Chapter 1 Chapter 1

After my Alpha Kael died fighting those rogues, old Alpha Marcus was terrified I'd take Finn, their only Alpha heir, and leave the Stone Creek Pack, or worse, get marked by another Alpha. I turned down every match my mother tried to make, warned off any male who got too close, and kept reassuring Marcus and his mate that Kael's bloodline would stay pure. I was going to honor my Mate Bond with Kael, always. Five years. Five years without Kael's warm hugs, without his deep voice whispering in my ear. I gritted my teeth through so many cold nights. Finn was my only comfort. But then, at the Blood Moon ceremony marking five years since Kael's “sacrifice,” I overheard Marcus roaring at “Ronan”: “Kael! You selfish, blind fool of a wolf! How much longer are you going to keep up this charade?!” He called him Kael?! My blood ran cold. A calm, familiar voice came from inside the den – Ronan, Kael's twin brother. “Father, you know I had no choice.”“Kael! Ronan was the one cursed by the Moon Goddess since he was a pup, the sickly one! Ronan was the one torn apart on Blood Moon Cliff! Why did you fake your death and take his place?!” Fake his death?! I froze, my claws digging into my palms. Then, the man who'd held me close every night, the man now wearing Ronan's face, spoke: “Father, Alina was already carrying Ronan's child. She's so delicate; how could she handle losing her mate? As for Elara, I gave her a strong son, something to give her standing in the pack. That's enough.”“From the day Ronan fell, I decided to take his place, to protect Alina and her daughter. Let the name Kael be buried on Blood Moon Cliff for good.” I couldn't listen anymore. My head was pounding. So, it wasn't my Kael who died. It was Ronan. And the Alpha who was supposed to share the moonlight with me chose to disappear from our lives to protect another female and her cub. Tears streamed down my face. Kael had been my savior. When rogues ambushed me, almost dragged me off and ruined my name, he'd stepped in front of the whole pack, brought me under his wing, and promised to protect me for life. His scent used to be my safest harbor. Our mating was passionate, intense. He never let any other male even look at me twice. Every full moon together was precious. Everyone said Kael's love would make every other female wolf jealous. That's why I was so determined to keep our Mate Bond alive after he “died.” I was such an idiot. Kael was the strongest Alpha the Stone Creek Pack had seen in a century, full of energy, never even got a sniffle. How could a few rogues take him down so easily? It was all a carefully crafted lie. He'd played the role of “uncle” for five years, all to protect his moonlight – a moonlight that wasn't mine. So, what about me and Finn? Were we just pawns he could toss aside in his grand Alpha plan? I bit down hard on my arm, then used every ounce of strength I had to stumble away. ?

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Back in our shabby den, Finn woke up when I came in. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and sniffed the air around me. My heart shattered looking at his golden wolf eyes and strong jaw, so much like Kael's. How could Kael, his Alpha father, bear to let his own cub grow up fatherless, to be teased by other pups? Sensing my overwhelming grief, Finn nuzzled my neck with his furry little head. “Momma, did you find out about Alpha Kael?” It hit me. After Kael showed up as “Ronan,” Finn would always slip up and call him “Daddy.” I'd always scold him, tell him that was Uncle Ronan, not his father Kael. I just thought my little cub missed his dead father terribly. I never realized a child's eyes see the clearest! He'd always known his real father, drawn by their blood connection. He just didn't understand why, overnight, the Alpha father who used to toss him in the air and rub his stubbly chin against his cheek had become so cold, even pushing him away. No wonder “Ronan's” care for us always felt… measured. He'd leave the best cuts of meat outside our den, use his Alpha presence to scare off other males who disrespected us, and secretly leave warm furs for us in winter. But the moment Finn tried to get close, he'd quickly cut it off, insisting he was “Uncle Ronan.” Everyone else said Ronan was as good to Finn as a real father. Now, it all felt like a sick joke. He was Finn's real father, but he deliberately kept his distance, cruelly denying Finn his right to have one. Didn't he ever wake up in the middle of the night, tormented by the backlash of betraying our Mate Bond? For these five years, I'd ached over Kael's death countless times, but my love for him kept me going. Now, I felt it with chilling clarity: the Alpha who had shared my soul and body was truly dead to me. This betrayed Mate Bond needed to be severed for good. Calming myself down, I looked Finn straight in the eyes and asked him if he'd be okay if I mated with another Alpha. Confusion flickered in Finn's eyes, then hardened into determination. “Momma, I don't get why Daddy won't say who he is. But if he's not going to protect you anymore, Finn will! Wherever you go, I go. I'll grow up fast and be strong, like Alpha Lucian of the Silver-Moon Pack!” Finn hugged me tight with his little body, his tiny, clumsy paws patting my back to comfort me. “Okay!” Fighting back tears, I hugged Finn close and then sent a message to my cousin in the Silver-Moon Pack. From far away, it felt like an answer came back. My cousin would get my message soon. And so would Lucian. They hadn't exactly been subtle with their hints these past five years; I'd just been too lost in mourning Kael. And Alpha Lucian of the Silver-Moon Pack… they said he was the only one who could match Kael in strength. And he seemed to have had his eye on me for a while. Now, I, Elara, was going to find real security for myself and Finn. ?

