Although everything felt overwhelming, Celeste knew that she had to carry on for the sake of the little one inside me. She dragged herself to get out of her room to see the pack doctor. But she would never expect to meet that person she wished to avoid there.

Violet.

She was standing with some pack members, laughing at something one of them had said. But when she saw Celeste, her expression shifted to one of smug satisfaction. In fact, Celeste noticed that her mate’s mistress gazed at her mockingly.

“Luna Celeste,” she greeted, dipping into a small curtsy.

“How lovely to see you this morning,” the mistress continued.

Celeste knew she couldn’t show how this woman ruined her marriage. The only thing she could do was to look at Violet calmly as she smiled politely, showing Violet that she was the Luna, not her. But … would that be enough?

“Violet, what brings you to our castle?” Celeste asked Violet calmly.

“Oh, Alpha Leo invited me, of course. He thought I might enjoy the castle for my baby,” the mistress said casually, placing her finger on her belly like me as if she was challenging Celeste.

Elia angrily shouted inside Celeste, ‘How dare she showed her face here!’

Celeste felt her patience slipping, but she held herself as she said, “I see. I hope you find them pleasant.”

Violet let out a smirk as she said, “They are. Just like old times.”

Celeste clenched her fists, feeling the anger bubbling inside her. That was it. From now on, she had to stand up for herself.

Without further ado, Celeste approached the mistress as she calmly said, “Old times should stay in the past, Violet. Leo and I have our own future to focus on now.”

The moment Celeste said it, she couldn’t help but notice Violet was insulted at what she said, but she still spoke, “Oh, of course. Though, I wonder… is Leo truly part of that future?”

“What are you trying to say?” Celeste asked as she forced herself to stay calm.

Violet just looked at Celeste as she continued mockingly, “Oh, nothing. It’s just that Leo and I have a connection that goes beyond … formalities. It’s only natural that we still share a bond.”

“You’re speaking of something that should no longer exist, Violet. Leo chose me,” Celeste told Violet as she looked at her firmly.

Violet laughed softly as she boldly showed off her still-flat belly to the Luna as she asked Celeste, “Did he, though?”

Violet’s words struck like a dagger, which made Celeste found herself stepping back. She knew that her composure was crumbling. In fact, it became clear to her.

Violet was expecting. While she said nothing, it became clear to everyone who the father was. The truth slapped Celeste hard.

Immediately, Celeste could hear her wolf, Elia, was trying to take over her body. However, she knew that would be unwise. So, she held her wolf down.

Then, Celeste let out a cold smirk as she told Violet face to face, “I see. But you must know, Violet. You may have been his past, but I am his present and his Luna. Please respect that.”

Before Violet could respond, Celeste continued, “I feel bad for the thing inside you. It must be horrible since it was made in a shameful way. What a way to show off, don’t you think?”

Violet’s face darkened. She clenched her teeth as she turned her head down and excused herself. That was it. Celeste no longer cared what Leo would say to her.

She watched the mistress walk away, but she didn’t feel that she won at all. What Violet had said to her stayed with her instead. They echoed in her mind, stirring a deep-seated fear that she could no longer ignore.

That was when Celeste realized that she needed to find a way to protect herself, her baby and her heart.

‘We really need to go, Elia,’ she told herself.

Later that day, Celeste found Leo in his office. The Alpha demanded to see her immediately. Without further ado, Celeste knew what he would talk about.

“I heard you’re making Violet cried before the other members of the pack,” Leo said when Celeste arrived before him.

“I need you to tell Violet to respect boundaries. She’s been acting… bold, Leo. It’s not right,” Celeste calmly told him, choosing her words carefully.

Leo’s eyes narrowed as he dismissively said, “You’re reading too much into things, Celeste.”

She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, as she asked him, “Am I? She disrespects me every chance she gets and it’s hurting us. I need to know you understand that.”

