The luna he ruined became his greatest enemy

Seraphina’s Pov On the day I was supposed to give birth, I was kidnapped on my way to the pack healer. At first, I thought a rival pack had taken me to strike at my mate, Alpha Alex Valcrest, and weaken his pack through me. Instead, they tore my pup from my womb. My screams echoed through the stone chamber as they held me down, forcing me to watch while they smothered my newborn son with a pillow. By the time they placed his tiny, lifeless body in my arms, the last shred of my sanity had nearly slipped away. Then Alex arrived with his warriors. The room erupted into chaos as blades clashed and wolves howled. Every masked attacker fell before they carried me to the pack's healing hall. The whole way there, Alex held me close, whispering that I would survive, that the Moon Goddess would bless us with another pup. I clung to those words for his sake, even as darkness claimed me and the blood kept pouring from my body. I don't know how long I remained unconscious, but when I finally stirred, the voices outside my room reached my ears, and in that moment, I wished I had never opened my eyes. "...What you did was madness, Alex," Damon said. "Kidnapping your own mate and killing your newborn heir... even I never thought you'd go that far." My heart stopped. Surely this was nothing more than a nightmare brought on by the healer's herbs. But Damon kept talking, and I realized I was fully awake. They stood with their backs to me, never noticing my eyes had opened. "When you charged in with the warriors, I almost thought you'd changed your mind." Every drop of blood drained from my face. "I was never going to hurt you, Damon," Alex replied without emotion. "Seraphina needed to believe I saved her with her own eyes. Besides, I promised Cassey that no one would ever take our son's place as my heir. Seraphina's pup couldn't be allowed to live." My chest tightened until I could barely breathe. Alex had betrayed me. He had murdered our son for Cassey—the woman who had rejected their mate bond three years ago. Then Damon spoke again, each word driving the knife deeper. "But after you used the newborn's moon-blessed blood to save Cassey's son, you could have let Seraphina's pup live. Why did you order the healer to make her barren as well?" My trembling hand flew to my stomach. So that was why the pain refused to ease. "Cassey's son carries my blood, and he was dying," Alex answered coldly. "Without the moon-blessed blood from Seraphina's pup, he wouldn't have survived. And I have no need for Seraphina to bear more children when I already have Cassey." The air caught in my throat. I wanted to burst through the door, demand he repeat those words to my face, but my body refused to move. I could only lie there, frozen, while the mate who once called me his moon now sounded like a stranger. "I still think you've gone too far," Damon muttered. "You killed your own pup with your own hands and forced her to watch. What if she ever learns the truth?" "She won't," Alex snapped. "You knew the plan from the beginning. Everything had to look real. Cassey is my true mate. She only fled because she discovered she was carrying my pup and panicked. And even if Seraphina somehow finds out, what can she do? She's an orphan. She has no family, no pack... no one except me." "Lower your voice before you wake her." "The healer gave her enough sleeping herbs to keep her unconscious until moonrise." I slowly opened my eyes as they turned and walked away. "I should check on Cassey and my son," Alex said before disappearing down the corridor. The moment they were gone, I forced myself upright. Pain tore through my body, but it was nothing compared to the agony inside my chest. I broke down, clutching my empty stomach as the image of my son's final breath replayed over and over in my mind. How could Alex do this to me? I had loved him with everything I had. I had stood beside him when he lost everything, when Cassey rejected him and left him broken enough to throw himself from Moonstone Cliff. I was the one who saved him. Yet he repaid me by making me carry our pup to full term, only to murder him and steal my chance of ever becoming a mother again. Alex was right about one thing. I was an orphan. But I was not powerless. Gathering what little strength remained, I reached beneath my pillow for the moonstone I had hidden there and poured a thread of my wolf's energy into it. The mindlink connected almost instantly. "Little moon," came the familiar voice, smooth and warm. "To what do I owe the honor after all this time?" "I'll accept your mating proposal," I whispered, my fingers tightening around the moonstone. "But only if you help me." A quiet chuckle echoed through the link. "Have you finally come to your senses? Name your wish." I closed my eyes, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Help me destroy Alex Valcrest and his entire bloodline... and when it's done, I'll become your mate." "My little moon," he murmured with unmistakable satisfaction, "that has always been my favorite hunt. When shall I come for you?" "Seven days," I replied. "I have a few loose ends to tie up." As the mindlink faded, so did the last piece of the woman who had loved Alex Valcrest. In seven days, I would leave his pack forever. And by the time I was gone, I would make sure every person who had taken my son from me paid for it a hundredfold.

