Upon returning to the Silver Moon Pack’s mansion, I stared at the shredded remains of the Luna gown Seth had destroyed, the fabric now nothing more than a symbol of my broken mate bond. Quietly, I reached for my phone and dialed my father, the retired Gamma of our pack.

“Dad,” I said, my voice steady but laced with exhaustion, “is it still possible to consider the offer from the Crimson Fang Pack?”

A sigh came from the other end, heavy with concern. “Are you sure this time, Hadlee? No more enduring heartaches for that Alpha?”

I touched the fresh cut on my neck, a wound that stung more than just physically. “Yes, I’ve thought it over. It’s time to move on.”

Just as I hung up, Seth’s personal healer arrived, claiming he was there to tend to my wound. But the real damage was to my heart, and no amount of healing salves or bandages could fix that. I sent the healer away, my mind already racing with plans for my departure.

The phone rang again, Seth’s name flashing on the screen. The sound of a helicopter roared in the background, but I could still hear the restrained annoyance in his voice.

“Ariana got scared, so I’m staying with her in Edinburgh tonight,” he said, his tone clipped. “I was too emotional earlier. I’ll have a designer make a new Luna gown for you overnight.”

“No need,” I interrupted coldly. “The marking ceremony is off, Alpha Seth. I don’t want to be your Luna anymore.”

The title felt foreign on my tongue, a stark reminder of the hierarchy I’d once respected. After I hung up, he called several times. When I didn’t answer, a slew of apologetic texts followed.

[I’m coming back right now, Hadlee. Let’s talk face to face.]

I stared at the chat background photo of us together, emotions churning within me. Yet I waited for Seth all night in the mansion, only to be greeted by Ariana’s social media post flaunting their cozy time together.

In the picture, Seth wore an apron, standing in the kitchen cooking. I’d been his personal Delta warrior for three years, well aware of his quirks. I never imagined this privileged Alpha, who demanded perfection in every aspect of his life, would roll up his sleeves and cook. Maybe that was the difference between love and indifference.

I took a screenshot of her post and forwarded it to Seth.

[This is the third time you’ve broken your promise. Three strikes, you’re out. I’m not waiting for you anymore.]

After sending it, I turned off my phone and went to my room to pack. Early the next morning, I intended to leave quietly. But as soon as I opened the door, I bumped into Seth returning with Ariana.

Seeing their fingers intertwined felt like a stab to the heart. Seth was a notorious germophobe; he’d once said he couldn’t bear being touched by others. It took me five long years and nearly losing my life to barely earn a place in his heart. Yet Ariana became the exception so effortlessly.

Noting the suitcase at my feet, Seth frowned slightly, his Alpha aura pressing down on me. “Where are you going?”

I didn’t even look up. “We’ve already broken the mate bond. Naturally, I should clear out to make room for you two.”

As I spoke, Ariana knelt before me, tears streaming down her face. “Hadlee, it’s all my fault. You can punish me however you like.”

Too weary to engage, I tried to sidestep her, but she suddenly clung to my leg. Startled, I instinctively kicked her away. She cried out in pain, and the next moment, Seth pushed me down the stairs.

I hit the concrete hard, my arm scraped and bleeding. Seth looked down at me, his expression impatient. After what felt like forever, he finally offered his hand.

“I haven’t agreed to break the mate bond. Just stay here for now.”

His voice carried the weight of an Alpha command, but I refused to obey. I stood on my own, glaring up at him.

“I’ve dealt with the rumors from the marking ceremony, but making Ariana leave Edinburgh was wrong. Apologize, and this will be over.”

His words were a final blow, a reminder of where his loyalties truly lay. I straightened my shoulders, my inner wolf growling in defiance.

“I, Hadlee Lawrence, Delta warrior of the Silver Moon Pack, reject you, Seth Adams, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, as my mate.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and final. Seth’s eyes widened in shock, but I didn’t wait for his response. I grabbed my suitcase and walked away, leaving behind the life I’d once thought was mine.

I slapped his hand away, my eyes cold and emotionless.

"I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

Alpha Seth’s expression darkened, his commanding aura pressing down on me like a physical weight. His jaw tightened as he stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. Before I could react, his hand shot out, gripping my throat with a force that made my breath hitch. I stumbled backward, the pressure of his alpha tone vibrating through the air.

