The night of our mating ceremony, my destined Alpha, Alex, basically tossed a three-year temporary mate bond agreement at me.

He said he only had eyes for one wolf girl, Lily, an Omega.

He told me he’d wait until the day he was in charge of the pack, then he’d personally cut our mate bond.

Lily would be his one and only.

That was until Lily had a huge fight with him and just up and vanished. Alex, after too many nights drowning his sorrows, accidentally marked me.

It seemed like he was finally starting to get that I was his real mate.

He even started willingly holding me as we fell asleep.

Just when I thought Alex had totally accepted me, Lily came back.

To save Lily’s mom, Alex didn’t think twice about giving up his own precious life force.

To make Lily happy, he publicly shamed me at the Moon Festival, even snatching the only moonstone bracelet my grandma had left me.

Lily smashed the bracelet, and my heart broke right along with it.

On our third bonding anniversary, Alex booked my favorite restaurant, wanting to say sorry.

But what he didn't know was that I’d already broken our mate bond. I wasn't going back.

1

“So, what do you need to do to break a mate bond?”

My voice echoed in the big, empty room. My nails were digging into my palms, leaving little red crescent moons, but I couldn’t feel a thing.

"Three years apart, plus the Elders' blood ritual," Elder Marcus’s voice crackled over the phone. "You've already done the first part, Sophia."

“Then let’s set up the ritual.”

I hung up and looked around the house I’d slowly put together. The life I’d dreamed of with my mate never happened. Alex hardly ever even smiled at me.

Every single day felt like I was drowning in the deep end, waiting for my Alpha mate to throw me a lifeline he was never going to offer.

I heard a car pull up downstairs. Alex was back. My heart started hammering – stupid mate bond instincts. Even though my head had told me a long time ago, he wasn’t mine.

The door opened.

His Alpha scent hit me like a blast of cold air.

And tangled up in it was that sickly sweet Omega smell, like vines choking his scent, staking its claim.

He slipped off his suit jacket and handed it to me, casual, like I was just a coat rack.

"The pack's annual meeting is next week. You need to be there with me." He was loosening his tie, his voice all command.

My fingers tensed up as I took the jacket. I shook my head. "I can't go."

Alex’s icy gaze landed on me. "Is this about Lily again? How long are you going to keep this jealousy thing up?"

Jealousy? I almost wanted to laugh, but all I felt inside was this deep, cold sadness.

"It’s not because of her." I calmly hung up his jacket. "I just don’t want to go."

"Sophia," Alex looked at me, his voice like ice, "when we agreed to this mate thing, I told you who I really loved. And you promised you wouldn't get in the way. You're my…" he paused, and when he said the next words, they were dripping with scorn, "destined mate. And in front of everyone else, you will play that part."

Destined mate? Hearing him say it, it was such a joke.

Three years ago, the Moon Goddess gave him to me. I thought it was my ten-year crush finally coming true.

I’d even, all shy like a teenager, told him I could feel the mate bond pulling us together.

But he just stared at me, cold, like I was a total stranger. "I'm already in love with someone. Lily. She's an Omega. I will never mark you, so don't even think about it."

And then, that temporary mate bond agreement. It felt like a sentence, nailing me up on a cross of shame.

"Lily's bloodline isn't pure enough. My family won't accept her right now," he’d said, his voice flat, but every word was like a knife to the heart. "In three years, when I'm solid as the pack Alpha, we'll break the mate bond. Then I'll mate with the woman I really love."

I signed it, tears in my eyes. I was so pathetic, I even thought, as long as I can be near him, I’ll take it.

But not long after, Lily had a fight with him, stormed off, and just… disappeared.

Alex went crazy, practically turned the whole pack territory upside down looking for her.

He’d stay out all night, and when he came back, he’d reek of booze, the red in his eyes showing he was right on the edge of his wolf losing it.

That one late night, he was completely drunk. His Alpha instincts totally took over, and he pinned me to the bed.

His fangs sank into the gland on the back of my neck. He marked me.

The pain and the rush of his Alpha scent made me shake all over. But he held me so tight, and all he did was hoarsely, lovingly, call out another woman’s name.

"Lily... don’t go... come back..."

My first time, his mark – they were both just offerings to another woman.

The next day, he saw the mess on the sheets and the fresh bite mark on my neck. Something complicated flickered in his eyes, but then he just went back to being cold. Didn’t say a word.

I acted like nothing happened either.

From then on, I put on an even better mask and started three long years of lying to myself. I kept telling myself the mark meant we were tied together forever, that time would change things.

I learned to cook his favorite foods, memorized every little habit, even pushed down my own pride and who I was, just to try and please him.

Sometimes, if I was sick, he’d clumsily make me some bone broth.

Or once, after a late work thing, he brought home a bunch of moonflowers – a flower I’d mentioned offhand that I liked.

Like on cold winter nights, he’d pull my freezing hands and feet into his warm body, his heat soaking through my thin PJs right into my skin.

And I’d be stupid enough to think, maybe, just maybe, his heart was actually warming up to me.

Until three months ago. Lily came back.

The second Alex scented her, he pretty much dropped me and ran to her. I just stood by the window, watching his car head to Lily's apartment again and again, without a second thought. That’s when I finally got it – he never, ever cared about me.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Alex’s impatient voice snapped me back to the present.

I looked up, just staring quietly at this man who’d marked me but never really seen me.

"I told you, I can't go."

Alex's face got really dark. "What is it you want, then?"

I was about to say something, but his phone buzzed. The second he saw "Lily" pop up on the screen, all that coldness around him just melted away. His eyes got so soft, you could practically see the tenderness dripping out.

