At our bonding ceremony, my Alpha mate Caleb Blackwood, appeared with his childhood sweetheart, Seraphina Thorne.

She wore the moon-white gown reserved for a true mate.

I watched as they stood at the entrance, accepting blessings from the guests as if they were the honored couple.

I kept my composure, even praising them as a perfect match.

She burst into tears and fled, playing the part of the wronged woman to perfection.

In response, Caleb unleashed his Alpha aura, publicly crushing me under its weight as he accused me of being vicious.

After the ceremony, on what should have been our first night together, he left with Seraphina.

I didn't argue.

I quietly sought out the pack's shaman to prepare for the ancient ritual to terminate the pregnancy.

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1

Late that night, I returned home.

Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a cold glow over the apartment.

I dragged myself toward the bedroom, where the romantic decorations for our new life together seemed to mock me.

How ridiculous, I thought.

The celebratory moonflower petals scattered across the bed hadn't been cleared away, but I was too exhausted to care.

I swept them onto the floor, collapsed onto the soft mattress, and let the weight of the day consume me.

The moment I activated my communication crystal, a notification popped up—as if on cue. Seraphina Thorne had posted an update on the pack’s internal network.

"Thank you for the company. Every moment was precious."

The post included a photo: Caleb holding her, their faces close as they gazed at each other under the Moonlight Falls, lips nearly touching.

His family’s heirloom bracelet was sparkling on her wrist.

If this had happened in the past, I would have stormed over there and torn him limb from limb.

But now?

I just silently powered down the crystal, rolled over, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next few days passed in silence.

I didn't receive a single mind-link from Caleb.

Instead, my feed was constantly flooded with Seraphina's updates—images of them kissing, hunting, and laughing together, flaunting their romance for all to see.

I felt nothing. No anger, no sorrow.

Instead, I contacted the Elders' Council and submitted a preliminary application to sever our mate bond.

Caleb Blackwood and I were fated mates, a prophecy from the Moon Goddess eight years ago.

Though we had only just held the bonding ceremony, our destinies had been intertwined since the day we came of age.

It had been a quiet, impulsive decision.

There was no grand ceremony, no extravagant betrothal gifts, no dazzling jewels—only two young werewolves recklessly surrendering to fate.

But now, that passion had long since turned to ash, leaving only wreckage behind.

Nearly two weeks later, I was at home, reviewing the draft from the Elders' Council for severing our bond.

The apartment was still, but the sudden sound of a key turning in the lock shattered the silence.

I looked up as Caleb and Seraphina walked in, hand in hand.

Our eyes met. I saw a flicker of awkwardness on his face before he quickly dropped her hand, his voice tight as he tried to explain.

"I took her to see Moonlight Falls. She’d never been," he stammered. "Besides, you're carrying our pup... The healer said you need to rest..."

Before he could finish, I averted my gaze, my attention returning to the documents in front of me.

I gave a dismissive nod, my disinterest thinly veiled. "Is that all?"

Whatever else he was about to say caught in his throat.

The sight of me sitting there calmly, my focus on the crystal screen, only irritated him more.

His voice turned cold. "Why are you being like this? I already told you, Seraphina had never been there—that's why I took her!"

"It's not a big deal! Why are you making such a fuss? We can go to the sacred lands anytime! What is wrong with you?"

He continued to rant, his voice laced with a palpable frustration. "How many times do I have to explain? There's nothing going on between Seraphina and me—"

I cut him off, tired of the same old lies.

"That you and Seraphina are just like siblings. Yes, I've heard."

I looked up at him, my expression placid and cool. Not a single flicker of anger.

Caleb's face hardened, his brow furrowing in frustration as his exasperated voice echoed through the room.

"Then what are you so upset about this time?"

"I'm busy," I replied, my gaze already fixed on the draft before me, without meeting his eyes.

Sensing the tension, Seraphina quickly stepped forward, her face a mask of concern as she took Caleb’s wrist. She added fuel to the fire, her voice sickeningly sweet.

"Please, Elara, don't be mad. Don't fight with Caleb because of me. He might not have taken you this time, but he bought you a special gift!"

She turned to him, her voice dripping with false innocence. "Caleb, show her the gift!"

Eager to appease me, Caleb pulled a small box from his pocket. He opened it and pushed it toward me, a smug look on his face as if he expected a grand gesture of gratitude.

"I chose this especially for you. Here, take a look."

I glanced at the box. Inside lay a simple moonstone ring, small, ordinary, and utterly devoid of magic.

After a single glance, I pushed the box back without a second thought.

"No, thank you. I'm not interested in collecting common trinkets."

