The pack could whisper all they wanted. I had made my decision. And I was going to keep to it.

Tonight I was going to head to Bright Dawn and stay with Venice and her pack for a while before figuring out what next.

Elias’s voice haunted me, his commands, his lies. All the promises he made were nothing but empty words. He had chosen appearances over the truth, power over loyalty. There was nothing left for me here but pain.

“Seize her”

Elias’s barked an order behind me and I froze in my tracks. My stomach dropped as I turned slowly.

He was leaning against a pillar, his posture as casual as if he were watching a game.

“You have to let me go,” I said, my voice breaking as I spoke out.

A muscle in his jaw ticked, but he didn’t budge. “You’re not leaving, Selene.”

“I am,” I shot back, trying to sidestep the guards blocking my path.

But they were faster, their huge frame cutting me off with ease. Before I could make another move, he raised a hand, and they tried to hold me.

“Don’t touch me!” I snapped, but they didn’t stop. Rough hands grabbed my arms, holding me in place. I thrashed against their grip, but it was no use.

Elias closed the distance between us. His eyes burned into mine, his face tense as he spoke. “You will not embarrass me tonight. Do you have any idea what it would look like if the Alpha’s mate ran away on the night of the bonding ceremony?”

I glared at him, forcing my voice to stay steady. “You care more about your reputation than you ever did about me. I won’t be paraded around like some ornament for your ego, Elias. Let me go.”

His gaze softened for a split second, a flicker of hesitation that almost made me falter. But then, just as quickly, his mask slipped back into place. “You’re not thinking clearly,” he said, his tone almost patronizing. “This is the bond speaking. You don’t really want to leave.”

I laughed bitterly. “The bond? You destroyed that bond the moment you lied, cheated and spat on our union. Don’t pretend to care now.”

The words hit him like a slap, but he wasn’t giving me up. He turned to the guards, his voice cold and authoritative. “Take her to the room and lock her in. She doesn’t leave until the ceremony begins.”

“No!” I yelled, struggling against the guards as they dragged me away.

I turned my head, shouting over my shoulder. “You’ll regret this, Elias! I will never forgive you!”

He didn’t respond, didn’t even look at me. His eyes were just staring at the floor, deep in thoughts, but he said nothing.

The guards pushed me through a side door, my boots scrapping against the stone floor as I kept resisting, but it was no use. They were too strong.

We stopped in front of a small, dimly lit room. Without ceremony, they shoved me inside. I stumbled, catching myself against the cold, bare wall as the heavy door slammed shut behind me.

The sound of the lock clicking into place brough reality to my eyes, but I refused to let it show. I turned to face the door, pressing my palms against it as if I could will it open.

“This isn’t over,” I muttered, a part of me losing hope.

But the hallway beyond was silent, the guards’ footsteps fading into the distance. I was alone.

The room was small, with only a narrow cot and a barred window letting in the faintest light from outside. I squeezed myself to one edge of the room, my hands trembling as I clenched them into fists.

My wolf stirred within me, restless and angry. She hated this as much as I did, but there was little comfort in that shared fury.

Elias wanted me to know that I couldn’t run away from him. Message passed.

I didn’t know how, but I would find a way out.

For a moment, I tried to bask in the silence and listen for any sounds.

I heard one instantly.

A loud knock on the door, startling me.

My head snapped toward the door, my heart pounding. For a moment, I thought it might be Elias, coming to gloat or perhaps to demand some forced apology.

Instead, the lock rattled, and the door creaked open.

My maid, Maria stepped inside, balancing a tray with a plate of food. Her face was calm, almost neutral, but her dark eyes betrayed her. I knew something was up.

She closed the door behind her and approached me, setting the tray down on the cot with a bit more force than necessary.

“Maria,” I began, confused, “how did you—”

She cut me off with a sharp whisper. “My Queen, please keep your voice down.”

I blinked at her, taken aback. My eyes darted to the tray—simple bread and stew, nothing out of the ordinary—and then back to her. “What are you doing here?”

She straightened, glancing over her shoulder as if she expected someone to burst in at any moment. “I’m here to get you out of here,” she said firmly.

“What?” I stared at her, trying to process her words. “Maria, what are you talking about? How did you even know I was—”

“I saw the guards drag you away,” she interrupted again. “I sent word to the closest person I knew, Venice as soon as I could. She ordered me to get you out of here by any means necessary.”

Venice. My friend turned sister. The mention of her name gave me hope.

“Rise, my Queen. There’s limited time before the ceremony starts.”

I hesitated, still trying to make sense of everything. Maria had always been loyal, but this? Risking her own safety to help me escape?

She didn’t give me time to question it further. “The food is just a cover,” she said, pulling me to my feet. “We need to leave. Now.”