Seraphina’s Pov Alex never returned to the healing hall that night, and neither did my tears cease. I lay awake on the narrow bed, tossing restlessly as the agony from the healer's knife battled the emptiness inside me. My body ached from losing my pup, but nothing compared to the torment of knowing my womb had been stolen along with him. For a fleeting moment, I wished the Moon Goddess had taken me instead. But if I died now, my son's death would go unavenged. No. I would live. I would endure every ounce of this pain until the day every one of them paid for what they had done. By dawn, my tears had long since dried, leaving only a cold emptiness behind. I stared blankly at the stone ceiling while the pack healer entered to examine me. "How are you feeling, Luna?" he asked gently as he checked the flow of healing energy through my body. "When may I leave?" I asked, my voice flat. He looked at me with surprise before nodding. "You've recovered better than expected. You may return to the Alpha's manor today, though you must continue drinking the herbs I prescribe." I simply inclined my head. As soon as he left, I sought out one of the patrol warriors standing outside the chamber. "I need a favor," I told him quietly, slipping the last silver coins I possessed into his palm. "Ride to the Silver Moon Pack and deliver a message to Elder Rowan. Tell him I wish to dissolve my mate bond with Alpha Alex Valcrest, and ask him to prepare every document required by pack law." The warrior hesitated only briefly before bowing. "As you command, Luna." Three days. That was how long the elders required to complete a formal separation between mated wolves. Not long now. A short while later, the healer returned. "Alpha Alex has ordered one of the warriors to escort you back to the Alpha Manor," he said with a smile. "He has been preparing your favorite meal himself." I nearly laughed. Instead, I smiled politely. "Thank you." If only the healer knew the Alpha he praised had ordered him to take away my chance of ever bearing another pup. But I understood why he had obeyed. No healer would dare defy an Alpha. The journey back to the Alpha Manor was silent. As soon as I stepped inside, I froze. Cassey sat gracefully beside the hearth, wrapped in an expensive crimson gown, one hand resting protectively over the gentle swell of her stomach while my mother-in-law fussed over her as though she were already the Luna of the pack. The sight pierced deeper than any blade. She was carrying Alex's pup. And now she sat openly inside my home. Cassey noticed me first and immediately lowered her eyes with practiced innocence. "Luna Seraphina," she said softly. "Thank you for allowing me to stay, but I truly couldn't impose. I would hate to make Alpha Alex's mate uncomfortable." My mother-in-law scoffed. "That orphan?" she sneered. "She has no place complaining about anything. I don't know why my son hasn't cast that barren she-wolf out already." Once, those words would have shattered me. Today... They barely stirred anything at all. Without acknowledging either of them, I turned toward the staircase. I had only climbed a few steps before a sharp pain jerked my head backward. My mother-in-law had fisted her hand into my hair. "You ungrateful girl!" she hissed before striking my face with enough force to split my lip. The taste of blood spread across my tongue. "What do you want?" I asked, meeting her glare without flinching. "You return home without greeting your elders?" she snapped. "Have you become so shameless? No wonder the Moon Goddess let you watch your own pup die." Tears burned behind my eyes. I swallowed them back. "Perhaps you should ask your son," I replied coldly. "He knows exactly what happened." "You—" She raised her hand again. "Enough, Mother." Alex's voice echoed through the hall. He emerged from the kitchens carrying a wooden serving bowl, his expression filled with carefully crafted concern. "Leave my mate alone." He crossed the room and reached for me. "Seraphina... how are you feeling?" He leaned in, intending to kiss my forehead. I stepped back before he could touch me. His hand froze in midair. Once, I would have melted beneath that touch. Now it made my skin crawl. My mother-in-law had never accepted me. To her, I was nothing more than an orphan with neither family nor rank, a she-wolf unworthy of standing beside her son. She had often claimed my only value lay in giving the Alpha strong heirs. Now, thanks to Alex, even that had been stolen from me. "Seraphina," Alex said patiently, "apologize to Mother and Cassey. Why didn't you greet them when you came home?" I let out a quiet laugh. "I've done nothing that requires an apology. Why are they here?" His mother gasped in outrage. "Is this how your mate speaks to you?" Cassey hurriedly rose to her feet. "I should leave," she whispered tearfully. "I don't wish to cause trouble between the two of you." Before anyone could answer, a tiny voice drifted from the dining room. "Father... why is that bad lady shouting?" My breath caught. A little boy stepped into view. He had Alex's black hair. Alex's silver eyes. Even the stubborn set of his jaw belonged to the Alpha. He couldn't have been older than two. Exactly the length of my marriage. I slowly turned toward Alex. "What is the meaning of this?" He didn't hesitate. "My younger brother is dead," he answered smoothly. "Cassey is his widow, and Elias is his son. She is carrying another pup and cannot remain alone, so they will stay here." The lie came so naturally that it might have fooled anyone else. "Then why does he call you Father?" Alex shrugged. "He insists on it. Correcting him would only upset him." I stared at him. He had become frighteningly skilled at lying. Just then, he placed a steaming wooden bowl before me. "I prepared your favorite." A bitter smile touched my lips. Two years as his mate... ...and he still didn't know I couldn't even bear the scent of river shellfish. The aroma reached me, and my stomach twisted violently. I doubled over, retching onto the stone floor. Cassey immediately covered her mouth. "Oh... Luna Seraphina, if my presence upsets you so much, you only had to say so. Why would you insult my son and me like this?" I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. "You were standing halfway across the hall," I said coldly. "How exactly did this involve you?" Before I could straighten, Alex seized my arm so roughly that pain shot through my shoulder. With one powerful shove, he forced me onto my knees. "Apologize," he said, his voice colder than winter frost. "Apologize to Cassey and Elias this instant... or I'll make you lick your own vomit from the floor."

