The word almost burst out of my throat.

Thirty years of silence shattered in an instant.

It was like a bolt of lightning splitting open my senses, stripping the garden of all color.

I froze.

My wolf roared-a low, ancient, feral sound-like it had finally found the half it had lost.

And when I followed its direction-

There she was.

Along the white stone path beside the rose garden, a woman was bent over, yanking out moonlight roses one by one.

Every time she pulled one out, she cursed under her breath, gritting her teeth as if she wished she could tear the entire garden out by its roots-

"Sorry, baby, I just can't stand that old hag! She doesn't deserve to look after you-pull them all out! Every single one!"

The post-rain air carried the scent of soil and wet leaves.

She was covered in rose petals and mud, her damp hair stuck to her cheek-yet she had more life in her than any noble she-wolf holding a wine glass in the hall.

She wasn't a polished vase.

She was a fire-alive, burning, wild.

My breath stopped.

It was her.

Seraphina.

Marcus's Luna.

A Luna about to be discarded.

And my mate.

Her neck was locked by the old mark-an iron chain suppressing her instincts, blocking the bond between our souls.

She couldn't feel me, but I was consumed by her in a second.

The first time I saw her, she wasn't in a Luna gown with a silver waistpiece, or smiling politely at a reception.

She was crouched in the rose garden alone, cursing, muddy, fierce to her bones.

I had never seen such beautiful chaos.

Of course I recognized her.

And in that moment, my wolf and I fell at the same time-

An ancient, lethal possessiveness surged up from my bones.

She is mine.

Forever.

The she-wolf behind me saw me stop and thought I was listening to her.

Her emotions suddenly burst and she screamed:

"You bastard! You don't care about me at all!"

I didn't even lift an eyelid.

"Leave."

She froze, thinking she misheard.

"What did you-"

I gave her one glance. In that instant, the color drained from her face.

"Follow me again," I said, calm as if stating the weather, "and I'll swallow your father's pack whole."

Her knees buckled; she stumbled back two steps.

"You're insane-you can't-"

"I can," I said softly. "And I will."

She trembled, grabbed at the last straw, and shouted:

"Fine! Then I curse you! I curse you in the name of the Moon Goddess-may you never find your mate! May you be alone, rotting, abandoned by every god for eternity!"

Her voice split the night.

I didn't even turn my head.

Because right in front of me, Seraphina had just yanked out the largest moonlight rose and was cursing in a way that put the she-wolf to shame.

I exhaled lightly.

"Your curse came too late."

The she-wolf's fear collapsed into despair. She screamed and fled the garden, vanishing into the dark.

I didn't look after her.

I looked only toward the rose garden.

Sera finally stopped, straightened her back, dusted off the dirt on her palms as though completing a sacred offering.

She would never know that in that moment I made a decision.

When she turned and walked toward the front gate, I followed immediately.

I didn't even think about my next step.

Instinct had already chosen for me.

I had to follow her.

She walked alone into the rain, so thin, so vulnerable-I wanted the driver to offer her a ride.

Then I smelled it.

Not her scent-

But the filthy stench of rogues hiding in the forest along the road, reeking of rotten flesh and unwashed fur.

The moment the air shifted, my wolf ignited, its fury slamming against my nerves.

It wanted to tear them apart.

By the time I rushed over, they had already surrounded her.

She fell into the mud, her skirt flipping up, soaked and helpless.

She tried to push herself up, only to collapse again.

They stared at her, licking their teeth, laughing with greedy malice.

My rage devoured me.

I drove straight into the storm, tires carving a white line through the rain, nearly defying gravity.

The car spun and stopped perfectly between her and those worthless bastards.

The rogues froze.

They saw the emblem.

They saw the Maybach.

Then they saw me.

The cockiest one collapsed straight into the mud.

They recognized me.

Their luck wasn't intelligence-it was their speed.

Had I gotten out one second earlier, four mangled corpses would be lying on the ground.

They fled into the trees without looking back.

I stood there, staring coldly at Sera kneeling in the rain, breathing raggedly, eyes empty-unable to even recognize me.

I walked up to her and crouched down, offering my hand.

She flinched backward, slipped, almost fell.

I said nothing, waiting patiently.

After a few seconds, she gritted her teeth and grabbed my hand.

I pulled her up and guided her into the car.

She smelled of rain, mud, blood, despair. and a scent I had never encountered.

