Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I cannot understand how, for the sake of what he calls a 'plaything’, he could hurt his own mate again and again, without any bottom line. My dignity, my body, and even my life—in his eyes, they were all completely worthless. And now my breathing grew ragged and shallow, every syllable catching at the back of my throat. This was the third time he had asked me that question. The first time, he'd demanded to know where that "bitch" had gone. I didn't answer. The second time, he had pinned me against the floor-to-ceiling window, his warm breath ghosting across my neck. "Estelle," he'd murmured, his voice a low rumble, "you shouldn't hide things from me. I hope you know better." And now, he had chosen to use my parents' lives to force my hand. I buried my face in my hands, tears welling in my eyes. "Kaelen… those are my parents. They're my own flesh and blood…""Oh?" A cruel smile touched his lips, his amber eyes glinting with an icy light. "And? Did you stop to think what she means to me before you got rid of her?" I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails broke the skin of my palms, drawing blood. A wave of searing rage churned in my chest. What she means to him? He had sworn to me that the she-wolf was just a diversion, a toy he would discard when he grew bored. He had sworn before the Moon Goddess that I was his fated mate, the one true light of his soul. And now, for a so-called "diversion," he was going to let my parents die in the wilderness. "Kaelen," my voice was raw, "please, don't hurt them. My parents… they're innocent." He leaned forward, his powerful Alpha aura washing over me like a suffocating tide. "Then you'd better pray nothing's happened to her.""No one is innocent. You have two choices: find her, or collect your parents' remains." My body began to tremble uncontrollably. My inner wolf was howling in agony, and tears streamed down my face. I didn't know when everything had gone so wrong. Kaelen had once given me a love that set my world on fire. When we first met, I was just an ordinary she-wolf from a small border pack. Kaelen was the heir to the Black Moon Pack, the most powerful in North America—a natural-born Alpha King, as proud as a god, who had never bowed to anyone. But he had chosen to fall at my feet. His courtship was the talk of the entire werewolf world—ninety-nine moonlit nights of heartfelt confessions, each more breathtaking than the last. He filled the sky with silver Moonpetal flowers, bought out entire city blocks for giant confession billboards, and on my birthday, he had the entire city's lights extinguished and then relit, just for me. I fell for him. It wasn't just his grand gestures; it was the fated mate bond, an irresistible pull I couldn't fight. I was certain Kaelen was my destiny. But my father was uneasy. He knew the nature of Alphas—of male wolves. They were too easily lost in power, too quick to seek new thrills. But when Kaelen shed every last scrap of his Alpha pride, begging for their blessing outside our pack house for an entire night, my father was finally moved. After he marked me, he truly treasured me. He would personally tend to the smallest scrapes I got during training. He would drive across half the city just to buy the dessert I loved. All the wolves said the Alpha was a deeply devoted mate. But the moment the name "Cassandra" entered our lives, everything changed. I didn't care at first. In both the wolf and human worlds, there were always countless others trying to latch onto a man like him. When I overheard gossip about a low-born Omega frequenting the Alpha's office, I just laughed it off. I'd seen such pathetic ploys a hundred times before. But the second time I heard her name was during our most intimate moment. He was slightly drunk, pressing down on me, and in the heat of passion, he whispered her name. "Cassandra." I shoved him off me instantly. But he held me close and said, "It's how it is with Alphas in our circle, Estelle. But you are my one true love. That will never change." Lost in his gentle embrace, I chose to forgive him. I never imagined he would become even more brazen. Jewels, mansions, private parties—he paraded Cassandra through high society, and the rumors flew. When I cried and argued, his old tenderness was gone. "I don't expect my Luna to be so difficult." Unable to bear it any longer, I had Cassandra sent away from North America. But I never, ever thought he would retaliate so viciously, placing a blood-vine curse on my parents and exiling them to their deaths, all to force her location out of me. "She's in Switzerland," my voice was as fragile as shattered glass. "Zurich. In the mountain villa under my name." Once he confirmed the details, he stood to leave, ready to go and retrieve her. "Wait." I grabbed his arm. "Where are my parents?""The abandoned factory south of the pack lands," he said dismissively. "You want them? Fetch them yourself." When I found them, there were only ten minutes left on the curse. My parents were bound tightly to crumbling stone pillars, their mouths gagged. The moment they saw me, their eyes widened, and they shook their heads desperately, silently pleading for me to stay back. I rushed forward, my hands trembling as I clawed at the blood-red vines, but the sound of the countdown echoed through the cavernous mine like a death knell. 