Eleanor' POV:

"What design?" Carl frowned, clearly annoyed. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

He genuinely looked confused-and for a second, I let out a shaky breath, cautiously adding, "The one I left in my room... the one I showed you."

His eyes narrowed before realization hit him. With a dismissive wave, he said, "Oh, that? Yeah, I gave it to Katherine. She was whining to me about hitting a creative block and wanted some ideas. But your childish sketch wasn't even helpful."

"You..." My hand fell from his arm as if it weighed a ton. I stared at him in sheer disbelief. "It really was you."

My entire body was trembling, legs so weak I felt like collapsing.

After a few seconds, the anger boiled over. I snapped, choking on my own voice, "Carl Reynolds! That was my competition piece-you stole my dream!

"How could you be so heartless, even mocking my design like that?!

"I get it-you don't love me. You might even hate me. But did you really have to sink this low?"

I felt like I was disintegrating from the inside. The one truth I didn't want to face was suddenly right in front of me.

Carl and I had known each other for over ten years. I'd been hopelessly in love with him for seven. I followed him like a loyal shadow, did whatever he asked of me-no matter how humiliating or ridiculous-even when everyone else laughed at me.

"Are you insane?" Carl glared at me like I was causing a scene. "Eleanor, cut it out."

"Katherine used my design, submitted it early, and destroyed everything I've worked for!" Tears ran down my cheeks. I completely lost it. "Yeah, maybe I am crazy! But Carl, why the hell would you hurt me like this?!"

He had finally broken me. I'd endured years of ridicule, putting up with everything quietly. But at that moment, I snapped, grabbing a fistful of Carl's shirt with all my strength.

"Let go of him, you psycho! What do you think you're doing?!" Jessica screamed, pulling at my shoulders, trying to yank me away.

But rage was running through my veins. I turned and slapped her-with everything I had.

"You don't get to talk to me like that!" I shouted at her, eyes burning.

Jessica clutched her face, staring at me in disbelief. Her glare turned venomous in seconds, and she charged at me, furious. "You bitch! You dare hit me? I swear I'm gonna rip you to shreds!"

She howled and lunged at me. In the blink of an eye, we had both shifted into our wolves, our fangs bared as we clawed and bit at each other across the floor.

"Enough!" Carl's voice thundered, his Alpha presence crashing down around us like a storm.

We froze for a beat, then shifted back into our human forms, ragged breaths filling the tense silence.

He shot me a cold, cutting look. "I'll have the pack send you home. We'll talk later."

"That's it?" My breathing hitched, my chest tightening.

Just as I was trying to collect myself, Jessica smacked me across the face-twice. "You worthless piece of trash."

"Jessica!" Carl snapped, throwing her a sharp look.

She muttered something under her breath, eyes full of contempt as they dragged across my frame. "She hit me first."

I held my swollen cheek, too drained to say anything. Shutting my eyes, I took a deep breath to steady myself. The fury fizzled out-all that was left was a pit of despair.

"Carl," I said softly, my voice empty, "Let's end the mate bond."

It was over-the love I held for seven years, crushed by my own foolishness.

"What?" He looked completely thrown off.

"I don't want to be your mate anymore." I stood up straight and walked out.

My final words were barely louder than a whisper. "Let's pretend I've just been a complete fool these past seven years."

Carl's heart never belonged to me. It was always Katherine. I used to believe that with enough effort, he'd notice me. That he'd recognize my love, my worth.

But the truth hit me hard-just to please Katherine, he left me in ruins... and never even blinked. Design meant everything to me. I never wanted to be just a pretty face next to Carl. But to him, it was always a joke.

"What the hell is wrong with you today?!" Carl shouted from behind.

"Carl," Jessica cooed, her voice syrupy sweet, "You have no idea how upset I am right now..."

I shuffled down the road, my mind numb to their voices.

Out of nowhere, a sleek black car screeched to a halt inches in front of me. My eyes widened in shock as I stared at the headlights, frozen in place.

"Alpha Ethan, there's a lunatic in the road," one of the werewolves in the car huffed. "Nearly hit her. Good thing I hit the brakes in time."

"Zane, you better watch yourself around Stormfang territory," the other muttered, voice cool and low.

"You guys..." I didn't even finish. Everything went black as I collapsed. The cold rain and my burning rage finally swallowed me whole.

*****

By the time I opened my eyes again, night had completely fallen.

The buzzing of my phone brought me back. I looked around and realized I was in a bedroom, dressed in clean pajamas.

But the rain had done its damage-I was still dizzy and sluggish.

I poorly grasped for my phone, and the messages started flooding in one after another-disappointed tones, angry demands.

My mentor had sent a final message: they would never teach me design again.

