4

Chris closed the distance in a few strides and clamped his hand around my wrist, gripping hard.

"Sheila, stop this. How are you going to complete the ceremony alone?"

I looked down at his hand, then slowly pulled my wrist free.

"Then I'll find someone else."

The air went still for a beat.

Chris's mouth twitched into a stiff smile.

"Sheila, that's not funny."

Whispers rose from below the steps.

"Sheila's probably just trying to push Chris a little."

"I'd lose my mind too. This is the eighth time."

Everyone assumed I was talking nonsense, that I was forcing Chris to make a choice.

Only I knew I meant every word.

I truly didn't want to wait for him anymore.

That was when Lucy stepped forward, wiping her tears.

"Sheila, how could you threaten Chris with something like this?"

"After all your time together, how could you say something so hurtful? How could you threaten to choose someone else for the mating ceremony over one little thing?"

"Talking like that, you're going to break Chris's heart."

Chris seemed to finally come back to himself. His taut expression loosened.

The corners of his mouth even lifted in a smug smile, as if he had seen straight through my little scheme.

"Sheila, you don't need these little tricks."

He stepped forward, reaching out to ruffle my hair. I dodged.

"Be good, okay? Enough of this. I swear, even if we miss the Moon Goddess's blessing, you will still be my only Luna in this life."

Looking at him, I suddenly wanted to laugh.

He still assumed, as arrogantly as ever, that I couldn't live without him.

Just like he'd written in his journal.

Yesterday, while packing things up, I found Chris's journal.

That was when I learned that missing the ceremonies because of Lucy was all an excuse.

He simply wanted to use these broken promises, one after another, to prove my love for him.

His journal read:

"In the Grayfang pack, every werewolf can apply for the Moon Goddess's blessing only eight times in a lifetime."

"Once Sheila misses all eight and loses the blessing for good, I'll give her a grand mating ceremony and tell her that even without the Moon Goddess's blessing, I will love her and protect her."

"She'll be moved beyond words, and she'll work even harder to preserve our bond."

"Moon Goddess, forgive my selfishness. I will love Sheila for the rest of my life. I will be good to her forever."

He didn't miss those ceremonies by accident. He did it on purpose.

Chris loved me, but he also wanted me to depend on him forever, unable to leave.

I didn't look at Chris again. I turned, climbed the steps one by one, and walked into the altar hall.

Vivian hurried after me, her face full of worry.

"Sheila..."

I shook my head, then stood alone at the center of the altar, ready to receive the Moon Goddess's blessing.

The priest glanced behind me.

"Where is your partner?"

Before I could answer, a rush of footsteps burst into the hall behind me.

Chris was being hauled in by several friends.

"Quick, finish the ceremony first! Drag this out any longer and Sheila really won't wait for you!"

Chris was pushed to the very front, his expression grim.

I didn't ask him whether he was coming up. I just looked toward the door.

"There's no need."

"What?"

He hadn't caught what I said.

I didn't answer.

Because there was no point anymore.

Outside, rapid footsteps sounded, drawing closer.

Everyone turned instinctively.

Moonlight poured through the hall's open stone doors, silhouetting a figure as he burst inside.

He cut through the crowd and walked straight up to me.

"Sheila."

He was breathing a little hard, his breath fogging white in the moonlight.

"I'm here."