"Luna Seraphina, are you certain you wish to proceed with the breaking of the mate bond? Once we begin the ritual, the bond between you and Alpha Kaden will be gone forever. Your power, your standing, and everything you hold within the pack will no longer exist."

The aged priest of the pack held Seraphina’s hand, her weathered eyes reflecting worry.

Seraphina nodded, her voice unwavering with determination. "I’m sure."

The priest persuaded Seraphina, "The ritual will bring you unimaginable pain, and Alpha Kaden will suffer greatly too. Please, could you reconsider it?"

Seraphina broke the skin of her finger with a silver pen and pressed her blood print on the ancient werewolf script to seal the deal. "Let’s begin."

"Very well. After the ritual, you will forsake the name, Seraphina Mor, and in return, the Moon Goddess will grant you a new life. You will go by Kathryn Flint, is that correct?"

"Yes."

Kathryn would leave and begin a new chapter in a forest. It was a path she had set out for herself.

She was going to leave and break free from the pack that had been nothing but lies.

After the ritual, the priest handed her a new human ID and passport.

"Can I leave the territory now?"

"Yes, you may. The confirmation slip holds the Moon Goddess’s blessing, which has the power to mask your scent from the Alpha seeking to track you, but it can only last for a week."

Seraphina prepared her departure with haste. She would bring nothing else with her, neither her Luna staff nor her registered name on the pack’s records.

Seraphina was leaving with her new passport in a week anyway. The Luna title could remain with the pack for good, for she no longer needed it.

With a new passport in hand, Seraphina Mor walked out of the altar, right across from the iconic Zenith Tower, the landmark of Silverbend.

Alpha Kaden Crest's exclusive interview played across the building's enormous screen.

Picking up on the alpha's body language, the host asked with a smile, "Alpha Kaden, I notice you've been fiddling with your ring, but it looks just like any other ordinary moonlight silver band. Is there a story behind it?"

With a tender smile, Kaden held up his hand to show the ring to the host. "This is the token that represents my mate bond. Forged from moonlight silver that the Moon Goddess blessed, the material poses no harm to my kind in its purest form. In fact, it can bear the weight of a mate bond."

"Oh? I must apologize. For someone of your standing, I expected something far more extravagant, perhaps embellished with antique gems."

Kaden replied, "I crafted the ring from moonlight silver for my Luna when I shifted for the first time. I spent hours grinding it and engraving our initials on the inner band."

"Oh my, I can see two letters. K and—"

Kaden jumped in. "S. My Luna's name is Seraphina Mor."

"She's one lucky Luna. I bet she must've saved the entire wolf pack in her last life to become your fated mate."

Kaze responded, "I must have been the savior of the entire galaxy to have been blessed by the Moon Goddess with her as my Luna."

The passersby practically sighed in envy.

The only exception was the she-wolf in question.

Seraphina merely smirked.

It was true that she and Kaden once shared a bond. It began the night they met under the moonlight as teen wolves and lasted fifteen years. At the time, they ruled together as Alpha and Luna.

In the eyes of the pack, they were the perfect match blessed by the Moon Goddess.

That was until two months ago.

Through the mate bond, Seraphina picked up on the intense ecstasy from Kaden, a feeling that didn't come from her.

It was an unfamiliar, raw, and primal sensation. Soon after, Seraphina received a magical projection from an unidentified sender.

The footage portrayed Lyra, a young she-wolf. With her lingerie leaving nothing to the imagination, Lyra showed off the bite marks and scratches on her neck and chest. Needless to say, she had just gotten her freak on.

Lyra flashed a peace sign at the camera.

A silver band rested on her index finger. It was clearly a male's ring that was too big for her, and the ring was engraved with the initials "K" and "S".

After that, Seraphina ran into Lyra outside Kaden's office. Lyra had recently been promoted to become Kaden's assistant.

Seraphina's mind went blank right there and then.

