Chapter 3: Lone Wolf Rising

Elise's POV

My footsteps echoed through the nearly deserted hallway of what used to be a thriving fashion empire. Amber Designs—the company Zoe and I built from nothing but caffeine, determination, and too many all-nighters to count—now crumbling before my eyes.

Noah had kept his promise to destroy me. Every magazine, social media platform, and gossip column had dragged my name through the mud, painting me as the villain—the bitter woman too pathetic to move on, the faithless wife who refused to let go.

I'd been humiliated and cyberbullied beyond belief. My carefully cultivated image had been shattered, and now most humans and werewolves wanted nothing to do with me. Investors pulled out. Profits plummeted. Employees quit in droves, no longer wanting to work for a "monster" like me.

In the public eye, I was the devil, and Vivian was the angel. I hated it all, yet was powerless to control the narrative.

I pushed open my office door but froze mid-step. A man I'd only seen in magazines stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, surveying the city as if he owned it all.

Dominic Blackwood dominated the entire room without saying a word. He was extraordinarily powerful in both the human world and werewolf society, carrying the unspoken title "Alpha of Alphas." His wolf was said to be the embodiment of nightmares.

He was also Vivian's ex-mate.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Blackwood?" I asked, finding my voice.

He didn't answer immediately, just fixed those blue-gray eyes on me, seeming to see through to the misery raging inside.

"My son won't stop talking about you," he finally said, his voice deep and raspy. "I needed to see what all the fuss was about."

I just stared at him, unsure what to say.

"I want to know what your intentions are toward him."

He stood close enough that I could feel his body heat. Amber stirred briefly before retreating.

"Nothing malicious. He's a good kid who comforted me when I was at my lowest," I said softly.

"Better not be," he warned, his voice dropping dangerously low. "Because if I find out you're using him to get back at that bitch of a mother, I'll tear you to pieces."

I could see the beast people talked about lurking behind those mesmerizing eyes. I should have been afraid, but I wasn't. Like with his son, something drew me toward him instead.

"I would never do that. I may hate Vivian, but I'd never use an innocent child."

With a final warning glance, he walked out, taking his overwhelming presence with him.

Hours later, Noah burst into my office, completely enraged.

"Stay the fuck away from my parents," he shouted, his voice filled with contempt. "I don't know what you said to make them hate Vivian, but I won't allow you to sink your claws into them."

I snorted. "They hate Vivian because of what she did to you, not because of anything I told them."

He looked at me with disgust. "Sign the damn papers and stay away from my family. Or better yet, just die—that would make my life easier."

His words shattered me all over again. He turned to leave, but I stopped him.

"Wait," I called out. "Tell me honestly. Did you ever really love me? During those ten years, was it all just pretend?"

I was terrified of the answer, but I had to know.

He sighed. "I guess not. My heart was never really yours; it was always Vivian's. You were just keeping it for her."

Without another word, he left. Walked out the door and out of my life.

I collapsed to my knees. He had never loved me. Not once. He'd just been using me.

"Make it stop, Amber. Please make the pain go away," I begged.

She responded, equally broken: "I wish I could, my dear."

I knelt there until I heard Zoe's voice: "Elise?"

Within seconds, she was beside me.

"Oh, Elise, what has he done to you?"

That was all it took to break me completely. I lunged toward her, finally cracking as a sob tore from the depths of my tortured soul. I released all the hurt and anger I'd been suppressing.

When I finished crying, I felt hollow. As if there was now a void where my soul used to exist.

"I'm sorry, Amber, but we need to do this," I whispered.

"I know. Do what you must to save what little we have left," she replied, then retreated to the back of our mind.

I turned to Zoe and whispered: "I give up."

She said nothing, just nodded and held me tightly.

I stared at myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman looking back. She was exhausted and broken. Dark circles under her eyes, dull skin, thinning hair. She'd lost too much weight, clothes hanging loosely on her frame. Only a shadow of her former self.

I closed my eyes, praying that when I opened them again, they would be clear. But the pain was still there, swimming in their depths.

I surveyed my now-empty room. All my belongings were packed. The rest—things Noah had given me—had been burned or donated. I'd left no trace I had ever lived here.

"Are you ready, Amber?" I asked softly.

"Yes, as ready as I can be," she answered, her voice barely audible.

She was hurting, retreating further into herself each day. I couldn't let her fade away. She was the only thing keeping me sane.

I left for the airport. Everything was arranged. I'd signed the dissolution papers and custody documents, signing over full guardianship of Lily to Noah.

Doing so broke our hearts. But we knew Lily would never willingly choose us. Forcing her would only make her hate us more.

We needed someplace far away. Where we wouldn't be constantly reminded of everything we'd lost. Where we wouldn't see Noah and Lily happy while we stood abandoned on the sidelines.

"Amber?" I called. I needed her for what came next.

"I'm here. Do it, let go," she encouraged.

I took a deep breath. "I, Elise Morgan, sever all ties with Alpha Noah Reynolds and the Dawnlight Pack. I declare myself a lone wolf without a pack."

As I spoke, the pack bond in my mind began to shrivel. The constant hum at the back of my mind went silent.

When the connection disappeared completely, a tear slid down my cheek. I had just cut the last tie between Noah, Lily, and myself.

Amber and I were now truly alone.