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The next morning, the Stone Creek Pack felt grim after the Blood Moon ceremony. I took Finn to the communal eating area. Kael was right there, tenderly tearing off a juicy piece of deer leg for Alina, then gently stroking the little female cub by her side, who was about Finn's age. The sight stung my eyes. Before I knew the truth, I'd imagined countless times how Kael and I would be just like that if he were alive. Alina snuggled against him, basking in her Alpha's protection, while I could only watch from afar. My wolf instincts were churning because of last night's revelation, but I forced them down. There was no one left to lick my wounds or soothe my anger. Kael's eyes flickered to my pale face. He put down the meat he was holding, tore off a smaller but still good piece, and offered it to Finn and me. “Elara, you should eat more too. Finn's a growing boy.” His tone was still distant, as if the “dead” Kael had nothing to do with him. He was just a responsible uncle. “Uncle Ronan, I can take care of Momma myself.” Finn tilted his head up, his voice calm, then he awkwardly pushed a piece of cooked meat towards me with his little paw. Kael's hand, holding the deer meat, froze in mid-air. A flicker of shock crossed his face; he even dropped the meat. It was the first time Finn had called him “Uncle Ronan” so clearly, so distantly. Before, no matter how Kael corrected him, Finn would stubbornly mumble “Daddy.” Today, “Uncle Ronan” felt like an invisible wall suddenly thrown up between them. “Finn, you… didn't you always see your uncle as a shadow of your father? What's different today…?” He tried to keep his voice steady, searching Finn's face for an answer. Finn bared his sharp little baby teeth in a small grin, his eyes clear. “Uncle Ronan, Finn just missed Daddy too much before and got confused. Now Finn's grown up. I know my Alpha father, Kael, went to be with the Moon Goddess at Blood Moon Cliff five years ago.” Kael looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't. He just covered it up with an awkward, “Finn's so sensible now.” His gaze darted between me and Finn, as if trying to peer into our souls. The bone in his hand creaked as he gripped it, but he didn't take a bite. Finn and I just shared our food. Finn even tried to act like a grown wolf, tearing off the best pieces for me. This made Kael even more uneasy. He kept looking over at us, and finally, he couldn't hold back anymore, a hint of anxiety in his voice. “Even though I'm not Kael… Finn and I, we still share the same blood.”“If you ever need anything, just tell me. Don't always try to handle everything yourself.” I let out a short, sharp laugh that cut through the morning air. Was that his Alpha possessiveness waking up? But he was the one who chose to wear the fake mask, who pushed us away with his own hands, who kept scolding Finn for calling him father. I put down the bone I was gnawing on and signaled to Finn, who was full, to get up. Before we left, I looked straight into Kael's confused eyes and said, “Ronan, you're right. Even if you and Kael are twins, you're not Finn's real father.”“Alina and her child, they're the ones you should be taking care of.” ?