Seraphina’s Pov Alex's grip loosened. I looked up at him, and for the briefest moment, guilt flickered across his face. He released my arm as though he had only just realized how tightly he had been holding it. "Seraphina... I didn't mean—" His apology never came. A weak whimper echoed from the dining hall. "Father..." little Elias called anxiously. "Mother doesn't look well." The change in Alex was immediate. He forgot I existed. Crossing the room in long strides, he reached Cassey in an instant, gathering her gently into his arms as though she were something precious. He brushed the hair from her face, his voice soft enough that I had never once heard him use that tone with me. "What is it? Tell me." Cassey leaned weakly against his chest. "I... I think the smell of the vomit made me ill," she whispered. "I feel so faint, Alex. I don't think I can even eat." His expression darkened. He turned to me with cold, hard eyes. "Clean this mess." The order cracked through the hall like a whip before he carried Cassey away, Elias hurrying after them with tiny, worried steps. My mother-in-law lingered only long enough to shoot me a look of disgust before following behind them. Silence settled over the manor. With a weary sigh, I knelt on the cold stone floor and cleaned away the vomit along with the spilled bowl of shellfish that had scattered when Alex forced me down. When everything was spotless once more, I climbed the stairs to the chambers I had shared with Alex for the past two years. Only now did I realize I had spent every one of those nights beside a stranger. No... Not a stranger. A monster. I first met Alex Valcrest on the night his fated mate abandoned their claiming ceremony beneath the full moon. He had wandered alone to Moonstone Cliff, broken beyond reason, ready to throw himself into the darkness below. I was the one who stopped him. One moment we were strangers, and the next, grief and loneliness had drawn us into one another's arms. Before dawn broke, we had become mates in every way except before the pack. At the time, Alex had been the Alpha I served. For two years, I had worked within the Alpha Manor, quietly admiring the strong yet gentle man everyone respected. When my parents died during a rogue attack, he had been the one who arranged their funeral rites and stood beside me while I mourned. I mistook kindness for love. The following morning, guilt consumed him. He believed he had dishonored me and insisted on taking responsibility. Before the Moon Goddess and the pack elders, we completed a private mating ceremony, known only to a handful of trusted wolves. To the rest of the pack, I remained nothing more than the Alpha's attendant. His mother had opposed our union from the beginning. An orphan had no bloodline worthy of standing beside an Alpha. I never learned when Cassey returned. I never noticed when Alex's heart drifted back to her. But now I knew the truth. She had reclaimed the place that had never truly been mine. And Alex had become a wolf willing to sacrifice anything—including his own pup—to keep her smiling. I opened the cedar chest beside the bed and withdrew a folded parchment I had prepared weeks earlier, before my time to give birth. It was my letter of resignation from my duties within the Alpha Manor. I had planned to devote myself entirely to raising our pup. Now all that remained was obtaining Alex's seal upon it... ...along with the dissolution papers Elder Rowan would soon prepare. I tucked the parchment away before beginning another task. One by one, I removed every painting and keepsake that celebrated our mating. Each memory found its way into a wooden chest. The moonstone necklace he had gifted me after our first winter together. The silver bracelets. The ceremonial cloak embroidered with the Valcrest crest. Every gift he had once claimed was proof of his love. I packed them all away. A gentle knock sounded before the chamber door opened. Alex stepped inside. His gaze swept across the room before settling on the half-filled chest. His brows drew together. "Why have you taken everything down?" he asked. "And why are you packing away the gifts I gave you?" I continued folding another cloak. "I no longer want them." His frown deepened. "Are you still upset because I raised my voice?" he asked quietly. "I'm sorry for that. I'll have the craftsmen make you new jewelry... anything you like." Then he sighed. "But you have to try getting along with Cassey. She's my brother's mate." A humorless laugh escaped me. "You've never once mentioned having a brother." Alex hesitated. Only for a heartbeat. "He was... the disgrace of our bloodline," he replied before forcing an awkward smile. "He's gone now, so it's my duty as Alpha to care for his mate and pups." He stepped closer. "Cassey means nothing to me anymore, Seraphina. You're my mate." For one painful moment... ...I wished I still believed him. Instead, I