Chapter 1 Chapter 1

For five years, my destined mate, Alpha Kaelen, and I had gone through 98 marking ceremonies. And every time, he'd cut it short for another Omega. "Just hold on a little longer, Princess. Just a little more." Shaman Elarah's voice sounded like it was coming from far away. I clenched my jaw, my fists tight. Sweat dripped down my cheeks. The backlash from the mate bond was a burning pain, like fire racing through my veins. This was the 99th time. The 99th time I'd prepared to receive the mark from my Alpha, my fated mate, Kaelen. "Where is he?" My voice was hoarse, a hint of resentment I tried to hide. Elarah avoided my gaze, dabbing the moonpetal salve on the back of my neck. "The Alpha is still… dealing with something." I knew exactly who that "something" was. "The ceremony has to start when the moon is high, or we'll have to wait another month." I pushed myself up, my white, moon-silk robe swaying gently in the breeze. "Perhaps… tonight isn't the best time, Princess." I scoffed. "When is it ever? It's been five years, Elarah. Five whole years." I glanced at the scene. Pack members were gathered, waiting to see their Alpha complete the marking ceremony with his fated mate. Taking a deep breath, I decided to give him one last chance. I reaching out to Kaelen through our mind-link. "The ceremony's about to start.Everyone's waiting." I heard him reply, but not to me. He was talking to that familiar voice beside him. "Don't worry, Sera. Just rest a bit, you'll be fine.""Ooh, Kaelen, it hurts so much…" that sickly sweet voice whined through the link. "Don't move, Sera. Let me see that wound." Kaelen's voice was full of concern, a gentleness he never, ever used with me. "Lyra?" He finally noticed I was there, though his eyes were still on Seraphina's ankle. "What's your hurry? Sera fell from a tree, twisted her ankle. I said I'd be along in a minute." I stood in the middle of the crowd. The pack members looked at me with open mockery. It seemed like they were all waiting for me to be brutally rejected once again. "One more chance," I clenched my fists, whispering to myself. "Last chance." If he let me down again, I would leave this place for good, never giving anyone the chance to trample on my dignity again. Kaelen only showed up, looking rushed, when the moon finally reached its highest point. He strode over to me, nodding to the pack. The Elders formed a circle and began chanting the ancient blessing. Kaelen looked at me, all apologetic. "You okay, honey?""Focus," I reminded him. "Don't disappoint the Moon Goddess again." He grinned and took my hand. "Don't worry. I swear, I'll see this through with you this time." My 99th ceremony finally got underway without a hitch. The elder sprinkled sacred moonwater over our heads, and Kaelen leaned in, ready to give that all-important bite on my neck. I closed my eyes, my heart pounding. Maybe this time, everything would actually be okay. I felt his hot breath on my skin, his teeth practically grazing the pulse in my neck. This was it. Just feel it, I told myself. The marking ceremony I'd dreamed of a thousand times… Suddenly, a gasp rippled through the crowd. I opened my eyes. His expression had changed, his eyes fixed on something over my shoulder. I followed his gaze and saw her – that small figure in the crowd, "fainting" again. "Seraphina!" Kaelen dropped my hand and took a step back. "I have to get her to the healing springs. This ceremony… next time. Next time, I swear, I'll finish it." I stood there, feeling a fresh wave of agony from the psychic link's backlash. But this time, I didn't cry out, didn't question, didn't beg. "It's fine," I said calmly, a strange smile playing on my lips. "Seraphina's health is more important. After all, she's the pack's precious Omega." Kaelen stared, clearly not expecting me to be so 'understanding.' "Thanks for understanding, Lyra." He breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll bring you some moonberries later. I know you like them." Moonberries. I watched him hurry away, the last ember of hope inside me dying out. I was allergic to moonberries. They were Seraphina's favorite. He'd long forgotten. Five years, I thought silently. Ninety-nine failed ceremonies, ninety-nine times my dignity was trampled. I've had enough! I found the Moonshadow Realm's communication device and opened a link I hadn't used in a very long time. "Father, I was too naive. I'll be back in two days."

