Ace

I opened my eyes and swept a cool gaze over the wolves below.

"I'm sorry, everyone. The ceremony can't proceed."

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"How many times has this been now? Our Alpha obviously doesn't want to marry her. How can she be so shameless?"

"If I were her, I'd be too embarrassed to show my face. Riding on some tiny favor to force a mating with the Alpha? She must be desperate."

...

Ever since my wolf awakened, my hearing had been exceptionally sharp. Every word reached me.

In the past, every time Kellan left me behind, I would take the blame and make excuses for him.

But this time, I smiled.

"The ceremony is canceled because your Alpha ran off with his stepsister.

"I'm officially and permanently canceling my mating ceremony with Kellan. From this moment on, he and I have nothing to do with each other."

I tore off my veil, ignored the strange looks, and walked out.

Back at the villa Kellan and I shared, the door wouldn't open. Again.

Not surprising.

Every time Adina visited, she changed the door code.

She would let me bang on the door for hours before finally opening it with a show of innocence, claiming her music had been too loud to hear.

Such a flimsy excuse, yet Kellan never questioned it.

But this time, I was done playing their game.

I called a locksmith.

The locksmith was working on the lock when the door swung open from inside.

Kellan stood there, brows furrowed.

"What are you doing? If you can't get in, why didn't you call me?"

I pulled out my phone and waved the screen of missed calls at him.

"You didn't pick up."

He instinctively reached for his phone.

That was when Adina appeared behind him, holding his phone, her face full of apology.

"Sorry, I got so caught up in my game that I didn't notice Vanya calling you."

"You let her use your phone?"

I stared at Kellan, a bitter ache rising in my chest.

Kellan had always been obsessive about his boundaries.

In three years together, he had never once let me touch his phone.

Just last month, I'd fallen off a cliff during training and gotten hurt. My phone wasn't on me, and I'd asked to borrow his to call a doctor. He still refused.

I could still hear his exact words.

"Vanya, a strong wolf doesn't call for help over a minor training injury.

"Besides, my phone is personal. I can't just let you go through it."

I ended up limping out of the mountains alone, gritting my teeth through the pain.

Yet here was Adina, casually playing games on it.

Kellan looked away.

"Adina works hard. She needs a way to unwind. Stop being jealous over every little thing."

I nodded.

"Got it. I'm going in to pack my things."

He turned and went inside. Adina followed.

I paid the locksmith.

The moment I stepped in, Adina spoke up with a grin.

"Vanya, the Moon Goddess just delivered a decree. Your body is steeped in dark energy. You need to go guard Sunset Cliff for a year, or you'll face divine punishment."

My hands froze over the clothes I was folding. I looked at Kellan.

"You believe that?"

Sunset Cliff was riddled with toxic miasma and unknown dangers. Even the most seasoned wolf would barely survive it.

Kellan didn't even look up.

"The Moon Goddess is the highest power in our pack. We should all obey Her will."

Adina sidled up to me, wearing her best concerned expression.

"If you truly loved Kellan, you wouldn't defy the Moon Goddess's decree and stay in the pack knowing your body is tainted.

"It's only a year. Just go and try it. What's there to hesitate about?"

I scoffed.

"Easy for someone to say whatever she wants when she's hiding behind a fake title."

The instant the words left my mouth, Adina's eyes reddened.

"Vanya, everything I do is for the pack, and you doubt me..."

Kellan's voice turned cold.

"Apologize to Adina."

"An apology? Not happening. But I will do what she wants and stay far away from you."

I ignored him. My things were mostly packed. I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door.

Kellan's phone buzzed. He glanced down at it.

Then he came after me.