Rejecting the Bond He Broke

When I picked up the ring at the jewelry store, a notification from Twitter buzzed on my phone.

It was a post with a photo captioned: "True love knows no bounds." The image showed a man’s silhouette, smiling warmly at a woman.

The figure was unmistakably familiar—someone I saw every day and was supposed to mark as my mate in just a week.

"Miss Luna, your ring," the store clerk said, handing me the custom piece I had ordered a year ago. As the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, I was accustomed to the respectful titles, but today they felt hollow.

With a blank expression, I took the ring and went back to the car. I glanced at my loyal Beta, Richard, in the driver’s seat, took his hand, and slipped the ring onto his finger. "It's yours now," I said.

Richard, my steadfast confidant and Beta, was taken aback, looking at me in shock. "My Luna?"

"Take me home," I instructed, leaning back in the passenger seat and closing my eyes.

"Are we not going to check out the marking ceremony venue?" Richard asked hesitantly, his deep voice laced with concern.

I didn’t answer. My mind was swirling with rightful anger and betrayal, while another part of me was considering the best way to proceed with a rejection. The bond between mates was sacred, a vow made under the Moon Goddess, but Evander had already shattered that sacred trust.

Richard, ever attentive and astute, knew better than to pry. He drove us back to my apartment instead of the estate I shared with Evander, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack.

Once home, I went straight to my study and opened my phone to take a closer look at the tweet.

I recognized the poster. She was Evander's long-lost love, Maren, a rogue werewolf he had been involved with years ago. They had shared a bond before she disappeared, leaving him heartbroken. Evander often mentioned her casually, as though it were a distant memory, but now it was clear—those memories were far from over.

At pack gatherings, his friends would occasionally reminisce about that relationship before urging Evander to cherish what he had now. What did Evander say back then? I closed my eyes to remember.

He had earnestly promised, "I know. I’d never do anything to hurt my Luna. I’ve moved on."

Right, that’s what he called moving on.

No matter. I could show Evander what it truly meant to let go. The bond between us was still there, faint but undeniable, and I could feel the weight of his betrayal pressing against it. But I wouldn’t let it break me. As Luna, I had a pack to lead, a duty to uphold, and a future to reclaim.

My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of anger and pain echoing in my mind. I pushed it down, focusing instead on the task at hand. Maren’s return was no coincidence, and Evander’s actions were a betrayal not