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

I grabbed that moon-silk robe, the one that held ninety-nine hopes and disappointments, slashed it viciously with my dagger, and then hurled it into the roaring bonfire. The flames devoured the white silk, just like they devoured the last of my feelings for Kaelen. Everyone was stunned, staring open-mouthed at my symbolic act of breaking things off. And I just felt a relief I'd never known before. Back in my tent, I didn't sleep all night. Kaelen spent the night with his precious Seraphina, and the pain from the mate bond burned through me all night long. The moment the first sunlight streamed into the tent, I was up and packing. Everything was ready. Five years ago, when I left the Moonshadow Palace, giving up my title as princess just to find true love, my father had warned me that the world outside wasn't as wonderful as I imagined. But I stubbornly believed that the love of a farted mate would conquer all. I still remembered the day I first met Kaelen. He'd walked out of the forest and bumped right into me. My whole body felt like it was pulled by an invisible force, my heart pounded like crazy, and my blood boiled in my veins. This was the fated mate connection, stronger than any legend described. And just like that, we fell in love. In the beginning, he knew every little thing about me. I was afraid of thunder, and he'd hold me tight every rainy night. I liked to pick up unusual little stones when I walked, and he'd collect the most beautiful gems for me. But now, he gave all his attention to Seraphina. Looking at those gems, now worthless to me, I tossed them out. Then, I got ready to go before the elders and formally state my intention to leave. As I passed the pack square, a few young werewolves were gathered around the "Echo Stone"—the Blackrock pack's version of social media, a special stone that could record and play images. "Look, Seraphina posted a new image!" a girl shouted excitedly. On the Echo Stone, Seraphina's image was crystal clear. She was wearing Kaelen's Alpha armor，snuggled up to Kaelen under the moonlight. Her voice was sickeningly sweet: "Kaelen said the ceremony was too much fuss, and he'd rather patrol the territory with me. Teehee, he said he loves protecting me most of all." The young wolves saw me and immediately stopped their snickering, scattering in a panic. I felt sick to my stomach, a cramp seizing me. But none of that mattered anymore. I took out my silver staff, and strode resolutely towards the Elder's Council Hall. It was time to put an end to all of this. "Luna-to-be?" one elder asked, confused. "I am not your Luna," my voice was calm and clear. "I never was." The elders looked at each other. I walked to the center of the council table. "I, Lyra, Princess of the Moonshadow Realm, hereby renounce my fated mate bond with Kaelen Blackclaw." One of the Pack Elders scoffed. "Princess? Because of this… little silver stick? Dream on, little girl." He knocked the silver staff from my hand. "You're just an ordinary girl who got lucky enough to be chosen by the Alpha, and now you're scorning this gift?" The other elders snickered along. "A princess from the Moonshadow Realm? Don't make a fool of yourself.""This is blasphemy! Go get the Alpha. His little mate is throwing a tantrum again.""Blasphemy?" I scoffed. "Ninety-nine failed marking ceremonies—that's blasphemy against the Moon Goddess!" As expected, the council hall door was soon thrown open. Kaelen stood in the doorway, his chest heaving, clearly having run all the way. "What's going on?" He looked around, his gaze finally landing on me. "Lyra, what are you doing? What's with the outfit?" I straightened my back, looking him directly in the eye. "I am requesting to dissolve our destined mate bond, Kaelen. I am leaving the Blackrock pack.""This is ridiculous!" Kaelen's face went from shocked to angry. He strode towards me. "You can't just decide to leave! The mate bond is sacred, you don't have the right—""I have every right," I cut him off calmly. "Five years, Kaelen. Ninety-nine times. I've waited long enough.""Because of last night?" He looked at me incredulously, his voice laced with contempt. "Just because I helped Seraphina? Do you know how serious her foot injury was?""Not because of last night, but because of every time in the last five years you put me last. Every time you ignored me. Every time you abandoned me.""You're being too emotional, Lyra." His tone was like he was talking to a misbehaving child. "Let's go back and talk this over properly. Don't embarrass yourself in front of the elders." The elders exchanged glances, mostly filled with mockery and disdain. It wasn't the first time I'd seen that look from them—they'd never really seen me as their pack's future Luna. They only put up with me because Kaelen said I was his destined mate. "My decision is made." I looked at all the elders, then back at Kaelen. "At sunrise tomorrow, my people and I will leave. There's no place for me in the Blackrock pack anymore." Kaelen's face darkened, but surprisingly, he didn't argue further. Instead, he gave a small smile, one that oozed confidence and disdain. "Alright, I get it," he shrugged, his tone completely dismissive, like he was just humouring me. "Since you need to cool off, I'll set up a dinner tonight as my apology, and we can properly discuss the next ceremony then." He lowered his voice, leaning in close. "Stop this, Lyra. Where can you go? No one outside the Blackrock pack will take you in.Why make such a big deal out of something one dinner can fix?" I definitely have a place I can go. There's just no need for you to be told where that is.