00:03:21 00:03:20 The vines were as tough as iron wire. I couldn't break them. Frantic, tears streamed down my face. Suddenly, my father slammed his body against mine, sending me staggering backward. The next second, dozens of rogue wolves burst from the shadows. "Dad—!!!" In an instant, I shifted into my massive silver wolf form. Claws and fangs met the frenzied pack in a brutal clash. Blood splattered, staining the mine red and soaking my silver fur.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. My parents were both severely injured, but they had miraculously survived. "Dad, Mom…" I grasped their hands, the tears finally breaking free. "So, what are you going to do now?" my mother asked, her voice weak as she raised a hand to stroke my hair. "But… he'll never let me go." After discovering Cassandra, I had considered severing the mate bond. But every time I prepared the application, Kaelen would tear the papers to shreds. He said Cassandra was just for fun, that he'd toss her aside when he was bored. He insisted that I was his fated mate and he would never let me leave. My father took my hand. "No, Estelle. There's something you don't know, something he has likely forgotten. The night we agreed to your union, your mother and I had him sign an ancient pact.""If he ever betrays the mate bond," my father's voice was as light as a feather, "the pact is invoked. You can petition the Elders for a forced severance. And our family… will disappear from his world completely.""The document… it's in the safe deposit box…" … The next day, I did two things. First, my parents and I took the ancient pact to the Council of Elders. After reviewing it, the lead Elder nodded gravely. "The pact is valid. The Rejection Ceremony will begin immediately." Second, my family and I filed the paperwork to leave the pack. Once it was processed, the wolf known as Estelle would cease to exist. The Elders' ruling would take two weeks to be finalized. After discussing it with my parents, we decided I would return to the Black Moon estate. During this time, I had to act as if nothing had happened. I couldn't let Kaelen suspect a thing. Otherwise, with his Alpha authority and obsessive nature, none of us would escape. On my first day back at the Black Moon estate, I went to the backyard, a sharp, silver axe in my hand. Before me was the grove of Moonpetal trees Kaelen had planted for me with his own hands. I raised the axe and chopped them down, one by one. Silvery-white sap splattered all over me. The servants watched from a distance, not daring to approach. They knew I was the future Luna, and they knew I was on the verge of a rampage. The next day, I went to the Sacred Lake alone. On the small island in its center stood a stone monument to the Moon Goddess. Our mating tokens—two resonant Soulstones, a personal gift from the Goddess herself—were set within it. Kaelen had placed them there, swearing to protect our bond with his life. Now, I smashed them with a sledgehammer. The monument shattered. The Soulstones rolled onto the ground, their inner light extinguished. I walked away without a backward glance, my heart a hollow ache. On the third day, I began to clear out the master bedroom. Hanging in the closet was the moon-white gown I had worn when we received the Goddess's blessing. Kaelen had said, "Estelle, this is the most beautiful gown in the world, because you are the one wearing it." I took out a lighter and watched as the flame licked at the silk, consuming our past along with it. Just as I was about to leave the room, I heard the familiar sound of an engine below. Kaelen was back. And he wasn't alone. I peered through a gap in the curtains and, sure enough, saw Cassandra step out of the passenger seat. "Estelle," Kaelen's voice called from downstairs. "Come down." I took a deep breath, composed my expression, and slowly descended the stairs. In the living room, Kaelen was seated on the sofa with Cassandra nestled against his side, their intimacy on full display. "Apologize to Cassandra," Kaelen said without preamble. I stopped midway down the staircase. "An apology? For what?""You drove her out of North America, which caused her health to decline. Don't you think you should apologize?" I stared at them coldly. Cassandra clutched Kaelen's arm timidly, but her eyes flashed with triumph. She knew she had won. "And if I refuse?" I asked calmly. "It's… it's okay…" Cassandra murmured, her voice trembling softly. "I don't want to cause any trouble. After all… Estelle is the true Luna." Kaelen immediately pulled her tighter. "You don't have to speak up for her." He kissed the top of her head, a gesture so tender it made me sick. "I'll protect you from now on. You can do whatever you want." I said nothing, just pulled my lips into a tight line. Just then, Kaelen's phone rang, and he stepped out onto the balcony. Only Cassandra and I remained in the room. "You think you've won?" She stood up and walked toward me. "You're so naive, Estelle. Kaelen can't live without me. He was even willing to kill your parents for me.""You may be his fated mate, but his body and his heart belong to me." I looked at her, my expression