The communication crystal glowed faintly before Colton Riggs' sleepy voice emerged from within.

"Yes, Alpha. I still have the healer's records."

"Bring them to me."

"At once."

The connection faded.

Not long afterward, another pulse of spiritual energy flowed into the crystal. Cassian unfolded the healer's message and carefully read every line.

The examination recorded nothing alarming.

Rosalie's wolf was slightly weakened from lack of sunlight, and the Moon Healer had advised more time beneath the full moon along with a few restorative herbs, but there was nothing to suggest a life-threatening illness.

Only then did the tightness in Cassian's chest finally ease.

**

The following morning, Rosalie was surprised to find Cassian still at the manor.

He had always devoted himself entirely to pack affairs. Even after bringing Arabella back, he had rarely remained home once dawn broke. Seeing him waiting in the great hall instead of leaving before sunrise felt strangely unfamiliar.

The moment she descended the staircase, Cassian dismissed the warrior he had been speaking with and rose to his feet.

"I've arranged everything," he said. "We'll leave for the Sacred Moon Temple this afternoon. Go prepare your things. We'll set out before sunset."

Rosalie stopped halfway across the hall, unable to hide her surprise.

Seeing the question in her eyes, Cassian explained,

"Our mating anniversary is only a few days away. We can make the pilgrimage together and return before the Winter Moon Festival."

For a brief moment, Rosalie almost asked about Arabella.

If he left...

Who would remain by her side?

The question lingered on the tip of her tongue before she quietly swallowed it.

Throughout their marriage, every celebration had always been arranged by her. Whether it was their anniversary, the changing of the seasons, or the smallest festival beneath the full moon, she had been the one to prepare everything while Cassian simply appeared whenever time allowed.

Now, hearing him suggest the journey himself felt almost unreal.

Was it guilt?

Or had something changed after their conversation the previous night?

Rosalie could not tell.

In the end, she simply nodded.

If this truly became their final journey together...

...then she wished to remember it without bitterness.

After breakfast, she returned to their chamber and packed only what she needed. The northern mountains surrounding the Sacred Moon Temple were cold throughout the year, so she chose several heavy cloaks along with the medicinal herbs commonly used to ease the dizziness brought on by the high peaks.

By midday, they departed the territory.

The journey to the temple required passing through several allied packs before reaching the sacred mountain where the first Moonstone was said to have descended from the heavens.

Upon arriving at the final resting lodge before the ascent, pilgrims were required to register their names with the temple guardians before continuing on foot.

While Cassian remained behind to complete the formalities, Rosalie wandered toward a nearby spring to warm her hands with a cup of herbal tea.

When she returned...

Cassian was gone.

At first, she assumed he had merely stepped away to speak with the temple elders.

She waited patiently.

As more pilgrims began climbing toward the mountain while Cassian still failed to appear, unease slowly settled into her heart.

She reached for the mate bond.

This time, he answered almost immediately.

"Rosalie..."

His breathing was uneven.

"I can't make the pilgrimage."

Her fingers tightened around the warm cup in her hands.

"Why?" she asked quietly.

There was a long silence before he finally answered.

"It's Arabella... she attempted to sever her own wolf."

Rosalie stood perfectly still.

The bustling voices surrounding the temple faded into silence.

Without another word, the connection between them disappeared.

A long while later, she quietly joined the line of pilgrims climbing toward the Sacred Moon Temple.

Alone.

Beneath the towering Moonstone, wolves from every territory offered prayers to the Moon Goddess, turning the ancient prayer wheel with hopeful hearts.

For years, Rosalie had imagined standing there beside Cassian, praying that they would grow old together beneath the Goddess's blessing.

Instead...

She closed her eyes and whispered a different prayer.

She prayed only that she might survive.

That her wolf would endure.

That she would live long enough to return home.

During the days that followed, neither of them reached for the mate bond again.

Cassian had promised to meet her after two days.

He never came.

When the night of their fifth mating anniversary arrived, followed closely by the Winter Moon Festival, the bond between them remained painfully silent.

No greeting.

No explanation.

Nothing.

By then, Rosalie no longer felt surprised.

She had expected so little that disappointment should have been impossible.

Yet five years of loving the same man still left wounds that refused to stop bleeding. It felt as though countless silver blades had pierced her heart all at once, leaving behind a pain so suffocating that even breathing became difficult.

After returning from the Sacred Moon Temple, Rosalie sought out the legal elder Freya had recommended.

Once he had listened to everything she wished to do, the elder nodded thoughtfully.

"If you truly intend to dissolve your mate bond as quickly as possible," he said, "your Alpha must first agree before the Moonstone. Once he gives his consent, we can petition the Council of Elders to witness the severing ritual. Matters concerning estates, territory, and other possessions may be settled afterward."

