Chapter 7

Nathan’s POV She signed the mate bond dissolution papers. She signed it without thinking twice. Right in front of me. A bitter smile spilled as I downed another glass of brandy. The burn in my throat did nothing to ease the ache in my chest. “Her wolf hasn't howled since morning,”Alaric,observed through our mind link. “She's shutting down.” I should be relieved. After all, I was the one who asked for the rejection. But ever since Kyra put her name on those papers, it felt like a part of me had been ripped away. Kyra and I had been friends for over 10 years. The day she transferred to my high school, I accidentally bumped into her by the lake. She looked like a frightened kitten, carefully hiding her true self behind that thick antique eyeglasses.Her orange blossom scent faint but unmistakable.That was interesting. I never expected the quiet, bookish girl everyone dismissed would turn out to be the daughter of my mother’s best friend. With that, we grew to be friends. Best friends. Kyra