More messages followed from others at the Design Academy. Full of scorn.

[Didn't think you'd stoop this low, Eleanor. You disgust me.]

Even the news had picked up the story, painting me as a shameless cheat.

My fingers trembled as I scrolled through all of it, every word a slap in the face. Grief crushed me. Once, they saw so much potential in me. Now they all saw nothing but a plagiarist.

Tears streamed down my face, soaking into my pillow. No one knew just how shattered I was inside.

I just wanted out-out of this twisted bond with Carl, out of the Stormfang Pack, far away from everything. This place had brought me nothing but pain.

When I leave, I'll stop being the fool. I owe nothing to Carl. And I owe nothing to this cruel pack.

"Eleanor!" The door slammed open. Karen and Rosa stormed inside, faces tight with anger.

I frowned. "What do you two want?"

"You brought disgrace to the Stormfang Pack!" Karen snapped, her voice like a whip. "Luna Anna wants you gone."

Rosa yanked me off the bed, her grip bruising. "Look at what you've done, Eleanor!"

Their combined strength was overwhelming as they dragged me outside, no mercy in their movements.

"Let go of me! I'm your Luna!" I yelled, struggling hard.

"Luna? Please," Rosa sneered, shoving me. "Someone like you who smeared our pack's name doesn't deserve the title."

She slapped me, hard. My cheek swelled, lip split, but all they did was stare coldly.

Everyone knew Carl couldn't stand me. Even after we formed the mate bond, he never bothered to hide his disgust. He made sure the whole pack saw it. He hated me-wanted me to suffer.

So it wasn't a surprise that the rest of the pack followed his lead, throwing their scorn freely. The only one who showed me any kindness was the ailing old Alpha, Remy.

The rest only sought to crush me, push me out. My place here wasn't even as good as the lowest omega.

Karen and Rosa were former Luna Anna's omega housekeepers-people who never respected me, not for a second.

To them, I was nothing but an easy target. The lowest of the low.

And that made my life here unbearable.

Eleanor' POV:

"Madam Luna, Eleanor's here," Rosa called out.

They dragged me down the stairs like I was baggage, not even caring that my leg almost twisted.

I stepped into the living room and saw every single one of Carl's relatives sitting there.

Carl was lounging on the couch chatting with his little brother, Calvin, like nothing was going on. His little sister, Della, was lazily munching on chips next to them.

The cozy family scene just made me look even more pathetic.

"Kneel!" Anna snapped.

"I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I kneel?" I shot her a glare, staring straight at her aging face.

She clearly didn't see that coming. I'd always been the quiet, obedient one-now I was talking back. Her face darkened. "So rude! Rosa, Karen, get her on her knees!"

I heard Karen scoff. Then she slammed her foot into my knee. I gritted my teeth, groaning from the pain, but I still didn't kneel.

Rosa stepped in, clearly losing her patience, and kicked my thigh hard. It burned like hell. I gasped, sweat dripping down my face, my body starting to give way.

They grabbed my arms and forced me down, shoving me to my knees.

I was shaking all over, clenching my teeth as the pain nearly brought tears to my eyes. Still, I forced myself to lift my head, only to catch Carl's emotionless face.

He stared right at me, silent and distant, like he didn't care I was barely breathing from the pain. When our eyes met, all I saw in his cold stare was irritation, zero trace of concern.

I looked away, my heart sinking. There was this dull, suffocating ache sitting right in my chest.

'I can't believe I was still hoping for anything from him,' I laughed bitterly to myself. 'You're such an idiot, Eleanor.'

"Look at what you've done!" Anna snapped. "You got exposed for plagiarism at the Starluxe Competition! Now every clan out there is talking about how our Luna is a fraud!"

"I told you before-if you don't have the skills, just stay put and give Carl a pup already! It's not like we Stormfang can't afford your useless ass. Instead, you went out and made a fool of yourself, and now the whole werewolf community's laughing at us!"

Anna's glare could've burned a hole through me. Her face was flushed with fury, and her voice was like nails on glass. Whatever grace a Luna should have? Yeah, she had none. Honestly, it was almost funny.

So I forced a smile, pushing through the pain, and said with a bite in my voice, "It's not me who's an embarrassment, Ms. Anna. Maybe you should ask your precious grandson, our noble Alpha Carl. Wasn't it all his doing?"

Carl's expression twisted, but I wasn't scared of it anymore. I looked right at him, my tone sharp and cold-mocking, even. For the first time, I really looked down on him. "He threw both me and the entire Stormfang Pack under the bus for Katherine. How noble of him."

"Have you lost your mind?" Carl snapped, glaring. "How dare you-"

"For god's sake," Anna cut him off, her voice rising with fury. "You little brat, you think you can disrespect us and get away with it? Karen, bring me that whip!"