She leaned against the seat, gasping, shoulders trembling.

I looked at her soaked body.

Her clothes clung to every curve like a second skin-the outline of her nipples, the triangle beneath her skirt-clear enough to be indecent.

My dick twitched instantly, dragged out by her scent.

I bit my tongue hard, forcing the desire down.

She wasn't mine-

Not yet.

I took off my coat and threw it over her.

Not out of gentleness-

but to stop myself from staring at her naked shape.

She looked down at herself, finally realizing that the wet fabric hid nothing.

Her face flushed scarlet, her hands gripping the coat tightly.

I remained expressionless, but inside, I grew even more excited.

The more she tried to hide,

the more she looked like a gift I wanted to unwrap.

A vision flashed across my mind-

Her lying on my bed, wearing nothing but that coat.

Her stubborn eyes on me.

My hand pinning her legs.

My tongue sliding along her collarbone.

Her moans brushing against my ear.

My palms burned, my knuckles trembled.

Just as I was about to lose control, the car braked.

We had arrived.

She hurried to get out.

I pulled out a card from my pocket and handed it to her, my voice cold as if nothing had happened:

"You will need this."

She accepted it blankly, then left.

She stepped out quickly, without saying another word.

As if desperate to cut any tie with me.

I sat in the car, not moving.

Just slowly closed my eyes.

Twenty-five days.

Twenty-five days left of the Council's cooling period.

When it ends,

I will personally rip Marcus out of her world-

root and all.

Seraphina's POV

The next morning, I wasn't woken by sunlight, but by the sharp buzz of my phone dragging me straight out of sleep.

I forced myself to sit up.

This mansion-Marcus's mansion-felt more like a tomb: huge, cold, empty. And I was the ghost stuck inside.

Victoria's name flashed across the screen-my best friend in the pack and also a divorce attorney dealing with more broken bonds than she'd care to count.

She once warned me to never let my guard down around Marcus. I laughed it off back then, chalking it up to her seeing too many ugly endings in her line of work. She once vowed she'd never bond with anyone.

"Seraphina! You still breathing over there? I swear, Marcus probably wanted to bite your head off last night," Victoria's worried voice came at me through the phone.

I let out a dry chuckle, massaging my aching temples. "Sadly, yes. I'm still here. He didn't even bother coming home."

"What a freaking jerk," she huffed. Her tone leveled, turning serious fast. "Sera, you've got to leave him. He's parading around publicly with Maria like it's no big deal. He wants you humiliated. Just look at this."

The call ended, and a screenshot popped up right after.

Maria's social media feed. Newest post? Just thirty minutes old.

The pic showed the inside of Marcus's private jet, morning light spilling in through the window like some perfect dream.

She'd kept herself out of frame-only their intertwined fingers were in it.

Caption read: [New journey, new beginning.]

My stomach rolled. So this "urgent business trip" of his was really just a midnight getaway with his mistress.

The bond between us-our soul link-wrenched again. Pain radiated from the mark on the back of my neck, spreading down every nerve like a slow burn.

Another message from Victoria popped up: [Moonshade Bar. Now. Put on your sluttiest heels and your fuck-you dress. We're hunting for a man with a dick worth remembering-and you're getting blackout drunk.]

As I was changing clothes, I once again saw Sebastian's business card.

I immediately fished it back out of the trash.

Maybe. I might need it?

--

Moonshade Bar-Crescent Pack's most upscale, glitter-and-gold kind of place.

When I arrived, Victoria had already cracked open a bottle of whiskey. The amber liquid danced in crystal glasses under the lights.

She looked smoking hot in a backless red mini dress, like living fire. I stood out in the worst way, still stuck in a gloomy black number.

"Look at you, babe," she said, pushing a glass toward me with an exaggerated frown. "You look like you just walked out of your own funeral."

"Maybe I did," I muttered, taking a sip. The burn in my throat matched the ache in my chest. "I'm burying my stupid past one shot at a time."

"I seriously still can't wrap my head around it," Victoria said, swirling her drink, eyes sharp.

"Back in college, I remember Marcus doing everything to win you over. An Alpha-future heir to the pack, camping outside your dorm for three hours just to hand you some random wildflowers you liked. And those weren't even expensive! In our world, that kind of stuff doesn't happen. We all thought you were Moon Goddess-kissed or something."