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I stared into his eyes and saw the confidence there. He was convinced. Convinced I was just being emotional, convinced I wouldn't actually leave him, convinced one dinner was all it would take to get me to change my mind. That's how he saw me after five years together: A girl who was easily soothed, someone with no real backbone. "Fine," I agreed, much to everyone's surprise. "Tonight, at the Windwhisper Canyon Restaurant." Kaelen nodded, satisfied, a flicker of triumph in his eyes. "I'll personally arrange the best table and food." I turning to leave without another word. Behind me, I clearly heard Kaelen say to the elders, "Don't worry, she just needs a little attention and reassurance. Women, you know how they are." The elders' soft chuckles echoed in my ears. What they didn't know was that I had already arranged everything. Tonight was goodbye for good. Seven PM, at the Windwhisper Canyon Restaurant. I arrived in a simple white dress. Kaelen was already there waiting, and he'd changed into a formal Alpha suit. "You're here," he said, standing up, a flash of happiness in his eyes, as if he'd completely forgotten our fight from earlier. " Look, those other 99 times, that was on me. I'm so sorry. Will you forgive me? And for the next ceremony, I was thinking we could…" Just as I was about to speak, a familiar voice called from behind me: "Kaelen!" Seraphina. She wore a bright red dress, like a dancing flame, and rushed straight to Kaelen's side, linking her arm through his. "I heard there was a farewell dinner. I just had to come and say goodbye to Lyra." I noticed she deliberately sat next to Kaelen—the seat traditionally reserved for the Luna. Even more ridiculous, Kaelen didn't stop her. The waiters started bringing out the food: roasted fire-beast meat, honey-glazed berries, roasted root vegetables… all heavy meats and sweet dishes. Not a single thing I liked. "Try this," Kaelen said, putting a fire-beast rib on my plate. "Seraphina said you'd definitely love this." I looked at the greasy piece of meat on my plate and almost laughed. Because of my unique bloodline, I'd always preferred vegetarian food and light fish dishes. He used to know that. "Thanks," I said, pushing the plate away. "I'm not very hungry." Throughout the entire dinner, Kaelen's attention was almost entirely on Seraphina. He roared with laughter at every boring story she told. I was completely ignored, like a decoration at the table. "Oh, right, Lyra," Kaelen finally turned to me, "About the next ceremony... what do you think about the next full moon...?" Suddenly, Seraphina clutched her stomach, her face twisting in 'pain.' "Oh, my stomach hurts so much…""What's wrong?" Kaelen immediately asked, completely forgetting I was even there. "Maybe I ate something bad at lunch…" she whimpered, leaning against Kaelen. "I feel awful…""I'll take you back," Kaelen said, standing up immediately. Then he remembered me and said awkwardly, "Lyra, you…""Go ahead," I said calmly. "Seraphina's health is more important." He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'll be back soon. " I watched him help the 'frail' Seraphina out of the restaurant. She turned her head and gave me a smug smile. I sat there quietly, watching them leave, my heart completely at peace. Enough. His actions had given me all the answers. Back at the tent, I quickly packed what I needed. Suddenly, Kaelen's voice came through the psychic link: "Lyra, Seraphina needs me to look after her tonight, so I won't be back at the main tent. Once she's better, we'll plan the next ceremony properly. This time, I'll definitely make you my Luna!" I gave a cold smirk, took out the ancient runestone from the Moonshadow Realm, and began to chant the spell to sever the link. "No need," I replied through the link. "I've already left Blackrock territory with my people. Kaelen, our fated bond ends here. As the Moon Goddess is my witness, we will never meet again." As the princess of the Moonshadow Realm, I had the right to use the royal family's ancient bond-severing technique. As the last syllable fell, the runestone emitted a blinding silver light.. A sharp pain shot through me, but I gritted my teeth and endured it. Just then, a piercing scream tore through the air from the distance. I knew that was Kaelen, feeling the agony of our bond shattering. As for me, being free from the bond for a while, I felt more liberated than I ever had. "Let's go," I told my Moonshadow Guard, waiting in the shadows. I cast one last look towards Blackrock territory. "It's time to go home."