(Audrey’s POV)

    The luxury territory vehicle glided through Central Territory’s busy streets. The Beta driver navigated the full-moon traffic with practiced ease, taking smooth turns that barely disturbed the silence between Arthur and me in the backseat.

    I kept my gaze fixed on the passing territory buildings, deliberately avoiding Arthur’s asional nces. The quiet between us felt heavy yet oddlyfortable, a stark contrast to our past interactions filled with arguments and unspoken grievances.

    I could feel Arthur’s eyes on me every few minutes, studying my profile in the dim light. Still, neither of us seemed eager to break the fragile peace. For once, I weed the silence – it gave me time to prepare for the gathering ahead without the exhaustion that always followed our conversations.

    The streetlights cast rhythmic patterns across ourps as we drove deeper into the heart of Central Territory. Pack members hurried along the sidewalks, many dressed in formal attire for the full moon celebrations happening throughout the city tonight.

    As we approached the Silver Moon Territory Hotel, the gleaming structure illuminated against the darkening sky, Arthur finally broke the silence.

    “The little pup who called you ‘Luna Aunt’,” he said, his deep voice carefully measured, “is he Florian Stormhowl’s nephew?” I turned slightly to face him. “He’s Cassandra Stormhowl’s son. Florian’s cousin’s child.”

    Arthur’s jaw tightened visibly. His hand moved reflexively toward his inner pocket, where he typically kept his wolfsbane cigars. Then, seeming to remember my presence, he stopped himself and withdrew his empty hand.

    His fingers drummed against his knee instead, betraying his agitation despite his controlled expression. The mention of any connection to Florian still affected him deeply, I noted.

    His dark eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that once would have made me flinch. Now, I met his gaze steadily.

    “Are you and Florian Stormhowl…” he hesitated, a slight tremor in his voice betraying hisposure, “forming a mate bond?

    Two years ago, such a question would have sent me into a spiral of guilt and fear. Now, I felt strangely detached, unburdened by the weight of ourplicated past. Two years changed everything—my perspective, my strength, my ability to speak my truth without shame.

    “Not yet,” I answered simply, with a calm smile.

    Arthur’s body went rigid, his fingers curling into a tight fist on his knee. “Not… yet?” Each word seemed dragged from his throat.

    “Yes,” I confirmed. “We have some unresolved misunderstandings.”

    “And after the misunderstandings are resolved?” he pressed, raw emotion bleeding into his words.

    I considered his question honestly. “We should be together then.”

    A beat passed as the weight of my words settled between us. The vehicle seemed to shrink around us, making Arthur’s presence feel suddenly overwhelming.

    “I think we’ll form a mate bond,” I continued softly. “Maybe have pups someday. Nothing is certain, of course, but that’s my intention right now.”

    The air in the luxury vehicle seemed to solidify, thick with unspoken emotions. Arthur sat frozen, his dark eyes wide with something akin to shock. For a moment, he looked genuinely paralyzed, as if my words had delivered a physical blow.

    He drew a long, uneven breath, struggling to regain hisposure. His chest rose and fell rapidly, and I could smell the sharp note of distress in his scent.

    When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. “What about me?” The question emerged raw, vulnerable. ” Audrey, you’ve moved so far ahead, but I feel like I’m still standing in the same ce.”

    “Arthur, be fair,” I replied gently but firmly.

    His eyes widened slightly at my words, surprise flickering across his features.

    “It’s been two years,” I continued. “You can’t expect me to remain in the same ce, hurting and alone.”

    I turned more fully toward him, my voice gaining strength. “When we were mated, how many times did you truly see me? How many times did you put me first? You were too busy with Victoria, with pack politics, with everything except me.”

    Arthur flinched slightly at the mention of Victoria, guilt shing across his face.

    “Florian has been there for me since we were pups,” I said. “He never abandoned me, even when I pushed him away. If you were me, who would you choose?”

    Arthur fell silent, his fist clenched so tightly the knuckles turned white. A muscle jumped in his jaw as he swallowed hard. After a long moment, he exhaled heavily. “You’re right.”

    His admission surprised me, but he wasn’t finished.

    “Just…” he paused, seeming to gather his courage, “you said it should be fair, don’t I even have a chance topete fairly?”

    Something in his plea touched me, not with romantic longing but with a kind of sadness for what might have been if we’d both been different wolves.

    Without a word, I removed the jade bracelet I always wore and extended my bare wrist toward him. The scar stood out starkly against my skin – a jagged white line that told its own story.

    “I know you are powerful now,” I said quietly. “The entire Northern Alliance, or even Central Territory, is under your control. But I’m begging you, just let me live.”

    Arthur’s expression crumpled as he stared at the scar. His face paled, and for a moment I thought he might be sick. Gently, as if afraid it might reopen, he touched the raised tissue with his fingertip.

    “George told me,” he whispered, “you cut your wrist with silver for Florian, to make him let you go…”

    “No,” I corrected him.

    I pointed to a fainter mark just above the prominent scar. “That time, I cut this one.” I offered a sad smile. “It wasn’t very deep. Just enough to make my point.”

    Arthur’s eyes widened, his pupils constricting with shock. His breathing became shallow, and genuine horror spread across his face.

    “You… you have self-harm tendencies?” His voice cracked on the question.

    Iughed, a hollow sound without humor. “Spirit sickness.”

    The two wordsnded between us like stones dropping into still water. Arthur looked as if I’d struck him, his face draining of color entirely.

    With practiced movements, I secured the bracelet back around my wrist, concealing the evidence of my darkest moments. ” Arthur, we were bound as mates for three years. You gave me plenty of rare hunting grounds, territory dens, pack shares, moonstone jewelry, nothing wascking.”

    I paused, letting the memories wash over me without the sting they once carried. “However, these were all earned with my life.”

    “When did this happen?” Arthur’s voice quivered with disbelief. His hands trembled slightly as he reached for me before dropping back to his side.

    I nced out at the territory beyond the vehicle’s window, watching wolves going about their evening routines. Familiesughing, couples walking close together, pack members hurrying to gatherings – normal lives that had once seemed impossible for me.

    “I was diagnosed a month after you brought me back from Northern Territory.”

    Remorse etched deep lines around Arthur’s mouth. His shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of responsibility visibly settling on him.

    “Was it me… did I drive you to spirit sickness?” His voice was barely audible.

    “It was also my own choice,” I said, neither absolving himpletely nor taking all the me myself. “The pack healer suspected I had been struggling with it for a long time.”

    I turned back to meet his gaze directly. “Arthur, I’m not telling you this to make you feel guilty. I’ve already moved on, I just want to live a good life now.”

    “What kind of life is a ‘good’ life?” he asked, a genuine question beneath his wounded pride.

    “A life without you,” I answered honestly.

    He flinched as if physically struck, pain shing across his features.

    I inhaled deeply, feeling the weight of our history between us. Then I exhaled slowly, releasing years of resentment and hurt with that breath.

    “The past was all my own choices. As for the future, we will go our separate ways, each living well.”