placid. "You want him? Take him." Cassandra froze, then her face contorted with fury. "I don't need your pity. He'll choose me over you. It's only a matter of time. The title of Luna will be mine, too!" Kaelen's footsteps approached from outside. A vicious glint appeared in Cassandra's eyes. She suddenly snatched a silver ornament from the coffee table and dragged it across her own arm, drawing several bloody lines. "Ah!" she screamed, tears instantly flooding her eyes. "No… please, don't hurt me…" When Kaelen rushed back in, that was the scene that greeted him. Cassandra was huddled on the floor, her arm covered in bloody scratches that looked like they'd been made by claws. She was sobbing, her whole body shaking. "Estelle!" Kaelen's eyes blazed with fury. "You dare attack her right in front of me?""I didn't do it," I said calmly. "Do you believe me?" He glanced at the silver ornament by my feet and sneered, "Believe you? The evidence is right here at my feet." Cassandra wept in his arms. "Kaelen, I was just trying to make peace with her. I never thought she hated me so much…""The security cameras," I said, looking straight at Kaelen. "Check the footage and you'll know the truth." Kaelen held Cassandra, his eyes filled with rage. "There's no need! You want this to become a public spectacle? For everyone to laugh at me? She's an Omega, and you're the future Luna. If word of this gets out, whose reputation will suffer?" I was stunned. He wasn't even willing to look for the truth. In his mind, I had already become the villain who preyed on the weak. And Cassandra would forever be the fragile, pitiable victim who needed his protection. "Sophie, get the car ready," Kaelen said to the head housekeeper, lifting Cassandra into his arms. "We're going to the hospital immediately.""As for you," he looked back at me, his gaze as cold and sharp as a blade, "go to the dungeons and reflect on your place. And maybe learn some damn obedience." I didn't struggle. Instead, I smiled as the guards took hold of me. "Fine. I'll go." As the guards escorted me from the living room, I heard Cassandra whisper weakly in Kaelen's arms, "Don't blame Estelle… Maybe… maybe she was right. I really shouldn't have come here…""Don't be silly," Kaelen replied gently. "This is your home."

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The iron door of the dungeon slammed shut behind me. I was so cold I could barely feel anything, my body wracked with shivers. I don't know how long I lay there. I'd always been afraid of cold, confined spaces. I remembered how, right after I became his mate, Kaelen had a sprawling, open-air garden built just for me, designed for the widest views and the best light. He said he would build me anything I desired. Thinking back on it now, it all felt like a dream. I was startled awake by the creak of the dungeon door. A guard stood there, his face impassive. "The Alpha says if this happens again, the punishment will be more severe." Leaning against the stone wall, I staggered out. There won't be a next time. Soon, I will make him disappear from my world completely. Kaelen was waiting at the dungeon entrance, his expression a cold mask. "That's enough time. Remember, this was just a simple punishment.""Tonight is the annual Pack Alliance Gala," he said, holding out his hand. "As my mate, your attendance is mandatory." I looked at him, and for the first time, I didn't take his hand. At seven o'clock that evening, the Black Moon Pack's limousine pulled up to the Alliance Hall. I was wearing a black evening gown Kaelen had sent for me. Then, at the entrance to the ballroom, I saw Cassandra. She was dressed in a magnificent silver gown, and around her neck was a dazzling necklace—the Moonstone Jewel, a sacred artifact that was supposed to belong to the Luna. I was wearing a simple string of pearls. All the wolves were whispering, their eyes darting between Cassandra and me. "Kaelen!" Cassandra called out sweetly, hurrying toward us. "You're here!" She linked her arm through Kaelen's other arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Kaelen didn't push her away. I stopped and looked at him. "She's here too. Why did you even bother bringing me?" His expression was nonchalant. "I wasn't planning on bringing her, but she's never seen an event like this and wanted to experience it." He paused, his tone casual. "Estelle, don't be so possessive. Show some grace." The wolves around us began to murmur. I heard their whispers: "Is that Omega wearing the Luna's necklace?""The Black Moon's future Luna looks so worn out.""I heard she was locked in the dungeons recently…""An Alpha's mate being upstaged by an Omega. How humiliating." I took a deep breath and kept a smile plastered on my face. He hadn't considered my feelings for a single second, letting me become a laughingstock for all to see. But it didn't matter. They wouldn't be laughing for much longer. Midway through the banquet, the host announced the traditional Moon Hunt Challenge. It was an ancient ritual for werewolvenobility to display their strength and status. By tradition, the Luna was granted the privilege of the first pick of the prey. But Cassandra spoke up in a saccharine voice, "Could I try? I've never participated in such a noble event before…" She looked at Kaelen, her eyes full of pitiful hope. The host looked at me awkwardly. "According to tradition, the future Luna should go first…""Let her have it," Kaelen cut him off. "Estelle, be the bigger person. You are the Luna, after all." The entire hall fell silent. An Alpha, forcing his own mate to yield the Luna's privilege to an Omega. It was an unprecedented humiliation. I stood up, my voice steady. "I refuse." Cassandra's eyes immediately reddened. