All Chapters of 99 Betrayals, One Broken Bond: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Kaelen, I saw this house downtown. You'll give it to me, won't you?"I slid the file across the table, my voice perfectly level.I knew he wouldn't say no.Sure enough, a small smile played on Kaelen's lips. He looked like he was in a great mood as he picked up the pen and signed his name, without even glancing at the pages inside.But I knew his good mood had nothing to do with me. I'd already glimpsed the text on his phone:"Kaelen, my treatment is over. I'm coming home next week. —Eileen"The wolf inside me shivered, but the usual searing pain was gone.She was tired. Just like me."A house downtown?" Kaelen finally focused on me, a smile on his lips. "Avril, you must be the richest Luna in all the packs by now. I've given you, what, sixty-something villas and manors in prime locations..."I just smiled faintly, saying nothing.He'd lost count himself. It was a hundred.Kaelen stood up and wrapped his arms around me from behind, just like he used to, kissing the top of my head. "Bu

Chapter 2

Twenty-five days until the agreement took effect.It was also my birthday.The manor was decorated like a fairy tale. White roses cascaded from the main gate all the way to the ballroom. Moon Goddess totems hung from crystal chandeliers, and the air smelled of champagne and cedar.Kaelen had picked out a deep red gown for me himself."You're the star of the show tonight," he said, standing behind me to fasten a diamond necklace. His fingertips lingered on the back of my neck for a second. "Every wolf will see that you are the most beautiful Luna."In the mirror, his smile was just as gentle as it was five years ago.I lowered my gaze, silent.At the party, he never left my side.He served me food, took drinks for me, and kept his hand firmly on my waist as he introduced me to every guest."This is my mate, Avril," he repeated, over and over, his eyes filled with pride. "The most important person in my life."The other Lunas looked on with envy."Avril, you truly are the Moon Goddess's

Chapter 3

Kaelen came back the next morning.The collar of his suit was slightly open, and he smelled of a perfume that didn't belong in this house.I was sitting at the dining table, slowly stirring a cup of coffee that had long gone cold."Avril." He sat down across from me, looking a little awkward. "About last night, I'm sorry."I looked up at him."Eileen... her health has always been poor. She came down with a fever in the middle of the night, and there was no one to look after her, so I had to stay," he explained quickly. "I don't have any other feelings for her, really. We grew up together. I just see her as a little sister."A sister you kiss like that?"I know," I gave him a small smile. "You're a loyal man. I've always known that."Kaelen stared at me.He probably expected me to cry, to make a scene, to grab his sleeve and ask him why like I used to."You're... not mad?" he asked tentatively."Why would I be mad?" I took a sip of my coffee. "She's family."A flicker of panic crossed h

Chapter 4

One day left.Kaelen had spent the last two days with Eileen, but he had started texting me every night."Some old guy at the summit talked for three hours today. I almost fell asleep.""Just tried a new steakhouse. I'll take you next time.""Do the roses in the garden need pruning? I'll have the gardener take care of it."It was almost like we were a normal couple, separated by distance.I stared at the messages, almost laughing out loud.Five years.He had never once sent me messages like this when he was away.And now, on the eve of my departure, he'd suddenly learned how to "share."But it was too late.I didn't reply.I was busy with other things.I had movers pack my personal belongings and ship them south, to a pack where it was spring year-round, half a continent away.I contacted a lawyer and put all one hundred properties into a trust.I got a new SIM card. I'd destroy the old one right before my flight took off.Eileen was still happily taunting me. She sent a close-up of th

Chapter 5

It was Kaelen. Messages from him kept flooding my mind."Avril, where are you going?""Why aren't you answering my mind-link?""What the hell is going on? Please, just stop and let me explain."I frowned at the messages and shut him out.And just like that, the world went quiet.The city's neon lights blurred past the car window. I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes.But the quiet didn't last long.A shrill honk blared from behind us. Then again. And again.I opened my eyes and glanced in the rearview mirror.That familiar black sports car was glued to our tail.I could already make out the frantic look on Kaelen's face through his windshield."Miss," the driver said, his voice laced with nerves, "that car behind us...""Step on it," I cut him off, my voice calm. "Lose him.""But...""I'll triple your fare."The driver didn't hesitate again. He slammed his foot on the gas.The car shot forward like an arrow, swerving into the fastest lane on the highway.The traffic starte