merely nodded. "Very well." Then I met his eyes. "But I don't want her living here." "I'm afraid that's impossible." His answer came without hesitation. "She has nowhere else to go. Give it time. Once you and Cassey speak properly, I'm sure the two of you will understand each other." He smiled and leaned down to kiss me. I turned my face away. His lips brushed only my cheek. He either failed to notice... or pretended not to. Moments later, he left the room. Not long after, the door opened once again. Cassey walked inside without waiting for permission. Her eyes slowly wandered around the nearly empty chamber before a smug smile spread across her lips. "Good," she said. "Get rid of all your things. I'll be moving into these chambers soon." I closed the lid of the chest. "You can have the entire manor." She laughed brightly. "So you've finally discovered your mate has been sharing my bed." She stepped closer until only a few feet separated us. "Do you know what Alex told me today?" she asked with cruel delight. "He said your pup didn't die in vain. Elias is already growing stronger. You should be grateful. Your son gave mine a future." I looked at her quietly. "If believing that brings you happiness, then enjoy it." The smile vanished from her face. Confusion quickly gave way to anger. "Why aren't you screaming?" she demanded. "Why aren't you crying? Your mate murdered your pup and stole your ability to bear another because I asked him to!" I simply watched her. "Congratulations," I said calmly. "You have complete control over him. I hope he brings you all the happiness you deserve." Her face twisted with fury. She had expected me to shatter. Instead, my indifference enraged her. "You wretched bitch!" She lunged forward and seized my wrist. "If you won't entertain me, then I'll make my own fun." "Release me." She ignored me, dragging me toward the staircase. I struggled against her grip until I finally tore my hand free. At that exact moment, Cassey let out a piercing scream. "Seraphina! No!" Before I could even react, she threw herself backward. Her body tumbled violently down the staircase. The sound of flesh striking stone echoed through the manor. Footsteps thundered from below. Alex and his mother rushed into the entrance hall just as Cassey came to rest at the bottom of the stairs, blood slowly spreading beneath her motionless body. Alex looked from Cassey... ...to me. His eyes burned crimson with rage. "What have you done?" he demanded.

Seraphina’s Pov I stood at the top of the staircase, unable to move, my eyes fixed on Cassey's motionless body crumpled against the stone floor below. For a long moment, the world around me fell silent. It was Elias's heartbreaking cry that finally shattered the stillness. "Mother!" The little boy threw himself beside Cassey, clutching her limp hand as tears streamed down his face. Alex slowly lifted his head and looked at me. The tenderness that had once filled those silver eyes was gone. All that remained was hatred. "If anything happens to Cassey or my pup," he said, each word colder than winter itself, "you will beg the Moon Goddess for death." Without waiting for an explanation, he gathered Cassey carefully into his arms. Elias stumbled after him, sobbing as he tried to keep pace with his father. My mother-in-law glared at me with undisguised disgust. "You cursed she-wolf," she spat. "May the Moon Goddess punish you for your wickedness." Then they were gone. The manor fell into an eerie silence. I slowly lowered myself onto the top step, too exhausted to stand. Not one of them had asked what truly happened. Not one of them questioned whether Cassey had fallen by her own hand. They had already decided I was guilty. Exactly as Cassey had intended. I remained there until several pack warriors entered the manor. Without a word, they seized my arms and hauled me roughly to my feet. "What are you doing?" I cried, struggling against them. "Let me go!" None of them answered. They dragged me through the courtyard and toward the pack's healing hall, ignoring every plea that left my lips. The moment we entered one of the private healing chambers, Alex appeared. Relief surged through me despite everything. "Alex... please listen to me. I swear I never—" His hand struck my face before I could finish. The force of the blow sent me stumbling sideways. The taste of blood flooded my mouth. Stars danced before my eyes as I slowly looked back at him. "I've grown tired of your lies," he said, his voice devoid of all warmth. "You dare harm Cassey and my unborn pup, yet you still pretend to be innocent." His eyes narrowed. "You will offer your blood to heal her." I stared at him through the sting of tears. "No." The word came out calm. "I didn't push her... and she will never receive a single drop of my blood." For a heartbeat, absolute silence filled the room. Then Alex crossed the distance between us. His hand wrapped