Rosalie remained silent for a long while.

Was now truly the right time to dissolve their mate bond?

It was not Cassian she feared facing.

It was the rest of the Ironclaw Pack.

Alpha Rowan and Luna Adelaide had always loved her as though she were their own daughter. They had never once made her feel like an outsider after she entered the family. If they pleaded with her to reconsider... if they asked her to remain by Cassian's side...

She did not know whether she possessed the strength to refuse them.

She was simply too tired.

Too tired to explain.

Too tired to defend a marriage that had already died in her heart.

At last, she lifted her eyes toward Belinda.

"What if I entrust everything to you?" she asked quietly. "Speak to Cassian on my behalf and obtain his agreement before the Moonstone. Once that is done, I'll return to complete the severing ritual myself. Would that be acceptable?"

Belinda regarded her thoughtfully.

After a moment, she inclined her head.

"It can be arranged," she replied. "You'll need to grant me authority before the Council of Elders and sign the necessary documents."

Rosalie accepted the parchment without another word.

Though her fingers trembled ever so slightly as she pressed her name into the agreement with her wolf's aura, she never allowed the weakness to show upon her face.

When everything had been completed, Belinda accompanied her toward the entrance.

The moment they stepped outside, a crowd surged forward.

No warning.

No chance to react.

Clay cups filled with bitter herbal tea, bowls of cooled broth, and handfuls of mud came flying toward her from every direction.

The foul liquid soaked through her cloak and hair, dripping down her face before splattering across the stone road beneath her feet.

For a heartbeat, Rosalie simply stood there.

Too stunned to move.

"You shameless thief!"

One young she-wolf pointed at her with undisguised hatred.

"You stole Lady Arabella's mate!"

"The Moon Goddess will punish you!"

"Stay away from our future Luna!"

The accusations came one after another, sharper than claws.

Before Rosalie could gather herself, someone shoved her violently from behind.

Already weakened by the darkness consuming her wolf, she failed to steady herself.

She stumbled backward.

Then fell hard onto the stone pavement.

Pain shot through her side, forcing the air from her lungs.

"Enough!"

Belinda's voice rang through the courtyard with unmistakable authority.

Without hesitation, she pushed through the furious crowd and hurried toward Rosalie.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded coldly. "Do you understand that assaulting another wolf before witnesses is a crime under pack law?"

The young she-wolf leading the group folded her arms across her chest.

"A crime?" she scoffed. "We're only giving her what she deserves after everything she's done to Lady Arabella."

Belinda's expression did not change.

"Lady Arabella?"

"Who else?" another she-wolf snapped.

Belinda regarded them calmly.

"Did Lady Arabella order you to come here?"

The leader immediately shook her head.

"Lady Arabella would never do something like that. She's too kind. She's suffered because of this woman for years, so we're simply seeking justice for her."

"That's right!"

"Our Lady Arabella has endured enough because of this witch!"

Belinda gave a faint, humorless smile.

"Very well."

Her gaze swept over every face before her.

"I hope that same devotion remains when each of you stands before the Council of Elders to answer for today's actions."

Almost as if summoned by those words, several pack warriors arrived at a run.

The furious crowd scattered immediately.

Many fled before the warriors could seize them, though several were caught before they escaped.

Belinda helped Rosalie to her feet.

Her clothing was soaked, her silver hair clung messily to her face, and her complexion had turned frighteningly pale.

Without another word, Belinda guided her back inside.

After helping Rosalie clean herself as best they could, they made their way to the Hall of Judgment to report the assault.

During the journey, Belinda received several urgent messages through her communication crystal.

Someone had preserved the entire incident inside a memory crystal.

By then, it had already spread across countless packs through the shared communication network.

The comments beneath it overflowed with ridicule and condemnation.

Rosalie quietly read them all.

With every cruel remark...

The last trace of hesitation inside her disappeared.

She looked toward Belinda, her voice calm enough to send a chill through the room.

"Elder Sawyer."

Belinda lifted her eyes.

"I wish to entrust another matter to you."

"Go on."

"I want every wolf who deliberately spread false accusations against me to answer before the Council of Elders. As for those who assaulted me today..."

She paused briefly.

"...I will accept no private settlement."

"I intend to pursue every charge permitted under pack law."

Belinda nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"I understand."

"I'll see to it personally."

By the time Rosalie finished giving her statement at the Hall of Judgment, the little strength she had been clinging to had nearly vanished.

The corruption within her wolf had been worsening by the day, and the ordeal had drained what little remained.

She leaned back in her chair, her face almost devoid of color.

Belinda watched her with growing concern.

"Lady Rosalie," she said gently, "shall I escort you back to the Alpha Manor?"

Rosalie slowly shook her head.

"Thank you... but I'd rather walk for a while."

"I need the quiet."