I followed her, clutching the small bag she thrust into my hands. “Maria, this doesn’t make any sense. Elias—”

“Elias isn’t here,” she snapped. “He’s busy playing Alpha for his bonding ceremony. He won’t notice you’re gone until it’s too late.”

As we moved out the door, bodies of guards laid on the hallway unconscious with bowls of stew beside them.

“Poison,” she explained. “Not lethal, just enough to knock out the guards for a few hours. It would soon be out of their systems.”

I gaped at her. “You poisoned them?”

Maria gave me a look. “I had no other choice, My Queen.”

I swallowed hard and nodded.

“Where are we going?” I whispered.

“To the border of Bright Dawn,” she replied curtly. “There’s a passage that leads out of the pack territory. There, we’ll meet Venice.”

Bright Dawn. My sanctuary.

As we fled the gates, my mind began to replay everything I had endured in this cursed place. Elias’s favoritism toward Talia and the other women who constantly vied for his attention. The countless nights I spent alone, waiting for him to come home, only to find out he’d already eaten, laughed, and shared his time with someone else.

I thought about the mornings when I woke up to an empty bed, and the excuses he gave when I asked him why he was so distant. The promises he made but never kept.

The betrayal burned hotter with every step.

“My Queen,” Maria called out, her voice breaking through my thoughts. “We’re almost there.”

I nodded, wiping at my eyes. I didn’t even realize I had been crying.

I stopped and turned back toward the direction of Elias’s pack, his palace barely visible in the distance.

And then it hit me.

Everything I had endured. Seven years of pain, humiliation, and neglect. Seven years of hoping that things would change, that Elias would see me as more than an obligation. Seven years of watching him take and take while giving nothing in return.

The thought crushed me, and I sank to my knees, letting the tears flow freely.

Maria knelt beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder, but she said nothing.

I cried for the sad, lonely woman Elias had turned me into. I cried for the years I wasted on a man who never saw my worth. A loveless mate.

The sobs racked my body, releasing years of pent-up pain and frustration.

And then, a voice broke through the night.

“You won’t have to cry again. Ever.”

I froze, my breath hitching. Slowly, I turned toward the voice, and there she was.

“Venice!” I scrambled to my feet and rushed to her.

She opened her arms, and I threw myself into her embrace.

Venice held me tightly, one hand cradling the back of my head. “You’re safe now, Selene,” she whispered.

She took my hand and led us down the path to her pack.

When we emerged into the heart of the Bright Dawn pack, it was like stepping into another world. Warm lights and pack members moved about, all welcoming.

“You’re home now.” Venice glanced at me, smiling softly.

She turned to one of the nearby pack members. “Prepare a bath for her and have the kitchen make something warm. She needs to eat.”

The pack member nodded and hurried off. Moments later, I was relaxing in a tub filled with steaming water, and fragrant oils floated on the surface.

After my bath, I dressed in the clean, soft clothes Maria had packed for me and made my way to the dining room. Venice was already seated with a few other pack members, including Maria.

I smiled at her as I took my seat. “Thank you, Maria. I don’t even know how to begin repaying you for what you’ve done.”

Maria shook her head, her cheeks flushing. “You don’t need to thank me, my Queen. It was the right thing to do.”

The meal was lively, laughter and stories going round the table. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering back to Elias.

What was happening at the bonding ceremony? Had he noticed my absence? Were his guards already searching for me?

Venice seemed to notice my distraction. “Stop,” she said, gently placing a hand over mine.

I blinked at her. “What?”

“You’re thinking about him,” she said.

I swallowed hard, “But what if—”

“No,” Venice said firmly. “You’re not going back to him. That’s not an option. Not anymore.”

I nodded, her conviction giving me strength.

That night, I slept better than I had in years and when I woke up, Venice greeted me alongside the morning light.

She had been sitting beside my bed with a tense look and her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Venice?” I sat up. “What’s wrong?”

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Elias is here.”

The blood drained from my face. “What?”

“He’s outside,” she said. “With a group of his strongest pack warriors. He’s demanding to see you.”

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, anger replacing the fear in my chest. “He has no right. Right?”

“I know,” Venice said, standing as I did. “But he’s here, and he’s not leaving without a fight. I need to know, Selene. If it comes to war, will you stand by me? I don't want your feelings to meddle.”

Her words hit me like a slap. But there was no hesitation in my answer. “Yes,” I said firmly.

Venice nodded, her expression softening. “Good. Then let’s show him what happens when he tries to control you.”

I followed her outside immediately, repeating to myself the words I'll use to reject him in the presence of everyone.

Then, the moment my eyes fell on him, my speech filtered to the wind. His piercing gaze locked onto me the moment he saw me and he cleared his throat to speak.

But before he could speak, another voice rang out from among the men gathered, loud and clear.

“I challenge you, Elias, Alpha of the Crescent Pack!”

Gasps rippled through the crowd as a man stepped forward, tall, broad shouldered with blazing hazel eyes.

