Chapter 3

—Callum—

I stood frozen and tense, watching the brave girl walk confidently out of the chaotic hall.

I never imagined things would turn out this way. Rhea didn’t hesitate to refuse my rejection. She ignored the pressure from Maren and everyone else in the hall.

'You truly are incredible, Rhea. You’re special. You really do deserve to stand by my side as my mate and my Luna.'

I managed a bitter smile and faced the truth. 'But I’m not that lucky, Rhea. I can’t accept you as my mate and my Luna.'

I sighed and looked up, hoping the Moon Goddess was listening. 'Moon Goddess, forgive me. You must know why I rejected Rhea. Please let her be happy with another mate.'

I stayed rooted in the middle of the hall. My body shook as I tried to hold back my raging wolf, who howled in protest at what I’d done. That only made the curse hurt me more. The stronger my wolf’s energy grew, the more violently the curse’s poison reacted.

Heat spread through my neck. I wanted to rip off my scarf and coat, to lash out and let out the pain like I usually did. But not here. The Pack didn’t need to know their Alpha was waiting for death. I had to stay in control.

The chaos in the hall grew worse. People kept insulting and mocking Rhea, and it hurt to hear. Others urged me to choose another woman to take her place as Luna right away.

"Everyone, calm down!" one of the elders called out, trying to restore order. "We will wait for Alpha Callum’s decision."

Suddenly, everyone went silent, waiting for my decision.

"Alpha, you must decide. Choose a respectable woman from our Pack to be Luna Sollene by your side," one of the elders said.

"That’s right, Alpha. We are awaiting the best Luna to keep the Sollene Pack stable. It’s all for the good of the Pack," another elder insisted. Only Elder Normand remained silent. He didn’t pressure me, because only he knew about my condition.

"Alpha, how about choosing Miss Maren Sallow as Luna? She’s very suitable for the position, isn’t she?"

"Yes!!"

Suddenly, someone suggested Maren as Luna, and others quickly shouted in agreement.

I glanced at Maren. She smiled sweetly, but I could tell it was fake and driven by ambition.

I sighed. They were trying to push me around. No. I’m the Alpha. I make my own decisions, not them.

"Quiet, everyone! Let the Alpha decide!"

This time, Elder Normand spoke up. His voice was loud and authoritative, so no one dared to object. He was the oldest and wisest in the Pack, and the one closest to me.

"Alpha, please, go ahead," he said, looking at me.

I nodded and looked around the grand hall, taking in every corner. Everyone kept their heads down, avoiding my eyes.

"I understand your hopes and wishes, and I appreciate them. But we cannot go against the rules of the Moon Goddess."

I stayed silent for a moment, looking around the room again. They still kept their heads down, and no one spoke.

"The Sollene Pack became great and strong because of the blessings and protection of the Moon Goddess, so we must not be disobedient by going against her."

"But Alpha, haven’t you already rejected the mate chosen for you by the Moon Goddess?" A middle-aged man asked from the front row.

"That’s true, and it’s not against the Moon Goddess’s rules. But you forget. Rhea Callisto refused my rejection. That means our mate bond is still in limbo. And during this time, I can’t choose another woman. Isn’t that right, elders?"

This time, I asked the elders directly, especially the two who had pressured me before. They knew the Pack rules and the laws of the Moon Goddess well. But sometimes, ambition made them twist the rules for their own benefit.

"Exactly right, Alpha," Elder Normand replied, while the other two just lowered their heads.

"Rejection is a right granted by the Moon Goddess, including the right to refuse a rejection. If one mate does not accept the rejection, the mate bond remains in limbo—until the Moon Goddess herself decides and gives each a new mate. That happens after three full moons."

The room went silent as everyone remembered the sacred rules.

"So, I have decided there will be no appointment of Luna tonight, until a time yet to be determined."

After I finished speaking, I turned and signaled to Turan Croft, Sollene’s loyal Beta who always stood by me. Turan nodded and stepped forward to take over.

"You’ve all heard the Alpha’s decision. There will be no Luna appointed. Now, I order everyone to disperse! Return to your places!"

Turan’s voice echoed through the hall. No one argued. Slowly, everyone began to leave, even the elders. Before he left, Elder Normand gave me a worried look. I just nodded back.

I walked away, a little unsteady, but Turan had already cleared my path so no one could come near me.

Turan quickly caught up to me. "Alpha, are you alright?"

I just nodded. "Turan, take me to the usual place."

Turan quickly helped me down the mansion hallway and down the stairs to the basement.

This room had been here since I was a teenager. It seemed my father had prepared it for me.

This was a secret room where I trained, rested, and tried to control my madness whenever the curse’s poison took over. When that happened, my wolf would go wild, unable to tell friend from foe. Chaining my hands and feet was the only way to keep everyone safe. Only Turan, Normand, and my parents knew about the curse.

I quickly took off my scarf and coat, then gulped down several glasses of water, the heat making me desperately thirsty.

I stood and looked in the mirror. Dark purple veins had started to spread across my neck and would soon reach my face. When that happened, I usually lost control.

"Alpha, now?" Turan asked anxiously. I nodded.

Turan quickly brought me to another room and secured heavy chains on both my hands and feet. Usually, Turan would wait outside until my rage subsided and my strength faded, then he would release the chains and lay me on the bed.

I sat in chains, resigned. My body felt weak, yet my heart pounded wildly. Sweat poured from every pore. My nerves felt frozen, while blood surged and boiled in my veins. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the pain and torment to come.

Suddenly, Rhea’s image flashed in my mind. She smiled softly and said something that confused me. "Callum, I’ll help you."

I opened my eyes and shook my head. "No, Rhea, you wouldn’t be able to," I muttered unconsciously.

I sighed. Back in the hall, when Rhea and I were close, I could still sense her calming scent. It made me want to hold her, but that was impossible.

There was something strange about Rhea’s behavior. She kept looking at my neck, as if she knew what I was hiding under my scarf and coat collar.

Honestly, Rhea’s behavior unsettled me. Did she know about the curse? No, that couldn’t be.

My mind kept returning to Rhea—her gaze, her smile, her scent. It felt like she filled my thoughts and even my breath.

I didn’t know how long I’d been sitting here, chained, until the door burst open.

"Alpha!"