I'm supposed to be Kyle Thornwood's Luna. But for the past five years, he has abandoned 52 of our marking ceremonies, proving to the Moon Goddess that he doesn't deserve me.

The first time, Elara Bennett—the Omega he took in—gets lost during a hunt. He cuts the ceremony short to find her, leaving me alone on the ritual altar while our bond unravels into nothing.

The second time, right in the middle of negotiations with a rival pack, he senses through the mind-link that someone is bothering Elara. He drops everything and runs back, leaving me to face a room full of hostile wolves alone.

After that, it doesn't matter which full moon I choose. Elara always has some crisis that needs him. She gets hurt during training, other wolves pick on her, or she has a bad dream.

Eventually, something inside me breaks. I decide to sever this so-called destined mate bond for good.

The day I leave the Graywolf pack, Kyle loses it completely. He tracks my scent everywhere, clinging to whatever is left of our connection.

Today marked the 52nd time Kyle Thornwood and I tried to complete our marking ceremony. This time I didn't invite any outsiders. The only witnesses were the most trusted members of our families.

I pushed through the claw wounds from our last battle, personally checking every detail of the ceremony site while he couldn't be bothered to focus.

Right now, inside the Alpha's tent, he was using his power to soothe Elara Bennett, who had "accidentally" twisted her ankle. Omegas were always so delicate.

My family's warriors watched the scene with cold expressions. One of the elders murmured to me, "Princess Layla, just look at him. When has he ever respected the honor of the Silvermoon royal bloodline?"

Everyone knew how important this ceremony was for us. It was the union of two packs, the binding of our souls.

But just as the moon reached its peak and the ceremony was about to begin, Kyle, who should have been standing beside me, chose to abandon it. Again.

I chased after him, but he stopped me.

"Elara's injury is serious. I have to take her to the healer myself. Let's cancel this ceremony. Next time, I promise. We'll finish it for sure."

Without waiting for my response, he pried my hand away. He gathered Elara into his arms, shifted into his wolf, and vanished into the night.

Five years together, and this was the 52nd time he'd betrayed our vows to the Moon Goddess for another she-wolf.

In the past, I would have screamed at him through the mind-link. But this time, I just stood there calmly and chuckled softly.

"It's fine. Omegas are more fragile, after all."

Kyle hesitated, surprised by my understanding. "I'm glad you understand. I'll bring you your favorite roasted deer heart tonight."

I hummed in reply and watched him disappear. The smile on my face turned ice cold.

He'd forgotten that I never ate deer heart. It was forbidden in my bloodline. The one who loved roasted deer heart wasn't me.

He'd brought it once before. I forced down a bite, fighting nausea, before telling him my bloodline rejected this kind of meat. He had sworn he'd never forget.

One year. That was how long his "never" lasted.

I laughed bitterly and turned back to the altar. In front of everyone, I pulled out the ceremonial dagger and cut through the moonvine bracelet on my wrist, the one that marked us as intended mates.

These five years had gone on long enough.

In the end, my family's warriors stayed behind to persuade me. "Princess, come back to Silvermoon City with us."

It wasn't the first time they had tried to convince me. I slumped down beside them, lifting my head to meet their hopeful gazes.

They were the guardians of the Silvermoon royal bloodline, the strongest pack in the Northern Territories. And I, Layla Silvermoon, was their princess.

I should have received the finest training in the Northern Territories, preparing to become the future queen. But five years ago at the Packs Summit, the Moon Goddess had let me sense that Kyle was my destined mate. So had I followed him to this barren wasteland.

He was a Rogue who'd built the Graywolf pack through sheer force of will. He hated relying on anyone, especially a powerful mate.

So for five years, I never showed him my full strength and never told him who I really was. In his eyes, I was just a she-wolf from some small northern pack with decent fighting skills.

Over those five years, I'd grown from a sheltered princess into his most capable Beta, helping him conquer half his territory.

I thought once he became strong enough, he wouldn't care about my background anymore. But I never found the right moment to tell him.

Lost in thought, I sighed. It didn't matter now. There was no point in telling him anymore.

"Alright. I'll go back with you."

The warriors' eyes lit up instantly. After settling them in, I returned to my cave and tried to calm my mind through meditation.

But the pack's mind-link buzzed with chaotic whispers. I forced myself to tune them out, but one clear thought pierced through like a needle, smug and deliberate. It was Elara's.

In the vision, she was curled up against Kyle's wolf form while he gently licked her forehead. A voice echoed through the image. "He was a little annoyed at first, but when I told him I had a nightmare, he softened right up."

Elara was bragging to her friends, and her excitement made the thought leak into the mind-link with crystal clarity.

Nausea rose in my throat. I knew he wouldn't come back tonight, just like countless other nights before.

At least our marking wasn't complete. I'd never have to lower myself like this again.