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have been so presumptuous… I'm just a humble Omega…" She choked up and stood. "I'll leave now. I won't disturb anyone else…" Kaelen's face darkened. My refusal had made him lose face in front of all the nobles. He grabbed my wrist. "Estelle, don't test my patience here. It's just one chance. Your status won't change because of it. As a Luna, you should be above this kind of petty jealousy." All eyes were on me. There was mockery, pity, and confusion. A Luna who lets an Omega walk all over her. A woman who couldn't even protect her own privileges. "Experience what, exactly?" I sneered. "A lesson in trampling on a Luna's dignity?" Cassandra cried even harder. "I really didn't mean it like that… Estelle, you've really misunderstood me…" She turned to leave, and Kaelen immediately chased after her, leaving me alone on the stage to bear the weight of everyone's stares. But I had nothing left to care about. I would be leaving this nightmare soon enough. I walked off the stage and left without a single look back.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I didn't sleep a wink. The next morning, I was jolted awake by a flood of notifications on my phone. [SHOCKING! Black Moon Pack's Future Luna's Most Private First Shift Video to be Auctioned on the Black Market!] The blood froze in my veins. Because those videos… only Kaelen had them. My hands trembling, I opened our mental link. "You did this?" There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then his nonchalant reply. "I did. So what?" I clenched my fist. "Why?""I was disappointed in you last night, Estelle," he said, his tone lecturing. "A future Luna should understand the bigger picture. You shouldn't have embarrassed Cassandra.""So you took my most private video to be auctioned off?" My voice was shaking with rage. "Those videos were always mine to do with as I please," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Since you won't listen, you can deal with the black market yourself. Remember this, Estelle. This is the consequence of disobedience." The mental link snapped shut. I stared at the auction information on my phone and took a deep breath. Ten o'clock. Less than two hours to go. I changed into a black tactical suit, tied up my hair, and drove straight to the black market. The market was located in an abandoned warehouse district on the edge of the city, a place where the filthiest deals in the werewolf world were made. When I pushed open the warehouse doors, the place was already buzzing with noise. Rogue wolves, bounty hunters, all sorts of lowlifes were gathered here, the air thick with the stench of blood and cheap alcohol. On a giant screen, they were playing the video of my first shift at eighteen. The agonizing contortions of my first transformation, the screams as my bones reshaped, and the helpless, terrified figure I became, huddled in a corner afterward. "Look at that body, tsk tsk…""The Black Moon Luna, ha! Now everyone can get a look.""Starting bid ten million? Worth it." Filthy whistles and lewd comments came from all directions. "Enough!" I threw back my hood and strode toward the stage. The hall fell silent instantly. Every rogue wolf and bounty hunter recognized me. The auctioneer swallowed hard. "Miss Estelle, you… what are you…""I'm buying back all the master copies." A scar-faced rogue wolf stepped forward. "So what if you're the future Luna? In the black market, money talks. Status means nothing.""I'll say it again," I said, my voice human but my posture radiating the threat of my wolf form. "Stop the auction.""Thirty million dollars. Is that enough?" I scanned the room, my cold gaze enough to intimidate these desperados. The aura of an Alpha's mate still carried immense weight. The auctioneer's face went pale. He nodded repeatedly, and under the pressure of the enormous sum and my unspoken threat, he quickly terminated the auction and handed all the master copies over to me. After handling everything, I got back in my car, my hands still shaking. The funds I had set aside to help build the Black Moon Pack with Kaelen were now being used to clean up the mess he had created. The irony was crushing. The mental link opened again. "Finished so quickly?" Kaelen's voice came through, tinged with surprise. "I thought you'd be crying and begging me to call it off.""I handled it," I replied, my voice dangerously calm. "With my own money.""With money?" he scoffed. "Estelle, do you think money can solve everything? This was a lesson for you, to teach you what obedience means.""I understand," I said, feigning submission. "Good." His tone was more satisfied now. "Remember this lesson, Estelle. As long as you accept Cassandra's presence, our Luna Ceremony can proceed as planned. You will still be my Luna. She is just