The weight of their words settled over me, but before I could respond, a loud commotion erupted outside. The door burst open, and a young scout rushed in, his face pale.
"Alpha," he said, breathless, looking at Asher. "There's news from the border."
Asher tensed. "What is it?"
The scout hesitated, glancing at me before speaking. "Magnus is looking for her."
My stomach dropped.
"He’s gathering allies," the scout continued. "Rogues. Stragglers from other packs. He’s searching for Astrid. And from what we've heard... he's not coming to beg."
Silence filled the room. I felt my heart hammering against my ribs.
I had walked away. I had given him mercy. But Magnus wasn’t letting me go.
I reached for the necklace hanging around my neck, the one Magnus had given me long ago. For a moment, I held it between my fingers, feeling the weight of everything it represented.
Then, with steady hands, I pulled it off and threw it into the fire.
The flames swallowed it whole, and I whispered the words I should have said long ago.
"I'm not his anymore."