An awkward silence descended upon the room. The air grew thick with tension as Caleb’s face darkened.

"What's that supposed to mean, Elara Vance?"

I glanced at the family heirloom on Seraphina's wrist, its ancient Alpha power humming with undeniable authority. My eyes moved back to Caleb's face as he struggled to maintain his composure.

"It means exactly what I said. You gave her the family bracelet, imbued with the power of your ancestors, and you bring me… a common stone? Do you really think I'm only worthy of such a thoughtless token?"

Caleb, caught off guard, blinked, clearly not expecting such a direct confrontation.

But Seraphina jumped in before he could recover, her voice laced with that practiced sweetness.

"Elara, don't be mad. Caleb only gave me the bracelet because I loved it so much. But if it bothers you, I'll give it back. Please, don't let this come between you two—it's not worth it."

Her words were honeyed with innocence, but her hand never moved toward the bracelet. Instead, she looked up at Caleb with teary eyes, each teardrop falling as if on command.

Of course, Caleb melted. He pulled her into his arms as if she were the one needing comfort, glaring at me over her head.

"Don't listen to her, Seraphina. That bracelet is yours."

"A gift, once given, belongs to its new owner. You're always so petty, getting worked up over nothing."

I didn't bother to respond. My attention had already returned to the glowing crystal screen in front of me.

I said nothing. Instead, I silently calculated the bracelet's value in pack resources and added the sum to the asset division list for our impending divorce.

My silence only fueled his frustration. He wrapped his arm tighter around Seraphina and stormed out of the apartment.

He deliberately left the door ajar, waiting—expecting me to concede, as I always had.

But this time was different.

I didn't even look up.

With a final, angry slam, he shut the door behind him.

Not long after they left, my clan's elders sent a mind-link, summoning me for dinner.

I agreed. As I arrived at their home, I ran into Caleb.

He looked at me, a flicker of guilt crossing his face before he masked it with forced composure.

"Shall we go in together?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

I nodded and walked past him without a word.

Dinner was exceptionally awkward. My elders had not forgiven him for the public humiliation he'd subjected me to at the bonding ceremony. Their coldness was a palpable force in the room, evident in their clipped words and the sharp glances they shot his way.

Before, I might have stepped in to mediate, to play the peacemaker. Not anymore. This time, I let him sit there and stew in the uncomfortable silence.

When dinner finally ended, I was about to leave when Caleb followed me out. As I turned, my eyes fell on his neck.

There, on the mate mark that should have been exclusively mine, the initial 'S' for Seraphina had been branded into his skin with silver.

The profane mark burned my eyes.

He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable, and rushed to explain.

"Seraphina insisted. She said it would make her feel closer to me."

I nodded, my voice flat and calm. "Right. She's still young. Wolves her age can be possessive."

He frowned, looking like he wanted to say more, but my communication crystal chimed before he could speak.

I ignored him, focusing on the message that required my attention. By the time I was finished, we had arrived back at the apartment.

I got out of the car, and before I could even take a breath, Seraphina rushed over, practically throwing herself into Caleb's arms.

"Caleb, I missed you so much!" she chirped.

Perhaps because I was standing right there, Caleb seemed uncomfortable. He quickly pushed her away before she could press a kiss to his cheek.

"Come on, Seraphina, stop being so childish. You're not a pup anymore."

She shot me a smug look, her voice full of playful sweetness. "But I am your favorite, aren't I? We're still so close!"

I ignored their little drama and walked straight into the building.

But just as I reached the entrance, something on the lobby's large, magical image stone caught my eye—a slideshow of photos.

They were all of Seraphina and Caleb. Some showed them cuddling while watching the sunrise, others of them dining together. And the last one…

The two of them, locked in a passionate kiss.

The moment I glanced at the images, Caleb rushed to my side, his voice urgent and desperate.

"Elara, those are fake. You have to believe me. Please don't be angry, it's not good for the pup."

I turned to face him, catching the flicker of guilt in his eyes.

I nodded slowly. "They're beautifully shot, though."

His brow furrowed, his face a mask of confusion.

"Elara, aren't you angry?"

My expression was firm, serene. "No. Not at all."

Before he could press further, my communication crystal rang. It was the healer, calling to discuss the details of my post-ritual check-up for the next day.

I walked away to take the call, paying no mind to Caleb's reaction.

When I returned, the scene unfolding was all too familiar. Caleb stood there, protectively shielding Seraphina as he raised his voice, reprimanding a young pack member.

From their heated argument, it wasn't hard to piece together what had happened. A young wolf had accidentally spilled wine on Seraphina's dress, and now Caleb was relentlessly demanding an apology.

