Chapter 1

Three minutes after the Moon Goddess confirmed that Caleb Chapman was my destined mate, he rejected me in front of the entire Silvermoon Pack.

And the one he chose was my sister, Lila Foley.

While everyone expected me to break down and beg him to stay, I stood my ground, accepted his rejection, and requested the seven-day severance ritual.

On the first day, the emotional connection between us vanished.

On the third day, the pain bond was cut off.

On the fifth day, I could no longer catch his scent.

On the seventh day, the mate bond was permanently broken.

At first, Caleb didn't care at all.

He even told me, "Even if we're not mates, Evelyn, we can still be like we used to."

I accepted a position as a healer with the Whitepeak Pack in Northridge and began packing my belongings right away.

Later, when Caleb got hurt, I couldn't feel his pain anymore.

When he walked up to me, the familiar fir scent that had always clung to him was gone entirely.

That was when Caleb started to panic.

On the night before the severance was officially complete, he stood outside the Moon Goddess's Sanctuary and called out my name repeatedly.

"Evelyn, I want you as my mate," he begged.

But the seven days had already run their course. I never turned around.

*****

Three minutes after the Moon Goddess declared Caleb as my fated mate, he rejected me.

Everyone in the main hall of the Silvermoon Pack heard it.

"Evelyn, I won't accept you as my mate," he said.

I stood before the moonstone as a sharp, tugging pain tore through my chest.

Blood trickled down from my nose, past my lips.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

My mom rushed over from the crowd to steady me.

But I didn't look at her. My eyes shifted from Caleb to my younger sister, Lila, who was standing beside him.

She was wearing a white dress, her eyes swollen and red.

Caleb stood protectively in front of her, like he'd done it a hundred times before.

That spot used to be mine, but today, it was Lila's.

The elder frowned. "Caleb, are you sure you want to reject the mate chosen by the Moon Goddess?"

"I'm sure," Caleb replied instantly, without a hint of hesitation.

A bitter laugh escaped me, the kind that only came from pure anger. I could find no other reason for the sound slipping out of me.

Just a few minutes ago, when the moon was at its peak in the hall, I picked up the scent of my mate, a warm mix of fir and cedar.

The familiar fragrance washed over me instantly.

When I looked up, Caleb was already watching me.

His eyes had turned golden.

The wolf inside me, who usually couldn't care less, was suddenly going crazy, pounding at my chest.

It recognized its mate.

The whole crowd erupted into excited chatter the second they saw the bond take hold.

"It's really Caleb and Evelyn."

"I knew they were meant to be together."

"The future Alpha and Evelyn are perfect for each other."

My cheeks were burning.

For a split second, I actually thought all those years of crushing on him were finally going to mean something.

But Caleb didn't come over.

Instead, Lila slipped her arm through his, holding onto him first.

I thought nothing of it at the time, until Caleb spoke up. "Lila and I have been together for two months."

I instinctively looked at Lila. She wouldn't meet my gaze, but she kept holding onto Caleb's arm.

Two months ago, I joined the medical team for the rescue at Whitepeak Pack. Back then, Caleb texted me every day, asking if the snow had stopped and whether I was eating properly.

When I finally came back, he was waiting for me at the entrance to Silvermoon Valley.

I always thought he was worried about me. It turned out they'd already gotten together while I was gone from Silvermoon Pack.

"So you two were already together when I went to Whitepeak Pack?" I asked.

Caleb paused, then nodded. Lila looked like she wanted to explain, but I stopped her with a gesture. Honestly, there was nothing left to say. They'd been together for over two months, and I never found out until tonight.

I spaced out for a moment, then finally managed to ask, "When?"

"Over two months ago." Lila's eyes were rimmed with red. "Evelyn, we wanted to wait until after the coming-of-age ceremony to tell you."

I kept my eyes off her. "Caleb, you knew there was a chance the mate bond would be revealed tonight, right?"

"Yeah," he answered.

"Did you ever think your mate could be me?"

He was quiet for a couple of seconds. "Yes."

That was when the dull ache in my chest flared into real, unbearable pain.

Part of my pain came from seeing Lila standing there by his side. But what hurt far worse was that Caleb's choice was not a last-minute decision.

He'd actually thought about this day and even considered how he'd reject me if I turned out to be his mate.

"So you would have rejected anyone the Moon Goddess picked for you?" I asked.

Caleb held my gaze steadily. "I would have rejected you, no matter what."

A sharp pain shot through my chest.

I grabbed the table for support, blood dripping onto my white dress.

The elder stepped forward immediately. "The rejection is now in effect," he said.

Then he looked at me. "Evelyn, you don't have to accept the rejection right now. As long as you don't confirm the rejection, the mate bond can still be preserved."

My mom squeezed my hand tightly. "Don't answer yet," she said.

I knew what she was getting at.

Werewolves rejecting their mates wasn't exactly rare.

Some wolves waited three months, some waited a full year, and others held on for seven years.

A few of them even managed to salvage their bond in the end.

I used to think it was kind of romantic.

But now that it was happening to me, all I felt was trouble.

I looked over at Caleb, and Lila was nestled in his arms.

He leaned down, murmuring softly to ask if she was feeling alright.

All of a sudden, I realized I didn't want to wait any longer.

"I accept," I said.

The hall went dead silent.

Caleb looked up.

The elder asked, "Do you want to keep the mate bond?"

"No." I paused for a moment before continuing, "I'm requesting the seven-day severance ritual."

This time, Caleb finally looked rattled.

He called out, "Evelyn."

I refused to meet his gaze.

The elder fixed his gaze on me. "Do you understand what severing the bond really means?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"After seven days, the mate bond will be permanently erased."

"I understand."

"It can't ever be restored."

"I know."

The elder didn't try to talk me out of it anymore.

He slashed my palm, letting my blood drip onto the moonstone.

A silvery glow crept up my wrist, lighting up one crescent mark after another until all seven silver symbols shimmered bright against my skin.

The elder murmured, "The seven days begin."