Chapter 1

Today marked my 52nd attempt at holding the Luna Coronation Ceremony with Alpha Callum Nash.

This time, I blocked all external mind links. The only guests permitted to enter the sacred grounds were our closest blood relatives.

Burning with fever, I forced myself to swallow my discomfort and review the final ceremonial details with the elders.

Not far away, Callum was on one knee in the lounge. He was carefully applying medicine to Seraphina Vance, the Omega who claimed she had twisted her leg.

Mother and Father stood nearby, shaking their heads as they watched the scene. Their eyes were filled with pity for me.

"Nova Hunter, look at how many struggles you've gone through for this coronation ceremony. Has his wolf ever truly cried for you?"

The entire Silvermoon pack knew how much this Luna Coronation Ceremony meant to me. I longed to receive the Moon Goddess' blessing and become Callum's rightful Luna in name and spirit.

But just as the moon reached its zenith and the vowing ritual was about to begin, Callum once again unilaterally called it off.

When I rushed to the lounge, he blocked me at the door and pinned me in place with his Alpha's strength.

"Seraphina's leg injury has worsened. I have to take her to the healers at once," Callum said quickly, not even meeting my eyes.

"Let's cancel the ceremony for now. I swear I won't leave again for the next full moon."

With that, he forcibly wrenched his hand from mine as I tried to hold him back and carried the frail Seraphina into the passenger seat of his SUV. That seat was supposed to be mine.

In our five years bonded as mates, this was the 52nd time he had abandoned me for Seraphina and turned this sacred coronation into the pack's laughingstock.

In the past, my wolf would have lost control and snarled in fury. I would have bared my teeth and demanded to know why he always left me at the most important moments.

But this time, I stood quietly rooted to the spot.

"Seraphina's leg injury can't wait. It'd be terrible if she's left with a permanent limp," I said.

Callum froze for a second, clearly surprised by my unusual obedience. "It's good that you're being so understanding. When I come home tonight, I'll bring you your favorite blueberry pie."

I gave a slight nod and watched him roll up the window and speed away. The moment he was gone, the smile vanished from my face.

He had forgotten that I was severely allergic to blueberries. I hated blueberry pies the most, and Seraphina was the one who truly loved them.

A long time ago, he brought one to cheer me up. Not wanting to disappoint him, I forced myself to take a bite despite the swelling in my throat and afterward told him about my allergy to the fruit.

Back then, he was so consumed with guilt that he logged it into his wolf communicator notes and swore he would keep it in mind forever.

It had only been a year, yet "forever" had ended.

I let out a self-mocking laugh and turned back to the sacred grounds to announce the cancellation of the ceremony. Then, I tossed the ceremonial Luna crown into the fire pit.

The crackling flames sounded especially harsh in the dead silence of the sacred grounds. I knew then that the five years of attachment ought to be completely destroyed and burned away, just like the crown.