around my throat. His fingers tightened. Air vanished from my lungs. I clawed desperately at his wrist as darkness blurred the edges of my vision. "Alpha!" The healer's horrified voice echoed through the chamber. "She'll die!" Only then did Alex release me. I collapsed onto the floor, coughing violently while desperate gulps of air burned my lungs. My vision slowly cleared. Alex looked down at me without the slightest trace of pity. "This isn't over." He turned toward the healer. "Take every drop of blood you can from her." The old healer paled. "Alpha... she lost far too much blood yesterday. Her body is still weak. We have preserved healing blood within the Moon Cellar. Lady Cassey can receive that instead." Alex's expression darkened. He seized the healer by the throat. "I did not ask for your opinion." The healer gasped helplessly as Alex lifted him from the ground. "You exist to obey me." With a violent shove, he threw the old wolf aside. "Do it." The warriors pinned my arms before I could resist. The healer looked at me with eyes full of apology before carefully piercing my arm with a hollow silver needle crafted for blood rites. Warm blood flowed steadily into crystal flasks prepared for healing ceremonies. One flask. Then another. The room slowly spun around me. My body had barely survived losing my pup. Now, with every drop of blood they stole, the strength continued leaving me. The last thing I remembered was the healer whispering an apology beneath his breath before darkness swallowed me whole. An icy shock jolted me awake. I gasped as freezing water drenched my body. My clothes clung heavily to my skin while violent shivers raced through me. Blinking through blurred vision, I realized I was still bound to the wooden chair. Alex stood before me, his expression colder than ever. I tried to rise. The room tilted. My legs immediately gave out beneath me. "So," he said quietly, "are you finished pretending?" I looked at him weakly. "What more do you want from me?" My teeth chattered uncontrollably. "I'm freezing." Without warning, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me upright. Pain exploded across my scalp. A cry escaped before I could stop it. "Please..." I whispered. "Have mercy." I had no strength left. I only wanted to sleep. His grip tightened. "You hired someone to abduct my son." Confusion clouded my thoughts. "...What?" "Elias." His voice dripped with fury. "While you sat here pretending to be helpless, you sent rogues to steal him as revenge." A hollow laugh escaped me. It sounded foreign even to my own ears. "So..." I murmured. "You can stand before me without shame and admit that Elias is your son." Alex's jaw clenched. "Cassey isn't just another she-wolf." His eyes softened for the briefest moment when he spoke her name. "She is my true love. The mother of my son... and the pup she now carries." He looked back at me with disgust. "You already knew that. If you hated us so much, why take your anger out on an innocent child?" I stared at him in disbelief. "Innocent?" My voice barely rose above a whisper. "Did innocence ever cross your mind while our son was dying in front of me?" His expression remained unmoved. "Enough." He gestured toward the door. "I have proof." Moments later, two warriors dragged a battered rogue into the chamber. The wolf dropped to his knees immediately, pointing a trembling finger at me. "Alpha, she's the one!" he cried desperately. "She paid me to steal the child. I never knew the pup belonged to you. Please... spare my life!" I frowned. "I have never seen this wolf before." Alex's temper snapped. "Must you lie about everything?" "I'm telling the truth!" My voice cracked. "I didn't do this. You know me." For one impossible second... ...I almost believed the old Alex would return. Instead, he seized my arm so violently that his claws pierced my skin. Blood welled beneath his fingers. "You will confess." He dragged me toward the exit. "You will kneel before Cassey and beg forgiveness." "I won't confess to something I never did." My refusal only hardened his expression. The warriors followed as Alex hauled me across the pack grounds toward the highest point of the mountain, where a broad stone platform overlooked an endless abyss. The wind howled around us beneath the full moon. Far below, jagged rocks disappeared into darkness. Alex stopped at the very edge. His grip never loosened. "Confess," he ordered. "Or I'll throw you from Moonstone Cliff." Every ounce of color drained from my face. He knew. He knew heights had terrified me ever since I nearly slipped from these very cliffs as a child. He was using that fear against me. "I swear on the Moon Goddess..." I sobbed. "I didn't do it. Please..." Alex closed his eyes briefly. "I warned you." Then... He shoved me. The ground disappeared beneath my feet. My scream was swallowed by the wind as I plunged into the endless darkness below.

