"I was worried that you'd be upset, Elena," Damon said softly, his voice barely a whisper as he made a desperate, last-ditch attempt to justify his actions.

I retorted with a sneer, "You're worried about upsetting me, huh? You deceived me for three years, convincing me my own body was defective and forcing me into a cycle of self-blame with every passing month, Damon!"

Damon stated nonchalantly, "You just have to stop drinking that drug from now on."

I stared at him as I recalled every single detail of our three years together.

I remembered how, on every full moon, he would watch me drink the "elixir" with a look of profound love and worry in his eyes. I remembered how he comforted me after every menstrual cycle, saying, "It's alright, Elena, since we still have time. I'm sure the Moon Goddess will watch over us."

It turned out that every comforting word he uttered had been a deception, and the concern in his eyes was nothing more than a carefully crafted mask.

"E-Elena?" Damon tried to approach me, stretching his hand toward my cheek.

I quickly stepped back, raising a hand to keep him away. I then replied coldly, "You'd better stay away from me. You make me sick, Damon."

Damon's outstretched hand froze, hanging midway to my face, then slowly fell to his side.

I unfurled the parchment, adding, "Do you want to take a look at the healer's diagnosis? It's stated that the continuous use of Shadowmoon Drug has already severely weakened my connection to the Moon Goddess."

Damon's pupils constricted sharply.

I then recited the figures on the parchment aloud, declaring, "It also stated that my Wolf Nature Index fell from 98% to 47%."

"Elena…" Damon attempted to offer an explanation.

I then pointed to the small text marked in red ink, saying, "It's noted that based on the current extent of the damage, there is a strong possibility of permanent infertility."

In that instant, the temperature in the room seemed to drop to freezing point. I noticed that Damon's complexion had turned deathly pale, his forehead now glistening with a thicker layer of sweat.

I stated deliberately, "I might suffer from permanent infertility, Damon. Do you truly grasp the implication? It means I might be denied the chance to have my own pups for the rest of my life!"

Damon tried to speak up, but he couldn't even utter a single thing. He leaned against the wall, looking like he might collapse at any moment.

I stared at him as the final illusion I held in my heart was utterly destroyed. It turned out that Damon, the man whom I once thought I would spend my life with, was actually capable of such cruelty. "I'm going to submit an application to the Council of Elders to sever our mate bond."

That statement immediately sent a shockwave through the room.

Damon reacted intensely, springing away from the wall. "Y-You can't do that, Elena!"

"Why shouldn't I?" I looked at Damon, my gaze utterly devoid of emotion.

"It's because of the alliance…" He started, though his voice was uneven and shaky.

I burst into rage, all the anger I had buried surging to the surface. "You almost ruined my life for the sake of another woman, Damon! How dare you bring up the alliance at this moment!"

I didn't even spare him another glance, turning my back and heading for the door. I was the only one who had suffered the damage as things stood. I stated flatly without looking back, "I'll be speaking with the Council of Elders tomorrow."

"Elena Johnson!" Damon yelled, his voice filled with rage.

I slammed the door shut with a deafening bang and then locked it. I then heard Damon's urgent knocking coming from the other side. "Open the door! We need to talk about this!"

I paid him no mind, instead sinking slowly to the floor against the door. Damon's voice gradually faded, settling into silence. It was silent throughout the room, marked only by the rasp of my breathing and the occasional distant sound of a bird outside.

I thought I would cry for a very long time, only to realize that I had no more tears left to shed.

It was then that the long-forgotten communication token on my desk suddenly sprang to life, casting a dim, silver sheen. It took the form of a crescent moon pendant, its exterior covered in elaborate carvings of complex runes.

I was stunned. That communication token was something Liam Carter had given me just before our parting. Damon had cast a powerful barrier over the residence, so it had lain dormant for three whole years.

Its sudden illumination signaled that someone was reaching out to me.

I felt my hands trembling as I picked up the communication token, my fingers gently tracing the runes on the surface.

I then heard a gentle voice emanating from it. "I know these messages may not reach you, but I wanted to tell you that the stars are beautiful tonight, Elena—just like the Big Dipper that's shining as bright as your eyes. I wish you could witness it.

"I'd just want you to know that I'll always be here, waiting for you, regardless of your location or the circumstances."

It was unmistakably Liam's voice. It was still as gentle as ever and instantly recognizable.

Liam and I were each other's first love. Yet, my parents tore us apart in the name of securing a strong alliance, insisting that Liam's pack was too weak. I was eventually forced to become mates with Damon three years ago.

I clamped my hand over my mouth as tears started streaming down my face again. They were different now, no longer born of despair but a tangled blend of deep-seated pain and burgeoning hope.

I noticed that there were more messages queued in the communication token, as its light indicator continued to blink. I wiped away my tears and stared at the communication token that had come back to life.

I realized then that it might be time for me to send Liam a reply.

