The final lines were written in a hand Rosalie knew all too well.

"She is the mate my parents always wanted for me."

"Since the Moon Goddess has already bound us together, the least I can do is play the part expected of me."

The parchment slipped from her trembling fingers.

Tears blurred her vision before she even realized they had begun to fall.

With shaking hands, she unfolded another.

"The mating ceremony is over."

"Rosalie looks happier than I've ever seen her."

"Yet every night I lie beside her, I feel nothing except resentment."

"If only the Moon Goddess had chosen Arabella instead."

"Had Rosalie never existed, perhaps my parents would never have opposed Arabella."

Another line had been added beneath it.

"I keep my distance, yet she does the same. I can't understand her."

"She's... strange."

Rosalie stared at the fading ink until the words dissolved behind her tears.

After a long while, she carefully gathered every folded parchment from the floor.

One by one, she returned them to the hollow wooden bear.

She fitted its carved head back into place with the same care she had once devoted to preserving their marriage, leaving no trace that anyone had ever looked inside.

Only after locking the door to their chamber did she finally allow herself to collapse onto the floor.

For years, she had believed her devotion would someday be enough.

Now she understood that every hope she had treasured had existed only in her own heart.

---

Cassian did not return for another two days.

When he finally entered the manor, Rosalie was opening a sealed letter that had arrived from the northern territories.

Inside was the travel authorization bearing the seal of the Ashford Pack.

She quietly folded it and tucked it away before Cassian even glanced in her direction.

Just as she picked up her cloak to leave, his voice stopped her.

"Rosalie."

She turned.

"What is it?"

Cassian hesitated for several moments before speaking.

"It's Arabella."

His expression was unusually strained.

"She attempted to take her own life by swallowing wolfsbane."

"The Moon Healers managed to save her... but only barely."

Rosalie listened without interrupting.

After a long silence, Cassian finally forced himself to continue.

"I need your help."

She crossed the room and sat opposite him.

Still, she said nothing.

He lowered his head.

"I think..."

His voice caught briefly.

"...we should temporarily dissolve our mate bond."

"Arabella needs me right now."

Rosalie looked at him quietly.

Then she nodded.

"Very well."

Her answer came so quickly that Cassian found himself staring at her.

She asked only one question.

"Will the Council of Elders need to witness it?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go."

---

Neither of them spoke during the journey to the Sacred Moonstone Hall.

The Council completed the formalities with surprising speed.

Once the elders had witnessed the temporary dissolution of their bond, the ritual was sealed within the Moonstone's records.

Walking down the temple steps afterward, Cassian found himself strangely unable to meet Rosalie's eyes.

"It will only be temporary," he said at last.

"When Arabella recovers... we'll restore the bond."

Rosalie simply inclined her head.

While he spoke, she quietly withdrew a communication crystal and confirmed passage with a caravan bound for the northern territories before sunset.

Everything aligned perfectly.

If she departed that afternoon, she would reach the Ashford Pack without stopping along the way.

As they reached the foot of the temple, Cassian spoke again.

"There is one more favor I need to ask."

Rosalie looked at him patiently.

"The other packs have already begun spreading rumors."

He exhaled slowly.

"I need you to tell them that our bond had already been failing long before Arabella returned."

His voice grew quieter.

"They mustn't believe she was the reason we separated."

Rosalie lowered her eyes to the Moonstone decree resting in her hands.

After a long moment, she smiled.

It was a gentle smile.

One that hurt far more than tears.

"Alright."

That single word was all she gave him.

Cassian escorted her back to the manor before leaving immediately for Arabella's side.

He never noticed that every belonging Rosalie owned had already been packed away.

She checked each travel chest one final time, making certain every important document and heirloom had been accounted for before entrusting them to a merchant caravan traveling north.

Not long afterward, Freya arrived.

She insisted on accompanying Rosalie to the border gates.

When the time came to part, she embraced her tightly, reluctant to let go.

Only after watching Freya disappear behind the forest path did Rosalie climb into the carriage that would carry her home.

As the horses began moving, she reached for her communication crystal one final time.

With calm fingers, she sent a message across the territories' shared communication network, making certain both Cassian and Arabella would receive it.

"Alpha Cassian Ironclaw and I dissolved our mate bond some time ago."

"May the Moon Goddess bless whatever path the two of you choose together."

The crystal pulsed once as the message spread from pack to pack.

Then, just before she severed her connection to the network forever, Rosalie added one final sentence.

"Farewell."