The next morning, I packed my things and went to say goodbye to the pack's second-in-command, Simon Darke. While we were talking, Kyle walked in.

I caught his scent immediately. The heavy smell of daisies clinging to him belonged to Elara. In our world, letting your scent cling to someone else was a more intimate declaration than anything else.

Clearly, he'd done a thorough job "comforting" her last night. He always hated it when I left my scent on him and claimed it undermined his authority as Alpha. It turned out he just didn't want my scent on him specifically.

"You're leaving?" He noticed my bag and frowned. "Just because I canceled yesterday's ceremony? I already told you it was for Elara—"

"This has nothing to do with you," I cut him off. "I'm tired. I want to go home."

"Home? Isn't this your home?" He stepped closer, reaching for me. "Stop being childish. Elara's just an Omega. She needs protection. As the future Luna, you should be more understanding."

I let my gaze settle on the spot on his neck where Elara's scent was strongest. I didn't say anything.

He noticed and instinctively covered it with his hand. "She was just too weak yesterday. It rubbed off by accident."

The excuse was pathetic. I nodded, not bothering to argue.

Thinking I believed him, he relaxed and smiled, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "That's more like it. Don't be upset. Tonight I'll take you to Moonlight Lake, just the two of us. Consider it an apology."

"Alpha!" Elara burst in without announcing herself, clutching a hide scroll. She latched onto Kyle's arm intimately. "I don't understand this patrol route..."

Kyle's attention snapped to her immediately. Without even glancing back at me, he started explaining it to her.

They whispered together right in front of me, creating a barrier no outsider could penetrate.

I watched quietly. Then I turned and left.

Back in my empty cave, I pulled out a broken stone. It was the heartstone he had given me when we first met. He said it symbolized our eternal, unbreakable bond.

Last night, the moment he abandoned me, this stone had shattered. I took those fragments, along with the last thread of connection between us, and threw them into the depths of the crevice.

After saying goodbye to Simon, I returned to my camp to hand over my duties. Yara Moss, the she-wolf taking over for me, was furious on my behalf.

"Layla, you're really leaving? That means I'll have to watch those two lovebirds parade around in front of me every single day!"

Following her gaze, I saw Kyle personally teaching Elara archery. When she missed her shot, he actually gave her his wolf fang necklace to cheer her up, the one he always wore close to his skin as Alpha.

Elara immediately put it on, beaming. Shortly afterward, Kyle's eyes meet mine, a flash of panic crossing his face.

"Layla, there's nothing between the Alpha and me! This is just a regular wolf fang!" Elara explained carefully.

The wolves around us looked at me with pity. Everyone knew an Alpha's personal token could only be worn by the future Luna. I pressed my hand on Yara's arm, signaling her to stay calm, then looked at Elara.

"That wolf fang looks good on you. It suits you."

Elara seemed disappointed that I wasn't losing my temper.

Kyle stood up, frowning as he scolded me. "Layla, don't be unreasonable."

I sighed. "I'm really not angry."

My composure caught him off guard. He huffed. "You'd better not be."

Yara and I turned, returning to our task. She couldn't help but ask, "You're just going to let them off the hook like this?"

I shrugged while organizing my scrolls. "Yeah. As far as I'm concerned, he and I are already done."

That evening, Kyle came looking for me. "Let's go. I've set everything up at Moonlight Lake. We can head over now."

He stopped when he noticed my bare neck. "Where's the heartstone necklace I gave you?"

"I put it away. Didn't want it to break during combat."

He relaxed, smiling. "You used to wear it every day though."

Before I could think of an answer, Elara ran over. "Alpha, I'm ready!"

Kyle's attention immediately shifted to her.

I watched as Elara walked straight to the rock that only the Alpha and Luna were supposed to sit on.

At the lakeside, Kyle and Elara sat together while I sat alone on the other side. When the meat finished roasting, Kyle actually tore off a piece for me. But I caught Elara's nauseating daisy scent all over it.

Fighting back my disgust, I took one bite and pushed it away. "I don't want it. You eat."

After dinner, Kyle said he needed to take a drunk Elara back. The moment they left, I immediately headed for the meeting point I had arranged with my pack members.

Through the mind-link, Kyle was still planning our next ceremony with me. "Don't worry, we'll definitely complete it this time!"

I replied flatly. "Okay."

I knew it was impossible.

Just as I was about to leave pack territory, another message came through. "Elara drank too much, and she's emotionally unstable. I'm not coming back tonight."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I'd expected as much.

"It's fine. You can stay at her place if you want. I've already left the Graywolf pack. We won't have anything between us anymore. Goodbye, Kyle."

After sending that final message, I severed the mind-link with him completely. Under my pack members' escort, I watched the wasteland grow more distant.

On the other side, Kyle was completely stunned.