Chapter 1

At my mate’s Alpha ceremony, another woman was in his arms, wearing my dress. In that moment, the Luna title I’d coveted for five years turned to ash.

I wasn’t just giving it up; I was going to burn it all down, starting with my mate bond.

"Leave her alone!"

Ethan's roar ripped through the great hall.

I watched him charge off the stage, and my heart plummeted.

Tonight was his Alpha ceremony.

Every Elder from the Northern packs was here to witness him officially take power.

I was supposed to be at his side, his Luna, receiving their blessings.

But here he was, burning with rage for another woman.

"You idiots!" Ethan shoved one of his own warriors aside. "She is an honored guest! Who gave you the right to lay a hand on her?"

Oliva cowered behind him, fresh tears glistening on her cheeks. "Ethan, please... don't fight with your own people over me..."

"No." Ethan turned, his hand gently stroking her cheek. "No one gets to bully you. I promise."

The entire hall went dead silent.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes were fixed on the scene.

My nails dug into my palms, drawing blood.

Oliva was the daughter of the Red Fang Alpha. I knew she'd always had a thing for Ethan.

I was the pack's Beta. I was supposed to be its Luna.

But today, Oliva had paraded into our ceremony wearing a gown identical to my own. My Beta, Rosa, lost it. She called Oliva a worthless copycat trying to steal my place.

She'd barely gotten a few words out before Ethan jumped in to defend her.

Seeing me standing there, silent and still, Ethan's voice suddenly exploded in my mind:

“Ivana! For once in your life, can you think about the bigger picture? This is not the time for your petty drama. I know Rosa is your dog, but you will apologize to Oliva. Now.”

It wasn't a request through our mind link.

It was an Alpha command. Sharp. Cold.

As if I were nothing more than another soldier to order around.

I froze.

This was the ninety-ninth time.

Ninety-nine times he had dropped me for her at a crucial moment.

Ninety-nine times he had used the "pack alliance" as an excuse.

The ninety-ninth time he'd told me to "see the bigger picture."

And this time, he did it at our Alpha ceremony.

"Enough."

My voice cut through the whispers in the hall.

All heads turned to me.

I walked forward slowly, each step firm and deliberate.

"Ethan." I looked him straight in the eye. "I will never be your Luna."

His face went white. "Ivana! Are you insane?"

I didn't answer.

I pulled the ceremonial silver dagger from my belt, its blade glinting in the light.

The Elders gasped.

"No!" Ethan reached for me. "Ivana! Don't do something you'll regret!"

"Regret?" I laughed, a broken, empty sound. "I’ve spent three years being your fool, Ethan. Three years of you choosing her, humiliating me, turning me into the pack's laughingstock. And tonight… you let her stand there in my gown, playing the part of your Luna."

"I never meant to humiliate you! I love you!"

"Love?" I scoffed. "You don't love me. You love the power I give you."

The silver blade pierced my palm.

Blood dripped onto the moonstone floor with a soft, steady patter.

"I, Ivana, before the Moon Goddess and all assembled Elders, do hereby reject my mate, Alpha Ethan."

A wave of magic erupted.

The bond connecting our souls began to shred.

Ethan collapsed to his knees, clutching his head in agony. "No! You can't do this!"

"I already did." I looked at the Head Elder. "Elder, please witness and oversee the formal severing."

The old man nodded, stunned. "The Council... will consider your request."

I turned and walked off the stage.

Every step felt light, like I could fly.

I went back to the penthouse we once called home, locked myself in the bedroom, and started planning my next move.

My phone screen lit up again and again.

All calls from Ethan.

I ignored them.

Around two in the morning, his weary voice finally trickled through our weakening link:

“Ivana… I know tonight was a mess. But these politics are complicated… Oliva’s pack is crucial for the alliance…”

Same old excuses. Same old blame.

“You'll regret this impulsive decision tomorrow. I'll plan a proper Luna ceremony for you, one that will make you happy. We'll talk in the morning, okay?”

A Luna ceremony?

He still thought I would come crawling back?

I closed my eyes, found the last fraying thread of our bond, and shattered it with a wall of ice.

Silence.

Instantly, the world went quiet.

But a tearing pain ripped through my chest.

This was the price of rejecting a fated mate—your soul being torn in two.

I collapsed to the floor, curling into a ball of agony.

Tears blurred my vision, but my mind had never been clearer.

The pain would pass.

Freedom was forever.

When the morning light streamed through the curtains, I slowly got to my feet.

My chest still ached, but my eyes were clear.

The mate bond had once been the chains that defined my life.

Now, by choosing to break it, I could finally find myself.