After we sealed our mating bond, St. Clair University in Ravenport recruited Gavin Whitaker with an eight-figure salary. I gave up my forest and my throne and moved to Ravenport with our son to be by his side. Three years later, I still had not received an interspecies residency permit. Yet Natalie Smith—his assistant, who had moved with us—had already secured permanent residency through Gavin's connections. Once, I packed my bags and prepared to leave. Gavin, who rarely showed emotion, took my hand with tears in his eyes and begged me to stay. "I'm here to take care of you. Why should a piece of paper matter? Natalie came to Ravenport alone because of me. I had a responsibility to help her get settled first." I believed him. Then I went down to the Human-Werewolf Affairs Bureau to check on our marriage certificate. The clerk ran it through the system and said, flat, "Ms. Aya Bennett, you are not Professor Whitaker's spouse." Start to finish, I'd never once been his wife in the eyes of the law. I didn't ask Gavin to explain. I packed up everything that belonged to my son and me and booked the first flight out of Ravenport. Some goodbyes don't need saying.