a… diversion." I didn't respond. "Stop sulking," he continued. "I'll give you time to think it over. In one week, I expect to see a more compliant Estelle." I severed the mental link. Sitting in the empty living room, I suddenly remembered my eighteenth birthday. It was the day of my first shift. Kaelen had been by my side, gently stroking my hair, telling me not to be afraid. "Estelle, you are the most beautiful wolf in the world," he had said then. Now, he had turned that beauty into a commodity. He had used my vulnerability as a tool to punish me. I opened my social media. A new post from Cassandra: a photo of a fifty-million-dollar diamond necklace, with the caption, "Thank you to my Alpha. I'm the happiest female in the world." The comments below were all fawning praise: "You're so lucky, Cassandra!""The Alpha is so good to you!""That necklace is absolutely stunning!" I closed my phone, my face a mask of indifference. There was no jealousy, no anger, not even sadness. Because I knew it was all about to end. The next evening, Kaelen came home. But he smelled wrong. It was no longer the familiar scent of pine that I knew, but a cloying sweetness mixed with cheap perfume. It was an Omega's scent. Cassandra's scent. He had been staying with her, and her smell had completely saturated him. The scent of our own mate bond had faded until it was almost imperceptible. "Estelle," he said my name, but his eyes were glued to his phone. "There's a business gala tomorrow night. You're coming with me." The same commanding tone as always. "Alright," I replied calmly. He looked up, frowning. "You've been… different lately.""How so?""I can't put my finger on it," he shook his head. "It's like you've become… very obedient? And the scent of our bond isn't as strong as it used to be." I smiled faintly. "I'm probably just tired." He didn't seem to doubt it. Just then, his phone lit up with a notification. He glanced at it, and his expression immediately softened. The flicker of concern he'd shown me vanished into thin air. "It's Cassandra," he said casually, typing a reply. "She saw a new limited-edition bag she wants. I have to go order it for her." As I watched his retreating back, I silently counted the days. Three more days. In three days, the Elders' ruling would be final. And he hadn't even realized the true reason our bond was fading. He probably wouldn't notice until it had withered to nothing.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

On the day of the Luna Ceremony, Kaelen, for the first time in a long while, came to pick me up himself. "Estelle, my Luna, you look beautiful today." He stood at my bedroom door, holding a bouquet of my favorite white roses. He was wearing a custom-tailored black tuxedo, looking as handsome as a god. He was playing the part of the devoted mate, but I knew he hadn't come home last night. "It will be just the two of us today," he said. "I won't be bringing Cassandra." I looked at him and said nothing. "Estelle, I know I've wronged you lately." He reached out to touch my face. "At today's ceremony, I will show the entire werewolf world your honor." According to wolf tradition, this was the ceremony that would formally make me the Luna of the Black Moon Pack. The irony was, this would likely be my last day in that role. His fingers brushed my cheek, and for a fleeting moment, I could almost believe he truly loved me. "Yes, everything will be alright," I replied with a smile. Just not the kind of "alright" he was imagining. The nobility from every corner of the werewolf world had gathered for the Black Moon Pack's grand event. I was dressed in a pure white Luna gown, wearing the Moon Goddess's tiara and holding the silver scepter that symbolized my authority. "This makes up for it, doesn't it?" he whispered in my ear. I looked at him, remembering the past. He used to cajole me like this whenever he made a mistake, and I would always soften and forgive him. But this was different. He had used my parents as bargaining chips, trampled my dignity underfoot, and auctioned off my most private moments. Even if he offered me the entire world, it wouldn't be enough to make amends. He simply didn't understand that some things could never be fixed. Halfway through the ceremony, I heard a commotion at the entrance. I turned to see Cassandra standing at the main doors. All the guests began to whisper. "Isn't that the Alpha's mistress?""How dare she come to the Luna Ceremony?" Kaelen's face changed instantly. "I told you to stay home." Her eyes welled with tears. "I… I wanted to be here for the ceremony, to offer Estelle my blessings…""I don't want to see you," I said coldly. But Kaelen had already signaled for an attendant to find Cassandra a seat. "She came to offer her blessings," he murmured to me. "Just be the bigger person." Magnanimous. About him bringing his Omega mistress to my sacred Luna Ceremony. I stood on the altar and heard the officiant's voice ring out. "And now, for the ceremonial Moon Dance, a symbol of their union. Will the Alpha and Luna please take the center of the floor." Kaelen returned to my side and held out his hand. "Estelle, come." I took his arm, and we walked to the dance floor. The music began, a traditional hymn to the Moon Goddess. But Kaelen's gaze kept drifting