4

When I discovered Derek was my destined mate, I pursued him with fierce determination. He'd once told me he'd never love anyone else because of his passionate past with Victoria. He even had her name tattooed on his skin as a testament to his devotion.

But I was ambitious. I boldly told Derek that one day, he would fall in love with me because we were mates blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.

Day after day, I studied his preferences, catering to his every need. On his 20th birthday, I risked my life venturing into the treacherous Shadowmoon Forest to collect a rare moonflower for him.

The pack warriors admired Derek for having such a dedicated mate. When he saw me, disheveled and injured from nearly falling off a cliff while gathering the flower, his eyes glistened with unshed tears. He said softly, "You fool, don't do this again. It pains me to see you hurt."

After that day, we began a new life together. He took me hunting, and we chased each other through the forest in our wolf forms. We climbed mountains, sharing the full moon nights at the highest peaks.

I eagerly anticipated each day of our future together. With him, my life became vibrant and full of color.

But everything changed when Victoria returned to the pack. Derek became distant, always claiming he was busy with pack duties.

We stopped all our outdoor activities. At first, I believed he was truly busy, until I brought him home-cooked meals and realized he had been lying to me.

I reached out through our mate bond, asking where he was and what he was doing. He maintained his facade, insisting he was working late, handling pack affairs and securing our future.

From that day on, I waited alone at home, constantly watching the door, hoping he would return.

When Derek loved me, he wanted to give me the world. But once that love faded, the messages stopped, he never came home, and we became like strangers.

I tried to comfort myself, thinking that as long as he didn't do anything inappropriate, as long as he still cared for me somewhere in his heart, I could overlook these issues.

Perhaps due to pack pressure or his own guilt, he eventually messaged me, saying we should choose an auspicious day to publicly announce our relationship and formally recognize me as his mate.

In that moment, I believed Derek still loved me.

Excitedly, I began planning our dream ceremony. I worked with the pack elders to revise the ritual procedures over and over until we finalized them.

Countless nights I lay awake, tormented by doubt, wondering if he had just said it casually while I took it to heart.

All my suspicions were confirmed when Victoria deliberately sabotaged our ceremony and stole Derek away.

That was the final straw.

Tears welled up unbidden. Once more, I donned my mating ceremony dress at home, admiring my reflection in the mirror and taking a few photos.

I posted on WolfNet: "I don't want to be anyone's mate. I'll just be my own warrior."

Derek called immediately. "Emma, what are you doing? Putting on that old dress and playing dress-up? Take it off quickly, don't embarrass me. If the pack nobles see this, they'll laugh at me. Your mate will lose face."

I didn't argue. I hung up, murmuring, "It's okay. This is the last time I'll wear this dress."

With those words, I picked up a nearby silver knife and began slashing at the dress.

The dress was custom-made and well-crafted. It wouldn't tear easily. Instead, the force of my attempts caused the silver knife to cut into my wrist. My body, weakened by silver poisoning, began bleeding profusely.

I collapsed, rolling on the floor in agony as my life force ebbed away.

Sometimes I didn't really want to die, but accidents have a way of striking first.

Our mate bond automatically detected my danger, but Derek's response was cold indifference.

"Are you done with this act? Pretending to be in danger to trick me again? Haven't you heard the story of the boy who cried wolf? You think I'll fall for it every time?"

I remembered how Derek used to be. He couldn't stand to see me suffer even the slightest discomfort. If I so much as broke a sweat or sighed, he'd move heaven and earth to make me smile again.

When we fought, I'd use our mate bond to send him messages that I was in danger. He'd rush home immediately, never caring if it was just a joke. He'd say, "I don't care if it's a joke. I care about your safety. Even if it's just in jest, it's not okay. You're my life!"

But this time, he broke his promise. He didn't believe me. And I wouldn't believe him anymore either. I made a solemn vow to the Moon Goddess: "I, Emma, reject Derek as my mate."

As these words fell, I felt the mate bond in my body gradually break.