I Don't Wanna Be His Luna Anymore

Esmeralda's POV

It was supposed to be my 23rd marking ceremony that day.

Cosmo Greymark was about to lean in toward my neck to mark me when his phone rang. I caught a clear glimpse of the caller ID—Tallulah Lycaon.

Sure enough, he let go of my hand again and hurriedly explained, "Tallulah said she's having an allergic reaction and can't breathe. Let's hold our marking ceremony another time."

This time, I didn't stop him. I simply allowed him to leave me there to suffer the humiliation of being a Luna who had been discarded.

Ignoring the whispers and murmurs of the pack members, I took off my crown and returned to the villa on my own. Yet, the moment I crossed the threshold, I locked eyes with Cosmo, who was standing right beneath a balloon arch. Tallulah stood at his side, all smiles.

Behind them stood a massive multi-tiered birthday cake that was almost half my height and topped with adorable chibi figurines of the two of them. So, this was the "allergic reaction" he had referred to.

Noticing my presence, Cosmo froze for a moment before hastily explaining, "Don't be mad at me. Tallulah said it's the tenth anniversary of the day we met, and she wanted to surprise me, so she lied about the allergy. Next time—"

Before he could finish, I nodded. "I hope you two have a wonderful tenth anniversary."

His brows drew together, and he was about to say something else when Tallulah tugged at his sleeve. "Cosmo, it's time to make a wish!"

I seized the opportunity to slip away.

Cosmo seemed genuinely surprised by my calm demeanor. Instinctively, he grasped my wrist.

"We're throwing a banquet tonight, Esmeralda. I'll explain everything to you when we get back. And I'll buy you that moonstone necklace you liked last time."

Without waiting for a response, he gave Tallulah his undivided attention as he indulged her antics.

I looked at his familiar profile. We had been together for six years. It was time for me to let him go.

I picked up a document and said softly, "I need your signature on this document."

Without even looking at it, Cosmo signed it. I tucked the document away and left to find the pack elder, Alaric Vale.

Little did Cosmo know that he had just personally signed off on my application to leave the pack.