Fragments of a Vow

"Moon Goddess, I'd like to go home," says Seraphina Jarett.

The Will of the Moon Goddess speaks to her in her mind. She doesn't reply in any form of language. Instead, it is a calm and saddened torrent of consciousness.

"Alright, my child. Your mission is about to be completed. In a week, your soul can leave this place."

The usually authoritative voice pauses for a few seconds, which is a rare occurrence.

Unable to understand my choice, she says, "My child, you have a mate who loves you deeply and sees you as the light of his life. Your pup puts you first in everything. Isn't this your home now? They are your family… your pack."

When Seraphina hears the word "family", her gaze lands on the Moon Pool that is in the middle of the room.

At the moment, the pool is showing the Alpha of the Blackwood pack, Caelum Blackwood, and his son, Liam Blackwood, touching down in the pack's private airport.

Caelum Blackwood strode forward with his son, Liam Blackwood, in his arms. His Alpha aura forces the surrounding werewolves to part and make way for him automatically.

A messenger from a neighboring pack hurried after them.

He asked, "Alpha Caelum, I heard you wrapped up the border negotiations in Freca yesterday and rushed back overnight. Why the hurry? Did something urgent concerning the pack require your immediate return?"

Among the werewolf packs, Caelum was well-known for having an icy disposition. But upon being asked those questions, he unexpectedly showed an incredibly gentle smile to the transmission crystal in the messenger's hand.

"It's my Luna's birthday today. So, of course, my pup and I have to return to spend time with her."

His voice was low and powerful, and it spread through all his territories via the transmission crystal.

He added, "To me, anything that has to do with my Luna is of the highest priority."

The tiny Liam raised the leather pouch in his hands as well. "Mom, Dad and I prepared a gift for you! We'll be home soon!"

The messenger wanted to ask more, but Caelum silenced him with a look that made it clear that he wouldn't entertain any more questions. His figure quickly moved out of frame and disappeared.

The messenger sighed and said with deep envy, "The Blackwood pack Alpha's devotion to his Luna hasn't changed even after ten years. Their mate bond is still going strong. He truly is the best mate a she-wolf could ask for.

"Even the heir of the Blackwood pack behaves just like him. With an Alpha like that and a pup like that, Luna Seraphina must have a very happy and wholesome family life."

Seraphina Jarrett waved her hand to erase the image on the Moon Pool's surface and let out a bitter smile.

Was she happy?

A month ago, she would have answered without hesitation that she was absolutely blissful.

But now, she couldn't bring herself to say such words.

No one knew that she wasn't originally from this world.

Ten years ago, the Moon Goddess had sent her soul here with a single mission. She was tasked with saving Caelum, who had witnessed his parents' brutal deaths as a pup. The tragic experience left his soul shattered ever since.

When Seraphina first met him, he was a gloomy, feral, and withdrawn teenager who shut himself off from the world. It took her three full years to slowly guide him out of the darkness and help him grow into the powerful and respected Alpha he was today.

The moment he fully took control of the Blackwood pack, her mission was complete.

However, when the Moon Goddess had asked whether she wanted to leave, she hesitated.

Images of Caelum clinging to her, growling and pleading for her not to go, flashed in her mind. He had already lost his parents once. She couldn't imagine what would become of him if his fated mate left him too.

Therefore, Seraphina chose to stay in this world, and she became his mate by undergoing the mate-bonding ceremony with him.

During the moonlit ceremony, she had solemnly told Caelum that if he ever betrayed their mate bond, her soul would disappear from this world.

At that time, Caelum had held her hand and promised such a day would never come. He swore his love for her would be as eternal as the moon.

After their bonding, his love for her stayed passionate just as he had sworn it would.

For every big or small anniversary, Caelum pushed aside all pack affairs to be with Seraphina. When other she-wolves flirted with him during meetings, he crushed their advances without mercy, making use of his Alpha dominance.

When Seraphina gave birth to Liam, she had a very difficult labor. She spent one whole day in the delivery room. Caelum knelt outside the entire time, praying to the Moon Goddess for her well-being.

When word came that she survived the ordeal, he stumbled to her bedside. He didn't care about his legs that had gone completely numb. With tears streaming down his face, he gripped her hands emotionally.

"It's all my fault, Sera. I never should've said I wanted an heir. We won't have a second pup. I can't let you risk your life again," he said tearfully.

To show his resolve, he had the pack shaman perform an ancient ritual that very day to ensure he would never father another pup.

When naming their pup, he chose "Liam" without hesitation. It was because the name meant "resolute protector". Caelum said it reflected his feelings for her.

With him as a role model, little Liam grew into Seraphina's tiny protector.

Even at a young age, he tore off the softest parts of their prey's flesh and fed it to her. When she accidentally scratched her finger on thorns, he immediately licked the wound in distress and ran to get herbs to bandage her.

Outsiders joked that in the Blackwood pack, it wasn't the pup who needed care. Instead, it was Seraphina who was constantly doted on.

Liam puffed out his chest proudly and declared, "Mom is my Luna. Of course, I must take care of her."

Caelum patted his head with a similar proud smile. "My Luna doesn't need to do anything. She only needs to be loved by us."

Seraphina once firmly believed she would stay happy forever. However, nothing was meant to last. Caelum's steadfast vows were gone with the wind as time passed.

The Alpha and his pup, who once loved her so deeply, had now built a "home" with another she-wolf named Rayna Klein.

The two of them had secretly visited her countless times.

Seraphina's mate of seven years now wrapped his arm around Rayna's waist and called her "baby" affectionately.

Her pup, whom she carried in her belly for nine months, now lay curled up in Rayna's arms while softly calling her name.

In truth, they hadn't gone to Freca for negotiations at all. They had accompanied Rayna on a hunting trip in the Azmurs.

Seraphina's warning during the mate-bonding ceremony had become a prophecy.

The moment she learned the truth, she had made up her mind to leave this world. She would leave Caelum and Liam, the father and son who were full of lies.

Staring at the cake melting in front of her, Seraphina whispered, "They are no longer my family. I'm leaving them."

The moment the words left her lips, two voices rang out behind her.

"Who's leaving?"