"What's wrong, baby?" he answered, his voice all gentle.

I couldn’t make out what Lily was saying through her choked sobs on the other end, but I saw Alex’s face totally change, a flash of panic in his eyes.

"Don't worry, I'm on my way."

He hung up, grabbed his car keys, and bolted for the door. He was in such a rush, he slammed his shoulder right into me.

I wasn't ready for it and stumbled back, hitting the cold wall hard. A sharp pain shot through my shoulder blade.

But Alex didn’t even look back. He was already gone.

I leaned against the wall, slowly pulling myself up, a sad, bitter smile on my face.

See? That's my mate, my "destined partner."

An hour later, Alex called. His voice was all business, no room for argument.

"Get to the werewolf medical center downtown."

"What happened?"

"Lily's mom's life force is almost gone. She needs a life force transfer, now," Alex said, fast, an edge of panic in his voice.

My heart dropped. "You're going to give her your life force?" I knew what that meant for an Alpha.

"That'll drain your core strength, you…"

"I didn't call you to question what I’m doing," Alex cut me off, his voice hard. "The ritual needs the destined mate's signature."

How messed up is that? According to werewolf law, me, his mate he didn't even acknowledge, now had to do my "destined mate" duty.

"Okay," I heard my own voice, all numb. "I'll be right there."

After I signed, Alex didn’t even give me a second look. He just bolted into the ritual room.

The dull ache in my shoulder and the sharp pain in my chest mixed together, making it hard to breathe.

Three years. I finally, totally got it. For Lily, he’d do anything, give up anything, without a second thought – even his own Alpha life force.

And me? I was nothing.

2

The VIP waiting area at the werewolf medical center felt heavy, like you couldn't breathe.

I forced myself to sit on one of the cold benches. Then Lily walked over. That Omega scent of hers, right then, it smelled like rotten honey.

"You must be Sophia, right? Alex's... uh, destined mate." Her eyes were still a little teary, looking all pitiful. "Thank you so much, really, for agreeing to this ritual."

"It's werewolf law," I said calmly, not looking at her.

Lily sat down across from me, making a show of dabbing her eyes. "You know, Alex is just so, so good to me."

I didn't say anything, just stared at the closed doors of the operating room way down the hall.

"He had a special perfume made just for me, with my pheromones. Hired the most famous perfumer on the whole continent. Said he wanted to use morning dew from the highest snowy peaks and the soul of moonflowers to make a scent that was totally unique in the world, just for me." Lily's voice was full of pride she wasn't even trying to hide. "The perfumer said it was the most romantic request he'd ever gotten. Just collecting the stuff and mixing it took him a whole three months."

That perfume. Alex had "given" me a bottle last year for my birthday. Just casually said it was "some little thing he picked up at an auction."

So, it was her leftovers.

"Oh, and," Lily seemed to be lost in a sweet memory, her face flushing happily, "I remember this one time, during my heat, I locked myself in my room and wouldn't see anyone. He stayed outside my door the entire night, didn't move an inch, just in case something happened to me."

My heart felt like an invisible hand had grabbed it and was squeezing, then tearing it apart.

That night. I remembered it crystal clear.

Two winters ago. Alex said he was going up north to deal with pack business, for at least three days. But then he showed up in my bedroom late that same night, smelling like the cold outside.

He didn't say anything, just silently, roughly, left mark after mark on my neck, like he wanted to swallow me whole.

And I was stupid enough to think he was finally starting to care about me, starting to need me.

Turns out, I was just a convenient replacement when he couldn't get what he wanted elsewhere.

"You look so pale. Are you feeling okay?" Lily asked, pretending to be concerned, but there was this little glint of triumph in her eyes.

"I'm fine." I forced a smile that felt worse than crying.

"Oh! Right!" Lily suddenly perked up, like she'd just remembered something, and excitedly pulled out her phone. "For the past three years, Alex has written me an email love letter every single day. Never missed one. He said it's his way of missing me. Look, here's this morning's."

She turned her phone screen to me. It clearly showed:

"My dearest Lily. Spring is almost here. When the snow melts, let's go see the cherry blossoms in the Moonlight Forest, okay? Forever loving you, Alex."

Sent: Today, 7:15 AM.

At that exact time, he’d been sitting across from me, drinking the oatmeal milk I’d made him, his expression as blank as always.

"A whole three years, you know. Hasn't missed a single day," Lily said, pulling her phone back, her eyes filling with touched tears. Her voice was dripping with irony. "He said that writing to me every day makes him feel like I'm still right there with him. Even though, because I was mad at him, I never replied to a single one."

It felt like a giant rock was crushing my chest. I could barely breathe. My vision started to go black around the edges.

His heart, from the very beginning, only ever had room for Lily.

"Look! Alex's post from yesterday!" Lily was still babbling, wiping her tears, then excitedly shoving her phone in my face again.

In the photo, Alex was holding Lily gently. They were hugging close under a sunset, Lily smiling like an angel, snuggled into his strong chest.

The caption read: [The Moon Goddess is my witness, you are my only one for life.]

Below it, there were dozens of comments from their mutual friends, all saying how perfect and in love they looked together.

She kept scrolling. "This was last month, when we went on vacation to Moonlight Lake. And this one, he was helping me pick out a dress. Oh, and this picture was taken when he personally put the Moon Festival crown on my head..."

In every single photo, Alex was smiling. A real, warm smile that came from deep inside.

So, he wasn't just naturally cold and never smiled. He just… never smiled at me.