"Yeah," I gave a bitter smile, "so when he betrayed me, it felt like a total joke. Maybe that's just how things work-Alphas are wired to possess and dominate. Once he completely had me, I was nothing more than some random pebble on the road to him."

"Bullshit!" Victoria slammed her glass on the table with a dull thud, drawing a few curious glances around us. "The Moon Goddess gave us the mate bond to keep werewolves strong. I'd bet anything that Marcus's pack is gonna fall apart after this-he's gonna pay for turning his back on her."

She leaned closer, voice low, eyes gleaming dangerously. "But hey, that mark on your neck? Nearly gone. I bet after a couple more nights with Maria, your bond with Marcus is done for. You should sleep with Sebastian. I swear, the second that news gets out, Marcus will jump off whatever woman he's with and come running back like a madman. Let him feel what it's like to have your soul ripped apart when a mate bond gets ruined."

My heart clenched. That offer-it was like poison-wrapped candy. Irresistibly tempting. I pictured those ridiculously broad shoulders of Sebastian, imagined him grabbing me and pinning me beneath him-

And then I shook it off.

"No, Victoria." My voice was raspy. "I can't."

"Why not?!"

"Because of my parents," I muttered, eyes closing as their gentle, aging faces popped into my mind.

"They always told me the mate bond is a blessing from the Moon Goddess. No matter what happens, you don't taint that. I don't even know what really happens when a mate breaks the bond... maybe nothing, but I can't- I just can't bear the thought of that look in their eyes. The disappointment. The hurt."

That would break me more than anything else.

Victoria went quiet, then pulled me into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Seraphina. I was being reckless."

"It's alright." I patted her back gently.

"So... what are you gonna do?" she asked as she let go, worry etched in her face. "Once you're unbound, where will you go? Come stay with my pack."

Her offer warmed me, but I shook my head. "I can't drag you guys into this, Victoria. Marcus won't let anyone who helps me off easily."

The only person who could stand toe-to-toe with him, maybe even scare him a little... Sebastian's sharp, cold face flashed through my head.

I shoved that thought away immediately. No. That man's on a whole different level of danger.

"I just need to hold on for twenty-four more days," I stared into my drink, almost like saying it made it more real. "Twenty-four days, and I'll be free. I'll take my parents and leave... go somewhere nobody knows who we are."

"You got it! To freedom!" Victoria grinned, lifting her glass again, eyes shining bright.

"To freedom," I echoed, clinking my glass against hers.

That's when the disgusting, testosterone-filled laughter from a nearby booth cut through the moment like a knife.

"Yo, did you see Seraphina last night? Fuck me, she looked like she was begging to get railed right there on the dance floor."

A sleazy voice chuckled. "No wonder Sebastian took her for a spin. If I were him, I wouldn't stop at dancing-I'd bend her over and make her scream my name."

Another guy snorted. "Forget that. You see that ass? Round as fuck, bouncing with every step. I'd pay good money just to grab it-bet it feels like sin in your hands."

Clang!

Victoria shot to her feet, fingers clenched around her glass so tightly it creaked. "Freaking scumbags."

I held her back quickly.

"Don't," I said, shaking my head slightly. Then I smiled-cold and sharp, with zero warmth. "Let me."

I smoothed my dress, grabbed my drink, and started walking toward their booth one step at a time.

They noticed me immediately. Laughter stopped, dead silence.

All of them hung around Marcus, and the one who'd just made that comment? David, heir to the Alpha of a nearby pack. His face went pale the second he saw me.

Can't blame him-publicly drooling over an Alpha's mate, especially Marcus's? Might as well dig his own grave.

I didn't even glance at the others. My eyes locked straight on David as I stepped right up to him.

"I heard you've got a thing for my ass?" I asked, my voice quiet but sharp, every word slicing through the booth like a blade.

David's face flushed deep red. "Seraphina-no, Luna-I swear, it was just a joke..."

"A joke?" I tilted my head, smiling wider. "Well, I took it seriously. Since you're such a fan of my ass, how about buying me a drink?"

He looked dazed, caught completely off guard. One of his buddies nudged him, and he snapped out of it. "O-of course! What would you like?"

I scanned the menu briefly, then pointed to the top-tier item with the insane price tag. "This one."

The server brought over a bottle of rare, ridiculously expensive whiskey in a sleek box.

