Chapter 3

The heavy temple doors swung wide open.

Cassian Wolfe stepped inside.

He still wore the dark silver ceremonial coat of the western council gathering, its collar fastened hastily and its hem marked with snow from the road.

He had come directly after receiving my message.

His powerful Alpha aura instantly filled the room. The guests held their breath. They parted for him like the sea.

He walked straight to the altar. He did not look around. He did not waste a single breath mocking Damon’s absence.

He stopped right in front of me. His intense, dark eyes locked onto mine.

"Did you invite me just to make Damon jealous?" Cassian asked. His voice was low and serious.

I looked back at him. My heart was perfectly calm.

"I did not call you here to make Damon jealous," I answered clearly. "I just don't want to wait for him anymore."

A small, genuine smile touched Cassian's lips.

He finally reached out and offered me his hand. I took it.

The High Priestess stepped forward. She looked terrified. But she had to follow the sacred rules.

"Serena Hale," she said, her voice shaking. "Are you absolutely certain you want to break your fated bond?"

I did not hesitate. I looked at the Moon Fire and spoke the sacred words.

"I, Serena Hale, willingly reject Damon Reed as my fated mate."

SNAP.

I felt the invisible thread connecting my soul to Damon break. The fated bond was completely shattered.

Miles away in the training grounds, Damon suddenly stopped walking. A sharp, burning pain pierced his chest.

He touched his heart and frowned. But we had never completed our marking ceremony. The pain faded almost instantly.

"Alpha? Are you okay?" Ivy asked softly. She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Maybe Serena is just crying because of the delay."

Damon sighed. He rubbed his chest. "You are right. She is just being emotional," he muttered. He completely brushed the pain off.

Back at the temple, I felt lighter than I had in years.

Cassian gently touched my cheek. He wanted to make sure I understood my choice.

"Once this mark is complete, you are the true Luna of the Wolfe Pack," he reminded me. "This is not a temporary title, Serena."

"I know," I whispered.

I tilted my head. I exposed my neck to him. I willingly accepted him.

Cassian’s eyes flashed with his inner wolf. He leaned down and bit firmly into my scent gland.

A rush of wild, electric energy flooded my veins. It did not hurt. It felt like coming home.

The silver Moon Fire roared to life. It burned brighter and hotter than before. The Moon Goddess had accepted our new bond.

The High Priestess quickly wrote our names into the ancient mate registry. She turned to the crowd and raised her hands.

"From this moment on, Serena Hale is the Luna of the Wolfe Pack!" she announced.

As one, every single guest in the temple dropped to their knees and bowed.

Cassian took the black and silver Luna cloak from his Beta. He wrapped it warmly around my shoulders. The high collar perfectly covered the fresh, bleeding mark on my neck.

The temple was completely silent. It was a moment of pure, sacred awe.

But then, Damon’s Beta suddenly stiffened as a message reached him through the Reed Pack link.

"Alpha Damon says Ivy is asleep," he announced. "He is on his way back."

Beside me, Cassian’s eyes narrowed. His powerful Alpha senses picked up the approaching threat. He stepped slightly closer to me. He stood his ground.

Outside the temple, a guard’s nervous voice broke the silence.

"Alpha Damon! You... you have returned!"

Inside the temple, the kneeling guests froze.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Heavy footsteps echoed against the stone stairs outside.

The doors groaned as they were pushed open.