The night it happened, I was returning from a meeting with the pack's elders. The forest was quiet save for the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. My thoughts was laden with Derek and Vivienne's betrayal, of my own dwindling place in the pack I once called home, Of the fact that I should leave, the pain, the humiliation was just too much to bear.

I should have just trusted my instincts that night, stayed at home or instead walking back together with other members of the pack. But I didn't want their pity suffocating me.

That was when I heard it.

The snap of a twig.

The low guttural growl of an unfamiliar wolf.

It lunged at me before I had the time to react, its amber eyes gleaming with primal rage, sinking it's teeth into my shoulder.

I screamed, the sound echoing through the empty woods. My wolf surged to the surface fighting back with claws and teeth.

It was no use, I was outmatched.

Every swipe of it's claws tore into me, every bite sent pain searing through my body.

The blood…. The gore…. Oh.

I managed to knock it off balance with a desperate kick, but it was relentless, circling me like I was a prey.

My vision blurred and the world titled on its axis.

I wasn't going to survive this.

The wolf pounced again, it's claws raking down my side, more blood poured from the wound, warm and sticky against the chill of the night. The last thing I saw was the wolf snarling above me and then everything went black.

The last thought I had in my head was… Finally.. I wouldn't have to deal with anything anymore, I was finally leaving…but what a nasty way to leave everything behind…

When I came to, I was being carried, my body, a dead weight, my senses dulled but I could hear a voice low and urgent.

Elder Marcus

“She's barely breathing,” he muttered, his steps quick and steady.

“Stay with me, Luna Leila, you hear me, you can't give up now.”

I wanted to respond, to tell him that I wasn't giving up, but my throat was too dry, my body too weak. Darkness tugged at me time and time again, but his voice kept pulling me back.

When we got to the pack's infirmary, the medics rushed to my side, their hands working quickly to stabilize me, I drifted in and out of consciousness, catching snippets of frantic voices and the metallic smell of blood.

“Call the Alpha,” someone said. “He's need to be here for her.

Derek never came.

Hours passed before I woke fully. My body aches with every breath, the bandages around my torso pulling tight against my wounds.

Elder Marcus sat beside me, his brow furrowed with concern.

“How are you feeling?” He asked gently.

“Like I was run over by a truck,” I said, my voice hoarse. “ Did… did anyone call Derek?”

Marcus's expression darkened. “He's preoccupied.”

I didn't need to ask what that means, my chest tightened, the pain shaper ths. The injuries I'd sustained.

Minutes later, voices echoed from the hallway.

Vivienne's laughter cut through the quiet, grating and annoying.

“Derek, my hand still hurts,”she whined.

“What if it gets infected?”

“You'll be fine,” he said, his tone soft, indulgent, “let me take a look at it again.”

My fist clenched breathe blankets.

Her hand?

She had a scratch on her hand while I had nearly died and he was tending to her?

The door opened slightly and Vivienne peeked in, her eyes narrowing when she saw me awake.

“Oh, you're alive,” she said with mock surprise. “For a moment, I thought we'd have to mourn you.”

Derek appeared behind her, his gaze sweeping over me briefly, before returning to her.

“Let's go, Vivienne, you need to rest,”

That was it, no concern, no questions about my condition, nothing. He didn't even step inside the room.

I felt something inside me break as I watched the door closed behind them.

Derek's betrayal wasn't just an affair, it was a complete disregard for my existence, my worth, my life.

Elder Marcus placed a hand on my shoulders, his touch grounding me. “You deserve better than this,” he said quietly.

I nodded. Yet the despair was overwhelming, I had given everything to Derek, now I was nothing more than a shadow in his life.

The days in the infirmary dragged on, each one blending into the next. My body healed slowly, the pain a constant reminder of how close I’d come to death. I spent most of my time staring at the ceiling, thinking of the life I once had and the one I now needed to escape.

It was during one of these long, silent afternoons that Vivienne arrived.

The sound of her heels clicking against the tiled floor was like the ticking of a bomb. I turned my head as she stepped into the room, her lips curling into a saccharine smile that made my skin crawl.

“Well, well,” she said, her voice dripping with mock concern. “Look at you, Leila . Still clinging to life, I see. Honestly, I’m surprised. Most people would’ve had the decency to just die after such a fatal incident, but not you, I have to give you credit, you are quite strong, even though you don't look like it.”

“What do you want, Vivienne ?” I asked, my voice low and steady despite the tremor in my chest.

She laughed, the sound cold and hollow. “I just came to check on you, of course. It’s only polite, isn’t it?”

She sauntered closer, her presence suffocating. “You know,” she began, her tone casual, “you’re not exactly popular around here. No one in the pack really wants you. You’re like a ghost haunting the place, tormenting everyone with your sad, pathetic existence.”

Her words struck like a whip, each one leaving a stinging mark. “Derek —” I started, but she cut me off with a sharp laugh.

