Chapter 6

Late that night, rain lashed against the windows.

I was curled up in the armchair by the fireplace, staring at the dancing flames. The mate bond kept sending sharp stabs of pain, like someone was pricking my heart with tiny needles.

It was a sign the bond was close to breaking.

The door creaked open, and Kaelen walked in. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead, his clothes soaked.

"You should be asleep," he said quietly, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

"Waiting for you," I said without looking at him. "Though I guessed you wouldn't be back."

That heavy silence fell between us again.

He came closer and sat down across from me. "Sera, you look terrible."

"Funny, being betrayed doesn't actually feel good," I said sarcastically.

He sighed and reached out to touch me, but stopped when he saw my cold stare. "The bond… does it hurt a lot?"

"Can't you feel it?" I finally looked at him. "Or have you already started cutting it?"

"No!" He shot to his feet. "I'd never do that. No matter what happens, you're my fated mate."

"Then explain why our bond burns like fire whenever you're near Lyra."

He looked away, clearly hiding something. "It's a temporary side effect… The blood bond ritual needs some of my spiritual energy."

"How much?" I pressed him. "How much is 'some'? Enough to destroy our bond?"

"It won't." He knelt in front of me, his voice low and firm. "When this is all over, I'll fix everything. I promise."

I almost believed him.

This man I'd loved for so long, the mate I would have given anything for.

Suddenly, a faint voice broke the fragile peace.

"Alpha?" Lyra called from the hallway. "Can I talk to you for a second? The cub… it's really restless…"

Kaelen tensed immediately, worry flashing in his eyes. He turned to me. "I have to go check."

"Of course," I smiled, but my heart felt dead. "Go on, Alpha. Your 'duty' calls."

He hesitated for a moment, then hurried out of the room.

I went to the window. Through the pouring rain, I saw Kaelen standing outside Lyra's temporary quarters. They were whispering under the moonlight, looking intimate. Then, the heart-shattering moment – Kaelen gently touched Lyra's stomach, a tenderness on his face I'd never seen before.

In that instant, the last shred of hope died.

I turned back to the bed and took out the silver box from my birth pack. Opening it, I laid out everything needed for the Moon Eclipse Unbinding – moon-blessed water, silver dust, bark from the sacred tree, and most importantly – the blood-oath rune we'd exchanged when we mated.

Arranging everything, I began to chant the ancient words.

"Moon Goddess, bear witness. When love turns to betrayal, when vows become lies, I ask your permission to undo this bond that is no longer sacred…"

Thunder rumbled outside, and lightning lit up the room.

Silver dust shimmered in the air, forming a faint barrier around me. I could feel power flowing, ancient magic stirring.

This was just the first step, but it would be enough for Kaelen to feel the change in our bond.

By the time he realized what was happening, it would be too late.

I looked out at the rain, imagining Kaelen's face right now. Would he panic? Would he regret it? Or would he be relieved that Lyra could finally take my place openly?

Whatever the answer, I didn't care anymore.

Because starting tonight, Seraphina Moonridge would no longer be anyone's possession, no longer a mate to be casually discarded.

I would be my own Alpha.