Belinda hesitated before finally nodding.

"As you wish. Please take care of yourself."

She waited until Rosalie disappeared beyond the stone gates before taking out her communication crystal and reaching through the mindlink to Freya.

"Rosalie just left my chambers. She doesn't look well. I offered to accompany her, but she refused. Go after her."

Freya was in the middle of a council meeting when the message reached her.

She answered almost immediately.

"I'm on my way."

The moment Freya withdrew from the mindlink with Belinda, she excused herself from the council chamber and hurried into the corridor. Without wasting another heartbeat, she reached for her communication crystal and sought Rosalie through their private connection.

The link formed almost immediately.

To Freya's surprise, Rosalie sounded perfectly at ease.

"I'm alright," she said with a light laugh. "Don't leave your duties because of me. Finish your work first, and then we'll have supper together."

Hearing that familiar warmth in her voice eased the tightness in Freya's chest.

After a brief silence, she smiled.

"Then spend the Winter Moon Festival with me this year."

There was a quiet hope hidden beneath her words.

Rosalie answered without hesitation.

"Of course. But don't disappear into your work again."

Freya laughed softly.

"I won't. If there's anything left unfinished, I'll bring it home instead."

Rosalie let out an amused snort.

"Some things never change."

The sound made Freya's heart ache in a way she could not explain.

"Now go back to your meeting," Rosalie urged gently. "I'm truly alright."

Only after the connection faded did Freya return to the council chamber.

**

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the neighboring manor had become unusually tense.

The memory crystal recording Rosalie's assault had spread through the territories with astonishing speed, and every shared communication network was filled with heated discussions.

Arabella had become the center of attention once again.

Her steward, Vanessa Coleman, stood before her with an expression weighed down by worry, while Cassian remained seated nearby, silently watching the images preserved inside his own communication crystal.

Rosalie's pale face...

Her soaked clothing...

The moment she was shoved to the ground...

Each scene tightened something painfully inside his chest.

"When did this happen?" he asked quietly.

Vanessa hesitated before answering.

"Roughly an hour ago. The warriors escorted the attackers to the Hall of Judgment shortly afterward."

Cassian rose without another word.

He immediately reached through the mate bond.

Silence.

He tried again.

Nothing answered him.

His expression darkened.

Without bothering to explain himself, he seized his cloak and strode from the manor.

Arabella watched his retreating figure until the doors closed behind him.

Only then did she turn toward Vanessa.

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"This is becoming dangerous."

Vanessa released a weary sigh.

"It was meant to force the Alpha to make a choice."

She lowered her voice further.

"No matter how much time he spends here, he still hasn't dissolved his mate bond with Rosalie. If the pack begins to question his intentions, all of our efforts may be wasted."

Arabella lowered her eyes, saying nothing more.

---

Cassian rode hard through the territory, the wind whipping past him as his thoughts refused to settle.

Rosalie had returned alone from the Sacred Moon Temple.

She had never reached for him through the mate bond.

She had not asked him to fulfill the promise he had broken.

She had not confronted him.

She had simply... grown farther away.

The realization left him strangely unsettled.

Before he reached the Hall of Judgment, a familiar figure appeared farther down the stone road.

Rosalie.

She walked alone beneath the winter sky, carrying a small travel chest behind her.

Cassian immediately pulled his horse to a stop before her.

"Rosalie."

She paused.

Slowly, she lifted her eyes toward him.

There was no warmth in them.

No joy.

Not even resentment.

Only a quiet emptiness that made his heart tighten.

He dismounted almost immediately and crossed the short distance between them before taking the chest from her hand.

"I'll carry this."

She neither thanked him nor objected.

Instead, she simply stood where she was.

"You returned from the Sacred Moon Temple without telling me," Cassian said. "Why didn't you reach out? I would have come for you."

Rosalie offered no reply.

She merely climbed onto the horse behind him as though his words had never been spoken.

Cassian remained motionless for a brief moment before mounting in front of her.

As they rode back toward the Alpha Manor, he found himself glancing over his shoulder more than once.

Rosalie sat quietly behind him, her gaze fixed on the distant mountains.

Her face had become noticeably thinner.

Even beneath the heavy winter cloak, he could tell she had lost weight.

The sight unsettled him.

After a long silence, he finally spoke again.

"Have you eaten today?"

"No."

"We should stop somewhere before returning."

"I'm not hungry."

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

The wind carried the silence between them until Cassian asked the question that had been haunting him ever since he saw the memory crystal.

"Were you hurt?"

Only then did Rosalie slowly lift her eyes.

Their gazes met briefly through the faint thread of the mate bond.

So...

He had seen it after all.

That was why he had suddenly appeared before her.

Why he was looking at her with concern now.

The thought crossed her mind without stirring even the slightest ripple in her heart.