"It's about time. I should go check on my mom," Lily said, standing up. She looked down at me, her eyes cold. "Sophia, honestly, I really admire how you've stuck it out these three years. If it were me, I could never stand sharing my Alpha with someone else, not even for a day."

I pulled out my own phone, my hands shaking, and opened Alex's social media page.

Besides yesterday's lovey-dovey photo with Lily, and some older, generic posts about pack business, I scrolled back through three whole years of his updates.

Not a single picture of me. Not one word mentioning me.

Three years of being "mates," and in his world, I was like an invisible ghost, like I never even existed.

My phone suddenly buzzed. Another new post notification.

It was from Alex. Just posted.

The photo was of his and Lily's hands, clasped together. Lily was wearing a huge moonstone ring on her finger. That ring used to be my mother's, something she left me. Three years ago, he took it, saying "Lily likes it."

The caption was short and final: "My Luna, my everything. Protecting you is my only mission in life."

The words blurred through my tears. But my heart, in the middle of all that pain, was getting clearer and clearer.

These past three years, everything I’d done for him, all the careful little things, all the times I’d swallowed my pride – it was all just one big, stupid joke.

From now on, I could only, and would only, love myself.

3

A week later, Alex finally walked into this empty shell of a home.

"Tomorrow's the pack's annual meeting. You have to be there with me." He stood in the entryway, didn't even bother to take off his shoes.

I just calmly said, "Okay."

Then I quietly turned to get his slippers and house clothes.

I knew, before the Elders officially announced our mate bond was broken, this would probably be the last time I’d show up in public as "Alex Blackwood’s mate."

Alex seemed surprised I agreed so easily. He raised an eyebrow a little, but then his face went back to cold. "Good. Remember, in front of all the pack members, you're still my destined mate. Don't embarrass me."

The next night, I was on Alex’s arm, like some fancy but lifeless decoration, as he made the rounds with various elders and important pack members.

"Alex! You've been mated for three years now," the Head Elder’s sharp eyes darted between us, like he was trying to see through our fake peace. "When are you going to have the official blood-merging ceremony and produce an heir? The Blackwood family's pure bloodline needs to be secured soon. This can't be put off any longer."

"Head Elder, we—" Alex started to explain.

"There's nothing to explain." The Head Elder cut him off, his voice firm, heavy as a mountain. "Within one month, the ceremony must be done. This is the decision of the entire Elder Council, and an order from the family."

I could clearly feel Alex’s hand, still holding mine, tremble slightly from how hard he was gripping. His fingertips were ice cold.

"Yes, Head Elder," he said, bowing his head slightly in respect.

"Very good." A hint of satisfaction crossed the Head Elder’s face. He turned to me. "Sophia, you heard. In one month, you will be the truly recognized, one and only Luna of our Blackwood family."

I tried my best to pull up the corners of my mouth into a stiff smile. "Yes, Head Elder."

The one and only Luna?

They’d find out soon enough that this "one and only" was about to become ancient history.

Halfway through the party, Alex's mother, Matriarch Blackwood walked towards me.

"Sophia, come with me," she said, her voice as commanding and cold as always, without a hint of warmth.

I silently followed her to a quiet little cabin in the backyard.

"Sit." The Matriarch pointed to a single, hard wooden chair in the middle of the room.

I did as I was told, my back straight as a board.

"This is the pack's secret 'Moon Soul potion'," she said, slamming the vial down on the table in front of me. "Drink it. It will maximize your chances of conceiving. Within a month, you'll be pregnant with Alex's child, an heir with the purest Blackwood blood."

"I don't need this." I gently pushed the vial back towards her.

"Don't need it?" The Matriarch let out a cold, sharp laugh, her eyes like daggers raking over my face. "You've been mated for three years, and not even a whisper of a pup! And you have the nerve to say you don't need it?"

Only one thought was in my head: tomorrow, I was going to completely break my mate bond with Alex Blackwood.

Have his pup?

Absolutely not.

"I said, I don't need it." I slowly stood up, looking straight into the Matriarch's cold, commanding eyes.

"You worthless mutt with your tainted Omega blood!" the Matriarch suddenly shrieked hysterically. "You let that idiot Alex waste his core life force on that Omega tramp Lily's mother! Are you trying to kill him?! Are you trying to destroy the future of our Blackwood family?!"

Listening to these twisted, baseless accusations, all I felt was a deep, cold sadness.

Arguing was pointless. I turned, wanting to leave this suffocating place.

Just then, I clearly heard Alex's voice from the garden nearby.

He was on the phone, his tone softer and more tender than I’d ever heard it.

"Lily, baby, don't worry, I'll be there to be with you first thing tomorrow morning," his voice drifted in through the slightly open window. "Is your heat coming soon? I'll get everything you need ready beforehand…"

Suddenly, I heard heavy footsteps behind me. I spun around to see several tall male elders surrounding me, blocking the only way out.

The elder in the lead was holding a silver moonwhip.

The pack used it to punish members with impure blood or those who disobeyed orders. Every lash left a mark on your soul that would never fade.

The silver moonwhip slammed hard onto my back.

My dress tore open.

Agony shot from my spine and spread through my whole body.

"Now, are you willing to drink it?" the Matriarch’s voice was as cold as a snake.

The second lash came right after. My knees buckled, my body swayed, and I almost collapsed.

"Drink it, or not?"

The third lash landed. My back burned like it was on fire, like a hot poker had seared it. Warm liquid trickled down my spine. I knew it was my blood.

"I... will... not... drink it," I forced the words out through gritted teeth. Each word took every ounce of strength I had.

When the fourth lash hit, I finally couldn't take it anymore. Everything went black, and I crumpled to the ground.

