Severing a Million Dollar Bond

I treated Eleanor to a ten-thousand-dollar dinner at the most expensive restaurant in our territory.

For once, she didn't look at the prices or try to order the cheapest thing on the menu.

"Are you sure, Rowan?" she whispered, her fingers trembling on the leather-bound menu.

I covered her hand with mine. "Order anything you want. With that ungrateful family off my accounts, we have more than enough money!"

We savored every bite of our Wagyu steak, sharing quiet smiles across the candlelit table.

For the first time in years, Eleanor's shoulders weren't tense with stress.

We stayed out until the moon was high in the sky before heading home.

The autumn night air was crisp, and Eleanor actually laughed as I told her stories from my alchemy lab.

When we got home, the house was blazing with lights.

The moment I stepped inside, my wolf recoiled so violently I almost shifted on the spot.

The cheap scent of Cassia's perfume hung in the air—a sickly sweet jasmine that tried and failed to cover her own scent.

It mingled with something else that made my stomach turn—their scents were all over our home, marking their presence in every room.

My house.

My territory.

My family space.

All of it had been invaded by the women who were tearing our family apart.

As I walked to the door of my alchemy lab, I heard giggling from inside.

Young, carefree laughter that had no business being in my private sanctuary.

I threw the door open, so hard it cracked the wall.

Briar was lounging on my experiment table as if she owned the place, her designer clothes strewn across my equipment.

My alchemy station.

The place where my scent was strongest.

Where I'd spent countless nights developing potions, practicing formulas until my spiritual energy was depleted.

My blood didn't just boil—my inner wolf roared for vengeance.

All my carefully honed control as Head Alchemist shattered like glass.

Without thinking, I grabbed Briar's monogrammed Hermès suitcase and hurled it out the window.

The glass exploded outward with a satisfying crash.

Briar let out a wail as she watched her expensive clothes scatter across the front lawn.

"My Gucci dress! My Prada shoes!"

Grady ran over, shielding Cassia and Briar as if they were the ones who needed protection.

"What are you doing? They needed a place to rest for the night! Stop acting like a feral wolf!"

I bared my fangs, letting him see just how feral I could be.

"Oh, really? And my alchemy lab was the only option? In this entire house? The house I pay for?"

"You came back so late! We couldn't just leave them without proper accommodations. Briar was tired, and your lab has the best view of the moon—"

A wave of my dominance flooded the room, and his voice faltered.

The air crackled with power, making Briar whimper.

"Then why didn't you give them your room? Too busy playing happy family with your ex to remember your actual mate? The one who actually supports this household?"

Grady's eyes blazed with fury, but I noticed he didn't step any closer.

"Rowan, you're being unreasonable! They're our guests—"

"They're parasites," I snarled. I could smell them all over my space—my books, my clothes, even my childhood stuffed wolf.

My carefully honed control as Head Alchemist was gone.

I turned to Cassia and Briar, letting them see the full fury of my inner wolf.

"Get. Out."

Cassia held Briar protectively, playing the victim as always. "You can't just throw us out in the middle of the night!"

I grabbed their remaining luggage—three more designer suitcases—and hurled them out onto the street.

"Watch me."

When Grady tried to stop me, I shoved him out too. I lashed out with another wave of dominance, sending them stumbling down the front steps.

Caleb started shouting, puffing out his chest like he was still the trainee warrior I had raised. "You can't do this! They're family—more family than you are!"

I turned on him, my eyes burning gold as I loomed over him, letting him feel the full force of my wrath.

"Want to join them on the street, little brother? Keep talking."

He fell silent, backing away. All his bluster vanished in the face of true dominance.

I dragged him to the basement and locked the door. "Maybe a night in here will remind you who actually cares about you. Who paid for your training. Who raised you while Grady was busy chasing his ex."

Eleanor was wringing her hands, her maternal instincts at war with years of abuse. "Rowan, maybe we should—"

"He needs this lesson. They all do. Sometimes a bond has to break before it can heal properly."

I activated all the security measures in the house—a hundred thousand dollars worth of protection well spent.

Barriers of rowan wood, reinforced locks, and warning wards sealed us safely inside.

We slept soundly that night, just me and Eleanor in our fortress.

For once, no one could hurt us.

The next morning, Grady arrived with a locksmith.

Cassia and Briar followed him, their designer clothes wrinkled, playing the part of the victim perfectly.

The moment the basement was open, Briar rushed in.

"Caleb! Oh my god, are you okay? How could she lock you up like this? What kind of monster does this to her own brother-in-law? You poor thing!"

Caleb collapsed into her arms, trembling for maximum effect. "She's insane! Her and Eleanor both! Look what they've done to our family!"

Cassia stepped forward, her face contorted in disgust. "Look what you've done to him! His own mother raised you to be violent and irrational. Just like her! No decent she-wolf would ever act like this!"

Cassia dabbed at her eyes with a silk handkerchief, careful not to smudge her perfect makeup. "Please, let's not fight. We can all live together in this house. I'm so sorry to have caused such a rift. I only want us to be a happy family!"

"See how gracious Cassia is," Grady snarled, an arm wrapped around her waist. "Unlike you two ungrateful women! After everything we've done for you!"

He pointed to the ruined designer clothes still scattered on our lawn. "You're going to clean every single piece and have them delivered to the gala. Maybe that will teach you some respect! Cassia and Briar shouldn't have to suffer because you can't control your temper."

I smiled sweetly, drawing on all my years of training to appear calm. "Of course. You all go on ahead—Eleanor and I will take care of everything. We wouldn't want to delay your perfect family gala."

Grady narrowed his eyes, clearly suspicious of my sudden cooperation. "Don't be late. And get ready properly this time! I don't want you embarrassing us in front of the other pack members."