Stuck in the moment, Seraphina was tempted to barge into Kaden's office and demand, "Does the job description of an Alpha's assistant include meeting his primal needs?"

In the end, Seraphina gave up on that thought.

That projection featuring Lyra's marked body and the sense of betrayal through the mate bond were all the answers she needed.

Amidst the gasps of amazement and envy, Seraphina spun on her heel and strutted into an antique jeweler's workshop.

When she removed the ring from her left ring finger, she could feel a piece of her soul being torn away.

"How can I help you, ma'am?"

"Please melt this ring down for me."

"But this is a bond token made from moonlight silver with an engraving, no less. It must hold a sacred meaning. Are you sure you want to melt it?"

"Yes, and please make it quick."

Half an hour later, Seraphina arrived home with a jewelry box crafted from obsidian, an element that could mask any scent.

It was well into the night when Kaden came home.

He held a bouquet of moonlight flowers. "I'm sorry, Sera. Things have been hectic in the pack, and I haven't been able to spend time with you. I brought you your favorite flowers. Do you like them?"

As Kaden leaned in, Seraphina caught a whiff of Lyra's sickly sweet and cheap scent on him.

Tilting her head, Seraphina noticed the faint row of teeth marks on Kaden's Adam's apple. His shirt collar bore a lipstick smudge as well. The vivid red could not be more obvious.

Seraphina let out a smirk, wondering if he was tied up with pack duties or simply "preoccupied" with Lyra.

"Why the silence?"

Seraphina pushed him away. "I'm just a little tired."

"Shall I carry you back to the room?" Kaden bent down to scoop Seraphina into his arms.

Seraphina pushed him back once more. "You must be worn out. Go take a shower and get some rest."

Kaden took her hand, a thought slamming into him. "Sera, where's your ring?"

"I took it off."

"I crafted the ring as a symbol of our bond. Why did you remove it?"

Seraphina brushed Kaden off. "I haven't been feeling well lately. The ring doesn't fit right anymore."

With his grimace easing up, Kaden was back to smiling. "I'll take the ring to the altar for another round of blessing and resizing."

"It can wait."

"By the way, what's that on the table?" Kaden pointed at the obsidian jewelry box on the table, his expression filled with joy. "Is that for me, Sera?"

Seraphina nodded. "That's right."

The box contained a tiny piece of silver, devoid of body heat and spiritual essence. Seraphina had the token of their bond melted down to its core and sealed the remnants in the jewelry box.

Kaden was ecstatic. "What’s the special occasion that would make my dearest Luna go out of her way to get me a gift?"

Once again, Seraphina's heart sank to the pit of her stomach. "It's the anniversary of our mating ceremony today."

Kaden looked like he was in distress.

He tried to smooth things over with Seraphina in an almost pleading manner. "I'm sorry, Sera. Things have been overwhelming lately. Why don't we go out tonight? We should head to Moonspire Lake—"

"That's alright. I'm not in the mood."

"How about a trip up the mountain to watch the stars?"

"I'm tired. I want to go to bed."

Kaden ingratiatingly slipped his arms around Seraphina's waist from behind. "Come on, Sera. It's been a while since we had a stroll together. I can't shake the feeling that you've been distant. At this rate, I'm starting to think that you've fallen out of love with me."

Had she pulled away, though?

Kaden was the first to betray their bond. His heart was no longer Seraphina's, to begin with.

This time, Seraphina was determined to withdraw from their bond, reclaiming herself and everything she had given him.

Behind the wheel on their way out, Kaden chatted happily about the recent pack gossip.

Seraphina sat in the front passenger seat, her head facing the window in a bid to shut him out.

While fastening her seat belt earlier, she had fished out a female's stockings stuffed in the narrow gap of the passenger seat. The heavy stench of a she-wolf lingered in the fabric.

Seraphina quickly slipped the stockings back into the gap, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Now that her mind was set on leaving, Seraphina didn't want to waste her breath with Kaden. She stood to gain nothing but pointless lies. Since she couldn't get the truth out of Kaden, she was done asking.

