---- "Tomorrow," I said simply. "Tomorrow? Perfect!" Vivian clapped her hands. " I've already hired a designer. We're getting rid of all that tacky old furniture." That "tacky old furniture" was stuff I'd spent three years picking out. Every piece meant something special. But now, it was all going to be tossed out. "Vivian's right," Ethan chimed in. "The new Luna needs a fresh start. Sophia, if you need help moving..." "T don't," I said, turning to leave. "Wait!" Ethan hurried after me, pulling a necklace from his pocket. "Here... take this back." I looked at the necklace-the "gift" he'd given me for our mating ceremony. Platinum chain, moon-shaped pendant. It looked ---- delicate and pretty. I took the necklace and looked at it closely in the light. "Ethan," I looked up at him. "This is silver- plated. It's not platinum." He went pale. "What?" "And this 'diamond'? It's a cubic zirconia," I scoffed. "Worth, what, fifty bucks? This is what you give your mate as a bonding gift?" Ethan opened his mouth to explain, but I'd already dropped the necklace on the ground. "Fake bond, fake necklace. A perfect match." I walked to my car without a backward glance. From my car, I saw Ethan and Vivian arguing in the rearview mirror. I rolled down my window and heard them talking. ---- "How did she know the necklace was fake?" Vivian demanded. "who knows," Ethan said, annoyed. "Doesn't matter. The bond's broken now anyway." "But she looked really pissed off..." "Relax, Sophia's easy,'"' Ethan said confidently. " Once she cools down, I'll just use a little Alpha command, and she'll come crawling back. She wouldn't dare leave the pack." I started the engine and hit the gas. He had another thing coming. This time, it was really over. No going back.