"Pry her mouth open! Pour it down!"

The sound of Alex and Lily's flirting and laughter from the garden faded further and further away.

My consciousness was slipping…

4

"Enough! Stop it!"

Alex's furious roar exploded from the doorway like thunder.

"What are you doing to her?!" He shoved the two elders holding me down aside, roughly pulling me up from the cold floor and into his arms.

My back was on fire. The wounds from the silver moonwhip went bone-deep. A werewolf's strong healing ability was useless against the burn of sacred silver.

"We are carrying out the duties given to us by the Blackwood family," the Matriarch said coldly, not a hint of guilt in her voice. "She refused to take the 'Moon Soul potion,' openly defying the Elder Council's plan for continuing the family bloodline."

"Mother!" Alex's voice was filled with a rage and disbelief I'd never heard before. "How could you… How dare you use the silver moonwhip on her?!"

Alex didn't argue with her anymore. He just swept me up into his arms and strode quickly outside.

"Alex... I'm okay..." I managed to croak out, my voice raspy.

"Shut up." His voice was low, almost a whisper. "You're bleeding a lot."

"Hang in there, we're almost there." Alex gripped the steering wheel with one hand, but his other hand was crushing mine, so tight I thought my bones would break.

I'd never seen him so frantic, so out of sorts.

"Treat her wounds immediately! Use the best treatment plan!" Alex yelled at the head werewolf healer who rushed over as he carried me into the emergency room.

"Use the best medicine, and do it as fast as possible." Alex still held my hand tightly, his palm scorching hot, but his voice was cold as iron. "I won't allow any permanent damage on her." He paused, then added, "She is, after all, the Blackwood family's mate in name. This concerns the family's honor."

So, it was about "honor." I laughed bitterly to myself.

The healer gave me a strong painkiller and started carefully cleaning the gruesome wounds.

Every touch felt like a thousand red-hot needles stabbing me over and over.

Alex just gripped my hand tighter, as if trying to transfer his strength to me.

"I'm sorry," he leaned down, his hot breath on my ear, his voice low and hoarse like sandpaper. "Letting you go through this… It was all my fault for not paying attention."

I wanted to say something, but the drugs and extreme exhaustion finally took over, and I passed out.

When I woke up again, I was in a VIP isolation room on the top floor of the medical center.

Alex was sitting by the bed, carefully dabbing a cool medicinal cream onto the wounds on my back, which were already starting to heal.

"You're awake?" He put down the cotton swab, his deep eyes meeting mine. "Do the wounds still hurt?"

I shook my head, trying to sit up.

"Don't move." Alex gently pressed my shoulder, his tone leaving no room for argument. "The healer said moonwhip wounds need at least three days of complete rest to make sure there are no long-term problems."

"I'm fine, I can go home," I said. I didn't want to be in this place, filled with his fake concern.

"No." Alex's tone was final. "Until your wounds are completely healed, you have to stay here. Only then can I relax."

For the next week, Alex showed up in my hospital room almost every day.

He changed my dressings himself, carefully cleaning the nasty wounds over and over with a special solution to make sure there wasn't even a hint of infection.

"Drink some soul-nourishing broth." He scooped up a spoonful of the perfectly warm, thick soup, blew on it carefully, and held it to my lips. "The healer said this will help your damaged werewolf core recover faster."

I silently opened my mouth and let him feed me, spoonful by spoonful.

This was the first time in three years he’d ever "taken care" of me with such attention to detail.

If I ignored the way his voice instantly softened whenever he took a call from Lily, and his usual ruthless efficiency when dealing with pack business, I’d almost believe that the person lying here was someone he truly cherished.

"Sophia," he suddenly said, his voice a bit low, "I promise you, from now on, I will never let anyone hurt you again."

"Why?" I asked softly.

Alex seemed stumped by my question. He paused for a moment, then slowly said, his voice tinged with a confusion even he didn't seem to notice, "Because... you're my destined mate. Protecting you is my responsibility."

"Destined mate" again, "responsibility" again. Those words, coming from his mouth, were nothing but a cruel joke to me.

A week later, the wounds on my back had mostly healed, leaving only faint scars that would soon disappear thanks to a werewolf's strong healing abilities.

Alex still came to "visit" me in the hospital room for a while each day.

He’d sit on the sofa by my bed, looking at me with those complicated, unreadable eyes, saying nothing. The way he was studying me made me extremely uncomfortable.

"Come here," he suddenly said, holding out his hand, his tone demanding.

I hesitated for a few seconds, but finally, still feeling a bit weak, I slowly walked over to him.

Alex pulled me into his arms, making me fall onto his strong thighs.

His powerful arms wrapped tightly around my waist, his hot palm rubbing back and forth on the sensitive skin there. His strong Alpha scent instantly surrounded me, making my whole body tremble uncontrollably.

"Sophia," his voice was hoarse with desire, his breathing heavy. "Tonight, I want to fully mark you."

My heart lurched, then started pounding like crazy.

In three years, apart from that one time he lost control when he was drunk, he had never once offered to complete the deepest soul-mark between an Alpha and their mate.

"Are you sure?" I tilted my head up to look at his handsome face, so close to mine. My voice trembled a little, a tremor I hadn't even realized was there.

"Absolutely sure." Alex bent his head, his hot lips crushing mine, moving, grinding, not with the usual cold indifference, but full of aggression and possessiveness.

I felt his body react intensely.

My heart, which had been so full of despair and pain, in that moment, ridiculously, started to hope.

Alex swept me up into his arms and strode towards the private sitting room inside the hospital suite.

He gently laid me down on the soft, large bed and skillfully started unbuttoning my hospital gown.

