Chapter 1

“You want to sever the pledged claim?”

Elisa Blackthorne shot to her feet.

She knew better than anyone how much I had loved Ronan. That was why the shock on her face was so real.

“Elara, think carefully. Once the mate bond is complete, you won’t just be Blackthorne’s Luna.”

“You will be the only woman who can give this pack a true black-core heir.”

I gave a bitter laugh and played the recording on my phone.

Ronan’s voice filled the room, followed by his Beta’s.

When it ended, Elisa’s face had gone pale.

I set the papers in front of her.

Healer records. Death-watch notices.

“Five years. Thirty-three times,” I said.

“Every time we went to the Moon Shrine for the Bonding Rite, something happened.”

I looked at her.

“Ronan arranged all of it.”

My voice stayed calm.

“If this mate bond is such a burden to him, I won’t force it anymore.”

“If my bloodline is a chain to him, I’ll break it myself.”

“Severing the claim is better for both of us.”

“Severing the claim is better for both of us.”

Elisa’s hand shook.

She remembered.

The first time, something went wrong outside the Moon Shrine, and I was carried back soaked in blood.

The second time, the car we were in was forced off the road. I spent days in the Healing Hall before I could stand again.

The third time, the stairs beneath me gave way before the rite began. I fell hard enough to black out.

Every time, I almost died.

Every time, as soon as I was stable, I still asked Ronan when we could try again.

Looking back, it was pathetic.

Elisa touched the scars on my arm, her eyes red.

“Your parents didn’t just entrust you to us before they died.”

“They entrusted Nightvale’s last Moonborn bloodline to Blackthorne.”

“And Ronan repaid them like this.”

“Blackthorne failed you. We failed Nightvale too.”

I swallowed the ache in my throat and walked out of the Blackthorne pack estate.

A black sedan stopped in front of me.

The window rolled down.

Ronan sat inside, cold and impatient.

“Ran to my mother again?”

He laughed.

“If you want the mate bond completed that badly, get in.”

“We’ll go to the Moon Shrine now and seal it. Then you can finally stop reminding everyone that only you can give Blackthorne a proper heir.”

I ignored him and looked at the passenger seat.

Selene sat there with red eyes.

At the words seal it, her body stiffened.

Ronan got out at once and stepped in front of me.

“But I will do my duty.”

“You don’t need to worry about the mate bond.”

Duty.

That word cut deeper than it should have.

I had loved him for five years, and duty was all he had left for me.

“I’m busy today,” I said. “Another time.”

He frowned.

For five years, I had been the one begging for every Bonding Rite.

Now I was the one walking away.

“We’ve already dragged this out for five years,” I said. “A few more days won’t matter.”

I turned to leave.

Then Selene grabbed my arm.

“Ronan is a good Alpha,” she said softly, tears filling her eyes. “He honors his promises. He has taken care of me for years.“After you complete the mate bond and give Blackthorne the heir everyone wants, I hope you’ll treat him well.”

Her voice was gentle.

Her eyes were not.

I shook her off.

She stumbled back and slapped herself across the face.

Hard.

By the time I looked up, Ronan had already pulled her into his arms.

He looked at the mark on her cheek, then at me.

His eyes were full of anger.

“Take your anger out on someone innocent because she doesn’t have your precious Moonborn blood?”

I almost laughed.

Of course.

Selene was always innocent.

I was always the one at fault.

Ronan turned to leave with her. Then he stopped and looked back at me.

“If your parents could see you now,” he said coldly, “they would be ashamed of what you’ve become.”

I froze.

He knew exactly where to hurt me.

But I said nothing.

He would not believe me.

Not now. Not ever.

I stood there and watched the car drive away.

Only when my phone chimed did I look down.

Elara, your second wolf-core assessment is complete.

The silver taint has spread again.

Your Moonborn Core is showing signs of collapse. Please return to the Healing Hall as soon as possible.

I stared at the message for a long time.

Then I laughed quietly.

Even my body had known before I did.

This mate bond should have ended long ago.