“Derek?” she sneered. “Oh, Leila. You still think he cares about you? He’s mine now, heart and soul. Soon, the rest of the pack will see that too. You? You’re nothing but a fading memory.”

She leaned in closer, her eyes glinting with malice. “You should’ve died out there in the woods. It would’ve saved everyone so much trouble. Including me.”

Something in her voice sent a chill down my spine. I studied her face, searching for answers, and caught a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes—a flicker that made my blood run cold.

“What are you saying?” I whispered.

Vivienne smiled sweetly, a predator toying with her prey. “I’m saying that if you want what’s best for you, you’ll leave. Pack up your little broken heart and disappear. Because next time…” She trailed off, her claws extending slightly, glinting like polished daggers in the dim light.

“Next time,” she said softly, “you might not be so lucky.”

Before I could react, she pressed her claws into my side, directly where the rogue had torn me open. Pain shot through me like lightning, I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out.

“You should be thanking me for the advice,” she murmured, her voice dripping with faux kindness. “It’s the least I can do for a dying breed like you.”

The door creaked open, and a pack doctor entered, her presence like a beam of light cutting through the darkness. “Leila I’m here to check—” She stopped short, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene.

“Vivienne,” the doctor said sharply. “What are you doing here?”

Vivienne straightened, her claws retracting as she plastered on an innocent smile. “Oh, nothing. Just a friendly visit,” she said breezily. “Leila and I were having a little chat.”

The doctor’s gaze didn’t waver, suspicion etched into her features. “I think it’s time you left. Leila needs rest.”

“Of course,” Vivienne replied, her tone dripping with false sweetness. “Take care, Leila.” She winked at me before turning and sauntering out, her heels clicking against the floor.

Once she was gone, the doctor turned to me, concern softening her expression. “Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”

I shook my head, though my body screamed in protest. “I’m fine,” I said weakly, unwilling to explain.

But inside, I wasn’t fine. I was unraveling, Vivienne’s words echoing in my mind like a cruel mantra. I was unwanted, unloved, a burden to the pack. And worse, her veiled threat left no doubt—my life was in danger, and Derek wouldn’t lift a finger to save me.

As tears slid silently down my cheeks, I made my decision.

I had to leave. Not just for my dignity, but for my survival. If staying meant enduring more of Vivienne ’s cruelty and Derek ’s indifference, then it wasn’t worth it.

And when I did leave, I would make sure they both realized what they had lost.

The day I was finally allowed to get out of bed felt like a bittersweet victory. My wounds had healed enough for me to stand and move, but the scars left behind—both physical and emotional—were impossible to ignore. Every step reminded me of the betrayal, every breath weighed heavy with the memories of what I’d lost.

I stood by the window of my small infirmary room, watching the pack go about their lives. From here, I could see Derek ’s house, the same house I had once shared with him. Now it felt like a monument to my misery, especially knowing who spent her nights there.

My thoughts spiraled as I contemplated leaving. Could I really do it? Leave everything behind? A part of me still clung to the hope that Derek would realize his mistake, but that part was dwindling by the second.

A knock at the door startled me from my thoughts. I turned, expecting the doctor or maybe even an elder, but it was Derek.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. He stood in the doorway, his face unreadable, though his posture was stiff. My heart clenched at the sight of him, a mixture of anger, sadness, and longing swirling within me.

“Leila,” he said finally, his voice low.

I folded my arms, refusing to let him see the pain his presence caused me. “What do you want?”

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him, but he didn’t come any closer. “The elders and the doctors... they insisted I come see you.”

I couldn’t hold back a bitter laugh. “Oh, so this isn’t out of concern for me? You’re just here to appease them?”

His jaw tightened, and he looked away, guilt flashing across his face. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Isn’t it?” I snapped, my voice rising. “You haven’t cared about me for months, Derek. I almost died, and where were you? With her.”

His shoulders tensed, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But instead, he let out a sigh, his gaze fixed on the floor. “I’m sorry,” he muttered.

The words felt hollow, insincere. They didn’t carry the weight of remorse I so desperately wanted to hear.

“You’re sorry?” I repeated, my voice trembling. “That’s all you have to say? Derek , you were supposed to be my mate, my partner. You promised to protect me, and you failed. Not just once, but over and over again.”

He flinched at my words, but instead of apologizing further, he said nothing. The silence stretched between us, suffocating and unbearable.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Why are you even here, Derek? Why bother pretending to care?”

“I do care,” he said, his voice defensive.

“No, you don’t!” I shouted, tears streaming down my face. “You care about her. You’ve made that perfectly clear. So go back to Vivienne. She’s all you’ve ever wanted anyway.”

His head snapped up at that, his expression hardening. “If only you could be more like Vivienne,” he muttered, the words cutting through me like a blade.

I froze, disbelief washing over me. “What did you just say?”

His eyes widened slightly, as if realizing too late the weight of his words. But he didn’t take them back. Instead, he turned away, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yes, you did,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “And you know what? You’re right. I’ll never be like her. And thank the Moon Goddess for that.”