to Cassandra. She stood in a corner, tears streaming down her face, and then she suddenly clutched her chest, her body swaying as if she were about to faint. Kaelen stopped dancing instantly. He hesitated for a second, then turned and walked toward Cassandra. An Alpha, abandoning his Luna mid-dance at her own ceremony to tend to his mistress. The humiliation was a physical blow, and I felt a blade of ice twist in our mate bond. Cassandra sank into Kaelen's arms, whispering something weakly. He stroked her hair gently, his eyes filled with concern. This tender scene played out for everyone to see. "Estelle," one of the Elders approached me, "should we pause the ceremony?""No," I lifted my chin. "Continue." I would not show a single moment of weakness in front of these people. Half an hour later, Kaelen finally returned. "Sorry, her blood sugar was low," he said, rejoining me as if nothing had happened. "It's fine," I said, still smiling. It was the last shred of my dignity as a Luna. The ceremony continued, but the atmosphere was ruined. Everyone was gossiping about what had just transpired. I had once again become the laughingstock of the werewolf world. As the ceremony neared its end, tradition required me to walk alone to the altar of the Moon Goddess to receive the final blessing. As I made my way toward it, Cassandra suddenly blocked my path. "Estelle, I want to say something to you," she said, her voice soft, but her eyes glittering with triumph. "What is it?""Thank you for being so tolerant today," she said, grabbing my hand. "I know you must be angry, but Kaelen was really worried about me." She raised her voice just enough for those nearby to hear. "He was holding me in the lounge earlier, telling me how sorry he was. He said he shouldn't have let me see you two being so close, because he was afraid it would break my heart." She squeezed my hand tightly as she spoke. "You're so lucky, Estelle, to have an Alpha like that to protect you. Not like me, having to suffer in the shadows…" The next second, she stumbled backward, deliberately crashing into the display stand holding the sacred Moon Goddess's Chalice. It was a holy relic, passed down for a thousand years, priceless, and a symbol of the Luna's authority. "Ah!" she screamed as she fell, and the chalice shattered on the ground. Golden shards flew everywhere, and a few of them cut her cheek. When Kaelen rushed over, he saw Cassandra collapsed among the pieces of the broken chalice, with me standing over her. "Estelle!" he roared. "You pushed her and shattered the Goddess's Chalice?!""I didn't push her." His Alpha command slammed into me, forcing me to my knees on the sharp fragments. "You shattered a thousand-year-old sacred relic!" Cassandra clutched his clothes weakly. "No… don't blame Estelle… It was my fault, I was clumsy…""Don't make excuses for her!" Kaelen's eyes were blazing. "This is blasphemy against the Moon Goddess!" He turned to me, his voice like ice. "Since you shattered the chalice, you will atone for it. With your blood." He pressed down on my shoulders, forcing me to kneel on the sharp, golden fragments. The shards pierced my knees, and my blood stained my white gown. "You will kneel here until dawn and repent to the Goddess."

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

My knees buckled, and I fell heavily onto the golden fragments. Their sharp edges instantly tore through my gown and my skin, a pain like lightning shooting through my entire body. I could feel the shards embedding themselves in my flesh, every slight movement like a thousand needles scraping against bone. Warm blood quickly soaked through the pure white skirt, blooming like desperate red flowers on the cold marble floor. Kaelen had already lifted Cassandra gently into his arms. "I'll take you to get those cuts treated." With that, he carried her from the hall without a backward glance, leaving me to kneel on the stage, enduring immense humiliation in front of all the guests. A sharp pain shot through the mate bond, as if my heart were being torn in two. I closed my eyes, feeling the searing agony in my knees and the deep despair in my soul. Kaelen, I hate you. I hate that I ever loved you. I couldn't hold myself up any longer and collapsed onto the cold marble floor before the altar. When I opened my eyes again, the acrid smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils. I was in the pack's medical wing. "Miss Estelle, please wait a moment!" the pack's chief healer called out as I struggled to my feet, the wounds on my knees still throbbing. "What is it?""The Alpha needs you for another patient. I believe it's… Cassandra," he stammered. "What do you mean?" I had barely finished my sentence when Kaelen walked in. "Estelle," Kaelen said, his voice devoid of warmth. "Give me your raw Soulstone." My heart sank. "Cassandra needs a precious artifact or talisman to stabilize her spirit," Kaelen said, not even looking at me. "Your Soulstone should have that effect.""Why should I—?""Because you're the one who caused her injury," he cut me off. "This is your responsibility." He was only concerned with using my Soulstone to heal Cassandra, without a single thought for my weakness, for my still-bleeding legs. I looked at Kaelen, the man who had once sworn