Seraphina’s Pov I was falling. The wind roared in my ears as I clawed helplessly at empty air, my screams swallowed by the endless darkness below. Just before I struck the rocks— I bolted upright with a gasp. My chest rose and fell violently as I struggled to breathe. Cold sweat soaked my nightdress, and every part of my body trembled as though I had truly fallen from Moonstone Cliff. "Gently, Luna Seraphina," a calm voice said beside me. "You are safe." I blinked, my blurred vision slowly clearing. I was lying on a bed inside the pack's healing hall. The familiar scent of herbs drifted through the room, while healing crystals glowed softly around the carved stone walls. The pack healer watched me with gentle concern. He was not alone. Alex stood a short distance away, with Cassey beside him and his mother lingering just behind them. Cassey stepped forward first, tears glistening in her eyes. "How are you feeling, Seraphina?" I looked past her. "What happened?" I asked the healer. Before the old wolf could answer, Alex's voice cut across the room. "You ungrateful she-wolf." His words were colder than the mountain wind. "Cassey saved your life. When I pushed you from the cliff, she threatened to leap after you if I didn't catch you first. I barely reached you before you struck the rocks, though you had already lost consciousness." His gaze hardened. "She has remained beside your bed for two days, refusing to leave until you woke." A bitter laugh escaped my lips. It started quietly. Then it grew until tears streamed down my face. The three of them stared at me as though I had gone mad. Finally, I looked at Alex. "She framed me." My voice shook with restrained fury. "You nearly killed me, Alex. So tell me... what exactly do you expect? Should I thank the she-wolf who pushed me toward death? Or should I praise the mate who threw me from a cliff?" His mother's face twisted with contempt. "You should have let her fall," she muttered. "The pack would have been better rid of that poisonous tongue." I met her gaze without fear. "You're right." My smile held no warmth. "He should have let me die." Then I looked back at Alex. "Or better yet... he should have finished the job the day he murdered our pup." Silence settled over the healing chamber. Even the crackling fire seemed to fade. No one spoke. Alex was the first to break the silence. "You've lost your senses." He let out a dismissive scoff before turning away. "The healing herbs must still be clouding your mind." He offered his arm to Cassey. "Come." Cassey hesitated before approaching me once more. She clasped both of my hands, squeezing them tightly enough that her nails bit into my skin. "I'm so sorry, Seraphina," she whispered through carefully practiced tears. "Everything that's happened is my fault. Please forgive me." I jerked my hands away. "Stop pretending." The words came out sharper than I intended. "Leave me alone." Cassey stumbled backward as though I had shoved her. Alex caught her before she could fall. He looked at me with such fury that a lesser wolf might have shrunk beneath it. "You should thank the Moon Goddess Cassey possesses such a gentle heart," he said. "If anyone else had treated her this way, I would have broken every bone in their body." Without another word, he guided her from the chamber. His mother followed. Only the healer remained. He lingered awkwardly near the doorway before lowering his gaze. "Luna..." "I wish to leave." My voice was calm now. There was nothing left worth saying. The healer sighed softly before nodding. "As you wish." By the time I returned to the Alpha Manor, the afternoon sun had already begun its descent. A folded bundle of parchments rested upon the table inside my chambers. The moment I saw Elder Rowan's seal pressed into the wax, I knew what it was. The dissolution papers had arrived. Three days. Just as promised. I tucked them carefully beside the resignation parchment I had prepared before giving birth. Now there remained only one obstacle. Alex's seal. Without it, neither document would become valid beneath pack law. A knock sounded against the chamber door. Alex entered before I could answer. He tossed a neatly folded gown onto the bed. "Prepare yourself," he ordered. "The neighboring Alphas have gathered tonight. We're expected at the council feast." I glanced at the gown. "Why not attend with Cassey?" "I am." He answered without shame. "But you're still my attendant. Questions would arise if you were absent." Attendant. Not mate. I almost smiled. Instead, I gathered the parchments and a quill before walking over to him. "The healer asked me to bring these." I placed the documents before him. "They're the records confirming my release from the healing hall. He said you needed to place your Alpha's seal here." Alex frowned and reached for the papers. "What are these?" Before he could read beyond the first line, Cassey's cheerful voice drifted down the corridor. "Alex! Come quickly! I want you to see how I look." His expression softened instantly. The irritation vanished from his face as though it had never existed. Without another glance, he pressed his Alpha's seal onto both parchments and scrawled his signature beneath them. "There." He thrust them back into my hands before hurrying from the room. I looked down at the fresh ink. He hadn't read a single word. The dissolution of our mate bond... My resignation from the Alpha Manor... He had signed both without knowing. For the first time in days, I felt something close