"Don't be afraid," his hot kisses landed on my neck, my collarbone, leaving a trail of dark red marks, his voice seductive. "This time, I'll make you feel what a true Alpha's mark is."

I closed my eyes, feeling his scorching body heat and the overwhelming impact of his Alpha pheromones. My body instinctively trembled.

Just as his fangs were about to pierce the gland on the back of my neck—

Knock, knock, knock! Alex! Alex!

Frantic, desperate knocking hammered on the door, accompanied by Lily's shrill screams, piercing through the thick door and right into my ears.

"Alex! Help me! My heat started early! I can't take it! Alex!"

5

Alex’s body, pressed against mine, went completely stiff.

"What? How could it start early?" He scrambled off me, the tenderness and desire in his eyes gone, replaced by pure, undisguised worry.

I watched Alex fumbling to grab his scattered clothes, hastily pulling them on.

"Alex, we were just..." I choked back a sob, speaking carefully.

"Sorry, Sophia, Lily really needs me right now." He didn't even look at me, just mumbled something vague as he frantically buttoned his shirt, his voice full of impatience.

I struggled to get off the bed, wanting to grab him.

But my legs gave out, and I lost my balance, tumbling off the side of the bed. My head slammed hard against the nightstand.

Thud!

A sharp pain shot through me. Bright red blood quickly started running down through my hair, staining my hospital gown.

"Baby, don't be scared, I'm here." Alex's voice was already fading down the hall.

My vision started to blur.

A full twenty minutes. It felt like a century. No one found me.

Until the on-duty nurse, doing her rounds, pushed open the door to the sitting room.

"Oh my god! Miss Sophia! What happened to you?!" she gasped, rushing over. "Quick! Get Dr. Grey! The patient has a serious head injury! Prep an OR, now!"

I was rushed into the emergency operating room as fast as possible.

While the doctor was stitching up my head, he was frowning, his voice serious as he spoke to his assistant, "The wound is very deep. A few more millimeters and it could have hit her central nervous system. Where's Alpha Alex? Why isn't he with the patient?"

The nurse beside him hesitated, then whispered, "The Alpha… he went to be with Miss Lily. I heard Miss Lily's heat started unexpectedly, and it was pretty urgent."

The doctor’s hand, stitching my wound, suddenly froze. His face turned incredibly grim. "An Omega's heat is more important than his destined mate's life?!"

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down the sides of my face.

I was unconscious for three whole days and nights from blood loss and the head trauma.

During those three days, Alex Blackwood never once set foot in my hospital room, not even for a second.

On the morning of the fourth day, I’d just woken up from the coma when my personal cell phone on the nightstand buzzed with a new message.

It was from Alex.

My hand trembled as I reached for it, struggling to tap open the message. The screen showed just one line of cold, hard text:

"Tonight is the pack's centennial Moon Festival. I don't care what state you're in, you must be there on time. This is about the Blackwood family's honor. Don't disappoint me."

The timestamp showed it was sent an hour ago. Not a single word of greeting, not a single word of concern, just an order that couldn't be refused.

Dragging my still incredibly weak body, I struggled out of bed and changed into a formal gown.

My head was still wrapped in thick, blood-stained bandages.

In the mirror, I looked pale, my lips chapped, like a ghost that had just crawled out of a grave.

When I finally, painfully, made my way to the Blackwood family's festival grounds, the grand Moon Festival had already begun.

From a distance, I saw Alex standing in the center of the ritual platform.

And beside him, arm intimately linked with his, was Lily, radiant in a silver Moon Goddess gown.

"Fellow Blackwood pack members, and our honored guests from afar," Alex's booming voice echoed across the grounds. He looked lovingly at Lily beside him. "Tonight, on this sacred full moon, I want to formally introduce someone who is incredibly important to me."

He paused, his voice full of love. "She is the most precious treasure in my, Alex Blackwood's, life. She is the one and only soulmate I recognize, and the future hope of our Blackwood family – Miss Lily!"

My heart, in that moment, felt like it had plunged into a bottomless abyss.

What made it even more humiliating was that Alex, completely ignoring centuries of pack tradition, openly took Lily's hand and had her sit on the Moon Goddess throne – the symbol of the Luna's highest honor!

That seat should have been mine, his Elder-Council-recognized destined mate!

"Alex!" The Head Elder, standing at the foot of the platform, frowned deeply, his gaze flicking to me, standing in the corner of the crowd. "Sophia is your blood-bonded destined mate. The Moon Goddess throne rightfully belongs to…"

"Head Elder," Alex didn't even turn his head, cutting him off, his voice hard. "Sophia's presence was merely to follow old family customs. But Lily, she is the one I've chosen from my heart, the one who truly resonates with my soul. The Moon Goddess only blesses true love."

The entire place fell dead silent. Every wolf turned their head in unison, staring at me.

Pity, gloating, and outright ridicule.

I stood there all alone, the wound on my head throbbing from the intense emotional turmoil.

"How pathetic, publicly dumped by her own Alpha."

"I heard she was seriously injured at the medical center a few days ago, almost died. Looks like Alpha Alex didn't even bother to visit her."

"Hah, a so-called 'destined mate' who can't even hold onto her Alpha's heart. What right does she have to the Luna's position?"

6

Alex kept his arm tightly around Lily's waist as they slowly walked down from the ritual platform.

"Congratulations, Alpha Alex, on finding your true love! Miss Lily is truly a national beauty!"

"Miss Lily's aura is so elegant, she's like the Moon Goddess herself gracing us!"

"You two together are a match made in heaven!"

The fawning compliments just kept coming.

