member ready to file the agreement. “Are you both sure about this?” the officer asked. “If you want to apologize…” Damon started to speak. “Yes.” Sloane answered with a smile. “You!” he growled. “You will regret this.” Sloane snorted. “Who do you think you are? Alpha like you comes in dozens and costs nothing.” “Be ready for the consequences.” He snapped. “Sloane, please it’s…” Lyra started crying. “I wish I was on the jury Lyra. I would have given you a best actress award. What a shame.” Sloane chuckled. “Sloane!” Damon barked. The room felt silent. His Alpha aura filling the room, making every wolf bow in pressure. Sloane’s eyes snapped. “We. Are. Done.” She growled. Damon was startled for a moment but he nodded nonetheless. “Ok then, if you are so adamant about it. So let’s break the bond.” He said, “But don’t come back crawling after.” His voice was smug as getting a reaction out of her was his endgame. “Whoever regrets has to whimper like a rabid dog. And we all know who the dog is.” Sloane warned. Damon gritted his teeth but they signed the papers. Damon was furious, he did not know where Sloane was getting this confidence. He wanted to make her pay and wanted to make her regret her decision.