Once they arrived at the lake, Kaden got out and went to open the door for Seraphina. "Here we are, Sera."

Seraphina wasn't keen on the walk, but Moonspire Lake was their usual spot for a stroll ever since they mated. It was time to come full circle and finish where they had started.

"Oh, my Moon Goddess! Isn't that Alpha Kaden? He's the one who crafted the bond ring with his own hands."

"I remember him! He's the most devoted Alpha."

"He held his hand up to make sure the Luna doesn't bump her head on the car roof. That's so sweet of him!"

Kaden's phone rang.

He said apologetically, "You'll need to excuse me, Sera. Give me a minute while I take this call. It's pack business. I'll be right back."

"Do what you need to do."

"Stay right here. Don't go anywhere."

Gasps filled the air.

"The Alpha honestly spoils the Luna like she's a pup. He's worried that she might get lost on her own."

"He's so extra with the pampering."

The whole time, Seraphina stood by the lake, staring at the shimmering water surface under the night sky with a deadpanned face.

Kaden couldn't hide the smile on his face when he saw the caller ID.

It was a look of affection, sweetness, and cheekiness. There was no way that Kaden was engaged in pack business.

However, Seraphina lost the will to call him out.

Since it was chilly by the lake, she decided to wait in the car.

The car's display screen still showed Kaden's social account, which was synced to his mobile phone. As the messages popped up on the screen, the conversation played out right before Seraphina's eyes.

Kaden was texting someone under the name Kitty Lyra.

Kaden: Do you miss me already?

Kitty Lyra: The night feels empty without you, Alpha.

Kaden: We've been at it seven times today, and it's not enough, little kitty?

Kitty Lyra: Not at all. I want more, Alpha.

Kaden: Fine. Meet me in the office tomorrow. You'll get your wish.

Kitty Lyra: Hehe. Expect me in black silk stockings at work tomorrow.

The rest of the exchange between them became more explicit. The messages were filled with obscene language and intense flirting.

Feeling icy to the bone, Seraphina turned off the screen. She shuddered violently, either from the cold or rage, as her nails dug into the flesh of her palms.

Kaden was back about fifteen minutes later.

While slipping into the car, Kaden clutched his chest and let out a massive sigh. "You gave me quite a scare when I turned around and couldn't see you after the phone call. Thank the Moon Goddess that you're alright."

Too disgusted to look at his hypocritical face, Seraphina kept her head down and stared at her fingers.

"It was cold out there, so I came back into the car."

"Right, right. You should be wherever you feel comfortable."

Seraphina looked up out of the blue. Having read the messages between Kaden and Lyra, she was horrified by the implication of his words.

Kaden wanted her to be comfortable wherever she was.

Judging by the stockings tucked inside the gap of the passenger seat, Seraphina could only assume that the cheating couple had been intimate in this very seat.

Feeling sick to her stomach, Seraphina slammed the car door open and threw up.

Petrified, Kaden was quick to examine Seraphina. "What's wrong, Sera?"

Seraphina retched violently and took a long time to gather herself. She couldn't wrap her head around the matter.

Why would her Alpha, who once vowed his commitment to her before the Moon Goddess, betray their mate bond?

Surely, the wrath of the Moon Goddess meant something to him. Maybe Kaden believed his efforts and power were enough to keep the affair under wraps.

The evening breeze cleared Seraphina's head.

Kaden asked, "Are you alright, Sera? If you're unwell, I'll take you to the pack's healer right now."

"I'm fine. I might have eaten something funny at dinner."

"Come see me at the office tomorrow. We can grab a bite tomorrow."

Seraphina scoffed. She wondered if she was about to get a front-row tour of Kaden and Lyra's escapades on company grounds.

Out of nowhere, Seraphina was tempted to stir mischief.

"Sure, I'll go to the office with you. I'll keep you company while you work. We can have lunch and head home together once you're done for the day."

