She Chose Fire

After Seraphina finished speaking, she turned to leave.

Layla stopped her. "Sera, I wanna try on the dress for tomorrow's ceremony. Can you help me put it on?"

Seraphina paused, but she didn't refuse.

Inside the room, there were only the two of them. Layla's pure white gown was embroidered with a lifelike silver wolf in moonsilk, a symbol of her Frostheart bloodline and her noble status.

As Seraphina adjusted her collar, Layla suddenly grabbed her hand. "I really am grateful to you. Since we were kids, you've given me so many things without complaint.

"And now, you're even willing to give me your life. I promise you, after you die, I'll take good care of Damien."

Her smile was sweet, but her words were like a blade soaked in poison.

Seraphina smiled back. "Aren't you afraid Damien will hear this? Or Mom and Dad?"

Layla laughed as well. "Afraid? Who would believe you anyway?

"Seraphina, nobody loves you, and nobody trusts you. You are the most unnecessary person in this world."

Unnecessary, huh?

Seraphina tugged faintly at her lips and said nothing. She finished dressing Layla, then turned and pushed the door open.

Damien and Leo, who were waiting outside, both looked over at once. Damien immediately praised her. "Layla, you're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen."

Layla smiled brightly and shyly looped her arm around his. "Sera is still here."

Damien froze. "Sera, I didn't mean it like that…"

"It's fine," Seraphina replied calmly. "You two should stay with Layla. I'm a little tired, so I'll head back."

Without waiting for him to stop her, Seraphina turned and left.

Damien watched her back and instinctively wanted to chase after her.

But Layla clung tightly to his arm, holding him in place.

Somehow, Damien had the strange feeling that once Seraphina walked away, she would never come back.

He shook his head. That wasn't possible. This was her home. Where else could she go?

Forcing down the unease in his heart, Damien gave Layla a small smile.

On the other side, Seraphina walked out of Moonstone Cottage. The vast pack grounds were overflowing with celebration.

Elegant silver ribbons and pure white moonflowers filled her vision, clearly preparing for a grand bonding ceremony.

Seraphina's gaze landed on the invitation cards being handed out by the pack members.

Almost every major supernatural pack had been invited.

This level of effort was way past what Damien claimed about merely fulfilling Layla's wish with a simple ceremony.

He fully intended to let the entire supernatural world know that he and Layla were mates.

A sharp pain flickered through Seraphina's heart, but it vanished in the next second.

Only one thought remained in her mind: It was time to leave.

Back at Afterglow Lodge, Seraphina looked around the stone house she had lived in for nearly a century, though most of those memories were already gone.

She only remembered that she used to live in Moonstone Cottage, as the Alpha and Luna's first child. Later, she had been forced to let Layla stay at the place.

After that, she had kept giving things up, until in the end, she had even given up her mate and her son to Layla.

With a wave of her hand, all of her belongings floated into the air.

With another wave, a burst of soul fire reduced everything to nothing. Not even ashes remained.

From this moment on, there would be no trace of her left here.

Seraphina turned and walked away without hesitation, not even giving the place one last glance.

After leaving the pack, she headed for Whisper Ridge.

That night, Seraphina simply let the Mooncrest on her forehead burn again and again.

Morning came, the day of the bonding ceremony.

Seraphina held out her hand to Blaze. "Let's go."

Blaze leapt to her side at once. Together, the woman and the wolf traveled north. By dawn, they finally reached the border between the supernatural world and the abyss.

Howlpeak.

From afar, Seraphina saw the Moon Goddess's majestic statue glowing softly.

She set down her silver spear and dropped to one knee. "Great Moon Goddess."

The Moon Goddess's voice rang in her mind, solemn and powerful. "Seraphina, the time has come. Are you prepared to forget everything, cut yourself off from emotion, and bind your life to Howlpeak to suppress the wild spirits and preserve the balance of the world?"

Seraphina lifted her head. Though her eyes were already empty of feeling, she still made one request. "Great Moon Goddess, before this, I ask one small favor. The spirit wolf, Blaze, has chosen to guard Howlpeak with me. Please allow me not to forget it."

The Moon Goddess replied, "Is there anything else you wish to remember? Any other person or matter?"

Seraphina's gaze was steady. "No."

"Very well. I shall grant your wish."

As the words fell, the statue of the Moon Goddess shone with brilliant light, and Seraphina slowly rose into the air.

The Mooncrest on her forehead suddenly burst with blinding silver light.

At that moment, the Moon Goddess extended a hand formed of light and pulled from the glow a nearly transparent ribbon that shimmered with rainbow colors.

"I have removed your Emotional Core. From now on, you shall feel no desire, no love, and no hatred."

Seraphina could clearly feel every memory of her parents, Damien, and Leo rapidly falling away from her mind.

"Sera is our first child. We'll give her the best things in the world."

"Seraphina, my soul howls for you. I want to bind myself to you forever."

"Mom, I love you so much. You're the best!"

-

In the next instant, all of it faded away, leaving only blank emptiness.

When Seraphina opened her eyes again, she was standing at the top of Howlpeak.

Clad in silver armor with a spear in hand, she looked out at the world with eyes that held no emotions at all.