Chapter Four

Ruth's POV

"This is going to hurt."

The pack shaman, an ancient woman named Elena, placed herbs in a circle around me. The basement ritual room smelled of sage and something bitter that made my nose burn.

"I've felt worse," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.

James stood nearby, watching with concern. "We can wait—"

"No," I cut him off. "It has to be tonight."

Elena looked between us. "You understand what you're asking? Breaking a mate bond while pregnant... I've only seen it attempted twice. Both times..."

"What happened?" I asked, though I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

"One woman survived but lost the pup. The other..." She shook her head. "The other didn't survive at all."

My hand went to my stomach protectively. "There has to be another way."

"The only other way is acceptance," Elena said. "Both parties accepting the rejection. Without that, we force the bond to break. It's... violent."

"Do it," I said before I could change my mind.

Elena began chanting in the old language. The herbs started smoking, filling the room with thick, gray clouds. At first, I felt nothing.

Then the pain hit.

It started in my chest, right where the bond lived. Like someone had reached inside and grabbed my heart with burning fingers. I gasped, falling to my knees.

"Ruth!" James stepped forward, but Elena stopped him.

"Don't touch her! It could kill them both!"

The pain spread like fire through my veins. Every cell in my body screamed in agony. My wolf howled, fighting against what we were doing. She didn't want to let go. She wanted her mate.

Through the bond, I felt Langmore's sudden alarm. He could feel what was happening. Feel me trying to sever our connection.

"Stop!" His voice roared through the bond. "Ruth, stop! Please!"

I squeezed my eyes shut, tears streaming down my face. The herbs burned brighter, the smoke thicker.

"I'm almost there," Elena chanted. "Just a little more—"

The door exploded inward.

Langmore stood in the doorway, his eyes glowing gold, his chest heaving. Behind him, my father and Marcus looked shocked.

"Stop this!" Langmore roared. "You're killing her!"

"Get out!" I gasped through the pain. "You have no right—"

"I have every right!" He stepped into the circle, and the herbs burst into flames. "You're my mate!"

"Not anymore!" I screamed.

He grabbed my hands, and the moment our skin touched, the pain intensified. But underneath it, I felt the bond sing. It wanted to heal, to reconnect.

"I accept it," he said suddenly.

Everything stopped. The pain, the smoke, even time seemed to freeze.

"What?" I whispered.

"I accept your rejection," he said, his voice breaking. "If this is what you want, if this is what you need to be free of me, then I accept it."

The bond shattered.

It didn't hurt like I expected. It was more like... emptiness. Like something vital had been carved out of my chest, leaving a hollow space behind.

I collapsed, and Langmore caught me before I hit the ground. His touch didn't burn anymore. It was just... touch. The touch of a stranger.

"The pup?" I gasped, my hand going to my stomach.

Elena quickly checked me over, her hands glowing with healing energy. "Still there. Still strong." She looked amazed. "I don't understand. The acceptance... it protected you both."

Langmore's hand covered mine on my stomach. "Our pup is okay?"

"Don't," I said weakly, pulling away from him. "You don't get to care now."

He sat back, and for the first time, I really looked at him. He looked destroyed. His eyes were red-rimmed, his face gaunt. The bond breaking had hurt him too, maybe even more than me.

"Why?" I asked. "Why accept it now?"

"Because I love you," he said simply. "And sometimes loving someone means letting them go."

"You should have thought of that before you slept with Mara," I said bitterly.

"I never slept with Mara."

The room went silent. Everyone stared at him.

"What?" I breathed.

"I never touched her. The pup isn't mine." He ran his hand through his hair. "She lied. About everything."

"That's not possible," I said. "You announced it. You chose her over me."

"I was drugged," he said. "The night of the celebration. Mara put something in my drink. I don't remember most of it, but I know I never... we never..."

"You're lying," I accused, but my wolf—even wounded and broken—could sense truth from lies. And he was telling the truth.

"The pup is my Beta's," he continued. "Thomas. He confessed everything yesterday when I confronted him. They've been planning this for months. Get rid of you, install Mara as Luna, eventually challenge me for Alpha."

I felt sick. "You threw me away for a lie?"

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry, Ruth. I was so angry about not having an heir, so frustrated, and when Mara showed up claiming to be pregnant, I... I lost my mind."

"You humiliated me," I said. "In front of everyone."

"I know."

"You called me barren. Useless. Weak."

"I know."

"You broke my heart."

"I know," he said, tears finally falling. "And I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

James stepped forward. "I think you should leave."

Langmore stood slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. "I came here to force you home. The Council is outside, waiting. I have the legal documents, everything I need to make you come back."

My heart raced. "And?"

"And I'm not going to use them." He pulled out a folder and set it on fire with his lighter. "You're free, Ruth. You and our pup. I won't fight you anymore."

"Why should I believe you?" I asked.

"Because I'm leaving," he said. "Tonight. I'm stepping down as Alpha of Bloodmoon. Thomas and Mara can have it. They wanted it so badly, they can deal with the mess they've made."

"You're abandoning your pack?" Marcus asked, shocked.

"A pack that conspired against my mate? That helped destroy my marriage? They're not my pack anymore." He looked at me one last time. "I know I don't deserve forgiveness. I know I destroyed everything good between us. But I want you to know that you were the best thing that ever happened to me. And I'm sorry I realized it too late."

He turned to leave, then paused. "The pup... will you at least let me know when it's born? I won't ask for anything, I just... I'd like to know they're okay."

I couldn't speak past the lump in my throat, so I just nodded.

After he left, the room was silent for a long moment.

"Well," James said finally. "I guess you don't need to marry me anymore."

I laughed, but it came out more like a sob. "I guess not."

My father helped me stand. "Come on. Let's get you to bed."

As we walked upstairs, I felt strange. Empty where the bond used to be, but also... lighter somehow. Free.

"Do you believe him?" Marcus asked. "About Mara and the lies?"

"Yes," I admitted. "He might be many things, but he's not a liar."

"So what are you going to do now?" my father asked.

I looked down at my stomach, at the life growing inside me. My pup. Mine alone now.

"I'm going to be a mother," I said. "The best mother I can be. Everything else... I'll figure it out as I go."

But as I lay in bed that night, my hand on my stomach, I couldn't stop thinking about the look in Langmore's eyes when he'd accepted the rejection. The pain, the regret, the love.

He'd given up everything for me. His pack, his position, his pride. He'd set me free even though it destroyed him.

I told myself I didn't care. I told myself it didn't matter.

But my wolf, broken and grieving, whispered the truth: We still love him.

And that was the cruelest irony of all. The bond was gone, but the love remained. And I didn't know if that made things better or worse.

Outside my window, snow began to fall. Somewhere out there, Langmore was leaving everything behind. Starting over, just like me.

I wondered if our paths would cross again. If the Moon Goddess had more planned for us.

Then my pup kicked for the first time, and all thoughts of Langmore fled my mind.

"Hello, little one," I whispered, smiling through my tears. "I'm your mom. And I promise, I'm going to give you the best life possible."

Even if I had to do it alone.