Leo’s gaze turned cold as he defensively said, “Celeste, Violet is an important part of this pack.”

“Important enough to humiliate your Luna? Important enough to … make her pregnant?” she asked Leo, her voice rising before she could stop it.

Leo stood up when Celeste mentioned about Violet’s pregnancy. She could no longer stand by it. But she would never expect what her fated mate would do to her.

“Enough, Celeste. You’re making a scene!” he shouted angrily.

Celeste felt a flash of anger from her mate. Before she could respond, Leo took a step closer. When she saw him, his eyes were flashing with authority.

When Leo spoke again, his voice held the commanding tone of the Alpha. A tone that sent a shiver through any wolf, including her. It really broke Celeste’s heart.

‘How dare you use your Alpha voice to us!’ Elia protested as the wolf growled angrily inside of her.

“Apologize to Violet. Now,” Leo commanded with his firm Alpha voice.

Celeste clenched her fists as she felt the pressure of his Alpha voice bearing down on her. Just when she thought that she would give in, there was something inside of her that refused to bow down. In fact, it managed to overwhelm the pressure of the Alpha’s voice.

With all of her strength, Celeste braced herself to utter something her fated mate would never expect, “No, Leo. I will not apologize to her.”

Leo stared at Celeste, shock flickering across his face as his Luna refused to obey his Alpha voice. This time was different. She refused to yield to him, so she kept her gaze steady.

“You may be the Alpha. But I am still your mate. I deserve respect,” she said weakly with her voice barely a whisper.

The Alpha's face darkened when his Luna said that. In fact, Celeste could see the anger simmering beneath his expression. Nevertheless, the man said nothing.

Eventually, Leo turned away from Celeste. A dismissive gesture that stung more than any words he could have said. But what happened earlier had made Celeste made up her mind.

‘We have to leave the pack to sever the mating bond,’ she told her wolf who howled wholeheartedly.

However, Celeste knew that there was doubts inside of her. Then, she heard Elia.

‘We must let go of the past to get a better future, Celeste,’ Elia told her.

That was what finally convinced she to leave this pack as soon as possible.

Tonight was the night Celeste planned to leave the pack. As she sat by the edge of the bed, she ran her fingers along the thin gold ring on her ring finger. Leo gave it to her when they first discovered they were fated mates. This ring was a token of his promise and her hope.

But the right felt more like a weight more than ever. The ring became a reminder of dreams that had faded long ago. It became clear to her then.

No matter what would happen, Celeste would sever the mating bond. For years, she had held onto the hope that Leo might remember his promises and put their future above the past. But that was gone for good after their last meeting. So, she knew what she would do.

While Celeste clearly knew that she wanted to sever her bond, she needed to go back to her original pack, the Ivory Fang Pack. From her pack, she could summon the Moon Priestess safely.

After all, she was the only one who had the power to safely break the connection between mates without causing harm.

Not to mention, the ritual was delicate. It had to be done under the light of the full moon when both participants would feel safe. Since Celeste no longer felt safe, she made up her mind to go back to her original pack. So, this might be the only chance to do it.

As she slipped out the back door, she cast one last glance at the pack house. Memories flooded her mind. The day both Leo and her found out that they were fated mates, their wedding day, the promises, the dreams they had once shared.

But those dreams had long since withered and she couldn’t let them hold her back any longer.

She then put removed a ring that had binded her to him for years and left a letter addressed to him.

[Dear Leo,

If you read this letter, I’m already gone for good. I hope you and Violet find the happiness you’ve been looking for. I’m tired of seeing you choose her over me over and over again. I deserve someone better even if we’re fated to be mates.

Goodbye, Leo. I hope to never see you again.

Celeste, your abandoned Luna]

Celeste walked out of the bedroom with her suitcase, the door closing softly behind her. She felt no regret or guilt—just the weight of a decision that should have been made long ago.

It was time to leave, and this time, there would be no coming back.