I lightly tapped the communication token, and subsequent messages surfaced—every one was a record of his devotion during those three years. He informed me how the Silverfang pack had become formidable under his leadership and how he dedicated prayers to me every night of the full moon.

Liam stated solemnly, "I'll always be waiting for you, regardless of the time or the circumstances, Elena. It is my solemn pledge to you, Elena, as the man who swore to be your guardian."

Liam's messages spoke volumes of sincerity and profound affection. His feelings seemed all the more genuine and warm compared to Damon's chilling betrayal.

I couldn't help but cry at that thought, my tears falling onto the communication token and briefly intensifying its faint glow.

…

It was the following morning when Sebastian White, the butler, knocked on my door, saying, "You are required to accept these gifts, Luna Elena."

"What gifts?" I asked as I opened the door and stepped out.

Sebastian stood in the living room, holding a thick roll of parchment stamped with an official seal. He then handed it to me, saying, "Alpha Damon has granted you full ownership of the forest on the eastern border, as well as three mines situated in the northern highlands and two fishing preserves along the western tributary, Luna Elena."

I took the parchment and quickly read over the numerous, tightly packed terms, noting that these were the Blackwood pack's most prosperous lands. "How much are these worth?"

Sebastian looked at me tentatively before replying, "They are worth approximately 80 million dollars. Alpha Damon has said that they are meant as compensation for you, Luna Elena."

It was a hefty sum that was enough to buy out a medium-sized pack. I was still sickened by Damon, though. I tossed the parchment onto the coffee table, a profound and cutting irony filling my very being.

Did he really think that money could restore my faith in him or keep me bound to his side as a mere tool? It would only deepen my resentment either way.

I still kept the assets, though, as it was necessary capital for my planned departure.

I made up my mind and walked to the communication token. I gently touched the runes on the surface and began recording a reply. "I have received your messages, Liam. I want to see you again. I want to leave this place, Liam."

I activated the communication token's transfer mechanism once I finished recording my message. It flashed silver, and the message vanished into the air, traveling across thousands of miles toward Candonia.

I resolved to live life on my own terms this time.

…

It was already evening when Damon showed up at my door, wearing a formal black suit. He simply stated, "It's the Blood Moon Festival tonight, so you'd need to accompany me as the Luna of the pack, Elena."

It was a sacred, annual ritual honoring the lineage of the very first Alpha, a mandatory assembly for all the most powerful and influential members of the surrounding packs.

I kept my gaze down, fixated on the cup of coffee in my grasp.

Damon stated gravely, "You ought to know that the foundation of the alliance demands security. It is important for the Council of Elders to observe our unbroken bond harmony, Elena."

"You need me to put on an act with you, huh?" I asked, the mockery in my voice sharp and deliberate.

"You can think of it that way if that is truly how you choose to see it," he replied, sounding rather rigid.

"Alright then," I replied, agreeing to Damon's proposal. I thought that this Blood Moon Festival offered the perfect moment to cut all bonds permanently.

…

That evening, the Blood Moon Festival took place at the very heart of the pack's territory. There was a gigantic bonfire that illuminated the entire ceremonial platform, and the Elders of all major packs were seated in their traditional garb around the stone circle.

I walked beside Damon, wearing the silver gown traditionally worn by the Luna of the pack. I had worn this exact gown before our wedding, but now it felt like an outfit meant for a final goodbye.

"Good evening, Luna Elena!" Chief Elder Dominic rose to his feet to welcome us.

It wasn't long before the ritual priests commenced the recitation of the ancient supplications, while the glow of the massive bonfire danced and played across the faces of all present.

It was then that I saw a familiar figure—Isabelle, who occupied the most conspicuous seat in the honored section, her pregnant belly visibly showing.

I was stunned, the smile on my face immediately faltering.

In the meantime, the Council of Elders began to debate the critical matter of carrying the line, which had always been a customary segment of the Blood Moon Festival. Chief Elder Dominic spoke up, saying, "Alpha Damon, as for your heir, a robust bloodline is essential to secure the future of the pack."

I felt a crushing vise tighten around my heart, and the wolf within me, long quieted by the potent Shadowmoon Drug, let out a mournful howl. It was a physical, rending pain that stole my breath—a howl for the pup that would never be and the monstrous betrayal of my mate.

Damon replied, "About that matter…"

I could no longer hear what he was saying. I could only register the painful howling of the wolf within me—a consciousness that had been irreparably wounded, deeply betrayed, and relentlessly tortured by the effects of the drug.

It was then that one of the Elders beside me looked at me with concern, asking, "Is everything alright, Luna Elena?"

"I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired," I replied with a strained smile. I knew that everything was going to be different after tonight, though.

"I'd like to thank the Moon Goddess for her blessing, esteemed Elders!" Isabelle suddenly stood up from her seat, her overly sweet and triumphant voice seizing the attention of everyone present.

