Chapter 3

"I was worried that you'd be upset, Elena," Damon said softly, his voice barely a whisper as he made a desperate, last-ditch attempt to justify his actions.

I retorted with a sneer, "You're worried about upsetting me, huh? You deceived me for three years, convincing me my own body was defective and forcing me into a cycle of self-blame with every passing month, Damon!"

Damon stated nonchalantly, "You just have to stop drinking that drug from now on."

I stared at him as I recalled every single detail of our three years together.

I remembered how, on every full moon, he would watch me drink the "elixir" with a look of profound love and worry in his eyes. I remembered how he comforted me after every menstrual cycle, saying, "It's alright, Elena, since we still have time. I'm sure the Moon Goddess will watch over us."

It turned out that every comforting word he uttered had been a deception, and the concern in his eyes was nothing more than a carefully crafted mask.

"E-Elena?" Damon tried to approach me, stretching his hand toward my cheek.

I quickly stepped back, raising a hand to keep him away. I then replied coldly, "You'd better stay away from me. You make me sick, Damon."

Damon's outstretched hand froze, hanging midway to my face, then slowly fell to his side.

I unfurled the parchment, adding, "Do you want to take a look at the healer's diagnosis? It's stated that the continuous use of Shadowmoon Drug has already severely weakened my connection to the Moon Goddess."

Damon's pupils constricted sharply.

I then recited the figures on the parchment aloud, declaring, "It also stated that my Wolf Nature Index fell from 98% to 47%."

"Elena…" Damon attempted to offer an explanation.

I then pointed to the small text marked in red ink, saying, "It's noted that based on the current extent of the damage, there is a strong possibility of permanent infertility."

In that instant, the temperature in the room seemed to drop to freezing point. I noticed that Damon's complexion had turned deathly pale, his forehead now glistening with a thicker layer of sweat.

I stated deliberately, "I might suffer from permanent infertility, Damon. Do you truly grasp the implication? It means I might be denied the chance to have my own pups for the rest of my life!"

Damon tried to speak up, but he couldn't even utter a single thing. He leaned against the wall, looking like he might collapse at any moment.

I stared at him as the final illusion I held in my heart was utterly destroyed. It turned out that Damon, the man whom I once thought I would spend my life with, was actually capable of such cruelty. "I'm going to submit an application to the Council of Elders to sever our mate bond."

That statement immediately sent a shockwave through the room.

Damon reacted intensely, springing away from the wall. "Y-You can't do that, Elena!"

"Why shouldn't I?" I looked at Damon, my gaze utterly devoid of emotion.

"It's because of the alliance…" He started, though his voice was uneven and shaky.

I burst into rage, all the anger I had buried surging to the surface. "You almost ruined my life for the sake of another woman, Damon! How dare you bring up the alliance at this moment!"

I didn't even spare him another glance, turning my back and heading for the door. I was the only one who had suffered the damage as things stood. I stated flatly without looking back, "I'll be speaking with the Council of Elders tomorrow."

"Elena Johnson!" Damon yelled, his voice filled with rage.

I slammed the door shut with a deafening bang and then locked it. I then heard Damon's urgent knocking coming from the other side. "Open the door! We need to talk about this!"

I paid him no mind, instead sinking slowly to the floor against the door. Damon's voice gradually faded, settling into silence. It was silent throughout the room, marked only by the rasp of my breathing and the occasional distant sound of a bird outside.

I thought I would cry for a very long time, only to realize that I had no more tears left to shed.

It was then that the long-forgotten communication token on my desk suddenly sprang to life, casting a dim, silver sheen. It took the form of a crescent moon pendant, its exterior covered in elaborate carvings of complex runes.

I was stunned. That communication token was something Liam Carter had given me just before our parting. Damon had cast a powerful barrier over the residence, so it had lain dormant for three whole years.

Its sudden illumination signaled that someone was reaching out to me.

I felt my hands trembling as I picked up the communication token, my fingers gently tracing the runes on the surface.

I then heard a gentle voice emanating from it. "I know these messages may not reach you, but I wanted to tell you that the stars are beautiful tonight, Elena—just like the Big Dipper that's shining as bright as your eyes. I wish you could witness it.

"I'd just want you to know that I'll always be here, waiting for you, regardless of your location or the circumstances."

It was unmistakably Liam's voice. It was still as gentle as ever and instantly recognizable.

Liam and I were each other's first love. Yet, my parents tore us apart in the name of securing a strong alliance, insisting that Liam's pack was too weak. I was eventually forced to become mates with Damon three years ago.

I clamped my hand over my mouth as tears started streaming down my face again. They were different now, no longer born of despair but a tangled blend of deep-seated pain and burgeoning hope.

I noticed that there were more messages queued in the communication token, as its light indicator continued to blink. I wiped away my tears and stared at the communication token that had come back to life.

I realized then that it might be time for me to send Liam a reply.