No Mark, No Bond, No More Chapter 07

No Mark, No Bond, No More Chapter 07

His breath caught short in his throat. On the final page sat two finalized signatures: Aria’s neat script, paired with his own messy, rushed handwriting. 

It all clicked into place. Days earlier, distracted and preoccupied with Selene’s worsening condition, he’d signed the paperwork without a single glance when Aria claimed it was merely filing paperwork to mark their private cabin’s fully paid mortgage with the pack registry. He’d blindly signed away their mating bond and marriage without a second thought. 

Beneath the divorce contract lay a thin medical document. Dorian’s fingers trembled as he unfolded it, the printed line knocking the wind clean out of his lungs: [Miscarriage procedure completed.] 

His pupils blew wide. When had Aria lost their baby? When had she undergone the termination surgery? How could he have remained completely 

oblivious? 

A searing, stabbing pain exploded deep within his 

chest, originating from the frayed mating bond as though a blade sliced through the fragile tether 

inch by painful inch, carving raw agony straight into his heart. 

Beside the papers rested a dainty promise ring. Dorian curled the cool metal tight in his palm. 

It had never been an expensive piece of jewelry; back before he’d inherited leadership of 

Blackwood Pack, he’d worked winter shifts passing out township flyers through brutal frost–chapped hands to scrape together enough cash to buy it for her. He’d slipped it onto her finger that same frigid winter, and she’d cried happy tears, vowing never to remove it no matter how lavish the future engagement rings he might gift her as Alpha. Through every screaming argument and cold silent feud over the years, she’d never once taken it off. 

Now she’d withdrawn her savings, abandoned her promise ring, left proof of her miscarriage, and the divorce he’d unwittingly authorized. She’d severed every tie for good and never planned to return. 

Dorian sank onto the shadow–draped living room floor, the ring crushed tight in his clenched fist as memories crashed relentlessly through his mind. Once soft, devoted, and endlessly loving, Aria had moved into the Alpha House without the official full marking ceremony he’d spent three years 

delaying. She’d tended the household, catered to 

his patrol brothers‘ endless demands, and 

endured Selene’s constant petty provocations 

without proper defense from him. 

And what had he done in return? Forced his 

pregnant mate to donate life–sapping blood for Selene’s emergency transfusion, left her to trudge an hour home under blistering summer heat fresh from her miscarriage, made her slave over hot meals while recovering from surgery, drained their child’s college fund to cover Selene’s mounting 

medical costs. 

Hot, burning tears spilled down his cheeks as crushing regret wracked his body. He hunched forward, clutching his chest and gasping for ragged breaths. 

His phone’s abrupt ringtone split the silence. He scrambled for the device hoping to hear Aria’s voice, only to see Gavin’s name flash across the screen. He answered, Selene’s fragile tone filtering, through the receiver alongside Gavin’s hurried speech. 

“Alpha, the clinic’s billing department is pressing for Selene’s outstanding fees by closing tonight. Did you drop off the payment yet?” 

Then Selene piped up softly. “Get some rest, Dorian. Once the bill’s settled, Gavin can keep me 

company.” 

After a brief pause, she added in a small, 

expectant murmur, “Could you also order takeout 

for us? Gavin and I haven’t eaten all day.” 

A volcanic surge of unbridled rage ignited in 

Dorian’s chest, his features darkening into a 

thunderous scowl fit to rival an oncoming forest 

storm. Their persistent prodding pushed him over 

the edge. 

“Get the hell away from me!” he roared, hurling the 

phone hard against the wall. 

The device exploded into a spiderwebbed mess of 

cracked glass and broken circuitry on impact.