David reluctantly swiped his card to pay, then made a show of pouring a glass for me.

I didn't take it.

Instead, I picked up the whole bottle, weighed it in my hand-then, right in front of everyone, I smiled and smashed it down on his head.

Crack-!

The heavy glass collided with bone, and the thud rang out across the whole bar.

Gold liquid and blood poured down David's stunned face like some twisted art piece.

For a split second, the bar went dead silent.

Then David cried out in pain, the sound raw and animalistic. His wolf instincts kicked in fast.

His eyes turned red, claws lengthening in a blink, sharp and glinting like knives.

"You psycho bitch!" he roared, swiping for my face with his claws.

But I was already moving-sidestepping just as his strike came down, spinning on my heel without missing a beat.

And then-I landed straight into a solid, warm chest.

Wall of muscle, unmoving, unshaken.

That scent-cedar and cold leather-flooded my senses, wiping out the stink of whiskey and blood in an instant.

I didn't need to look.

I knew who it was.

Seraphina's POV

David's hand froze an inch from my cheek.

It stopped because another hand-stronger, colder-clamped tightly around his wrist.

"Leave."

Sebastian didn't raise his voice. No need. That one word, soft yet sharp, cracked like ice sliding into lava.

The fury in David's eyes drained instantly, replaced by something primal-fear.

He knew exactly who Sebastian was.

The Alpha of the Shadow Pack. A name whispered with more fear than Marcus ever commanded. Older. Stronger. And way more dangerous.

David tried jerking his arm back, but it was like being caught in a vice. He hunched his shoulders, desperate. "I... I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean anything by it, really."

Sebastian finally looked away from me and turned his glacier-cold gaze to David. His eyes were like a midnight blizzard-no warmth, no mercy.

"You're not apologizing to me."

Color splotched David's face, making him look like he was choking on rage. But he turned toward me.

There was so much resentment in his glare, clashing with the fake remorse in his words.

"Seraphina, I-I was just playing around. You know me, right? No need to get all sensitive..."

I laughed-flat, sharp, and cold as steel.

Pushing away slightly from Sebastian's support, I stood on my own, keeping just enough distance to breathe.

"Of course not," I said, cocking my head just a bit, voice sugar-sweet and deadly, "Unless... you feel like telling Marcus how you're dying to get a handful of my ass. If he's totally cool with that, then sure-I can forgive your little 'joke.'"

David's color vanished faster than a snap.

He knew damn well-Marcus could cheat all he wanted, but he'd never let another Alpha lay eyes, let alone hands, on what he thought was his.

If Marcus ever heard that... David would be six feet under by morning.

"I-I screwed up! Luna Seraphina! Please-please don't be mad," he begged, scrambling off the floor like his life depended on it-which, honestly, it kind of did.

Dragging his crew behind him, he practically bolted from Moonshade Bar.

The silence finally cracked.

Victoria walked up, heels clicking, a little smile tugging at her lips as her eyes bounced between me and Sebastian.

Clever as always, she didn't pry. Just wrapped me in a tight hug.

"I'll leave you two. You know how to reach me, babe-anytime."

She murmured the words in my ear, then gave Sebastian a pointed look before disappearing with all the grace in the world.

Now it was just me and him.

With the adrenaline fading, the nausea crashed over me like a wave.

I tried to say "thank you," but my mouth failed me. Instead, a deep, awful sourness hit my throat hard.

I slapped a hand over my mouth-too late.

I doubled over as nausea hit me hard, emptying the mix of whiskey and humiliation straight onto his expensive, perfectly tailored suit pants.

For a second, time just... froze.

My mind went completely blank, overtaken by a tidal wave of shame.

That awful sour stench quickly filled the air-honestly, way worse than the bloody scent David left behind.

The bit of composure and strength I'd managed to muster just minutes earlier shattered instantly-gone, like it never existed.

I was sure he'd recoil in disgust or just walk away without a word. But he didn't.

He stood there, silent, simply watching me.

And then it hit me-something was wrong.

A burning itch started prickling under my skin, like tiny ants crawling through my veins. My cheeks, neck, arms-they all heated up, turning blotchy red.

"You're allergic to alcohol," he said, voice calm.

Without hesitation, he slipped off his soiled jacket and tossed it aside. Then, he grabbed my arm and, not giving me a chance to object, pulled me out of the bar.