I watched this ridiculous, blinding scene, the loosening of the mate bond so painful I could barely breathe.

"Now, let us begin the sacred 'Moon Goddess's Blessing' ceremony!" the pack's High Priest, who was leading the festival, announced loudly. "Will the Luna, recognized by the Moon Goddess, please step forward to receive the blessing from our great Moon Goddess!"

I took a deep breath, pushing down the shame churning inside me, forcing myself to stand tall.

Alex suddenly stuck his arm out, blocking my way.

"You, step back," his voice was ice. "Tonight, only Lily deserves to receive the Moon Goddess's blessing."

"Alex..." I looked up at him, disbelieving, my voice trembling from the sheer humiliation.

How could he trample on my dignity like this, in front of all the pack members?!

"Go on, my darling." Alex didn't seem to see the pain in my eyes. He gently pulled Lily to his side, placed a loving kiss on her forehead. "Go receive your blessing, my Moon Goddess."

The High Priest looked a bit hesitant. He looked at Alex, trying to reason with him, "Alpha Alex, according to the traditions passed down for a thousand years..."

"Traditions can be changed," Alex said firmly, his tone allowing no argument. "Lily needs the Moon Goddess's protection more than anyone. She is the future I, Alex Blackwood, have chosen!"

Listening to his twisted words, I felt like even breathing was agony.

The festival continued in a weird, tense atmosphere, quickly moving on to the next part – the "Luna's Dance."

The High Priest once again announced loudly, "Now, let us invite our honored Luna to perform the traditional Moon Goddess dance for everyone present!"

Alex directly took Lily's hand and pushed her towards the empty space in the center of the platform.

"You dance, baby," he said softly to Lily, his voice full of encouragement. "Show everyone how beautiful you are."

But Lily pretended to be shy, shaking her head. "But, Alex, I... I don't know how to do those complicated traditional pack dances..."

Hearing this, Alex frowned slightly, then his gaze shifted to me, standing in the corner. A calculating glint flashed in his eyes. "Sophia," he said, his voice a command, "you go up there, teach Lily to dance, and, you will dance with her as her partner."

"This is an unheard-of humiliation!"

"Making the destined mate dance backup for an Omega mistress? Has Alpha Alex gone mad?!"

I stood there, stiff as a board, the wound on my head throbbing with every beat of my heart from the emotional rollercoaster.

But the pain in my heart was a thousand times worse.

"Hurry up and get up there!" Alex urged impatiently. "Are you going to make the entire pack wait for just you? Don't forget your place!"

I had no choice. I couldn't fight back.

I could only, under everyone's gaze, painfully make my way onto the platform.

Every move, every turn, was elegant and perfect. This was the dance I’d practiced since I could remember, a dance that was part of my very bones.

Lily clumsily tried to copy me.

But she clearly had zero dance training. Her movements were stiff and ridiculous, she kept messing up, completely ruining the feel of the dance.

What was worse, during one turn where we passed each other, she "accidentally" stuck her foot out, and the sharp heel of her high-heeled shoe stomped down hard on the top of my foot!

"Oh! I'm so sorry! So sorry, Sophia!" she immediately let out an exaggerated gasp, but there was a barely hidden, nasty smile on her face as she faked her apologies. "I'm just so clumsy, I can't keep up with you at all. I stepped on you again, are you okay?"

From below, Alex's doting laughter rang out. "It's okay, baby, you're dancing beautifully. In my eyes, you're always the most beautiful."

I bit back the searing pain from my foot.

Every spin made me dizzy, but I couldn't stop, I daredn't stop.

The long, agonizing dance finally ended.

The High Priest looked at Alex and announced loudly, "Now, will Alpha Alex and his Luna please exchange tokens of your love, so the Moon Goddess may witness your eternal bond!"

Everyone's eyes were on Alex.

But he just skipped right over that part, didn't even glance my way.

Just then, Lily suddenly pointed at the bracelet on my wrist, her voice bright and innocent, "Alex, that bracelet Sophia's wearing is so pretty! What's it made of?"

The High Priest, seeing this, quickly explained, "That is the Blackwood family's ancestral token – the Moonstone Bracelet. Only the truly recognized Luna of the Blackwood family is worthy of wearing it."

Lily looked down, "Then does that mean... does that mean I'll never be worthy of wearing such a beautiful bracelet... After all, I'm just an Omega with an ordinary bloodline..."

Alex immediately pulled her into a tight hug, comforting her softly, "My darling, how could you not be worthy? In my heart, you deserve all the best things in this world! You are my Moon Goddess!"

With that, he whipped his head around to stare at me, ordering, "Sophia, take that moonstone bracelet off your wrist, and give it to Lily to wear."

The High Priest and a few family elders tried to step forward and stop him. "Alpha Alex! You mustn't! This seriously violates ancestral traditions! The Moonstone Bracelet is a sacred heirloom of the family bloodline!"

"Rules are dead, people are alive!"

Alex rudely cut them off. "True feelings shouldn't be chained by these stuffy old customs!"

My hand trembled as I lifted my left wrist, looking at the moonstone bracelet that glowed with a soft, silver light.

My grandmother, who had passed away long ago, had put this on my wrist herself on my coming-of-age day.

"What are you waiting for?!" Alex, seeing I wasn't moving, impatiently snapped at me. "Are you going to make the entire pack wait here just for you?! Don't forget your father's company still needs the Blackwood family's protection!"

Despair washed over me.

I knew if I didn't hand over this bracelet today, with Alex's cold-heartedness, he really would do what he said and make me and my family pay a terrible price.