"Grandma?" Carl frowned, trying to calm her down. "You don't have to-"

Anna's face was dark with rage. "You never should've taken her as your mate in the first place. A delta's daughter wasn't good enough for you-and now look what a mess she's made. She needs to be taught a lesson. Don't stand in my way, Carl."

Karen walked over holding a whip-one that had been kept in the pack for years, reserved only for punishing those considered traitors before casting them out. Never in a million years did I think it would end up being used on me.

I clenched my jaw and glared at Anna and Carl, their cold, cruel faces so alike it made my stomach turn.

Karen let out a wicked laugh from behind me. Anna lifted her chin slightly. "Hit her until she admits she was wrong."

"Yes, ma'am," Karen said smugly, clearly enjoying this.

She raised the whip and brought it down hard. The pain ripped through my back like I was being mauled by a wild beast. Tears welled up in my eyes instantly, but I clenched my teeth and refused to make a sound.

I forced myself to sit up straight, glaring at Anna with defiance.

Anna looked pissed. "Keep going. Let's see how long she lasts."

The loud snap of the whip echoed again and again, relentless. I held out as blood started trickling from the wounds. To stay silent, I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood. Eventually, the pain just blurred into numbness.

I was on the verge of shifting-I wanted to fight back so badly, even if it meant dying here. But I held myself back. I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of watching me fall apart.

"Luna Eleanor, are you ready to admit what you did wrong?" Karen's voice was cold.

I kept my head down and my mouth shut. There was no way I was giving them that.

"That's enough," Carl said irritably. "Grandma, it's done."

Della let out a giggle. "Carl, once she's dead, you'll be free to shack up with Katherine."

Hearing those words, my legs gave out and I collapsed. Carl suddenly got to his feet. "Eleanor?"

"Wake her up. Keep going," Anna said coldly.

"She could die if this keeps up," Carl murmured.

"Let her! An Alpha like you feeling pity for a worthless wolf like her?" Anna snapped.

"I'll do it!" Della chirped, lifting a container of hot water and dumping it straight on my back. I groaned in agony, trying to get up, while Della laughed like it was the funniest thing she'd ever seen.

Their eyes were full of smug satisfaction, like I wasn't even a person-just some trash they needed to get rid of. Not their Luna.

"Eleanor," Carl said evenly. "You should admit you were wrong."

My hands trembled as I stayed quiet for a few seconds. "Fine. I will. But I have one condition."

"What condition?" Carl asked, frowning.

"I want to break the mate bond," I said as I shut my eyes tight, forcing the words out. "Let me go, Carl. I don't want to be your mate anymore. I don't want to love you. Just... let me go."

"Say yes!" Della tugged at Carl's arm excitedly. "Then you can be with Katherine already."

"She's a disgrace to the Stormfang Pack. Letting her be Luna was already more than enough payback for what her grandfather did for us."

"Totally, kick her out already. Nobody wants her here."

"Just end the mate bond, Alpha. We've all got your back."

They were all shouting, like driving me out would somehow cleanse their precious pack. Like I'd tainted their beloved Alpha just by existing.

I stared straight at Carl, not saying a word, just waiting. I couldn't take it anymore. I was done-done with how they treated me, done with him.

Carl stiffened for a second, then let out this bitter laugh. He stepped up to me, grabbed my chin-hard-and leaned in, voice low and cold. "So you actually think you can walk away from me-no matter what it costs?"

His expression dripped with scorn, like the idea was some kind of joke. Like I'd never survive without him. But I didn't flinch. My voice was steady: "Even if I die out there, even if rogues tear me apart... I'd still rather that than stay your mate."

That was the only thing I knew for sure.

Eleanor' POV:

"Say yes already, Carl! Kick her out!" Della shouted, barely containing her excitement. "She's just a delta's daughter. A nobody. I've had enough of her pretending to be Luna. Eleanor is a damn joke."

She was way more eager than me, like she was the one trying to ditch the mate bond.

"That's not happening," Carl said, grabbing my neck, eyes glinting with cruelty. "You think just because you don't love me anymore, you can walk away?

"I'm the alpha of Stormfang. Everything goes my way. If anyone's sending you away, it'll only be because I'm sick of looking at your disgusting face. You hold zero power here. Got it?"

His fingers tightened. I was starting to lose air.

"You're not going anywhere. Katherine said you make a decent little servant, so that's what you'll be-forever stuck here.

"You're going to keep waiting on me and Katherine. If you die, it'll be right here in Stormfang, when I say so."

Carl, like a demon, crushed whatever scraps of hope I had left. He wrecked the image of the man I once thought was perfect.

