The air was crisp in Berlin, carrying with it the hum of city life. Klara pulled Sierra’s little hand gently as they stood in front of the towering glass building. The anticipation that had been building over the past week made her heart race. It had been two long months since she’d last seen Dominic, her mate. Her dragonkin. Her other half. And today, on his birthday, she had planned everything perfectly.

  Sierra skipped beside her, clutching a hand-painted card she had made for her father. Her soft giggles were the music Klara needed to drown out her nerves. With a bag of carefully chosen gifts slung over her shoulder and a small cake in her hands, Klara’s thoughts were filled with hope, excitement, and a longing to see Dominic’s familiar smile. His sister had helped plan this surprise, ensuring he wouldn’t suspect a thing. Klara was grateful for the support, even as anxiety tingled beneath her skin.

  “Will Daddy like my card, Mommy?” Sierra asked, her voice bright with innocence.

  Klara smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from Sierra’s cheek. “He’ll love it, sweetheart. I promise.”

  The elevator ride to the penthouse was quiet, save for Sierra’s excited chatter. Klara’s mind raced with thoughts of their reunion. Would he hold her the way he used to? Would his golden eyes, flecked with embers of his dragon heritage, light up at the sight of their daughter? She missed the warmth he radiated, the strength that always felt like home.

  When they reached the penthouse, the luxurious space was as pristine as she remembered. It had been so long since she’d been here, but it still smelled faintly of him—spiced wood and smoke. Holding Sierra’s hand tightly, Klara approached the bedroom. Her fingers trembled as she inserted the key his sister had given her, careful not to make a sound.

  The door creaked open.

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  And her world shattered.

  There, tangled in the silken sheets of the bed she had once shared with him, was Dominic. His strong, familiar form rested against the curve of another woman, their limbs entwined in a scene that seared itself into Klara’s mind. The woman’s bare skin glowed softly in the dim light, her head nestled against his chest.

  Time stopped. Klara’s lungs seized, and the air seemed to vanish from the room. Her heart pounded in her ears, each beat a sharp, physical pain. For a moment, she couldn’t move, couldn’t think. She only stared at the betrayal before her, every ounce of her love and trust twisting into something cold, sharp, and unbearable.

  “Mommy, is this Daddy’s room? I want to see—” Sierra’s cheerful voice snapped Klara back to reality.

  “No!” Klara gasped, spinning around and crouching to block her daughter’s view. She wrapped her arms tightly around Sierra, pressing her close to her chest. “Stay with me, baby. Don’t look.”

  Sierra squirmed, her small hands pushing against Klara’s shoulders as she tried to peek past her mother. “But I wanna see Daddy!”

  Klara’s breath came in shallow gasps as she clutched Sierra, shielding her from the heartbreak in that room. Tears burned at the edges of her vision, but she bit them back. She had to be strong. For Sierra. For herself.

  Behind her, she heard the soft rustle of sheets, the groan of Dominic stirring. Panic clawed at her throat. She couldn’t stay here—not for a second longer. She had to leave before he saw her, before this moment became any more unbearable.

  Summoning every ounce of strength she had, Klara reached for her magic. It trembled under the weight of her emotions, but she focused, grounding herself in the need to protect her daughter. The familiar pull of teleportation gripped her, and with a flash, they were outside, standing in the cold evening air in front of the building.

  Klara stumbled, clutching Sierra tightly. Her legs felt weak, her magic drained. Tears spilled freely now, hot and unstoppable as they carved paths down her cheeks. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. The gifts lay forgotten at her feet, the cake’s frosting smudged against the sidewalk.

  “Mommy, what’s wrong?” Sierra’s small hands tugged at her, her voice filled with confusion and concern.

  Klara forced a smile, her lips trembling. She knelt down, brushing Sierra’s hair from her face and kissing her forehead. “Nothing, sweetie,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “We’re going home.”

  As she cradled her daughter, Klara cast one last glance up at the building, her heart breaking anew. The light in the bedroom was still on, but she turned away.

  Dominic didn’t know she had been there. He didn’t see the destruction his betrayal had caused. But Klara knew she would never be the same.

  With Sierra in her arms, she walked away, each step heavier than the last. The bond she had cherished for so long felt like a cruel joke, and the love she had once felt was buried under the weight of her anguish.

  This was not the life she had dreamed of. This was not the love she had given everything for.