Severing the Alpha's Worthless Vow

At our bonding ceremony, my Alpha mate Caleb Blackwood, appeared with his childhood sweetheart, Seraphina Thorne.

She wore the moon-white gown reserved for a true mate.

I watched as they stood at the entrance, accepting blessings from the guests as if they were the honored couple.

I kept my composure, even praising them as a perfect match.

She burst into tears and fled, playing the part of the wronged woman to perfection.

In response, Caleb unleashed his Alpha aura, publicly crushing me under its weight as he accused me of being vicious.

After the ceremony, on what should have been our first night together, he left with Seraphina.

I didn't argue.

I quietly sought out the pack's shaman to prepare for the ancient ritual to terminate the pregnancy.

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1

Late that night, I returned home.

Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a cold glow over the apartment.

I dragged myself toward the bedroom, where the romantic decorations for our new life together seemed to mock me.

How ridiculous, I thought.

The celebratory moonflower petals scattered across the bed hadn't been cleared away, but I was too exhausted to care.

I swept them onto the floor, collapsed onto the soft mattress, and let the weight of the day consume me.

The moment I activated my communication crystal, a notification popped up—as if on cue. Seraphina Thorne had posted an update on the pack’s internal network.

"Thank you for the company. Every moment was precious."

The post included a photo: Caleb holding her, their faces close as they gazed at each other under the Moonlight Falls, lips nearly touching.

His family’s heirloom bracelet was sparkling on her wrist.

If this had happened in the past, I would have stormed over there and torn him limb from limb.

But now?

I just silently powered down the crystal, rolled over, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next few days passed in silence.

I didn't receive a single mind-link from Caleb.

Instead, my feed was constantly flooded with Seraphina's updates—images of them kissing, hunting, and laughing together, flaunting their romance for all to see.

I felt nothing. No anger, no sorrow.

Instead, I contacted the Elders' Council and submitted a preliminary application to sever our mate bond.

Caleb Blackwood and I were fated mates, a prophecy from the Moon Goddess eight years ago.

Though we had only just held the bonding ceremony, our destinies had been intertwined since the day we came of age.

It had been a quiet, impulsive decision.

There was no grand ceremony, no extravagant betrothal gifts, no dazzling jewels—only two young werewolves recklessly surrendering to fate.

But now, that passion had long since turned to ash, leaving only wreckage behind.

Nearly two weeks later, I was at home, reviewing the draft from the Elders' Council for severing our bond.

The apartment was still, but the sudden sound of a key turning in the lock shattered the silence.

I looked up as Caleb and Seraphina walked in, hand in hand.

Our eyes met. I saw a flicker of awkwardness on his face before he quickly dropped her hand, his voice tight as he tried to explain.

"I took her to see Moonlight Falls. She’d never been," he stammered. "Besides, you're carrying our pup... The healer said you need to rest..."

Before he could finish, I averted my gaze, my attention returning to the documents in front of me.

I gave a dismissive nod, my disinterest thinly veiled. "Is that all?"

Whatever else he was about to say caught in his throat.

The sight of me sitting there calmly, my focus on the crystal screen, only irritated him more.

His voice turned cold. "Why are you being like this? I already told you, Seraphina had never been there—that's why I took her!"

"It's not a big deal! Why are you making such a fuss? We can go to the sacred lands anytime! What is wrong with you?"

He continued to rant, his voice laced with a palpable frustration. "How many times do I have to explain? There's nothing going on between Seraphina and me—"

I cut him off, tired of the same old lies.

"That you and Seraphina are just like siblings. Yes, I've heard."

I looked up at him, my expression placid and cool. Not a single flicker of anger.

Caleb's face hardened, his brow furrowing in frustration as his exasperated voice echoed through the room.

"Then what are you so upset about this time?"

"I'm busy," I replied, my gaze already fixed on the draft before me, without meeting his eyes.

Sensing the tension, Seraphina quickly stepped forward, her face a mask of concern as she took Caleb’s wrist. She added fuel to the fire, her voice sickeningly sweet.

"Please, Elara, don't be mad. Don't fight with Caleb because of me. He might not have taken you this time, but he bought you a special gift!"

She turned to him, her voice dripping with false innocence. "Caleb, show her the gift!"

Eager to appease me, Caleb pulled a small box from his pocket. He opened it and pushed it toward me, a smug look on his face as if he expected a grand gesture of gratitude.

"I chose this especially for you. Here, take a look."

I glanced at the box. Inside lay a simple moonstone ring, small, ordinary, and utterly devoid of magic.

After a single glance, I pushed the box back without a second thought.

"No, thank you. I'm not interested in collecting common trinkets."

An awkward silence descended upon the room. The air grew thick with tension as Caleb’s face darkened.

"What's that supposed to mean, Elara Vance?"