“A fight to the death. Winner takes the damsel as mate.” the stranger announced, pointing a finger at me.

The words registered in seconds, leaving me in shock.

It was a challenge.

A fight to the death.

For me.

Elias sneered. "And who the hell are you to challenge me?"

The man smirked. "Raul. That’s all you need to know."

Before Elias could respond, Raul lunged, and the fight began.

Claws slashed through the air, the sounds of growls and heavy impact filling the space. Raul was fast—faster than I expected. He dodged Elias’s strikes effortlessly, moving with a predatory grace that made it clear he was no ordinary wolf.

Elias, fueled by rage, attacked relentlessly, but he was sloppy. His movements were reckless, driven by arrogance rather than skill. Raul, on the other hand, was calculating, his every move precise. Blow after blow, he wore Elias down, until finally—

With a sharp twist, Raul used Elias’s momentum against him, sending him crashing to the ground. A collective gasp rose from the onlookers. Elias growled, trying to get up, but Raul was already on him, pressing his knee against Elias’s chest, claws at his throat.

One move, and it would all be over.

I should have felt relieved. I should have wanted this. Elias had treated me like nothing, discarded me as if I were unworthy of love. And yet—

"Stop!" My voice rang out before I could think.

Raul froze. The entire world seemed to hold its breath as I stepped forward. My eyes met Elias’s, and for the first time, I saw fear in them. Not for his life—but for his pride.

"I'll go back with him," I announced, my voice firm. “Let him go.”

A stunned silence followed.

Raul looked at me, his golden eyes searching mine, but I didn’t waver. I had made my decision.

For now.

The moment the words left my lips, a heavy silence settled over the clearing. I could feel every eye on me, watching, waiting, trying to understand why I had just thrown myself back into the hands of the man who had broken me.

Venice’s face was blank when I finally got the courage to face her, but I knew I had wounded her. I had betrayed the sanctuary she had given me, the protection she had sworn.

I turned to her and, without hesitation, fell to my knees. "Venice," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I am so sorry."

She didn’t move.

Tears burned at the back of my eyes as I bowed my head. "I know this is foolish, I know I shouldn’t, but I have to do this. Please, let me go."

Still, she remained silent.

I clenched my fists against the dirt beneath me, forcing the words out. "I have no right to ask for your blessing after everything you’ve done for me. But if I leave here with your resentment, I don’t think I’ll be able to bear it."

A long pause stretched between us, suffocating in its weight.

Finally, Venice took a deep breath. When she spoke, her voice was cold. "If you wish to throw yourself back into the fire, I won’t stop you."

I lifted my head, desperate for even a small sign of forgiveness, but she had already turned away.

"Let them go," she ordered her guards.

The warriors beside her looked as if they wanted to protest, but they obeyed.

Behind me, Elias scoffed, shaking off the dirt as he stood. "Took you long enough to come to your senses," he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. He stepped forward, gripping my wrist roughly. "Get in the cart."

I barely registered his words. My gaze had found Raul again.

He was staring at me, his golden eyes fixed on me like a lost puppy. He hadn’t moved since I stopped him from killing Elias. He had no words for me, no arguments, no accusations.

That silence cut deeper than anything Elias could ever say.

I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat and whispered, "Thank you."

Raul said nothing.

I turned, stepping into the wooden cart Elias had brought. The moment I sat down, the wheels lurched forward, the Crescent Pack warriors guiding the horses away from the Bright Dawn territory.

The cart rocked unsteadily over the rough terrain, and Elias winced as he shifted in his seat. Blood smeared across his torn shirt, and his knuckles were bruised from the fight. His jaw clenched tightly, but his pride kept him from groaning in pain.

I hesitated before reaching out. "Let me see," I murmured, trying to touch his arm.

He jerked away from me instantly. "Don’t," he snapped, his voice sharp and bitter.

I swallowed, my chest tightening. "Elias, you’re hurt—"

His glare cut through me like ice. "If you hadn’t run away like a coward, none of this would have happened."

The words stung, but I refused to back down. "I ran because you treated me like I was nothing. You paraded Talia around while I was still your mate. You never touched me, never looked at me the way you did her. Do you really expect me to stay after that?"

His expression darkened. "Shut up, Selene."

I pressed on, my voice growing desperate. "You humiliated me, Elias. For years, I—"

His hand slammed against the wooden side of the cart, the sound loud in the silence. "I said shut up!"

My breath caught in my throat.

I stared at him, seeing the anger, the frustration—but beneath it, there was something else. Something raw.

But he wouldn’t let me see it.

So I turned away, pressing myself against the cart’s edge, and let the silence swallow us both.

As the distance grew, I felt the walls closing in around me.

I had done the right thing. I had stopped a war. I had prevented unnecessary bloodshed.

Then why did it feel like I had just made the worst mistake of my life?