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Author: Alyssa J
The mate bond dissolution papers sat on my lap, the official seal catching the light.

"I said—" I started, but he cut me off.

"Look, I need to go on a business trip tomorrow. Whatever it is, we can discuss it when I get back."

The line went dead abruptly. Not even a goodbye.

I smiled bitterly, tossing the phone onto the couch beside me. I'd wanted to talk to him face to face about the dissolution, but of course, he wouldn't even give me that opportunity.

My wolf whined inside me. Soon, we would be truly free.

In the days that followed, I methodically canceled my pack registration, packed up everything that belonged to me, and moved to the temporary housing in my new pack territory.

The Northern Ridge Alpha had been surprisingly welcoming, offering me a position immediately after hearing of my organizational skills.

Throughout this time, Derek occasionally sent me pictures of wedding venue decorations.

[I had designers create five different mating ceremony layouts. Which one do you prefer?] One message read, accompanied by elaborate setups with flowing fabrics and flowers.

[I think the beach setting would be nice, don't you think? The sunset would highlight your eyes.] Said another, with images of white chairs on golden sand.

I looked at those elaborate designs, feeling a sense of mockery rise in my chest.

Two years of being marked by him. Countless nights lying awake, anticipating the mating ceremony, only to be disappointed time and again.

Now that I was leaving, he suddenly became invested in the wedding.

Meanwhile, Vivian's Facebook page updated daily, as if she were running a dedicated Derek Blackwood fan account.

It was either sweet photos of them together with captions like "movie night with my favorite person" or videos of the surprises Derek had meticulously prepared for her—flowers, jewelry, surprise dinners.

The day before Derek's promised wedding date—which was also the final day for the Alpha Council to consider our mate bond dissolution application—Vivian's Facebook page featured a proposal video.

In the video, Vivian wore a pristine white dress, standing in a garden bursting with flowers.

Derek was down on one knee. He was holding up a sparkling diamond ring that caught the sunlight.

Everyone around them was chanting "Kiss, kiss!" Their pack friends, his family.

The final freeze-frame showed Derek smiling, holding Vivian tightly in his arms, his face buried in her hair.

I watched it calmly from start to finish, surprised by how little it hurt now. I left a single "Congratulations" comment, and then blocked Vivian without a second thought.

Shortly after, as if on cue, I received a call from Derek.

He sounded excited, energetic—so different from his usual reserved tone with me.

"Kate, I'll be back tomorrow," he announced without preamble.

"I've had the entire pack prepare everything. When I return, we can hold our mating ceremony right away. I've even arranged for your favorite flowers."

The next morning, I didn't go to the beach where the mating ceremony was supposed to take place.

By noon, I still hadn't received any calls from Derek asking why I hadn't shown up.

It wasn't until evening that Derek finally returned to our shared house, looking exhausted but with a lingering scent of perfume that wasn't mine clinging to his clothes.

He stared at me sitting on the couch, guilt and unease flashing in his eyes when he saw my packed bags by the door.

"Vivian wasn't feeling well," he said, the excuse coming automatically. "It delayed my return."

"But don't worry," he added quickly. "I promise you, the next mating ceremony will definitely happen. I'm thinking next weekend. I'll make sure everything is perfect."

Hearing those words—the same empty promise for the eleventh time—I felt absolutely nothing. No anger. No disappointment. No pain. Just... nothing.

I looked at him quietly and pushed the Alpha Council-approved mate bond dissolution papers across the coffee table toward him.

"Don't bother," I said calmly, my voice steadier than it had been in years.

"The Alpha Council has approved our mate bond dissolution application. You're no longer my mate."
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  • My Mate Cancelled Mating Ceremony, I Left   10

    There's nothing new under the sun.Derek's current situation was the same old story played out by countless others before him.According to my former pack member, it took less than two months after my departure for the SilverCrest Pack to fall into disarray.This collapse wasn't solely because Derek had grown accustomed to being an absentee leader, leaving the pack headless once I was gone. It was also because his personality had become increasingly obsessive and erratic, causing him to squander opportunities that should have been easily secured."It was like watching someone deliberately sabotage themselves," Megan explained during our call. "He'd show up to meetings still drunk from the night before. He'd insult potential allies. Sometimes he wouldn't show up at all."Although I held Derek himself in contempt and disdain, I had to acknowledge that from a purely professional standpoint, he had once been exceptional. His business instincts and strategic thinking had been sharp.But in