I clenched my jaw, and bit by bit, I undid the old, intricate clasp on the moonstone bracelet.

"This was my grandmother's…" I used all my strength to get out one last, weak plea.

"I know, it was your long-dead grandmother's. She put it on you herself. It's a memento." Alex cut me off coldly. "But Lily is just borrowing it for a bit. Why are you being so petty? So ungenerous?"

Just as Lily was about to touch the bracelet, a crash of thunder suddenly split the sky.

Rain poured down in sheets.

"Thank you, Sophia!" Lily, as if she hadn't noticed the weather change, excitedly snatched the moonstone bracelet from my hand and eagerly put it on her own slender wrist. "I knew you'd see the bigger picture and be the most understanding!"

The ceremony ended quickly.

Alex held Lily tightly, sheltering her, and strode off.

With the last of my strength, I called out to Lily's retreating back, "Lily, that moonstone bracelet is nearly a thousand years old. The moonstone on it is very fragile, it breaks easily. You have to be careful when you wear it..."

"So naggy!" Lily glanced back at me impatiently, waving her hand dismissively. "It's just some old bracelet, what's the big deal! If it breaks, I'll just buy another one!"

The thick bandages on my head were quickly soaked through by the rain, sticking uncomfortably to my unhealed wound.

Dragging my exhausted body, I walked step by painful step, through the pouring rain, back to the "home" that no longer felt like mine.

In the middle of the night, I started running a high fever. My temperature was terrifyingly hot. I was in a daze.

My dreams were full of Alex's cold eyes and Lily's triumphant, sneering laugh.

It was time. Time to completely let go.

7

The next morning, I was in the kitchen, head throbbing, trying to make some breakfast, when my phone suddenly rang.

It was a video call from Lily.

My heart pounded as I answered. Her smug face filled the screen.

"Sophia, look how good your bracelet looks on me!" She deliberately held her wrist up to the camera, the moonstone glittering in the light.

My heart clenched instantly. That bracelet looked so wrong, so glaringly out of place on her wrist.

"This bracelet really suits me, much better than it looked on you," Lily continued to show off. "Alex said I look like a real Moon Goddess wearing it."

I bit my lip hard, fighting back the pain in my chest. "Lily, please take good care of it. It's very important to me."

"Important?" A nasty glint flashed in Lily's eyes. "How important?"

Then, I saw something I would never forget for the rest of my life.

Lily suddenly took the bracelet off her wrist, held it up high, and right in front of my eyes, slammed it onto the floor.!

The thousand-year-old moonstone shattered into a million pieces, scattering everywhere. Each tiny shard reflected the harsh light.

"Oops, I accidentally broke it," Lily said with a smug smile, her eyes full of vicious pleasure. "It's not worth much anyway, just a stupid rock."

My world collapsed in that instant. Tears blurred my vision. "You... why would you do that? That was from my grandmother!"

"Is a hundred dollars enough to cover it? Or do you want more?" Lily asked, taunting me. "Don't be too greedy now, Alex is mine, after all."

She was still smiling, that smug, vicious smile.

I couldn't take it anymore. I hung up and bolted out the door.

Twenty minutes later, I was standing in front of Lily's apartment, pounding on her door like a madwoman.

"Open the door! You open this door right now!"

When the door opened, Lily was still in her silk pajamas, an innocent look on her face. "Well, well, if it isn't our esteemed Luna. Why the scary face?"

"Why did you destroy it on purpose?" I stormed into her apartment, my voice shaking with rage. "That was a thousand-year-old sacred heirloom! Do you have any idea what it meant to me?!"

Lily looked at me, furious and losing it, and her smile got wider, more triumphant. "Because I can't stand you! Who do you think you are? You think you're worthy of wearing the Luna's bracelet?"

"You're insane! That was priceless!" My voice was almost a scream.

"Priceless?" Lily shrieked with laughter. "To me, it's trash! And so are you! Alex only has eyes for me. You're just a pathetic substitute!"

"Do you know why Alex suddenly announced to everyone yesterday that I was his mate?" she leaned in close, her voice dripping with undisguised triumph and contempt. "Because on my heat day—"

Her words stabbed into my heart like knives. I couldn't control myself anymore.

"You vicious witch!" I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Lily clutched her face, her eyes wild with fury. "You dare hit me? You actually dared to hit me?"

She screamed and lunged at me. We started wrestling, but I quickly realized she wasn't trying to fight back – she was deliberately hurting herself.

She raked her nails down her own face, drawing blood that trickled down her cheeks.

"You're crazy! What are you doing?" I stared at her, shocked.

"Who do you think he'll believe? You, or me?" Lily sneered, the blood making her look even more terrifying.

Just then, the door was thrown open.

Alex stood in the doorway. When he saw Lily, her face covered in blood, his expression turned murderous.

His gaze shot from Lily to me, his eyes burning with a rage that could kill.

"You BITCH! What are you DOING?!"

8

"Baby, are you okay?" Alex practically flew to Lily, holding her tight, her face streaked with blood.

His voice was full of pain and anger, a kind of concern I'd never once heard from him when he spoke to me.

"Alex..." Lily was crying, a total mess. "Sophia's gone crazy! She said I broke the bracelet on purpose, and then she hit me!"

She pointed at the shattered pieces of moonstone on the floor, looking completely victimized. "I just accidentally broke it, and she stormed in here and started hitting me!"

Alex turned to me, the cold fury in his eyes making me tremble. "You actually hit an Omega? Do you have any manners at all?"

"It's not like that!" I tried to explain, desperate. "Alex, she did it on purpose! She smashed Grandma's bracelet on purpose, right in front of me!"

