The Betrayal
On the night of the Blood Moon, the bond I thought was unbreakable shattered. My mate, Alpha Xander–the one chosen for me by the Moon Goddess–arranged a sacred pack ceremony. Only it wasn’t for us. It was for Cecilia, my childhood best friend, who was dying from a rare
werewolf curse. Her final wish was to bond with Xander, and he agreed… without. consulting me.
Xander kept everything secret, even commanding the pack to silence. But Cecilia, perhaps driven by guilt or malice, projected the ceremony through the pack link. I watched as the man destined to be mine shared vows beneath the Sacred Oak. That night, my wolf, Vieve, howled in anguish until I collapsed from grief.
After the ceremony, Xander stayed with Cecilia in the Forbidden Forest, claiming his presence was necessary to stabilize her
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fading life force. Meanwhile, when a rogue attack left me gravely injured, he was rushing Cecilia to the healers, leaving me to fend for myself.
In the depths of despair, I found solace in the courtship of Kade Hux, the formidable Alpha King of the Shadowfang Pack. Known as the most powerful Alpha in existence, Kade was a legend–a wolf feared, revered, and emotionally untouchable. Yet, against all odds, he had chosen me to be his Luna, the one woman to stand by his side.
“Arden Winterbane,” Kade’s voice resonated through the mind link, low and rich like distant thunder. “Are you truly ready to become my Luna?”
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.
Soon after, a messenger hawk arrived. bearing a velvet pouch containing several moonstone–embedded rings.
“These were crafted by my ancestors,”
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Kade’s note read. “But if none please.
you, we will journey to the Celestial Bazaar together. You deserve perfection.”
After carefully inspecting the moonstone bands, I sent him a mind link. “The crescent–carved silver with the bloodstone core is perfect. Let’s choose that for our mating bond rings.”
The moment I sent word to Kade, Xander stormed into my chambers. His silver eyes glowed with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine, his wolf barely restrained beneath the surface. “Mating bond ring?” he snarled, his voice low and dangerous.
“What ring?” The possessiveness lacing his words caught me off guard.
Before I could answer, Cecilia‘ s frantic voice buzzed through mind–link, “Arden, is Xander with you? The curse is worsening… I need him.”
Xander‘ s expression darkened as he severed our link and focused solely on
hers. “Cecilia, I’m coming!” Without so
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much as a glance back, he stormed out, his wolf taking over in his haste.
I stood there, my heart strangely calm. The mate bond should have pulled me after him, but instead, it felt like a severed
tether. For the first time, I realized I didn’t need him.
Once again, received a telephatic communication but this time, it was Kade, “Arden, I’ll arrive at dusk tomorrow. Be ready.”
Gazing out into the twilight, I replied softly, “Give me a few days to close this chapter. Then I’ll be yours.”
His voice was gentle but firm. “You don‘ t need to face this alone. If anything happens, call for me.”
After ending the link, I reached out to Elder Winterbane, the pack‘ s oldest advisor and my father’s confidant. The
Winterbane bloodline had served as protectors of the Sacred Vale for
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generations. When I was a child, my father made a desperate pact with the
Hallowspring Pack to save my life from a deadly venom. That pact had led to my union with Xander.
Elder Winterbane’s voice was calm as
ever. “My child, are you certain this is the path you wish to walk?”
“Yes, Elder. I need to leave this pack, leave Xander, and start anew.”
That night, Xander didn’t return to the packhouse. Instead, Cecilia sent me a taunting message through the pack link:
“Look at us, Arden. Isn’t this what true mates should look like?” Her mental image of them standing hand–in–hand beneath the moonlight cut through me like a blade.
And she followed, “I didn’t mean to link that to you. Xander asked me to share it. You‘ re not upset, are you?”
I didn’t respond. Instead, I went to my
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quarters and began packing my belongings.
The following morning, Xander finally returned. He came bearing an ornate necklace, the pendant forged from starsteel -a gift meant to placate me.
“Arden, Cecilia‘ s condition worsened last night. I had no choice,” he explained. “I had to stay with her so she wouldn’t harm herself.”
I held the necklace, its power thrumming faintly against my skin. He had given Cecilia a similar gift once, but this one felt different–stronger, more intimate.
“It’s beautiful. You should give it to her,” I said flatly, pushing the box back toward him.
Xander‘ s wolf growled low in his throat. “Don’t be like this, Arden. You‘ re my mate. We have a lifetime ahead of us. Cecilia is… complicated.”
“Then go,” I replied, my voice devoid of
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emotion. “She needs you more than I do right now.”
His tone softened. “I’m glad you understand me, Arden. This is for you. For you alone.”
I didn’t care to hear more. With a shrug, I turned to leave, but his hand shot out,
gripping my wrist, his touch firm and unyielding.