"Carl," I grabbed his hands hard, fury bubbling up. "You bastard!"

I shoved him back with everything I had, ripping his hand off my throat and yelling at him. But I was no match for him. Carl didn't even need to shift-he just growled and slammed me to the ground like it was nothing.

My head hit the floor hard, blood immediately pouring out. Everyone froze in shock.

Carl looked stunned too-his expression faltered for a split second before he picked me up in a rush and shouted, "Get the healer! Now!"

Della stormed after him, yelling like crazy. "Carl, are you kidding me? She freaking attacked you! You should toss her out and let her rot-whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with us!"

"Back off!" Carl snapped at her, voice sharp as a whip.

"Are you actually losing it?" Della stopped dead. "You can't stand Eleanor-so why the hell are you helping her?"

That was the last thing I heard before everything went black.

When I came to, the healer had already patched me up. Carl was stone-faced as he dragged me back to the pack house and shoved me into a windowless, cramped storage room. Locked the door tight. No way out.

Anna told Rosa to bring me some barely edible food every day, and stationed a few deltas outside to keep me in check.

To stay alive, I had no choice but to deal with the cold meals, the dark, and the silence.

"Luna, time to eat." Rosa kicked the door open and tossed the food onto the floor like she couldn't care less.

It's been a month. I've gotten used to her half-assed attitude by now. I sat quietly against the wall as she threw me a glare and muttered, "Anna said this is your only meal today. Eat it or don't, whatever."

"If you're not gonna eat, why don't you just die already? Would save me the trouble of coming here every damn day. What a drag.

"Seriously, what's the point of a mutt like you even being alive?"

With that, she slammed the door and locked it with a loud click.

I slowly dragged myself toward the bread on the floor and picked one up without a word. Suddenly, the main door burst open with a loud bang. I looked up, confused.

Carl.

He stood there, face dark like a thundercloud. Instinctively, I scooted back.

He strode over, clearly pissed off, and slapped the bread out of my hand. "This is what you've been eating every day?"

Even after a month of not seeing him, the disgust in his eyes hadn't changed one bit. There was nothing left in me but disappointment now, so I said nothing. Not worth it.

Carl glanced at the rock-hard bread scattered on the dirty floor. His jaw tightened. The anger in his eyes only deepened as he stared me down like I'd done something unforgivable. "Is this really your plan? Starving yourself just to get away from me? What, trying to die now?"

I touched my now hollow cheeks and let out a dry laugh. I couldn't even stand up anymore. He damn well knew Anna was behind all this. They all just wanted me dead and out of their way, rotting in this storage room.

"So what?" I shot back. "You ready to cut the mate bond now?"

Carl stayed silent, his hands clenched tight. I could feel the frustration bubbling under his skin, but I kept my voice calm. "If you're not going to do it, fine. I'll just find a worse way to hurt myself. What, would that bother you?"

He took a step back, staring at me like I'd said something insane-visibly shaken.

Lowering my head, I picked up the dusty piece of bread off the floor and forced it into my mouth. It barely tasted like anything, but it quieted the hunger just a little.

"Alpha, you just got back... maybe check on Vivian first?" Rosa rushed in with a panicked face. She shot me a sharp look, like I'd better not open my mouth.

"Get lost!" Carl snapped. He shoved Rosa hard, and she went down with a cry. Rosa looked up at him, stunned and terrified, too scared to move.

Without saying a word, Carl yanked me off the floor. "Come with me."

"Let me go, Carl!" I hissed through my teeth, trying to fight him off, but my body was way too weak. "I..."

The weight of his Alpha aura crushed down on me as Carl snapped, "Shut up."

I flinched, my hands clenched tight without thinking, grasping at anything to feel a sliver of safety.

With a sharp exhale, Carl bent down and scooped me up like he had zero patience left. I freaked, shouting, "What are you doing?!"

He didn't bother answering-just turned and walked out of the storage room while I clung weakly to his shirt. After being locked in there for a month, the sunlight outside felt like needles stabbing my eyes. He carried me straight into the main hall of the villa.

"Carl, why are you carrying her? She reeks like a trash bin," Carl's mother Vivian stood up, her voice full of disbelief. "Why bring her out? She chose that storage room. Leave her there for good."

Carl didn't even look at her, just kept walking and brought me into the bathroom. Then, without a word, he dumped me into the bathtub and started yanking at my clothes.

"You can't!" I covered my chest in panic, trying to block his hands.

He didn't stop. His fingers brushed across my skin, and every nerve screamed.

I was shaking, lips trembling, then suddenly-I slapped him with all the strength I had left.

Smack. His face whipped to the side.

And finally, he froze.