Chapter 6

He stood in the doorway, his eyes burning with a frantic energy, as if he was afraid I’d vanish if he looked away."Avril," he began, his voice raw.I didn’t get up. I just looked at him."What are you doing here?"He took two steps forward, but seeing the rejection in my eyes, he stopped.For a second, the way he stood there, completely lost, reminded me of five years ago.The man who had knelt under the moonlight and whispered, "Avril, just give me a chance.""Where are you going?" he asked, his voice careful. "Why didn't you answer my mind-link?"I was silent for a few seconds, then I laughed."Kaelen," I said, "our mate bond is broken. It’s only natural for me to leave, don't you think?"His pupils shrank to pinpricks."What did you say?""Go back to Eileen," I said, leaning back lazily against the sofa. "She needs you, doesn't she?""Avril!" he practically roared. "What are you talking about? What broken bond? I never agreed to that!""You did," I said, pulling a copy of the agree

Chapter 7

An hour later, I was on a plane to the southern packs.Kaelen didn't try to stop me again.He even arranged everything for me, including a first-class ticket.I was too tired to argue, so I just let him.At the boarding gate, he called out to me."Avril."I didn't turn around."Us..." his voice came from behind me, so hoarse I could barely hear it. "Is there really no way to fix us?"My fingers tightened around my boarding pass, then relaxed.I didn't stop walking. I didn't give him an answer.I just held up my pass to the scanner at the gate.The machine beeped, and the gate opened.I walked through.My silence was my answer.On the plane, I slept more soundly than I had in years.No more wondering if my mate was in someone else's bed. No more fear of being abandoned.When the cabin announcement signaled our descent, I opened my eyes and looked out the window.The southern sky was a pale, lake-blue.The clouds were thin, and sunlight poured through the gaps, shattering into a million

Chapter 8

A week later, I had settled into life here.It was a gentle pack, far from the politics and power struggles of the north.No one knew who I was. To my neighbors, I was just another wolf from up north on vacation.I slept in every day, walked on the beach, bought fruit from the market, and in the evenings, I'd cook with the B&B owner.I also fell in love with a coffee shop by the sea.It was a small place with a soft, cream-colored exterior and two wicker chairs out front.The sign simply read: "Halcyon."I pushed open the door, and the light, roasted scent of coffee beans drifted out to greet me.Behind the counter, a tall man was bent over, pouring a coffee.He looked up when the bell chimed.He had the kindest amber eyes."Welcome," he smiled. "What can I get for you?"I sat down at the bar. "You choose."He tilted his head. "You look... like you'd enjoy a lighter roast, something with a bit of acidity.""I would, yes," I said, a little surprised.He smiled, said nothing more, and tu

Chapter 9

The next morning, Rhys was waiting downstairs right on time.He was wearing a light-colored shirt and carrying a thermos."Morning," he said, handing it to me. "I made your favorite coffee."I took it, the warmth seeping into my fingertips.Our first stop was the town's open-air market.Sunlight, voices, and the scents of various spices all mixed together in the air.I stopped at a spice stall, breathing in the faint, sweet-and-spicy aroma."Cardamom?" Rhys said from behind me. "You like this scent?"I turned to look at him. "How did you know?""A guess," he smiled, buying a small bag from the vendor and handing it to me. "For you."On the next street was a small archery stall.One of the prizes was a pale blue gem pendant that shimmered like moonlight.I only glanced at it.But Rhys had already taken the bow from the stall owner and won the gem."Here," he said, handing it to me, his eyes crinkling. "For you."I stared at him. "What is with you today...?""Just lucky," he winked.At n

Chapter 10

Inside the bear costume, Kaelen was drenched in sweat.His vision was a narrow tunnel through the costume's round eyeholes. He could only watch as I stood just a few feet away.He had thought all his careful planning tonight would earn him a hug, or at the very least, a "let's talk."But the next second, he watched me throw myself into Rhys's arms."I'm not going to him."The words cut through the thick fur of the costume and straight into his heart.Kaelen froze.It was suffocatingly hot inside the suit.But a bitter cold shot through him, starting from his feet and racing straight to the top of his head.Rhys held me for a long time, until his arms went numb, before he finally let me go.We started walking back along the beach, the moonflower swaying in my hand.I didn't stop as we passed the bear.But a second later—"Avril." That familiar, hoarse voice came from behind me.The bear clumsily reached out and blocked my path.Rhys's brow furrowed, and he instinctively stepped in front

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