Bond Yet Untouched, My Mate Regretted His Affair

After Christopher left, I lay in a strange bed, in a strange town, in a strange pack's land, staring at the ceiling. Sleep was a lost cause. I dragged myself up, grabbed my charging phone, and booked a 4 a.m. flight back to Cernis-the soonest I could escape Elthenia.

I got out of bed, dried my rain-soaked clothes from earlier, and changed out of the ill-fitting outfit Christopher had bought me. I folded it neatly and left it on the couch. With an hour and a half until takeoff, I glanced around the apartment I'd barely spent four hours in. From my backpack, I pulled out a small, elegant box. Inside was an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch, worth $540,000. I'd scrimped and saved for years, dipping into half my fixed savings to buy it as our anniversary gift. Now, it was my way of closing the book on this farce of a bond.

I scribbled a note on a piece of paper: Christopher, this is my last gift to you. Goodbye forever. I placed it beside the watch, slung my now-lighter backpack over my shoulder, and shut the door behind me. I didn't look back.

Cabs were scarce at that hour, and I reached Ilmaris Town Airport with just twenty minutes to spare. Unlike my frantic arrival, I was calm now-checking in, boarding, all with steady paws. I'd hoped to return with Christopher. Instead, I came alone, and I was leaving alone.

Before takeoff, I sent him a voice message in Shalorian. "Christopher, you could've been honest with me. No need to hide your heart for six years. I know Brittany's the one you love. I saw her message. I know you're staying in Elthenia for her, and that your phone's wallpaper is her from graduation day. You should've told me sooner. It would've saved us both six years. When you're back, let's head to the family court."

I hit send and leaned back, staring out the window as the plane climbed. six years bound to him flashed through my mind. When I had kidney stone surgery, I was alone. When a student's parent gave me grief, I was alone. When my car got a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, phone dead, I was alone. Broken lightbulbs, burst pipes-I fixed them all myself. Why did I ever form this bond?

I gazed at the blue sky and white clouds, then slid off the ring I'd worn for six years and tucked it away.

Ten hours later, the plane touched down in Cernis. I turned on my phone to find one message from Christopher: "We'll talk when I'm back."

I didn't reply. At the airport, I tossed the ring into a trash bin.

Back home, Christopher's parents, Franklin and Linda, were waiting at the gate. They'd cooked a feast, knowing I was returning from Elthenia. Franklin took my bag, while Linda grabbed my hand, peering behind me. "Lauren, where's Chris? Why're you alone?"

I didn't sugarcoat it. "Franklin, Linda, I want to break my bond with Chris."

Their jaws dropped. Linda clutched my hand tighter. "Why? Did he hurt you?"

Under their worried gazes, I spilled everything-Brittany, the slippers, the dreamcatcher, his decision to settle in Elthenia. Franklin and Linda were livid. They urged me to eat, then retreated to their room. I had no appetite, sitting alone on the couch when I overheard Linda on the phone with Christopher.

".Lauren's been with us six years, bending over backward so you could focus on your healer work. She's taken care of your dad and me like we were her own. When your dad's diabetes flared up, she was the one running to get his meds, taking him to checkups, cooking separate meals for him. When I broke my leg last year, she bathed me, changed my clothes, helped me to the bathroom-never complained, not once. I was in that cast for months, and by the time it came off, Lauren had dropped a ton of weight from the stress."

Her voice lowered, sharp. "Don't think I don't know about you and Brittany. She ditched you for her career, and you still chased her to Elthenia, only to find she'd bound with someone else. Now you're ready to settle there for her again? Have you no shame? If you've got any respect left for your parents, you'll get your tail back home, or you can collect our bodies!"

That night, Christopher caught a flight back. He arrived at dawn the next day.

Franklin, Linda, and I sat in the living room, the silence heavy as a storm cloud. After a night to think, his parents had made peace with it. They knew he didn't love me. Holding my hand, their eyes brimmed with guilt. "Lauren, we've held you back for six years," Franklin said. "We can't keep you from the rest of your life. We agree to you breaking the bond. Don't worry-Chris will give you the house, the car, everything, as compensation."

They turned to Christopher. "Talk to Lauren."

We stepped out to the front yard, the dim streetlight stretching our shadows long. He spoke first, voice low. "Brittany's ex-mate was a drunk, abusive wolf. I stayed in Elthenia to keep her safe. As for the wallpaper, I've had it forever. If it bothers you, I'll change it to you."

His words felt like a dodge, like he thought I was making a fuss over nothing. But it's the thousand little things that kill a bond. I looked down, exhausted. "No need. I don't want that."

I met his gaze. "six years, Christopher. If you ever felt even a spark for me, come with me to the family court at dawn."

He hesitated, his jaw tight. Then, from his car nearby, Brittany's voice called out. "Chris! You done talking?"

I looked over. She stepped out, a bandage on her forehead, scratches on her face. Christopher rushed to explain. "Her ex got bailed out yesterday and attacked her again. I couldn't leave her alone in Elthenia, so I brought her back."

I glanced at Brittany, then back at him, and it all clicked. "Nine a.m., family court," I said.

I never imagined breaking our bond with Brittany tagging along. At the family court window, Christopher leaned in, his tone casual. "You sure about this? Once we're unbound, we're done."

He thought I was bluffing, that I couldn't walk away so calmly. Seven years of loving him, and I could read his every look. I met his eyes, steady. "Yeah."

I signed my name-Lauren-quick and clean. He paused, then signed too. Breaking our bond took one hour.