"Enough, Hadlee," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

My back hit the edge of the pool, and with a sharp shove, I lost my balance. The icy water of early spring closed over me, the cold biting into my skin like needles. I floundered, gasping as I surfaced, my hair plastered to my face. My eyes locked on Seth standing at the edge, his arm draped protectively around Ariana, the Omega from the Shadow Claw Pack who had somehow weaseled her way into his favor.

"If you can’t learn to apologize," he said, his voice cold and cutting, "then stay there until you figure it out."

Without another word, he turned, leading Ariana back into the packhouse. I could hear her soft, sympathetic murmurs as they disappeared inside, her scent—vanilla and something sickly sweet—lingering in the air.

Eddie, one of the Deltas and Seth’s trusted bodyguards, stood nearby, his expression conflicted. "Miss Hadlee," he said quietly, his voice tinged with pity, "maybe it’s best to just apologize to Miss Ariana. There’s no need to make things harder on yourself."

I shook my head, my teeth chattering from the cold. "What did I even do wrong?" I muttered, more to myself than to him.

I looked down and saw a faint swirl of red in the water. The knife wound I’d sustained while protecting Seth during a rogue attack had reopened, the pain a sharp reminder of my loyalty. Back then, I’d thrown myself in harm’s way without hesitation, and Seth had held me afterward, his voice soft with gratitude as he promised, "I’ll never mark anyone but you, Hadlee. You’re my mate, my Luna."

But promises, it seemed, were as fragile as the bond he’d so easily cast aside.

My vision blurred, the cold and the blood loss pulling me under. The last thing I heard was Eddie’s alarmed shout, "She’s fainted!"

---

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a warm bed in the pack infirmary, dressed in fresh clothes. The scent of antiseptic and herbs filled the air, and the faint glow of moonlight filtered through the window. Seth sat beside me, his broad shoulders hunched, his expression a mix of frustration and something I couldn’t quite place.

"Hadlee," he said, his voice sharp with annoyance, "why do you have to be so stubborn? What does it cost to just say sorry?"

I turned my head away, my lips curling into a bitter smile. "We’re done, Alpha Seth. Save your fake concern. Focus on your precious Ariana instead."

My words ignited his temper. He stood abruptly, his alpha aura flaring, making the room feel smaller, more oppressive. "Ungrateful," he snapped, his voice like a whip.

He called for Eddie, his tone leaving no room for argument. "She’s too stubborn. Follow pack discipline—twenty lashes. Then lock her in the basement to think it over."

I stared at him, disbelief coursing through me. "You’re going to punish me?"

I’d been his Delta, his bodyguard, his mate. I’d stood by him, fought for him, bled for him. And now, he was treating me like some disobedient underling.

"You brought this on yourself," he said coldly, his eyes devoid of the warmth they’d once held for me.

Eddie hesitated, his gaze flickering between me and Seth, but he knew better than to question his alpha’s orders. He stepped forward, his expression apologetic as he guided me to the basement.

The whip cracked against my back, each strike searing through my skin. I bit down on my lip, refusing to give Seth the satisfaction of hearing me cry out. The pain was nothing compared to the ache in my chest, the bond between us fraying with every lash.

When it was over, my back was a mess of blood and torn skin, and sweat dripped from my brow. Eddie led me to the small, dark room in the basement, his voice soft with regret. "I’m sorry, Miss Hadlee."

The door closed with a heavy thud, plunging me into darkness. The pain in my back was nothing compared to the memories that flooded my mind—the time I’d been kidnapped by rogue werewolves, locked in a room just like this. Seth had come for me then, his voice fierce with determination as he swore, "I’ll never let anyone hurt you again, Hadlee. You’re mine to protect."

Now, he was the one inflicting the pain.

My consciousness wavered, the darkness pulling me under. I didn’t know how long I’d been out when the creak of the iron door roused me.

Suddenly, I was enveloped in a warm, familiar embrace. Seth’s scent—oak and something sharp—filled my senses, his arms holding me tightly, as if he could erase the pain with his touch.

"Hadlee," he murmured, his voice softer now, almost tender.

I wanted to push him away, to scream at him for the hypocrisy, but I was too weak, too broken. Every time I’d been hurt, he’d held me like this, whispering promises that now felt like lies.

He used to say he couldn’t take my pain, so he’d ease it in his own way. But this time, he was the source of it.