I knew it was Stella on the other end of the call.

I turned, my eyes landing on the list of ritual artifacts on the table. The initial preparations had been completed over a month ago.

On the day that list was finalized, Robin hadn't come home. He’d told me he was patrolling the border, dealing with intruders. Looking back, I realized he had been with her, making arrangements for a ceremony that was supposed to save her bloodline.

It proved my permission was never part of the plan. They were just waiting for the right moment to inform me because they had never intended to ask in the first place.

All this time, I had been eagerly anticipating my bonding ceremony. I had yearned to take Robin’s hand and stand with him on the Altar of the Moon Goddess. Now, all that excitement, all that joy, had vanished without a trace.

It was all gone. Wiped clean.

Just then, the hum of a communication crystal pulled me from my thoughts. The voice belonged to Maya Chen, a senior of mine from the Rune Heart.

"Elara, I know you're about to be bonded, but I have to ask one last time. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider joining the sanctuary?" Maya pleaded.

"You're the most talented student Professor Alistair Finch has ever taught. He's always wanted you on his core research team. He even agreed to let you take two weeks off every two months to accommodate your bonding, so you could still spend time with your mate."

Alistair Finch, my former mentor, had started a research project at the Rune Heart in Laran. Six months ago, he had reached out, inviting me to join his rune research team.

Joining meant being isolated from the outside world for long stretches, anywhere from a month to over a year.

Back then, I couldn't bear the thought of being away from Robin for so long, so I'd declined. But now… now Robin was already the future father of another woman's child.

Since he hadn't considered me or our future before making his choice, there was no reason for this ceremony to happen.

"I've made my decision, Maya. I'll join the sanctuary. And I don't need any breaks. I can commit to the project's schedule completely," I said, my voice steady.

"That's fantastic! Professor Finch will be thrilled!" Maya exclaimed, surprised. "When are you thinking of coming? How about a week after your bonding? You could still have your honeymoon."

"There's no need for that. I'll fly over on the day of the ceremony," I replied softly.

My gaze fell to the calendar on the desk. I had circled the tenth of next month in silver ink. It was meant to be a joyful countdown, a way to organize my final preparations.

Now, it was a countdown to my escape. In fifteen days, the connection between Robin and me would be severed. Forever.

Robin didn't return to our quarters that night, and I didn't bother reaching out through the mind-link. I already knew where he was, thanks to the pack's internal news network.

After our argument, Robin and Stella had gone to the Laurel Pack to update her people on the blood-oath ceremony. I saw a photo of Stella's elders gripping Robin's hand, their faces full of affection. He wore that same gentle smile, his other hand resting reassuringly on Stella's shoulder.

In the five years we'd been together, Robin had visited my family exactly once—and only after we'd decided to bond.

Even though our families lived less than half an hour apart, he'd never once suggested a visit. He claimed being around the older generation made him uncomfortable.

During that single visit, he had been merely polite to my family, a stark contrast to the warmth he radiated in the photos with Stella's kin.

I squeezed my eyes shut, a bitter taste rising in my throat, and closed the news feed.

The next day, I started contacting our friends to tell them the bonding ceremony was canceled.

Robin had always claimed to dislike such events, calling them meaningless formalities. He'd only reluctantly agreed to a small ceremony at my insistence, with just our closest pack members and friends.

Everyone knew how much I loved Robin. My friends were stunned by the news.

"You've loved him for so long. Why would you suddenly sever the mate bond?"

An indescribable ache bloomed in my chest. It wasn't easy to sever a twenty-year bond. But I now saw our relationship was never built on equal ground. I was always running to keep up with him, and he never once slowed down for me.

At first, I didn't mind. I told myself if I could just wait for him to agree to our bonding, then I could wait for him to truly fall in love with me afterward.

I was willing to wait for him to open his heart.

But everything changed six months ago when Stella, his supposed savior, appeared.

I finally realized Robin wasn't cold to everyone. For Stella, he was all gentle smiles and grand gestures. I had never been his exception.

What I couldn't bear, however, was the deception. Pretending to seek my approval while secretly planning a life-altering ritual with another woman.

That was the moment I finally understood.

There was no future for Robin and me.

I didn't tell my friends the truth. I simply said I was leaving for another sanctuary to pursue rune research and would contact them later.

After apologizing for cutting things short, I chatted with them late into the night before heading home.

When I returned, Robin had just arrived as well. Catching the scent of another pack on me, he frowned and took a step back. His Alpha presence washed over me, heavy and impatient. "Stay away from me. Don't bring the stench of another pack into this house."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. He was probably just worried a foreign pack's scent would upset Stella. After all, she would soon be carrying his heir.

Without a word, I went straight to the purification chamber to cleanse the scent from my skin. When I emerged, Robin was fiddling with a communication crystal, a faint smile on his lips.

I glanced at him and started toward the bedroom, but he called my name.

"I need to talk to you," Robin said.

I froze. He’d used those exact words two weeks ago, the first time he told me about the blood-oath ceremony with Stella—and we had been fighting ever since.

The ritual was already prepared. What more was there to talk about?