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

After sending word to the Silver-Moon Pack, I knew there was one crucial, incredibly painful ritual I had to perform before I could officially accept Alpha Lucian's courtship gift and start a new life with them. I had to completely break the Mate Bond with Kael – the bond he'd betrayed and stained. In ancient wolf lore, once a Mate Bond was forged, it was like a brand on your soul. It was almost impossible to break unless one mate died, or there was an ultimate betrayal. And breaking it meant going to Moon-shadow Falls, a sacred place passed down through generations, at the peak of the Blood Moon. You had to offer your own blood and your absolute will to the Moon Goddess, sacrificing the dead love and taking back the part of your soul the other mate held. The ritual was dangerous. One wrong move, and your soul could tear, leaving you seriously weakened, maybe even unable to ever bond again. I used to think our bond stayed strong because I loved Kael so much. I never imagined it was because he wasn't dead at all. Another day passed. When the Blood Moon hung high in the sky again, I took Finn, snuck away from the Stone Creek Pack without anyone seeing or hearing us, and quietly left our territory. Moon-shadow Falls was in a sort of no-man's-land between Stone Creek and Silver-Moon territory. Hardly anyone ever went there. It was full of unknown dangers, but it was the only place for this forbidden ritual. Finn stuck close to me, his little body trembling slightly. He must have sensed the heavy, dangerous feeling in the air tonight, but he stayed firmly by my side. I'd brought Finn his favorite berries, soaked in wild honey, to keep him calm. Then, from the leather pouch I carried, I took out a special ceremonial gown I'd prepared long ago. It was woven from the toughest night-star grass, a deep, quiet midnight blue – symbolizing endings and new beginnings. Ancient tradition said that when a she-wolf was breaking an old bond and preparing for a new life, she couldn't wear the moon-silver color of her first mating. It was about completely burying the past love and showing respect to a potential new mate. I stood at the foot of Moon-shadow Falls. The huge waterfall thundered down the cliff. Under the blood-red moonlight, it looked like a giant dragon bleeding, roaring so loud it was deafening. The mist was freezing, biting. I took a deep breath and changed into the ceremonial gown. Its cold touch jolted me. Looking at my reflection in the water, I saw the five years of sadness had faded, and hope was flickering in my eyes again. I felt a bit dazed. For five years, I'd almost forgotten I was once a proud Luna. I told Finn to wait at a safe distance. Then, I took the sharp ceremonial dagger from my belt. Just as I was about to follow the ancient ritual, to cut my palm and use my blood to start praying to the Moon Goddess to break that damned bond… “Elara! What are you doing here?!” A voice like a thunderclap boomed from the nearby woods. I whipped around. Kael was standing in the shadows at the edge of the trees. Behind him, looking confused, were Alina and her little daughter, Luna. It looked like they might have come here to hunt under the Blood Moon and stumbled upon me by accident. Kael's eyes were locked on me – or rather, on the special, significant gown I was wearing, and the dagger in my hand. He wasn't stupid. As the former Alpha heir of Stone Creek, he knew exactly what this outfit, this place, on a Blood Moon night, meant! His face went deathly white, his eyes filled with terror. “Elara,” he stumbled a few steps out of the shadows, “you… you're wearing that gown… you're holding that knife… you're at Moon-shadow Falls… What… what are you planning to do?!” Ever since he'd “faked his death,” I'd cut off almost all unnecessary contact with the outside world, let alone bringing Finn alone to Moon-shadow Falls on a Blood Moon night. I didn't want to argue with him, didn't want to reveal all my plans in front of him. I just stared at him coldly, my voice firm and calm, “Ronan, this is none of your business. Please take your family and leave. Don't disturb me.”“None of my business?!” My words seemed to set Kael off completely. He lunged forward, and the powerful aura of a top-tier Alpha almost burst through his “Ronan” disguise. “Elara! You're wearing a 'Bond-Breaking Gown'! You're holding a 'Soul-Severing Blade'! Tell me how this is none of my business?! Are you… are you trying to… to completely break… break our…” He could barely choke out the last words. He stared at me, those blue eyes that once held so much love now filled with agony. He remembered clearly, five years ago, at our grand, sacred mating ceremony, I wore a moon-silver gown when we pledged ourselves to the Moon Goddess. And now, me – someone he still thought of as Kael's “widowed Luna” – was at Moon-shadow Falls on a Blood Moon night. A “widowed” she-wolf would never, ever dare to perform such a dangerous and blasphemous ritual unless she'd suffered the ultimate betrayal, or was determined to cut ties with her past mate completely! Kael stood there, stunned, for a long moment, his eyes a storm of emotions. Behind him, Alina finally sensed something was very wrong with this sudden turn of events. She tugged Kael's arm nervously, whispering, “Ronan… Ronan? What's wrong? What… what is she doing?” But Kael couldn't hear anything else now. He knew, once I completed this ritual, everything between me and Kael would be utterly gone. And he would truly, finally, lose me forever. ?

