Chapter Four

Maeve's POV

On Vanessa’s last night as Luna, Ronan told me to come back.

He said the ten days were up. He’d return my things himself, and it was time to settle things between us once and for all.

Before I pushed the door open, I looked through the gap into the living room. It looked exactly as it did every year when he announced the game was over.

A roast leg of lamb and drinks were laid out on the long table. String lights hung across the ceiling.

The walls were covered with photos of me breaking down over the past three years. Beneath each one was a bet on how long it would take me to give in once I saw the bond dissolution agreement.

Vanessa sat on the couch, still wearing my nightgown, with Ronan right beside her.

Before I’d even gone inside, someone started teasing them.

“You two are obviously into each other. Maeve’s not here yet. Why not spend a little more time together while you can?”

“Exactly. She always gives in once she’s done making a scene. You two can drop the act.

“Last month, on the sixteenth, I picked up both your scents in the parking lot of that hotel on the south side of town. Your scents were so mixed together I couldn’t tell them apart. Vanessa even had his bite marks on the side of her neck.

“And you’re still saying you’re just friends?”

I froze outside the door.

On the sixteenth of last month, I’d been in so much pain I could barely stand. I’d curled up on the couch, cold sweat soaking my collar. I’d called for Ronan through the mind link, asking him to come home. He hadn’t answered.

I’d had to pick up my phone and text him instead. Only then had he replied, saying he was in a meeting and couldn’t leave. He’d told me to take some medicine and go to the hospital myself if I couldn’t bear the pain.

He hadn’t been busy at all. He’d been at the hotel with Vanessa.

Inside, Vanessa looked at Ronan. He said nothing, so she took hold of his collar, rose onto her toes, and kissed him.

He didn’t push her away.

Someone whistled. Pryce raised his glass and laughed.

When Vanessa finally pulled away, Ronan frowned as if he’d just remembered something.

“Maeve’s gone too far this time. Once this is over, we’re done with these games.”

I almost laughed. Even this was just a game to him.

I took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and walked in. The noise stopped abruptly, and the room grew tense.

A bond dissolution agreement lay in the middle of the coffee table.

Ronan looked uneasy when he saw me, but he was still certain I’d give in like I had every other year.

Someone laughed. “Maeve, two years ago, you spent all night clutching that fake agreement and crying. Better have a handkerchief ready this time.”

“Don’t take it so seriously,” Vanessa said softly. “Ronan just wants to make sure you still care about him.”

Ronan leaned back on the couch, sounding completely sure of himself.

“Admit you’re jealous, apologize to Vanessa, and put your ring back on. I’ll tear it up right now.”

I opened the agreement. The paper rustled softly as I turned the pages one by one. Every line was neatly laid out.

The asset division was real. The terms were real. So were the Council’s seal and the record of our mate bond.

He’d had a real bond dissolution agreement drawn up just to convince me he meant it. Even so, he’d never imagined I would actually sign it.

He’d even had someone hold up a phone to record me. The red recording dot was lit on the other side of the coffee table as they waited for my fourth breakdown.

His buddies started counting down.

I picked up the pen.

Ronan was already smiling. He probably thought I’d break down like I had two years ago, crying and asking if he was really going to leave me.

But I didn’t argue, and I didn’t cry. I carefully signed my name on the last page of the agreement.

The laughter stopped.