She stroked her pregnant belly with one hand while pulling Chief Elder Dominic’s hand with the other. She then guided his hand to rest on her belly, her features radiating a smug, triumphant pleasure. "I just felt the pup move! You have to feel this immense life force firsthand, Chief Elder Dominic!"

Chief Elder Dominic exclaimed with delight, "What a powerful Alpha bloodline! It is undoubtedly the divine blessing bestowed by the Moon Goddess!"

I gripped the chair's armrest so tightly that my fingernails sank deep into the ancient timber.

Isabelle shot me a knowing look before saying, "That's right, Chief Elder Dominic. You see, not all women are worthy of the Moon Goddess' grace—some bloodlines are simply unable to carry on the Alpha's lineage."

In that instant, the Council of Elders launched into quiet discussion, watching the two of us with assessing, calculating eyes.

Isabelle spoke with feigned pity, continuing, "It had been three long years, yet you never earned the Moon Goddess' blessing, Elena. I guess that's just how destiny intended it."

I was hit by an intense, stabbing pain in my chest, feeling as though my soul itself was being ripped apart.

Isabelle raised her glass to me with deliberate poise, saying, "It's fine, Elena. In honor of the pack's future, let's observe the time-honored custom of our kind and drink this toast of goodwill."

In that instant, everyone's attention turned to me.

I looked at the glass of wine, its deep crimson liquid shimmering like blood in the flickering flames.

Damon leaned in and whispered, "You should just drink to it and stop putting me in an awkward position, Elena."

"Why should I?" I turned to look at Damon.

He replied flatly, "It's for the sake of the bigger picture, so don't humiliate the entire gathering."

I looked into his eyes, noting that they were filled with nothing but calculation and cold indifference.

It was then that one of the Elders spoke up, saying, "Please don't keep Ms. Turner waiting, Luna Elena."

I got up from my seat and, under the fixed gaze of the entire gathering, walked toward Isabelle and accepted the glass of wine.

"You should drink up, Elena," Isabelle mentioned, her smile becoming increasingly triumphant.

I lifted the glass and surveyed the crowd. I noted the hopeful eyes of the Elders, the curious looks of the pack, and Damon's cold indifference. I then said calmly, "I suppose I really should drink this wine."

I, however, stopped just as the rim of the glass neared my lips. I looked at Isabelle and said, "I do have a question, though. Why do you assume I should remain friendly with you, Isabelle?"

Her triumphant smile instantly froze.

I then raised my voice, continuing, "You not only snatched my mate, but you're also currently pregnant with his pup. You paraded your condition before me, and now you have the audacity to offer me a supposed 'toast of goodwill,' huh?"

Damon stood up, his tone hardening with a sharp warning. "You'd better stop acting out right now, Elena! Your behavior is completely out of line here!"

"You actually think I'm being out of line here?" I turned to Damon, my eyes blazing with rage.

Damon's tone intensified, becoming even more unforgiving. "You're clearly being overly sensitive right now, Elena! You prove yourself incapable of weathering even this minor adversity!"

I completely lost it after hearing that. I shouted on top of my lungs, my voice reverberating through the entire pack. "You actually said I'm being overly sensitive? I had spent three years silently bearing your indifference and all your deception, Damon! How dare you accuse me of being overly sensitive!"

I then violently hurled the glass onto the group, causing the crystal glass to shatter on the stone floor and the red wine to spray out, leaving a striking, blood-red mark on the venerable stones.

I started chanting the ancient bond-severance incantation, and before long, a golden light surged outward from my body. "In the name of the Moon Goddess, in the glory of the First Alpha, I, Elena Johnson, with all the Elders as witnesses, formally sever my bond with Damon Slater!"

Chief Elder Dominic immediately stood up, yelling, "Stop! You'll break the alliance!"

It was already too late, though, as my voice cut through the night, yelling, "I am no longer anyone's Luna from tonight onward! I refuse to become anyone's tool of convenience!"

I felt an unseen spiritual shackle within me shatter the exact moment the incantation ended. It was the feeling of the mate bond being severed—though it was agonizing, it felt liberating.

I simply turned and walked away from the ritual site. I ignored the stunned gaze of the crowd and walked toward the parking lot. I heard a chorus of confusion, arguments, profanities, and Damon's enraged voice, but I didn't look back.

…

I already have a driver waiting for me outside, and my plane ticket was already secured. I landed in a foreign territory 12 hours later, and despite the bustling airport, I immediately located the familiar silhouette in the throng at the gate.

It was Liam, who retained his handsome features and gentle demeanor, but now with traces of seasoned maturity in his gaze.

Liam's eyes immediately welled up with tears the moment he spotted me. He strode toward me, his voice catching in his throat, filled with palpable sorrow. "It's been three years, and the wolf within you has faded so much, Elena."