POV: Lyra

The cabin fell quiet after the others left for their run.

I sat alone on the porch, staring at the forest where Colt had disappeared with Ravenna. Becca had gone inside to make tea, leaving me with my thoughts.

My phone buzzed.

It was my lawyer.

"Luna Lyra, I have uncovered concerning information regarding your mate bond. Please call me when you are alone."

My heart raced. I stepped off the porch and walked deep into the trees. Far enough that no one could hear.

I dialed.

The lawyer's voice was grave. "I reviewed the paperwork you signed with the pack council five years ago. There are irregularities."

"Explain," I said.

"Your mating ceremony contract was altered. The original documents show you were supposed to have equal rights to pack assets. But the version you signed was different. Your name was removed from shared ownership."

I felt the world tilt. "Who changed it?"

"I traced the digital signatures. The modifications came from two sources. Colt's personal server. And Ravenna's father."

My blood went cold.

"Ravenna's father?"

"He is a pack elder. He had access. Together, they stripped you of everything. Any claim to land. Any claim to assets. If you separate from Colt, you walk away with nothing."

I closed my eyes.

I had mortgaged my parents' house for this pack. I had bled for this pack. I had given everything.

And they had stolen it all from me.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"This is not all," the lawyer said. "I found evidence that Ravenna has been filing official complaints against you. For years. She has documented every conflict. Every argument. She has been building a case to have you removed as Luna."

"How?"

"She claims you are unstable. Emotionally unfit. She has testimonies from Rake and Liliana backing her claims. If the council believes them, they could revoke your Luna title before your separation is final."

I leaned against a tree. My legs were weak.

Ravenna had been planning this for years. She never wanted to steal Colt. She wanted to destroy me.

"I need proof," I said. "Evidence that she lied."

"I am working on it. But this will take time. And money."

"How much?"

"A significant amount. Your accounts are frozen, remember? You have no access to pack funds."

I thought of my parents. They had given me everything. I had given them nothing.

"Find a way," I said. "I don't care what it takes."

The call ended.

I stared at the sky through the canopy of leaves. The sun was warm. I felt nothing.

I walked back to the cabin.

The others had returned. I could hear them laughing inside. Colt's voice was loud, cheerful.

I pushed open the door.

Ravenna was draped over him on the couch. Her legs were across his lap. Her head was on his shoulder. His arm was around her.

She smiled at me.

"Lyra! There you are. We were worried."

I walked past them without a word.

Ravenna sat up. "Where are you going?"

"To pack my things."

Colt stood up. He followed me into the bedroom.

"What is wrong with you now?" he demanded.

I turned to face him.

Ravenna's father altered my mating contract. You stripped me of every asset I contributed to. You let her build a case to have me removed. And you did nothing."

Colt's face went pale. His jaw tightened.

"How did you find out?"

"So it is true."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Lyra, listen to me. That was business. Ravenna's father was handling the paperwork. I didn't know—"

"You did not know?" I laughed. "You signed the papers. You watched me mortgage my parents' house. You watched me bleed for this pack. And you let them take everything from me."

"Ravenna had nothing to do with—"

"Do not say her name."

I grabbed my bag and started throwing clothes into it.

Colt's hand clamped down on my wrist. He spun me around, pulling me against his chest. His face was inches from mine. His breath was hot on my lips.

"You are not leaving," he growled.

"Let me go."

"Lyra—"

I shoved him back.

His chest hit the wall. He stared at me, eyes wide, stunned. No Omega had ever dared to shove him.

"I am done," I said. "Do you understand? Done. I will file for my divorce. I will expose your lies. And I will walk away from this pack with my head held high."

Colt's face shifted. The anger faded. Something else flickered in his eyes. Fear.

"Lyra. Please."

I stopped.

He had never said please.

"Just give me one month," he said. "One month to prove I can change. I will make it right. All of it."

He reached for my hand. I pulled away.

"I do not want your promise," I said. "I want my life back."

I walked out of the bedroom.

Ravenna was waiting in the hallway. Her eyes were cold.

"Leaving so soon?" she asked.

I stopped in front of her. I looked at her face—the face I had hated for five years.

"You think you won," I said. "But you did not. I am leaving because I want to. Not because you drove me out."

Ravenna's smile faltered.

"I am stronger than you will ever understand. And one day, you will regret every single thing you did to me."

I walked past her.

End of Chapter 5

—