to relief. Carefully folding the parchments, I hid them inside my travel chest before changing into the black gown Alex had once given me. It fit perfectly, concealing the bruises scattered across my body beneath elegant folds of dark fabric. When I descended the stairs, Alex looked up. For one brief moment, surprise crossed his face. Then Cassey appeared beside him. His attention shifted to her immediately. As though I had never existed. The journey to the council feast passed in suffocating silence. Cassey spent most of it leaning against Alex while recounting memories only the two of them shared. She spoke of moonlit nights, stolen kisses, and the countless times they had hidden together within the very carriage carrying us now. Each story was meant for me. Each word another knife. Eventually even Alex seemed uncomfortable. "Enough, Cassey." He glanced toward me, searching my face for some reaction. I gave him none. Instead, I quietly traced my thumb across the moonstone hidden beneath my sleeve. A faint warmth answered me. The bond activated. "Everything is prepared," the familiar voice echoed gently through my mind. "Tomorrow night, I'll be waiting beyond the northern border." I allowed myself the smallest smile. "I'll be there." Tomorrow. Everything would finally end. By the time we reached the gathering, the great hall was already filled with Alphas, Lunas, elders, and warriors from neighboring packs. Cassey never left Alex's side. More than once, wolves greeted her as though she were already the Luna of the Valcrest Pack. Alex never corrected them. He occasionally glanced toward me, guilt flickering in his eyes. I simply remained several steps behind them. Not as his mate. Only as another servant of the Alpha Manor. The feast was nearing its end when a deafening howl shattered the celebration. The great doors burst open. Rogues. Chaos erupted instantly. Warriors shifted, snarls echoed through the hall, and terrified wolves scattered in every direction. Without hesitation, Alex threw himself in front of Cassey, shielding her body with his own. His choice left me standing alone. I barely had time to react before a burning pain exploded through my side. An arrow. I looked down in disbelief as blood spread across my gown. My knees buckled. "Alex..." My voice broke. "Help me..." He turned immediately. For one hopeful second, I believed he had chosen me. He reached me in only a few strides, catching me before I collapsed completely. His hand pressed against the wound. "You'll survive," he murmured. "Just stay awake." He began carrying me toward the exit. Then Cassey screamed. "Alex!" Her voice trembled with panic. "Our pup... I can't move!" Everything changed. Without hesitation... Alex set me down. He turned away. Crossing the distance between us, he swept Cassey into his arms as though I weighed nothing at all. As he hurried past me, he paused only long enough to speak. "You're strong, Seraphina." His voice remained maddeningly calm. "You'll endure this. I can't risk Cassey or our pup." Then he walked away. Leaving me behind as blood pooled beneath my body. I watched him disappear through the doors while Cassey rested safely in his arms. Just before they vanished from sight... She looked back at me. And smiled.

Seraphina’s Pov I waited… I hid behind the doors while the gunshot continued but no one came. By the time the rogues were driven back and the fighting finally ended, I had nearly bled into unconsciousness. Only then did someone remember I was still lying there. A pair of warriors carried me to the pack's healing hall, where the healer stitched the wound and forced bitter herbs between my lips until the bleeding finally stopped. When he was satisfied that I would survive, I was sent back to the Alpha Manor. The moment I stepped inside, laughter greeted me. Alex sat at the head of the dining table, with Cassey beside him, Elias perched happily on his lap while his mother fussed over all three of them as though they were one perfect family. It was almost impossible to believe they had abandoned me only hours ago. Alex looked up. The smile on his face faltered when our eyes met. He immediately rose to his feet. "Seraphina..." For the first time that day, guilt surfaced in his expression. "I'm sorry. I came back for you, but Cassey's condition suddenly worsened. I couldn't leave her." I looked at him quietly. "Yes." My voice was empty. "She was in such terrible danger." Without waiting for another excuse, I walked past them and climbed the stairs. Inside my chamber, I lifted the cedar chest that held every memory of our life together. The carved moonstone pendant he had given me after our mating ceremony. The dried moon lilies from our first Moon Festival. Letters written in his own hand. The ceremonial ribbons from our mating. Every promise. Every lie. I carried the chest into the courtyard. A bronze brazier burned nearby, its flames dancing beneath the evening breeze. Without hesitation, I emptied everything into the fire. The flames eagerly devoured the memories I had treasured for three years. The painted portrait of our mating ceremony curled black at the edges. The parchment recording our sacred mate bond slowly blackened before crumbling into ash. I watched in silence. Strangely... It didn't hurt. Instead, an unfamiliar peace settled over me. "What are you doing?" Alex's furious voice echoed across the courtyard. He rushed forward, snatching a heavy wool blanket from a nearby bench before smothering the flames. By