A month ago, Alpha Neo Scott of the Silver Moon Pack announced, citing the pack’s rule that "the heir must be mated," that he wanted to sever our mate bond.

At that time, I had just found out I was three months pregnant.

His cold words kept ringing in my ears:

“My cousin Ellis is talented; the art of the Seventy-Two Transformations truly belongs to her.”

“You know the pack’s rule: the heir has to be mated.”

In a previous life, I tried desperately to save our bond, but it only ended in disaster for both of us. I attempted to stop their union, citing the rule against close relatives mating within three generations. But Ellis was an adopted child from a rogue family, connected to the pack by chance alone.

When the Alpha couldn’t get the bond severed, he spread rumors that I had meddled in his relationship with Ellis, claiming they were childhood sweethearts, and that I had manipulated my way into his life by drugging his coffee and forcing the mate bond.

Unable to cope with the pack’s judgmental stares, I ended up taking my own life in isolation.

Now, staring at the bond severance papers on the table, I let out a hollow laugh. “Fine, let’s sever it!”

***

I turned off the camera, the Alpha’s final close-up from the pack-wide training competition still visible on the screen.

He stood in the center of the arena, bowing to the pack, but his eyes never turned towards me in the room. It was strange, as he usually smiled at me during these moments—a signal of understanding between us as mates.

“I won’t be going to the celebration tonight.”

In the pack’s training hall, the Alpha quickly removed his sparring gear, his tone disturbingly indifferent.

“Why not? It's your first competition since being honored as the 'Youngest Alpha of the Silver Moon.'” I put down my camera gear and walked over to him.

He paused and met my gaze in the mirror's reflection. “There's something I need to talk to you about.”

“Ellis Henderson, right?” I kept my voice steady, surprisingly calm.

He turned quickly, eyes flickering with surprise. “You already know?”

“I know you’ve started training her in the Seventy-Two Transformations.” I offered a wry smile. “Seems you've chosen to ignore the pack’s rules.”

His expression stiffened briefly, but he soon regained his composure. “Yes, I’m training Ellis. She needs my help with the upcoming inter-pack warrior trials.”

“And?”

“So... let’s finalize the bond severance.” He lowered his head, as if trying to avoid something. “You know the pack’s rule: the heir is either a pup or... a mate.”

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, my face pale. Memories of my former life came rushing back, reminding me how refusing to let go led to a wretched end, sending chills down my spine.

“Alright.” I nodded faintly.

He seemed taken aback, clearly unprepared for my quick agreement.

I took a pregnancy test report from my bag and placed it on the table before him. “I just thought you should know—I’m three months pregnant.”

The Alpha’s fingers trembled slightly, but his voice remained firm. “Are you planning to use this to pressure me?”

“No, you have the right to know about your pup’s existence, nothing more.”

“Kai Matthews,” he stood up, his Alpha aura pressing down on me, “for the sake of preserving the Seventy-Two Transformations, I must be ruthless. I hope you understand.”

I chuckled softly. Yes, he always had his grandiose reasons. In my past life, I didn’t get it; in this one, I do.

“I understand.” I turned to gather my equipment. “Let’s meet at the pack hall tomorrow. I've already sorted the documents.”

There was a loud thud behind me—the sound of his ceremonial dagger hitting the floor.

The carefully engraved Silver Moon emblem shattered into pieces, much like the remnants of our mate bond.

As I left the training hall, I heard him whisper, “I’m sorry.”

The cold wind swept through the pack grounds, and I tightened my coat around myself.

I had heard similar apologies countless times before, enough to make me weary of them.

Back home, my numb fingers reached for the drawer to find a hand warmer, but its contents left me momentarily speechless.

Outside the large window, snow was falling steadily. I focused on the pack inheritance document on the table, my fingers lightly trembling on the edge of the pages.

"Are you sure you want to transfer the 'Seventy-Two Transformations' technique to Ellis Henderson?" I looked up at Alpha Neo.

He was busy organizing his briefcase, not even glancing in my direction. "The agreement clearly states you are willingly giving up your rights to the inheritance."

I gripped the pen tightly. Just three years ago, I had been the youngest female Delta warrior in the Silver Moon Pack, the leading candidate for the inheritance. Now, here I was, signing away that future myself.

"Does the pack council even know that Ellis has moved into the ancestral training grounds?" I asked quietly.

Alpha Neo finally looked at me, his gaze sharp. "What are you getting at?"

I shook my head, knowing he was wary of the incident last month.

I had unwittingly discovered him trying to practice the ancient transformation technique alone at night, failing repeatedly.

The pack’s once-treasured technique had clearly been lost.

"Remember your promise," he said coolly. "Don’t think of using this as a bargaining chip."

I lowered my gaze, the secret feeling like a double-edged sword that cut both ways.

After signing the final line, I stood up, ready to leave. But Alpha Neo stopped me:

"Let Westley escort you back."

"No need, I can..."

"You haven’t forgotten what day it is, have you?" he interrupted impatiently. "There’s a full moon ceremony tonight at the training grounds, Ellis’s first demonstration of the 'Seventy-Two Transformations.'"

So that’s how it was. I felt a bitter smile tug at the corner of my mouth.

Today was the 15th, the day when the Silver Moon Pack traditionally showcased newcomers at every full moon.

"She needs a ceremonial cloak today." Alpha Neo took out a velvet box from his bag. "I have to deliver it myself."

I looked at the familiar box, remembering how he had crafted the cloak for me with his own hands for my first ceremony.

Now, the cloak had new embellishments, and the person beside him was someone else.

After helping Ellis prepare for her demonstration, I found myself stranded due to the snowstorm, forced to spend the night at the training grounds’ outbuilding.

When Westley led me to the guest room, his professional manner made me feel like an outsider.

"If you’re hungry, there’s hot stew in the kitchen," he paused, "but it’s best not to go to the main courtyard; they’re rehearsing there."

As I lay in bed, the faint sound of howls reached my ears, the eerie notes carrying through the thick curtain of snow.

Whenever I couldn’t sleep, I’d often practice my forms in the small training yard, a habit formed over three years. Tonight was likely my last chance.

Sneaking down the corridor, I overheard a conversation:

"Ellis is truly gifted. Her demonstration of the 'Seventy-Two Transformations' surpasses Kai Matthews’s."

"Who wouldn’t say so? Kai only got her position because of the Alpha’s favor..."

I quietly turned away, only to bump into Moses, the old Healer I had once revered as my mentor.

"Kai?" He seemed surprised but quickly regained his composure. "I heard you and Alpha Neo severed the mate bond over the inheritance issue?"

I lowered my head. "Healer Moses..."

"Don’t call me Healer anymore," he sighed. "You shouldn’t have been the successor. The Silver Moon Pack needs someone who truly embodies our warrior spirit."

Standing there, I felt warmth behind my eyes but held back the tears.

Moses was right; I wasn’t meant to be the 'successor.'

Not because I wasn’t skilled enough, but because I saw through the pack’s facade.

The so-called 'Seventy-Two Transformations,' venerated for generations, was nothing more than a beautiful lie.

As I turned to walk back, the howls continued to drift through the snowy night. It was the most poignant part of the transformation ritual, telling the tale of a young wolf yearning to break free from her cage.

Ironically, the countless times I had sung those lyrics, they mirrored my own journey.