to protect me. Now he was demanding I pay the price for his mistress's little act. It was always the same. No matter the truth, he would always decide it was my fault. "I… I can give you money, jewels, anything of value," I said. "But the raw Soulstone…""What good is money?" Kaelen interrupted. "Cassandra is lying in a hospital bed right now! Do you think money can fix that?""Estelle," Kaelen's voice turned to ice, "hand over the raw Soulstone immediately, or you know the consequences.""Are you threatening me again?" my voice trembled. "Like you threatened my parents?" His pupils constricted, as if my words had struck a nerve. But a second later, his cold command came. "Take her Soulstone." Two guards immediately seized my shoulders. "No!" I struggled desperately. "I poured my soul into that stone!" It was a perfect Soulstone I had spent three years polishing, infusing it with all of my spiritual energy. If it were taken from me by force, my spirit would be severely damaged. But Kaelen was unmoved. He personally ripped the Soulstone from my necklace and handed it to the healer. "Use this.""Don't!" I felt the spiritual link sever, and a tidal wave of pain washed over me. My wolf howled, my soul tore apart. My vision went black, and my body swayed. "Estelle!" Someone was calling my name, the voice growing distant. Then, I lost consciousness. When I awoke again, night had fallen. The hospital room was empty. I pushed myself up from the bed, my body weak. My head throbbed, a dull ache as if it had been struck by a blunt object. It was the aftereffect of having my spiritual link forcibly severed. "You were unconscious for three hours," a nurse said. "The spiritual trauma is severe. I recommend you get more rest.""I'm fine," I said, pushing myself up. "I'm going home." The nurse tried to protest, but I was already walking out. Every step felt like walking on knives, but I had to leave this place. As I passed another hospital room, I heard Kaelen's voice from inside. "I promise you, Cassandra.""Your family's status will be elevated," his voice was gentle, nothing like the cold tone he'd used with me. "I'll give your father a position as an Elder.""Really?" Cassandra's voice was a sweet purr. "Then we won't have to put up with the sneers from those Betas anymore?""Of course not. How could I let my love suffer any indignity?" He had told me she was just a "diversion," but to her face, he called her his "love." Kaelen, do you really think I'm a fool? "Kaelen, I love you," Cassandra said. "Unlike some people, who are supposed to be your mate but do nothing but defy you at every turn.""Let's not talk about her," Kaelen sighed. "You're the most important person to me now.""Even the Moon Goddess's plans aren't always right." He was questioning the Goddess's will. Questioning our sacred mate bond. "You're right," Cassandra cooed. "Someone obedient and gentle like me is the one who deserves to be your Luna.""Once I've handled a few things, we can make our relationship official." He had once said the same words to me. Kaelen, your vows are meaningless. I bit my lip until I tasted blood, then turned and walked away.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

Back at the estate, I checked the time. Three days until the Elders' final ruling. In three days, I would be completely free. I began to pack the things I would take with me. After all these years of our relationship, I was only taking a few changes of clothes and some of my jewelry design tools. I wanted nothing that had anything to do with Kaelen. The door was suddenly thrown open. Kaelen stood in the doorway, and behind him, a fragile-looking Cassandra. He was clearly here to interrogate me, and he didn't even have the decency to do it away from his mistress. "What are you doing?" Kaelen frowned at the suitcases on the floor. "Packing," I said without looking up. "Packing for what? Where do you think you're going?""That's none of your business." Kaelen strode over and seized my wrist. "Are you still throwing a tantrum?" His voice was thick with impatience. The moment his fingers touched my skin, Cassandra let out a pained moan and collapsed. "Cassandra!" Kaelen immediately let go of me and turned to catch her in his arms. "Kaelen…" Cassandra leaned weakly against him, her face pale, tears welling in her eyes. "I… I feel so sick…""What's wrong? Aren't you wearing the Soulstone?" Kaelen asked anxiously. "No… it's not…" Cassandra shakily removed the raw Soulstone from her neck and held it up to him. "Kaelen… this stone… it's a fake…" My mind went blank. "What did you say?" Kaelen's gaze shot toward me like a dagger. "I can feel it… There's not a trace of soothing energy inside, only a cold… deadness," Cassandra sobbed. "How… how could she do this to me? She'd rather give me a fake stone than save me…""You're lying!" I retorted sharply. "That was my original stone, infused with all of my spiritual energy!" But Kaelen wasn't listening. He stared at me, his eyes filled with absolute disappointment and rage. "Estelle, you dare to deceive me with a fake?" he roared. "You have a truly venomous heart!""I didn't!" I was shaking with anger. "That was my life's work! How can you not believe me!""Believe you?" He sneered, pointing to the moaning Cassandra in his arms. "Her