the time the fire died, only half-burned fragments remained. He stared at the scorched portrait and the ruined mate-bond parchment in disbelief. "Have you gone mad?" His voice trembled. "Why would you destroy these?" I met his eyes. "I don't want them anymore." He frowned. "What are you talking about?" I held his gaze. "I'm ending this mate bond, Alex." For the briefest instant... Fear crossed his face. Real fear. Then it disappeared behind a mocking laugh. "You can't." He folded his arms confidently. "You have no family. No pack willing to shelter you. You possess neither land nor status." His smile widened. "You have nowhere else to go." I said nothing. I simply turned away and walked back inside. Behind me, I heard him calling my name. I never looked back. That night, I locked the door to my chamber. Alex remained outside for hours. Sometimes he knocked softly. Sometimes he begged. When I refused to answer, he slid folded notes beneath the door, just as he used to whenever we quarreled during happier days. Once... Those little messages would have melted every ounce of anger inside me. Now they meant nothing. The she-wolf who had loved Alex Valcrest had died beside her son. What remained inside me was colder than winter stone. When dawn finally arrived, I opened my eyes with a feeling I had not known in years. Hope. By sunset, I would be gone. Forever. As I opened my chamber door, I found Alex waiting outside. A single white moon lily rested in his hand. My favorite. "I'm sorry." His voice was quiet. His silver eyes looked exactly as they had on the night I first fell in love with him. The same crooked smile. The same gentle warmth. Once, one look from him had been enough to steal my breath. Now... I felt absolutely nothing. "Forgive me, Seraphina," he said. "I know I haven't treated you the way I should." I looked at the flower before lifting my eyes back to him. "What do you want?" His smile brightened. "Come with me today." He handed me a folded bundle of fabric. "I had the seamstresses make this dress for you." I accepted it without expression. "Very well." His eyes lit up. "I'll take you somewhere special." A hint of nostalgia softened his voice. "The place where we shared our first moonlit walk." He left looking almost... happy. The moment he disappeared, I shut the door. Hidden beneath the false bottom of my travel chest lay a smooth black moonstone. The instant I touched it, warmth spread through my palm. A familiar voice entered my mind. "Little Moon... I trust you've made your choice." A faint smile touched my lips. "I'm ready, Ethan." His laughter echoed gently through our mindlink. "Good. There will be no turning back once this begins." "I have no intention of turning back." The connection faded. I looked toward the three wooden chests arranged neatly beside my bed. Each contained something meant for Alex. Today marked the third anniversary of our mating ceremony. I doubted he even remembered. After dressing in the gown he had chosen, I had barely finished fastening the ribbons when my chamber door burst open. Alex stormed inside. Cassey and his mother followed close behind. Before I could speak— His palm struck my face. Pain exploded across my cheek. I staggered backward. Then his mother slapped me twice more, sending me crashing onto the floor. "What have I done?" I asked quietly. "Don't pretend!" Alex's voice thundered through the room. "You sent those rogues yesterday." His eyes burned with fury. "You wanted to test whether I'd choose you over Cassey. Have you any idea what could have happened to her?" Cassey buried her face against his shoulder. "I don't understand why you hate me so much," she sobbed. "If taking my life would ease your pain, then do it... but please don't hurt my pups." His mother's expression twisted with rage. "You wicked she-wolf deserves the whipping post." The insults continued. One after another. I simply remained where I had fallen. There was no point defending myself. None of them had ever listened. None of them ever would. Finally, Alex turned toward the door. "I have to deal with the trouble you've caused." He looked back at me one last time. "Stay here." His voice carried the authority of an Alpha. "When I return, I'll decide your punishment." The three of them left together. Once again... I was alone. I waited until their scents had completely faded from the manor before taking out the black moonstone. It warmed immediately beneath my fingers. "Little Moon?" Ethan answered at once. "I've changed my mind." My voice was steady. "Release everything." A brief silence followed. "Are you certain?" "Yes." I closed my eyes. "Let the truth spread through every pack. I want them to watch their precious reputation crumble before I disappear." A low chuckle echoed through the bond. "As you wish, Princess." His voice turned gentler. "My warriors are already waiting beyond the northern forest." I picked up my travel bag. "I'll be there shortly." The connection faded. Outside the manor gates, a lone warrior stood beside a pair of powerful black wolves harnessed to a traveling carriage. The moment he saw me, he lowered his head respectfully. "Welcome, my Lady." I stepped into the carriage without looking back. As it rolled away from the Alpha Manor, I watched the home that had once held every dream I possessed disappear behind the trees. A small smile finally touched my lips. I was free. And by the time Alex Valcrest realized what he had truly lost... His entire world would already be burning.