Chapter 2
In the afternoon, Royal took Amaris to the sacred grounds of the Bradley Pack, where the Moon Goddess presided over mate bonds. The Alpha seemed unusually cheerful during the drive, reminiscing about their upcoming third anniversary as mates and asking where she’d like to celebrate. Royal and Amaris had grown up together, and this marked their third year since their mate bond had been formally sealed.
"How about Venice?" he suggested, his deep voice carrying a hint of excitement. "You’ve been dreaming of feeding pigeons at St. Mark’s Square since you were a kid."
He parked the car and stepped out, opening the door for her with a flourish. Royal’s towering frame, muscular and commanding, exuded the natural authority of an Alpha. He helped her unbuckle her seatbelt with a gentleness that contrasted with his imposing presence. "Tsk, have you been crying?" he frowned, brushing the corner of her eye with his thumb. "I told you to keep your chin up. She’s just a silly little bird; I’m just waiting to see when she stops soaring so high."
As he spoke, a box of condoms slipped out of his pocket and fell to the ground. Royal coughed awkwardly, rubbing his nose, and quickly picked it up, shoving it back into his jacket. Without another word, he led her into the sacred grounds, where the air was thick with the scent of pine and the faint hum of pack energy.
The ritual to sever a mate bond was straightforward but solemn. The pack’s healer, dressed in ceremonial robes, stood before the Moon Goddess’s altar, ready to officiate. Amaris’s aphasia made speaking difficult, especially in formal settings, but she managed with nods and gestures.
"Do you, Amaris Freeman, Luna of the Bradley Pack, voluntarily seek to sever the mate bond with Royal Bradley, Alpha of the Bradley Pack?" the healer asked, his voice echoing in the sacred space.
"Yes," she nodded, her voice soft but steady.
"And do you confirm that your bond is beyond repair, as decreed by the Moon Goddess?" the healer continued.
"Yes," she nodded again, her heart heavy but resolute.
The healer glanced at Royal, who stood tall and composed, his Alpha aura radiating confidence. "And you, Alpha Royal Bradley, do you consent to this severance?"
"Of course," Royal replied, his tone dismissive. "Let’s get this over with."
The healer raised his hands, invoking the Moon Goddess’s blessing to dissolve the bond. A faint shimmer of light passed between Amaris and Royal, a fleeting reminder of what had once been. The process was swift, and within moments, it was done.
Royal took the ceremonial scroll that marked the severance. Before they even left the sacred grounds, he snapped a picture of it and sent a message on his phone. Moments later, Amaris’s phone buzzed with a notification—Cataleya’s.
Royal had sent her the photo of the scroll, accompanied by a message: "Satisfied now? Get ready for tonight!"
Amaris clicked on Cataleya’s profile and blocked her, her fingers trembling slightly. Immediately after, a text came through confirming a flight ticket purchase, followed by a WhatsApp message:
[The ticket’s booked for a month from now.]
[See you in Paris.]
She stared at the screen, her chest tightening. The mate bond was severed, but the pain of betrayal lingered, sharp and unrelenting. Royal walked ahead, already moving on, while Amaris lingered in the sacred grounds, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. The Moon Goddess’s presence felt distant now, as if even she had turned away.
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