Chapter 2

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

My parents were both severely injured, but they had miraculously survived.

"Dad, Mom…" I grasped their hands, the tears finally breaking free.

"So, what are you going to do now?" my mother asked, her voice weak as she raised a hand to stroke my hair.

"But… he'll never let me go."

After discovering Cassandra, I had considered severing the mate bond. But every time I prepared the application, Kaelen would tear the papers to shreds. He said Cassandra was just for fun, that he'd toss her aside when he was bored. He insisted that I was his fated mate and he would never let me leave.

My father took my hand. "No, Estelle. There's something you don't know, something he has likely forgotten. The night we agreed to your union, your mother and I had him sign an ancient pact."

"If he ever betrays the mate bond," my father's voice was as light as a feather, "the pact is invoked. You can petition the Elders for a forced severance. And our family… will disappear from his world completely."

"The document… it's in the safe deposit box…"

…

The next day, I did two things.

First, my parents and I took the ancient pact to the Council of Elders. After reviewing it, the lead Elder nodded gravely. "The pact is valid. The Rejection Ceremony will begin immediately."

Second, my family and I filed the paperwork to leave the pack. Once it was processed, the wolf known as Estelle would cease to exist.

The Elders' ruling would take two weeks to be finalized. After discussing it with my parents, we decided I would return to the Black Moon estate. During this time, I had to act as if nothing had happened. I couldn't let Kaelen suspect a thing.

Otherwise, with his Alpha authority and obsessive nature, none of us would escape.

On my first day back at the Black Moon estate, I went to the backyard, a sharp, silver axe in my hand. Before me was the grove of Moonpetal trees Kaelen had planted for me with his own hands.

I raised the axe and chopped them down, one by one.

Silvery-white sap splattered all over me. The servants watched from a distance, not daring to approach. They knew I was the future Luna, and they knew I was on the verge of a rampage.

The next day, I went to the Sacred Lake alone. On the small island in its center stood a stone monument to the Moon Goddess. Our mating tokens—two resonant Soulstones, a personal gift from the Goddess herself—were set within it. Kaelen had placed them there, swearing to protect our bond with his life.

Now, I smashed them with a sledgehammer.

The monument shattered. The Soulstones rolled onto the ground, their inner light extinguished.

I walked away without a backward glance, my heart a hollow ache.

On the third day, I began to clear out the master bedroom. Hanging in the closet was the moon-white gown I had worn when we received the Goddess's blessing. Kaelen had said, "Estelle, this is the most beautiful gown in the world, because you are the one wearing it."

I took out a lighter and watched as the flame licked at the silk, consuming our past along with it.

Just as I was about to leave the room, I heard the familiar sound of an engine below.

Kaelen was back.

And he wasn't alone.

I peered through a gap in the curtains and, sure enough, saw Cassandra step out of the passenger seat.

"Estelle," Kaelen's voice called from downstairs. "Come down."

I took a deep breath, composed my expression, and slowly descended the stairs.

In the living room, Kaelen was seated on the sofa with Cassandra nestled against his side, their intimacy on full display.

"Apologize to Cassandra," Kaelen said without preamble.

I stopped midway down the staircase. "An apology? For what?"

"You drove her out of North America, which caused her health to decline. Don't you think you should apologize?"

I stared at them coldly.

Cassandra clutched Kaelen's arm timidly, but her eyes flashed with triumph. She knew she had won.

"And if I refuse?" I asked calmly.

"It's… it's okay…" Cassandra murmured, her voice trembling softly. "I don't want to cause any trouble. After all… Estelle is the true Luna."

Kaelen immediately pulled her tighter. "You don't have to speak up for her." He kissed the top of her head, a gesture so tender it made me sick. "I'll protect you from now on. You can do whatever you want."

I said nothing, just pulled my lips into a tight line.

Just then, Kaelen's phone rang, and he stepped out onto the balcony.

Only Cassandra and I remained in the room.

"You think you've won?" She stood up and walked toward me. "You're so naive, Estelle. Kaelen can't live without me. He was even willing to kill your parents for me."

"You may be his fated mate, but his body and his heart belong to me."

I looked at her, my expression placid. "You want him? Take him."

Cassandra froze, then her face contorted with fury. "I don't need your pity. He'll choose me over you. It's only a matter of time. The title of Luna will be mine, too!"

Kaelen's footsteps approached from outside.

A vicious glint appeared in Cassandra's eyes. She suddenly snatched a silver ornament from the coffee table and dragged it across her own arm, drawing several bloody lines.

"Ah!" she screamed, tears instantly flooding her eyes. "No… please, don't hurt me…"

When Kaelen rushed back in, that was the scene that greeted him.

Cassandra was huddled on the floor, her arm covered in bloody scratches that looked like they'd been made by claws. She was sobbing, her whole body shaking.

"Estelle!" Kaelen's eyes blazed with fury. "You dare attack her right in front of me?"

"I didn't do it," I said calmly. "Do you believe me?"

He glanced at the silver ornament by my feet and sneered, "Believe you? The evidence is right here at my feet."

Cassandra wept in his arms. "Kaelen, I was just trying to make peace with her. I never thought she hated me so much…"

"The security cameras," I said, looking straight at Kaelen. "Check the footage and you'll know the truth."

Kaelen held Cassandra, his eyes filled with rage. "There's no need! You want this to become a public spectacle? For everyone to laugh at me? She's an Omega, and you're the future Luna. If word of this gets out, whose reputation will suffer?"

I was stunned.

He wasn't even willing to look for the truth.

In his mind, I had already become the villain who preyed on the weak. And Cassandra would forever be the fragile, pitiable victim who needed his protection.

"Sophie, get the car ready," Kaelen said to the head housekeeper, lifting Cassandra into his arms. "We're going to the hospital immediately."

"As for you," he looked back at me, his gaze as cold and sharp as a blade, "go to the dungeons and reflect on your place. And maybe learn some damn obedience."

I didn't struggle. Instead, I smiled as the guards took hold of me. "Fine. I'll go."

As the guards escorted me from the living room, I heard Cassandra whisper weakly in Kaelen's arms, "Don't blame Estelle… Maybe… maybe she was right. I really shouldn't have come here…"

"Don't be silly," Kaelen replied gently. "This is your home."