"I don't want to hear your excuses!" Alex roared. "Apologize to Lily! Now!"

"Look what she did!" I pointed at the broken moonstone on the floor, my voice shaking. "That was my grandmother's! It's a thousand-year-old sacred heirloom! She destroyed it on purpose!"

Alex gave the pieces on the floor a cold glance. "It's just a broken rock. Is it really worth you making such a big fuss?"

My heart felt like someone had grabbed it and squeezed, so hard I could barely breathe.

"A broken rock?" I looked at him, unable to believe it. "That was the Moon Goddess's blessing! It's been passed down by Lunas for generations..."

"Enough!" Alex cut me off impatiently, starting to pull out his checkbook. "Is ten thousand enough? Fifty thousand? A hundred thousand? How much will it take for you to stop this nonsense?"

Watching him write the check, tears just started streaming down my face. "I don't want money! I want her to apologize! It was priceless!"

"Priceless?" Alex sneered. "To me, it's trash. If you keep going on about this stupid thing, I'll make sure your father's company goes bankrupt!"

His threat completely crushed me.

What was even crueler was Alex then started gently tending to Lily's "wounds," right in front of me.

"Baby, does it hurt?" he softly dabbed at the blood on her face with a tissue. "It's all my fault, I didn't protect you."

"Alex, I'm so scared..." Lily leaned into his chest, her voice as soft and whiny as a kitten's.

"Don't be scared, I'm here." Alex kissed her forehead. "No one will ever hurt you again."

I just stood there, watching this tender scene, my heart feeling like it was being sliced into a million pieces.

"Get on your knees and apologize to Lily, now," Alex suddenly turned to me, his voice like ice. "Or you'll face the consequences."

"Alex, I..."

"KNEEL!" His roar made the whole room shake.

I looked at the absolute determination in his eyes. I knew if I didn't do it, he really would destroy my father's company.

I slowly sank to my knees, my kneecaps hitting the cold floor.

"I'm sorry..." My voice was trembling uncontrollably. "Lily, I was wrong..."

Those were probably the most humiliating words I'd ever said in my life.

Kneeling on the floor, apologizing to the person who had destroyed my most precious memory.

"Oh, it's really nothing, just a small thing," Lily said, all fake sincerity, but the triumph in her eyes was impossible to hide. "I don't hold grudges."

She looked down at me, kneeling on the floor, with that victorious look that made me want to die.

"Alright, let's go," Alex said, his arm around Lily's waist, ready to leave.

At the door, he glanced back at me and threw out one last sentence: "Stay away from Lily from now on. Don't disappoint me again."

9

On the night of the full moon, I went to the Werewolf Elder Council alone.

The ancient council hall was hidden deep in the mountains. Seven elders sat around a stone table covered in runes.

"Sophia Blackwood," the Head Elder's voice was stern. "Are you certain you wish to apply to sever your mate bond?"

"I'm certain." I didn't hesitate for a second.

"The blood severing ritual is incredibly painful. Many werewolves don't survive it. Even those who do are often crippled for life, unable to mate with any Alpha ever again," the elder warned.

Listening to these consequences, my heart was strangely calm. "I've been dying every day for three years. Now, I just want to live again."

The elders were clearly shaken by my determination. The Head Elder slowly nodded. "In that case, let the ritual begin."

At midnight, I lay on the blood altar.

Intense pain hit me instantly. It was a tearing deep in my soul, like someone was slowly cutting open my heart with a dull knife.

"By the name of the Moon Goddess, sever your fated bond with Alexander Blackwood!"

The moment the dagger cut across my chest, a pain like lightning shot through my whole body. I couldn't help but scream. Blood trickled from my eyes, nose, and ears.

But strangely, deep inside, I felt lighter than I ever had before.

The huge weight that had been crushing my chest for three years was finally gone.

"Severed!"

In that instant, some string inside me snapped completely.

The last tie connecting me to Alexander was gone.

I was free.

I went home to get my luggage, but surprisingly, Alexander was there.

"Where'd you run off to?" He stood in the living room, dressed sharply in a suit. "It's our marking anniversary today. Were you out buying a present?"

I froze for a second, then remembered it really was the anniversary of our marking three years ago.

How ironic. The day my bond severance became official was the same day as our anniversary.

Every year on this day, I used to carefully prepare a gift, and he never remembered. This year, he suddenly remembered, but I didn't care anymore.

Did he even remember this was also the day our temporary mate bond agreement expired?

I nodded calmly. "Yeah, went to get a present."

The completely severed mate bond. That was my final gift to him.

"That day, when I announced Lily's status, it was unexpected. Don't worry about it," Alexander said, glancing at his phone. "I booked that French restaurant you love. Consider it my apology to you. And… a celebration of our union."

He made a move to take my hand.

But I didn't move.

"You, why aren't you moving?" He frowned.

I opened my mouth, but in the end, I didn't say the words of our final goodbye. "I still have a few things to take care of. You go on ahead. I'll be there soon."

Alexander didn't think much of it, just nodded and left.

I watched his car drive away through the floor-to-ceiling window until it disappeared around the corner.

For the first time in three years, he remembered our marking anniversary.

And for the first time, I didn't care at all.

I took the mate bond severance certificate out of my bag and placed it gently on the nightstand.

Next to it, I put the huge check he'd given me, the one I didn't need him to make good on.

The amount on it was enough for anyone from the slums to live like a king for the rest of their life.

But it couldn't buy back the moonstone bracelet my grandmother had put on my wrist, and it certainly couldn't buy back my three years of heartfelt love.

Picking up my already packed bags, I quietly closed the door and left.