  • My Mate Cancelled Mating Ceremony, I Left   9

    But Derek's experience was the complete opposite of mine. He too entered a new world—one far removed from me—but his was desolate and barren.As we walked out of the Alpha Council chambers, he caught up to me in the corridor, his footsteps hurried and desperate."Kate..." he began, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it. "Since we're no longer connected..."He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit I once found endearing. "As a stranger now, I should still have the right to pursue you."His eyes held a determined gleam that I recognized all too well."I'll make you see a man worthy of your love again. I'll prove myself to you."His words made my temple throb with irritation. After everything, he still didn't understand."Stop right there, Mr. Blackwood," I said coldly. "If it were possible, I'd prefer never to see you again from this moment forward."I squared my shoulders, my wolf growling inside me. "Your disgraceful behavior has sickened me enough already.""Birds of a feathe

  • My Mate Cancelled Mating Ceremony, I Left   8

    During these three days without me, Derek barely slept.The dark circles under his bloodshot eyes told the story his pride wouldn't let him voice. According to Emily, who reluctantly kept me updated, he had been pacing his office like a caged animal, snapping at anyone who dared disturb him.He spent countless hours imagining what would happen when we met at the Alpha Council. Would I soften if he showed enough remorse? Would I give this terminally ill relationship one last chance? Would his tears move me the way they had so many times before?Meanwhile, in these three days without him, I had already found peace.No more checking my phone every five minutes. No more wondering if today would be the day he finally chose me. No more rehearsing arguments in my head for the next time Vivian provoked me.I slept better than I had in years, wrapped in blankets that didn't smell like him.I dreamed of a future that belonged only to me. After breaking free from his many cages, I hadn't yet cons

  • My Mate Cancelled Mating Ceremony, I Left   7

    My chat screen with my former colleague quickly filled with exclamation marks and several recycled memes that had clearly been passed around the office."Alpha Blackwood is THAT kind of man?! People are so deceitful!""Kate, don't be too heartbroken. He's not worth it. And that Vivian—I always knew something was off about her."Derek's carefully constructed facade had finally been torn away. Behind it lay a face so ugly that no one could respect him anymore.The saying "beautiful on the outside, rotten within" described him perfectly. He was nothing but a worm in wolf's clothing.Now, I had finally shed the heaviest burden from my shoulders. Derek's emotions—his anger, sorrow, or joy—no longer had anything to do with me.Without me, Derek became like a lost bird with no place to roost, flying aimlessly through the sky, up and down in confused circles.After wandering for hours, he eventually returned alone to what had once been our home.Eight years together. It would be a lie to say t

  • My Mate Cancelled Mating Ceremony, I Left   6

    Even as Derek continued to plead for forgiveness, I remained deaf to his words.I turned and walked toward the door with purposeful strides, my heart hammering but my resolve unshaken.Just before leaving, I looked back over my shoulder and said in a tone of formal notification:"I know you're extremely busy, Alpha, but I've already scheduled our final meeting in three days with the Council."My eyes locked with his, unflinching."For our last encounter, I advise you not to be late."The stunned expression on Derek's face as I closed the door behind me was almost worth the two years of pain.After I left, Derek's panic only intensified.His only leverage—his Alpha status—had become useless against me. He couldn't imagine what other tactics might keep me by his side.Desperate, Derek immediately called the pack registry office."What's this about Kate's withdrawal?" he demanded.His tone was harsh enough to make Emily, the registrar, both flustered and confused.Normally, Derek wouldn't

  • My Mate Cancelled Mating Ceremony, I Left   5

    Derek stared at me, his expression shifting from confusion to shock as the reality of my words sank in. The color drained from his face, his confident Alpha demeanor crumbling before my eyes."The Council approved what?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.Before this moment, I had forgiven him ten times. Ten broken promises. Ten humiliations. Ten chances to change.Perhaps in his eyes, those ten forgivenesses equaled infinite tolerance—an unspoken permission for him to do whatever he wanted without consequences. "You heard me," I said, holding my ground. "Our mate bond is officially dissolved.""Kate, are you joking with me right now?" Derek's voice dropped to a dangerous low.Though he freely indulged in affairs and lived recklessly outside our relationship, the concept of actually dissolving our mate bond seemed to hit him like a physical blow. "This isn't funny," he growled."I'm not laughing," I replied evenly.The reality was painfully clear. He wanted both—he couldn't

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