Chapter 5

The day of the Mating Ceremony.

I woke before dawn, but I could already hear the sounds of activity outside. The entire pack was preparing for this "wedding of the century."

I got up and walked to the vanity.

The moon-thread gown fit my body perfectly, its train spreading across the floor like flower petals.

The veil was as light as a cloud, and the diamond hairpiece sparkled in the light.

But the woman in the mirror had a calm face and eyes that held a wild, chilling resolve.

I picked up the clear potion and downed it in one go.

The potion burned a path down my throat. A violent agony ripped through my wolf. The change was beginning.

My scent was shifting, my wolf's frequency recalibrating. Soon, no wolf would ever recognize me.

The pain only lasted a few minutes, then faded to nothing.

When I arrived at the ceremony site, a magnificent altar had been built, decorated with countless white roses and moonstones.

Below the cliff was the raging Pacific Ocean, its waves crashing against the rocks with a deafening roar.

"The global broadcast is live! Viewership has passed fifty million!" a pack worker reported excitedly.

I stood alone at the edge of the cliff as the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over me.

With the endless ocean and churning waves as my backdrop, it was breathtakingly beautiful.

The live comments flew across the screen:

"OMG, Cressida is gorgeous!"

"She's a real-life fairy-tale princess!"

"Ronan and Cressida are true fated mates!"

"This is the power of a fated mate!"

I looked at the praise with nothing but cold irony in my heart.

Would they still say that if they knew the truth?

The roar of an engine grew louder. Ronan burst out of his car.

He was wearing a custom black tuxedo, looking as handsome as a prince from a painting. His face was lit with a brilliant smile, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Cressida!"

He ran toward me, his hand outstretched.

"My love, I'm here!"

The live comments exploded again:

"Ahhh, this is so sweet!"

"Look at Ronan's face! You can see how much he loves her!"

"This love is going to make me cry!"

But I didn't smile.

I looked at him calmly, my eyes empty of any joy.

"Cressida?" Ronan reached me, sensing something was wrong. "What is it? Why aren't you happy?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I pulled something from a hidden pocket in my gown.

An ancient silver dagger.

Its blade was carved with old runes, its hilt embedded with a black gemstone.

It was a gift from my father. They said it could sever any curse.

"Cressida, what are you doing with that?" Ronan asked, confused.

I raised the dagger and aimed it at my left wrist. A red silk cord was tied there—the sacred cord of our bond.

The pack elder had tied it for us five years ago at my Luna ceremony.

It meant our souls were bound together until death.

"Cressida! Don't!" Ronan realized what I was about to do, lunging to stop me.

But it was too late.

With a single, decisive slice, the silver blade severed the red cord.

Blood dripped from my wrist. The cord fluttered away on the ocean breeze.

"No—" Ronan let out a howl of agony.

When a werewolf's bond is cut by force, the pain is unbearable for both. But I no longer cared about pain.

I let the dagger fall from my fingers and met a stunned Ronan’s gaze.

The cameras captured it all. The entire world was watching.

The live comments instantly changed:

"What just happened?"

"Why did Cressida cut the cord?"

"Is this a joke?"

"Oh my god, she's bleeding!"

I took a deep breath. "Ronan," I said, my voice ringing out for the whole world to hear. "Being your mate is the greatest curse of my life. I, Cressida, reject you, Alpha Ronan."

Just then, several gunshots rang out from a distance. Smoke bombs exploded, and white smoke instantly blanketed the entire cliff.

I turned to face the edge. Below me was the churning ocean.

"Cressida! NO!" Ronan screamed, reaching for me through the smoke.

But I had already jumped.

The last thing I heard before the cold swallowed me was Ronan’s heart-shattering howl.

Then, the cold ocean swallowed me whole.