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

“Elara! Stop!” Kael's roar tore through the night. His eyes, bloodshot, locked on me as he charged like a wounded beast. That Alpha power, Kael's power, which I hadn't felt for five years, suddenly exploded. The air grew heavy. Finn let out a terrified whimper. Alina clapped a hand over her mouth in horror, Susan crying in her arms. “You have no right to order me!” I raised the Soul-Severing Blade, my voice like ice, the Blood Moon's light glinting on its edge. “My bond with Kael is over. It has nothing to do with you, Ronan.”“Our bond!” Kael roared, trying to snatch the dagger. “You can't!” His fingers almost brushed my wrist. I spun back, claws shooting out, and raked them across his arm. “Kael betrayed it first!” Each word was a shard of ice. “He died in battle, abandoning me and Finn! I have the right to find a new mate, to break my ties with him.” Kael couldn't dodge in time. Beads of blood welled up on his arm. He froze, staring at the unfamiliar, fierce determination in my eyes. “He did it for…” he started to argue, his voice hoarse. “For Ronan? Or for Alina?” I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Alina's face was pale. Suddenly, Finn darted in front of me, arms spread wide, letting out a small but ferocious growl at Kael. “Don't you hurt my momma!” It was like a hammer blow to Kael's heart. He looked at Finn, his eyes filled with unbearable pain. In that split second of hesitation, I raised the dagger again. Without a pause, the blade sliced across my palm. Blood welled up, dripping onto the cold stones of Moon-shadow Falls. “Moon Goddess, witness!” I vowed, my voice cutting through the roar of the waterfall. “I, Elara, hereby sever my Mate Bond with Kael! From this moment, we are done, our souls separate!”“No—!” Kael let out a desperate howl and lunged. His Alpha aura completely lost control, raging like a hurricane. I felt a violent tearing pain deep in my soul. My vision went black, and I swayed. The ritual… was interrupted. Or rather, at the most critical moment, it was hit with a brutal force. The sharp pain almost made me drop to my knees. Kael's hands clamped onto my shoulders, his grip so tight it felt like he'd crush my bones. “What have you done? Elara! How dare you!” His eyes were bloodshot; he'd lost all reason. “Let go of me!” I shoved him away with all my might. The soul-wound made me weak, but a mother wolf's instincts kept me going. Finn lunged, sinking his small teeth hard into Kael's arm. “Get away! Don't bully my momma!” Kael yelped in pain and instinctively flung Finn off. Finn hit a nearby rock with a dull thud. My fury exploded. “You dare hurt Finn!” I launched myself at Kael, claws aimed for his throat. He scrambled to block, and we wrestled. Alina screamed, trying to pull us apart, but Kael's raging aura threw her back. It was chaos at Moon-shadow Falls. I knew I had to get out of there! Now! I whirled around, snatched up Finn, and ignored everything behind me. I didn't even want to bother exposing Kael's pathetic lie. “We're leaving!” Ignoring the searing pain in my soul and my exhaustion, I bolted towards Silver-Moon territory. “Elara! Don't go!” Kael roared, chasing after me. He was incredibly fast; the distance between us was shrinking rapidly. Despair washed over me. Was I doomed to fail today? But I couldn't stop. Just then, several sleek, silver-grey shapes shot out of the woods like lightning. They carried Alpha Lucian's distinct scent. The wolf in the lead was my cousin, Leon, Head Beta of the Silver-Moon Pack. “Protect the Luna!” Leon's command was a low growl. Instantly, the Silver-Moon warriors formed a protective circle around Finn and me. Kael was forced to stop, facing off against Leon and his warriors. “'Ronan' of the Stone Creek Pack,” Leon's voice was ice cold. “You're trespassing. And you're chasing our future Luna.” Kael panted, his eyes darting between me and Leon. He looked at Finn, still shaken in my arms, at my pale face and the blood on my lip. The madness in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by an even deeper despair. “Elara, I'm…” he mumbled, his voice full of helplessness and pain. Leon didn't give him a chance. “Take the Luna and the young master back to Silver-Moon territory!” The Silver-Moon warriors escorted us, vanishing quickly into the night. Leaving Kael alone, standing before the blood-soaked Moon-shadow Falls, like a forgotten stone statue. ?