Chapter 2

Ryder's face went as white as a sheet, and he stumbled back a few steps.

"No, that's impossible! How could the love between us just disappear?"

He shook his head frantically, his Alpha dominance flared, uncontrolled in his distress.

It was only now that I realized what a truly gifted actor Ryder was.

Just like now, as he suddenly lunged to wrap his arms around me from behind. "Don't go, Ember. You can't leave. I'll do right by you, I'll be twice as good to you!"

"Give me one more chance to prove it. I swear in the name of the Moon Goddess, I'll be a good mate to you again. Please, I'm begging you, don't abandon me."

Ryder's Beta also rushed up to block my path. "Luna, the Alpha has done so much for you. You shouldn't hurt him like this. You should be the one to apologize!"

"The Alpha has been by your side for so many years, how can you be so cruel? Have you forgotten your passion on full moon nights?"

"You've spent a whole decade building this sacred bond. Have you forgotten all of that?"

"You cold-hearted she-wolf! Don't tell me you're willing to abandon the future Alpha heir in your own womb? You'd rather he become a fatherless pup?"

Every eye in the room instantly focused on me. The air seemed to freeze.

My mother gasped, nearly losing her footing.

"Ember, you're pregnant? You're pregnant and you still want to dissolve the bond?"

My father's roar was even more furious. "Madness! Utter madness! You would let the future Alpha heir lose his father?"

"This is blasphemy against the Moon Goddess! A betrayal of our entire pack's bloodline!"

I clearly heard the accusations all around me.

"The Luna's gone insane. She doesn't even care about her own child."

"How could she bring such shame to the Alpha's bloodline?"

"She's so jealous of her adopted sister that she's willing to destroy her own family."

"The pregnancy must be making her emotionally unstable."

I fought with all my strength to break free from everyone's grasp, my inner wolf snarling with rage as I commanded them to get away.

"I will raise my pup myself. I'm breaking this bond."

My mother couldn't believe I could say something so heartless.

"Ember, you've always longed to bear the Alpha's heir. Now that the Moon Goddess has finally blessed you, why are you still making a scene?"

Her words were like a silver dagger, stabbing straight through my heart.

Once, I too had longed to bear a powerful Alpha heir. I had hoped for ten long years.

For a decade, I had prayed to the Moon Goddess on countless full moon nights, hoping to conceive a strong bloodline with Ryder, only to be met with disappointment every time.

But now, I didn't want to endure the agony any longer. All I wanted was a clean break.

Just then, a slender figure slowly approached. It was my adopted sister, Lyra.

She was holding the pup, walking gently toward Ryder.

This was the time of day Ryder always went to her quarters to care for the pup.

The moment he saw her, Ryder forgot all about our argument. He rushed to take the pup from her, his Alpha's dominance instantly softening.

The gentle look in his eyes was something I had never seen before, as if he were gazing upon his own flesh and blood. Even his wolf eyes grew soft.

A wave of betrayal crashing through our bond almost made me collapse.

I remembered that I once had a pup of my own. If he had been born safely, he would be old enough to hunt by now.

But that hope had been stolen from me.

I had lost our first pup inexplicably, a loss that tore a hole in my soul.

When I'd desperately searched for answers, Ryder had been cold, telling me only to move on and focus on my duties.

Lyra spoke in her usual soft tone, "Luna, I heard your argument just now. I didn't know that having the Alpha help care for my pup would displease you so much."

"Sister, I never wanted to cause problems between you and Ryder. Our parents raised us to love each other."

"I will leave the pack lands today. I'll take my little one and find a new place to live immediately. I will never again interfere with your sacred bond."

Ryder's brow furrowed instantly, his Alpha's protective instincts flaring as a clear reluctance showed in his eyes.

"You are a member of our pack. This is your home. No one can drive you and your child away."

After saying that, he turned to me, his eyes full of accusation.

"Ember, don't take your anger with me out on a weak Omega. You've just recovered from your battle wounds, don't let your inner wolf lose control again."

"How can you treat your own sister this way? After everything your parents have done for both of you?"

Once again, he had shifted all the blame onto me.

My father's wolf eyes turned a dangerous gold, his voice a low growl as he gripped my arm.

"You will obey an Elder's order. How dare you treat Lyra this way? We raised you both with equal love, and this is how you repay us?"

"Lyra has always been the perfect daughter, while you… you've become a source of shame for our family."

"Now that you two have a bloodline to continue, if you still dare to dissolve the sacred bond, don't blame me for using my authority as an Elder to exile you!"

I took a deep breath, slowly glancing around at these people I called family.

My nose stung, but I did my best to remain calm.

This time, I would fight for myself.

"Threatening me is useless."

"I told you, this bond must be broken."

With that, I turned and left that suffocating place.

Ryder roared behind me, "Ember, you will regret this!"

"Since you've chosen betrayal, don't think you can take any property belonging to this pack. You'd better be prepared to become a lone wolf."

"Since you've already found a new Alpha and are ready to abandon this place, don't blame me for destroying every last shred of warmth between us!"

Without looking back, I walked out of the hall and went straight to the Elder Council's office.

I placed the dissolution papers I had prepared on the Great Elder's desk.

"I request an emergency council meeting to review my request to dissolve my mate bond with the Alpha."

The Great Elder quickly scanned the document, his brow furrowing.

"Luna, are you certain you want to take this step? It will have a great impact on the stability of the pack."

I took a faintly glowing crystal from my bag.

"I have new evidence."

It recorded every intimate moment between Ryder and Lyra in the nursery, as well as the agonized howls of my inner wolf during those painful nights.