Watching the scene, I was reminded of an incident from years ago. We had been at another banquet, much like this one.

I was standing off to the side when Seraphina, seemingly by accident, drew the attention of a spy from a rival pack. I was injured intercepting the spy, my gown soaked in blood.

I had looked to Caleb for help, but he had unleashed his fury on me, his words sharp and cruel in front of everyone.

"Can't you even handle yourself? Do you have any idea how important this alliance meeting is? What's the point of a useless mate like you even being alive?"

His final words were the most brutal.

"If I were you, I would have just died on the battlefield."

My thoughts snapped back to the present. I watched him, the same man, now protecting Seraphina over a spilled drink.

It was laughable.

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

Caleb didn't come home last night.

I wasn't surprised. It wasn't the first time.

But as I finished getting ready, I saw him walk in with breakfast in hand, Seraphina trailing behind him.

When he saw me, he placed the breakfast on the dining table and, for once, offered an explanation.

"We were out late. I stayed with Seraphina—she was shaken after your power flared up. It was past midnight by the time she finally fell asleep, so I just crashed at her place."

Seraphina, clinging to his arm, chimed in, her tone dripping with false innocence.

"That's right, Elara. You're not mad, are you?"

I said nothing, just nodded.

Caleb seemed to sense my coldness. In a rare gentle tone, he pushed the breakfast toward me and tried again.

"Didn't you say you've always wanted to see the decennial meteor shower? I have time today. I can take you."

That meteor shower—I had asked him about it repeatedly, and each time he had refused, citing pack business. A few days later, I saw him in Seraphina's post.

"Watching the most beautiful starry sky with the one I love most," the caption read.

Although their faces weren't visible, the image of their intertwined hands said it all.

Even without the photo, the faint scent on him that wasn't mine would have made my decision easy.

"No, thank you," I said calmly. "I have plans today."

A flash of discomfort crossed his face, as if he hadn't expected the rejection. He opened his mouth to say more, but Seraphina was already settled on the sofa, looking at me with wide, innocent eyes.

"Elara, when you say you're busy… does that mean you're meeting a wolf from another pack?"

I shot her a sharp look, suspicion blooming in my gut.

The only ones who knew I was filing to sever the bond were the Elders' Council and my own clan's elders. No one else was supposed to know.

Sensing my suspicious gaze, Seraphina quickly turned to Caleb, putting on a show of wide-eyed purity.

"Caleb, please don't be angry at what I'm about to say. A few days ago, a friend of mine told me they saw Elara meeting secretly with a wolf from another pack… acting…" she trailed off deliberately, feigning hesitation before continuing in a softer, fearful tone, "intimately…"

"But maybe my friend was mistaken! After all, how could Elara ever betray you? She loves you so much, Caleb."

The moment her words were out, Caleb's face twisted in rage.

Without warning, he unleashed his Alpha aura, and the crystal glasses on the table shattered. His eyes burned with fury as he stared at me.

"Elara! So you won't see the meteor shower with me because you're sneaking around with some other wolf?" he snarled. "Is that how you should act while carrying my pup?"

I glanced at the shattered glass on the floor but said nothing. Before I could speak, Seraphina, ever the peacemaker, jumped in again.

"Caleb, please don't be angry. Let's calm down and talk. It's not entirely her fault—after all, her Vance Clan bloodline is also…"

But before she could finish that venomous sentence, my rage erupted. An invisible shockwave of power blasted out from me, sending her flying.

She could slander me all she wanted, but she had no right to insult my clan.

The shockwave left a faint energy brand on her skin, and she immediately looked to Caleb with tear-filled eyes, as if gravely injured. As expected, he rushed to her side, fussing over her with concern.

Seeing her pitiful expression, he glared at me, his finger jabbing in my direction.

"Elara, you disappoint me beyond words! Even if what Seraphina said wasn't true, you had no right to harm her!"

He continued his tirade, "You will apologize to Seraphina right now, or I'll report this to the Elders' Council and force them to sever our bond!"

I cut him off sharply, my voice like ice. "So you knew she was lying."

His face froze, caught in his own words. He quickly shifted back to self-righteous anger, pointing at me again.

"Yes, I saw that too! But you were still wrong to hurt her! Apologize to Seraphina now, or we sever the bond!"

A chill spread through my body. I stared at him in disbelief, holding on to one last shred of hope, making one final attempt.

"Caleb," I said, my voice low and firm, "I've scheduled the ritual to terminate the pregnancy. It's tomorrow. Will you be there?"

He scoffed, his voice filled with derision, as if I had just told the most ridiculous joke he'd ever heard.