I took a step back, my body trembling with anger and heartbreak. “Get out, Derek . I don’t want to see you anymore. Just leave me alone.”

“Leila —”

“No!” I interrupted, my voice firm despite the tears still falling. “You made your choice, Derek. You chose her. So go. Be with Vivienne. But don’t you dare come back here pretending to care about me.”

He hesitated, his guilt evident, but ultimately, he said nothing. He turned and left, the door closing behind him with a finality that echoed in my chest.

As soon as he was gone, I collapsed onto the bed, sobs wracking my body. His words replayed in my mind, each one a dagger to my heart.

In amidst the pain, a new resolve took root. This was it. The last straw. Derek had proven once and for all that I meant nothing to him.

I would leave. And this time, nothing—not his guilt, not the pack, and certainly not Vivienne —would stop me.

The decision to leave was an l easy one, I had change my mind several times, but it was necessary.

I had to leave.

The mate bond between Derek and I had been the one thing holding me back, its pull like a chain around my heart. Every time I thought about leaving, the bond whispered to me, reminding me of what we once had, tricking me into thinking there was still hope.

There wasn’t—not anymore.

In order to be free truly from everything and start a new…., I had to break the bond

With that decision made, I made my way to the pack’s sacred grove, under the cover of darkness, It was a secluded part of the forest, hidden from prying eyes and protected by ancient wards. Few wolves visited it anymore, save for the elders and the rare few seeking solace or answers.

I had done my research, poring over old texts and consulting an elder I trusted implicitly—Elder Marcus. He was one of the few who had shown me kindness in the wake of Derek’s betrayal. When I approached him with my request, his expression had been grave, but he had agreed to help me.

“The severing of a mate bond is not to be taken lightly,” Elder Marcus warned as he prepared the ritual. “It will hurt—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Are you sure this is what you want?”

I nodded, my resolve unshaken. “I have no choice. I can’t stay here while he continues to carry on with Vivienne, why he continues to ignore me, the bond is what is keeping me tethered to him. It keeps on decieving me, giving me hope that it will be alright, but I know the truth, things can never be the same again between me and Derek, I need to be free from this bond, I need to start thinking about myself once again.”

Elder Marcus nodded in agreement.

And so, on this moonless night, I stood in the center of the grove, the air thick with the scent of ancient magic as Elder Marcus began the preparations by drawing a circle around me with a mixture of salt and crushed moonstone, both known for their ability to disrupt and sever magical ties. He chanted softly in the old tongue, his voice a low hum that seemed to resonate with the very earth beneath us.

“Place your hands over your heart,” he instructed. “Think of the bond—feel it. Call it forward.”

I did as he said, closing my eyes and focusing on the bond. It wasn’t hard to find; it was always there, a constant ache in my chest, a thread that tied me to Derek . It pulsed with memories of our love, of the promises we made, and even the pain of his betrayal.

Elder Marcus's chanting grew louder, the air around me crackling with energy. “Repeat after me: ‘By the power of the Moon Goddess, I sever this bond. I release my heart and soul from its chains.’”

My voice trembled as I spoke the words, but I forced myself to say them, each one tearing at the thread that bound me to Derek .

“By the power of the Moon Goddess,” I began, tears streaming down my face, “I sever this bond. I release my heart and soul from its chains.”

A sharp, searing pain erupted in my chest, stealing my breath. It felt as though the bond was fighting back, resisting the severing with everything it had.

“Again!” Elder Marcus urged.

“By the power of the Moon Goddess,” I cried, my voice breaking, “I sever this bond. I release my heart and soul from its chains.”

The pain intensified, but so did the chanting, the magic swirling around me like a storm. Finally, with one last cry, I felt the bond snap, the thread that had tied me to Derek breaking apart and dissolving into nothingness.

I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air. The absence of the bond was like a gaping wound, raw, hollow, painful, but it was also a relief.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I was free.

Marcus helped me to my feet, “You're strong Leila, stronger than you give yourself credit for,”he said.

“I do hope you find everything that you're looking for.”

I nodded, my legs trembling, “Thank you,” I said. “For everything.”

After the ritual, I returned to my small room in the pack house. My hands trembled as I packed my belongings, shoving clothes and a few personal items into a bag. Every corner of this room held memories, but I didn’t linger on them. I couldn’t.

I avoided places where I might run into Derek or Vivienne , slipping through the shadows like a ghost. I left behind anything that might tie me to this place—a token of the old Leila who had loved too deeply and paid the price.

By the time the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, I was ready. Standing at the edge of the pack’s territory, I looked back one last time.

This was the place where I had once loved, lost, and been betrayed. But it wasn’t my home anymore.

“I deserve better,” I whispered. The mate bond gone and with it the last thread tying me to the life I was leaving behind.

With a deep breath, I turned and walked away, stepping across the boundary, each step carrying me closer to a future that was mine and mine alone.