The cold night air gave me a brief moment of clarity, but the heat spreading through me only got worse.

He pushed me into the back seat of a Maybach and the car shot forward like it had a mission.

Curled up on the soft leather seat, I drifted between waves of burning heat and chills until the scent of antiseptics surrounded me.

*****

Silver Moon Hospital.

When the world finally stopped spinning, the first thing I saw was Marcus's furious face.

He looked like a lion whose territory had just been invaded-rage pouring off him, his familiar scent of pine and storm tainted with a trace of Maria's perfume. The nausea rose again.

Behind him, Sebastian stood like stone-stoic and still. His very presence made Marcus's rage look more like a tantrum than a threat.

"Thanks for bringing my mate to the hospital. You can leave now," Marcus snapped at Sebastian.

I didn't want Sebastian to see me like this-dressed in a baggy hospital gown, IV in my hand, looking like a helpless pet stripped of its claws.

Struggling to sit up, I glanced at the silent man and spoke in a hoarse whisper that barely sounded like me, "Thank you, Alpha Sebastian. You should go now."

"Of course. But..." Sebastian didn't spare a glance at Marcus. His eyes stayed on me. "If that's not how you really feel, don't be afraid. You can just say it."

"Alpha Sebastian! Watch your tone!" Marcus exploded. But Sebastian didn't flinch. He was taller by an inch, more solidly built, his voice like ice.

"I take responsibility for the people I save. Even if she has a mate-clearly, her mate doesn't seem to care. Are you going to deny that?"

There they were-two Alpha wolves squaring off in a tiny room. It felt like the whole hospital might blow apart from the tension.

I quickly cut in, "Alpha Sebastian, thank you for standing up for me, but I have a few things to sort out with Marcus."

Sebastian's intense gaze lingered on me. I gave a subtle nod, and he finally turned and left the hospital room.

I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Last thing I wanted was to get caught in the middle of two packs, entangled with either of them. Not now.

The door clicked shut, and just like that, Marcus dropped the act.

He lunged forward, bracing his hands on either side of me, caging me in with his presence. "Why were you with him, Seraphina? Was that planned? Did you sleep with him?!"

I stared into his bloodshot eyes, burning with jealousy, and suddenly, it all just felt... pathetic.

"Didn't your buddy fill you in?" I asked flatly. "He saw David corner me at the bar. Maybe ask David what he was doing eyeing my ass first?"

Marcus froze, jaw clenched, a flicker of rage flashing across his face. "That's not the point!" he snapped, cutting me off. "Tell me! What's going on between you and Sebastian?!"

His breath hit my face-hot, sharp, almost frantic.

I could feel the Alpha inside him barely held back, like he'd snap any second.

But it wasn't care-it was fear. Fear that a stronger male had touched what he thought was his.

I felt the exhaustion wash over me.

"Truth is," I said quietly, looking him dead in the eyes, "the day you betrayed me, I could've done the same. I could've picked any guy, taken him to bed, made you feel that burning pain in your soul."

He flinched, staring at me like I'd slapped him.

"But I didn't," I added, lifting a hand to touch the spot at the back of my neck where his mark used to burn.

"I respected the bond the Moon Goddess gave us, even though you tainted it beyond recognition."

His eyes flickered-was that relief I saw? For a heartbeat, he thought he still held me.

That's when I felt it-my heart sinking deep into numbness.

"This mark's fading," I said slowly, "and I'll wait for it to disappear completely. Only then will I walk away. And when I do, I'm done waiting to be free. I'll go find it myself."

"Seraphina..." he started, voice low, but the fight had already drained out of him.

He stepped back, relaxing just a little, thinking he'd somehow still won. That I was still chained by some invisible rule keeping me by his side.

"I'll make David bleed," he said, standing taller, refusing to meet my eyes, tossing out an Alpha's promise like it made up for anything.

I closed my eyes, no longer interested.

Yeah, I'd wait for the mark to vanish.

But I wasn't staying passive anymore.

He'd never get it. He'd never change.

My freedom would never come from guilt or a second chance.

And then there's Sebastian...

That dangerously powerful man who always seems to show up when I'm at my lowest.

I could see those icy blue eyes in my mind. He wasn't some savior. He wasn't love.

He was a blade.

A razor-sharp weapon that could slice through every chain and carve out a way forward with blood and fire.