body doesn't lie! You were willing to risk her life just to get back at me!" I looked at him and felt a wave of both ridicule and sorrow. He would rather believe the clumsy acting of an Omega than the mate his soul was bound to. "Kaelen, I think… I think she needs to be purified…" Cassandra whispered in his arms. "Send her somewhere that blocks all spiritual energy… maybe if her resentment subsides, I'll feel better…""Look at yourself!" The disgust in his eyes was thick and suffocating. "Go to the confinement cells for three days! Reflect on your poisonous jealousy!""I am your mate! The future Luna!" My voice trembled. "It is precisely because you are the future Luna that you should be magnanimous!" he cut me off coldly. "Not like this, constantly creating problems for me! You've disappointed me so much!" The confinement cells were used to punish low-ranking wolves who had broken pack law, their walls embedded with silver bars that suppressed a wolf's power. He gave me no more chance to argue, simply shouting to the guards outside the door. "Guards!" Two tall Beta guards entered immediately. "Take Miss Estelle to the confinement cells," Kaelen ordered, his voice devoid of any emotion. "No one is to visit her without my permission." The guards looked hesitant but did not dare to disobey. They flanked me and took my arms. I didn't struggle. My heart was already dead. What was the point? As the guards led me from the room, Kaelen was already turning away, carrying Cassandra to soothe his "frightened" love. As she passed me, she looked over his shoulder. Her mask of fragility fell away, replaced by a cold, triumphant smirk. In a voice only the guards and I could hear, she said, "Take good 'care' of our Luna. Let her experience what daily life is like for us Omegas." One of the Omegas kicked over the bowl of water in front of me, the murky liquid splashing all over me. "Get away from me! Don't touch me!""You still think you're the Luna?" another Omega sneered, her arms crossed as she looked down on me. "Cassandra said you're nothing but a bitter, clingy shrew who won't let go of a title you don't deserve."

Chapter 8 Chapter 8

This time, Kaelen locked me away for three days. The confinement cell was cold and damp, and the silver bars embedded in the walls left me weak and powerless. The spiritual trauma, combined with the abuse from the pack of Omegas Cassandra had incited, had pushed my body to its absolute limit. They stole my food, tore my clothes, and humiliated me with the most vicious words. I didn't fight back. Because I knew this was all with Kaelen's silent approval. The heavy iron door scraped open, and a sliver of light pierced the darkness. Kaelen stood at the entrance, his brow furrowed as he looked at my pathetic state. "What is this?" His voice was cold, without a hint of concern. I pushed myself up against the wall, the wounds on my body stinging. "It was them—""Enough," he interrupted, his eyes filled with annoyance. "Cassandra warned me you'd pull a stunt like this to get sympathy. Estelle, when will you learn to behave and stop making things so difficult for me?" He wouldn't even listen to a single word of explanation. He only believed Cassandra. "Get up. Come with me," he commanded. I dragged my heavy body behind him, out of the cell. Returning to the magnificent, gilded estate, everything felt like a bitter joke. Kaelen sat on the main sofa, surveying me like a king. "I've given it a lot of thought," he said, "and I've decided how this is going to work." I watched him silently, my heart no longer capable of feeling anything. "I will divide my time," he announced, as if granting me some great mercy. "I'll spend half with you, to fulfill my duty as your mate. The other half will be for Cassandra." My heart sank into an icy abyss. He was treating his companionship as a handout, his betrayal as "fairness.""Now, I'm going to Cassandra's," he said, standing and adjusting his collar. "She's been frightened and needs me to comfort her. Before I get back, I want you to stay here and think about your place." He turned and left without a shred of hesitation. Did he think I was still the same Estelle who would cling to him? No. The Estelle of the past was dead, killed by his own hand. I listened to the sound of his car's engine until it faded completely into the distance. The entire mansion was suddenly quiet, the only sound my own heartbeat. My phone vibrated. It was a secure message from an encrypted number, just a single line of text. [The Council of Elders has ruled: The Rejection is complete. The mate bond is officially severed. You are free.] I stared at the words for a long, long time. Then, I smiled. I picked up the suitcase I had packed days ago in the corner of the room and walked out of the prison that had held me for years, without a single look back. At the border of the Black Moon territory, my parents' car was already waiting. Before getting in, I took out my phone. A photo of Kaelen and me was still my lock screen. I squeezed the phone in my hand until the screen shattered into a web of cracks—a fractured mirror for our fractured love. "Let's go," I said to my father. The car crossed the border, into the territory of the Silver Creek Pack. I had vanished from Kaelen's world completely.