Caught off guard by her answer, Kaden could barely keep his face straight. "But my work schedule has been hectic lately. I might not be able to stay by your side the whole day."

"Don't let me keep you from business. I'll stick around in your office."

"Very well then."

Back in their residential villa, Kaden offered to draw the bath for Seraphina. Once inside the bathroom, he closed the door behind him for once.

Seraphina took the stairs down to the ground floor and sat back in the car. She started the engine, and the recent chat history popped up on the integrated screen.

Kaden: Change of plans. The office is a no-go tomorrow.

Kitty Lyra: Oh, that's disappointing.

Kaden: Don't feel down, kitty. It'll be a lot more thrilling when I take you on the rooftop terrace.

Kitty Lyra: Hehe. You're the best, Alpha.

Seraphina stepped into the bedroom as Kaden emerged from the bathroom. "The bath is ready for you, Sera. You should take a nice soak."

"I'll pass. I just want to lay my head to rest."

"Okay. Rest well. That reminds me. Can I open the gift you left on the table yet?"

Seraphina replied, "Wait a week before you unwrap it."

"Why do I have to wait for a week? I can't wait to see what my Luna has prepared for me."

"Well…"

It would take a week before Seraphina permanently broke the mate bond between them.

"You’ll understand the significance of the gift in about a week."

Kaden gave Seraphina a peck on the forehead. "You're the boss."

Shortly after six the next morning, Kaden's phone went off.

Kaden rejected the call before turning to hold Seraphina close. "Ignore it. Let's get a few more minutes in bed."

However, the ringing was relentless.

Kaden furrowed his brows in annoyance. "It's barely dawn, and the useless council members are already hounding me during these ungodly hours. Mark my words. I'm bound to kick these wolves out one of these days."

He declined the call again.

The third time the call rang, Kaden sprang out of bed in a huff. "Stay in bed, Sera. I'll see what this emergency is all about."

Seraphina murmured, "Okay."

She rolled, having her back toward him.

Kaden grabbed the phone and walked out of the bedroom.

Soon, he showed up outside the front door on the ground floor.

Dressed in a bright yellow uniform, a human deliveryman handed Kaden a package.

Kaden accepted the package, but when he returned to the room, his hands were empty.

Seraphina asked, "Is something serious going on in the pack?"

Kaden answered, "It's nothing critical, Sera. Don't worry. Rest easy while I make you breakfast."

Either out of guilt or concern for her delicate stomach, Kaden went all out to prepare an elaborate breakfast. There was milk, poached eggs, jam sandwiches, and her favorite oatmeal.

"You should be careful with what you eat. I'm hiring a full-time chef to cook for you every day."

"That won't be necessary."

"Come on. Cooperate with me, or I won't be able to work with a peace of mind."

"Kaden, can I ask you a question?"

"Fire away."

Seraphina put down her cutlery and asked indifferently, "Do you really think the curse for breaking a mate bond in the pack is true?"

Kaden pulled a look of contempt. "That's punishment for the weak-minded. I'm not like these wolves. I'm faithful only to my Luna. I will love you, my one and only."

"Am I your one and only?"

"That's right."

"What if you fall for another she-wolf?"

"In that case, let Moon Goddess cast me out, take my powers away, and leave me to howl in eternal solitude."

Seraphina snickered cynically. "Bold words. Aren't you worried they'll come back to bite you?

"I speak from my heart. Why should I be scared?" Kaden uttered, "You should have faith in our mate bond, Sera."

Seraphina simply replied, "Dig in."

"Are you still doubting me? Do I have to rip my heart out of my chest to prove myself to you?"

"You've got someone waiting for you at the office. You mustn't be late."

Feeling assured, Kaden took a seat across from Seraphina. "Let them wait. They can't do anything right. I'll get rid of them sooner or later."

"Are you sure you want to get rid of her?" Seraphina singled out a singular pronoun rather than the plural form.

There was no telling whether Kaden caught onto the difference, but he responded, "Of course. You're the only one I can never let go of."