Ashes of a Vow

The Alpha who swore a life-and-death bond with me betrayed me, and now his pregnant little mistress is here to rub it in my face.

I let out a cold laugh and tossed the mate bond dissolution papers on the desk. "Sign it, or die."

"Do you know how deep his mark on me is?"

I looked up to see a young human girl standing in my office doorway. Her hand was caressing her neck, right over a fresh bite mark.

"He said you're too cold." She walked in, closing the door behind her. "Kaelen said being with you is like hugging a block of ice."

My hands froze over my keyboard. The girl couldn't have been more than nineteen. Blonde, blue-eyed, with a small, yet noticeable baby bump.

"What else did he say?"

She smiled and pulled a tablet from her purse. "Why don't you see for yourself?"

A video started to play. Kaelen’s face filled the screen, his eyes holding a tenderness he’d never once shown me.

"Sera," he whispered in the video, "I'll protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you. Not even my Luna."

My blood ran cold.

Those words—those exact words—he had said them to me thirteen years ago. When he saved me from his father, when he swore to the Moon Goddess that he would always protect me.

"That's enough," I said, standing up.

"It's not over," Seraphina said, letting the video play. On screen, Kaelen's hand was gently rubbing her belly. "My child will be the heir to this pack."

I started toward her, but before I could make a move, she threw herself backward, clutching her stomach and groaning. "Ah! What—what are you doing to me?"

I saw it clearly. It was a soft fall. She wouldn't be hurt at all.

Just then, the office door was kicked open.

Kaelen stormed in. The moment he saw Seraphina on the floor, his face twisted with rage.

"What the hell are you doing, Elara?" His voice was a low threat.

Behind him, Seraphina shot me a triumphant smirk.

Such a pathetic setup, and Kaelen fell for it.

I forced back the pain in my chest and gave him a twisted smile. "Hurts to see her like this? What about what comes next?"

If Seraphina wanted to claim I attacked her, I might as well make it true.

My claws shot out, and I lunged for her.

Kaelen yanked her back, but he wasn't fast enough. My claws raked across her shoulder, leaving deep gashes that soaked her white dress in blood.

"Are you insane?!" Kaelen yelled, pressing his hand to her wound. His eyes were filled with shock and disappointment. "She's pregnant! How can you be so heartless?"

He turned to check Seraphina’s injury, his gentle touch making me want to vomit.

"You dare mention that child?" I sneered. "Kaelen, have you forgotten our vow?"

I turned away, sick of the sight, and pulled a document from my desk drawer, throwing it at his feet.

"These are rejection papers. You chose her. Sign them."

The color drained from Kaelen's face. He stood up, the papers trembling in his hand.

"Our bond was blessed by the Goddess herself!" he roared. "I will never reject you! Not until the day I die!"

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“Then choose. Only one of us gets to live.” I pulled a silver dagger from my belt. The blade hissed against my palm, searing my flesh.

Kaelen’s eyes widened in horror. He lunged forward and snatched the dagger from me.

He pulled me into a tight embrace. “Elara, just listen to me!”

I shoved him away. "Listen to what? How you broke our vow?"

"I'll handle it," his voice softened. "Sera and the baby—I'll make them disappear. You'll never see her again."

"Really?"

"I swear it." He grabbed my hand. "I swear on the Moon Goddess."

I stared into his eyes, searching for a lie.

I decided to give him one more chance.

"My patience is thin. You know that."

The next day, Kaelen handed me a tablet, his face unreadable.

The screen showed a GPS signal with a simple message: "Vehicle went off a cliff…"

"I put her in the car myself. Are you satisfied now?"

Looking into Kaelen's eyes, I could feel it. Something between us was changing.