This Time I’ll Let You Go

I gathered all of Jaxson's old things from my room and tossed them into the flames.

The fire blazed, waves of heat washing over me, yet I felt as if I were standing under a waterfall, cold and numb with pain.

For the next few days, the sound of demolition echoed across the pack lands.

The training ground Jaxson had built for me with his own hands was razed to the ground, replaced by Serena's favorite flower maze.

The observatory where we once meditated and stargazed together was torn down and converted into a hot spring for Serena.

Even the viewing platform where we first confessed our feelings for each other was dug up and replaced with a garden pond that Serena admired.

On the day of a small party by the pond, Serena suddenly stopped me in the yard.

She lifted her chin high, deliberately showing off the amulet around her neck.

"Jaxson found this design in his room," she said, dangling the moonsoul stone. "He said he could just tell it was meant for his fated mate. He stayed up for nights crafting it for me by hand, a token of our future bond."

She shook the amulet. "Do you like it?"

It was the cycle of the moon phases, my favorite design.

But I nodded sincerely. "It's beautiful. It suits you."

But Serena's face instantly darkened. "I don't like it."

"We both know who this design was for," she said, staring at me sharply. "You always say you don't care about Jaxson, but his past feelings for you are a constant threat. With you around, I feel like I'm walking on a cliff's edge every day."

"Then what do you want me to do?" I asked.

"Well..."

Before she could finish, she suddenly lunged sideways, flinging herself into the newly dug Silver Pit—a mire of mud and silver.

At the same time, she shoved me hard. I stumbled and fell to the ground.

A sharp pain shot through my ankle, and my palms scraped against the gravel, the sting spreading up my arms.

Before I could scramble to my feet, Jaxson vaulted in after her like an untamed beast.

By the time he dragged Serena ashore, they were both soaked, reeking of mud and the scent of blood.

Even a small amount of silver could burn a werewolf, and they were in a sorry state.

But Jaxson didn't care about himself at all.

He was focused only on wiping the filth from Serena's face, his voice urgent.

"Serena! Are you okay? Did the silver burn you?"

"Do your eyes hurt? Are you injured?"

After a moment, she shook her head. She looked at Jaxson, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm fine... Someone threw the amulet you gave me into the pit, and I fell in trying to get it back."

She looked up, and sure enough, the amulet was gone from her neck.

"The Creed pack doesn't want me here," Serena whispered to Jaxson, her eyes red-rimmed. "Why don't we go back to our cottage? At least no one will torment me there..."

Her pitiful state made his heart ache for her.

His face immediately turned cold. "Who threw your amulet?"

"Who bullied you?"

Serena pressed her lips together, saying nothing. She just glanced at me, her eyes filled with fear and grievance, as if I were the one to blame.

Clutchching my swollen ankle, I said in disbelief, "It wasn't me—"

But Jaxson shot me a look so cold it sent a shiver down my spine.

"I had no reason to steal that amulet..." I managed to choke out, my voice hoarse.

"You know what you did," Jaxson said sharply.

He helped Serena up and gave a nod to the guards.

"Whoever threw it in can go get it back."