Chapter 3

3.

After formally saying my goodbyes to the second-in-command, I went to my post to hand over my duties.

Yara, the warrior taking my place, was furious on my behalf.

"Lyra, are you really leaving? Does that mean I have to watch those two shameless fuckers parade around in front of me every day?"

I followed her gaze. Kael was personally teaching Elara how to use a bow. When she missed a shot, he consoled her by taking off the wolf-fang necklace he always wore―his personal Alpha talisman―and giving it to her.

Elara beamed and put it on immediately.

Only then did his eyes meet mine, a flicker of panic in them.

"Lyra, it's not what it looks like! It's just a normal fang!" Elara explained, her voice dripping with fake innocence.

The wolves around us stared at me with pity. An Alpha's personal talisman could only be worn by his future Luna.

I placed a hand on Yara’s arm, silently telling her to stay calm, and looked at Elara.

"It's a beautiful fang," I said, my voice even. "It suits you."

Elara seemed disappointed that I hadn't lost my temper.

Kael, however, stood up and scowled at me. "Lyra, don't make a scene."

I sighed. "I'm not angry. Truly."

My calmness seemed to unsettle him. He snorted. "You'd better not be."

Yara couldn't hold back. "You're just going to let them get away with this?"

"Yep," I said, shrugging as I organized the last of the scrolls. "As far as I'm concerned, he and I are already over."

That evening, Kael came to find me.

"Let's go. I've got everything ready at Moonlit Lake."

He glanced at my bare neck and paused. "Where's the Heartstone necklace I gave you?"

"I was worried it would get broken in a fight," I lied smoothly. "I put it away."

He relaxed. "You used to wear it every day."

Before I could reply, Elara ran up to us. "Alpha, I'm ready!"

Kael's focus shifted to her instantly. I watched as Elara walked straight to the large rock by the fire―the one reserved only for the Alpha and Luna―and sat down, waiting for him.

At the lake, Kael and Elara sat together. I sat on the other side of the fire, alone.

When the meat was cooked, Kael actually tore off a piece for me. But as he handed it over, I caught the sickeningly sweet scent of Elara's chamomile on it.

I forced myself to take one bite, then pushed the rest back towards him. "I don't like it. You can have it."

After dinner, Kael said he had to take a drunk Elara home. As I watched them leave together, I immediately set off for the rendezvous point my warriors had set up.

In the mind link, Kael was already planning our next ceremony with me.

"Don't worry," his thoughts came through. "This time, we'll definitely complete it!"

I replied without emotion, "Okay."

I knew we wouldn't.

Just as I was about to cross the border of his territory, another message arrived. "Elara drank too much. She's emotionally unstable. I'm staying with her tonight."

I laughed out loud. Of course he was.

"That's fine," I sent back. "Stay there forever for all I care. I've already left the Ashenfang Pack. From now on, there is nothing between us."

"Kael, goodbye. Forever."

After sending that final message, I severed my connection to him completely.

Surrounded by my warriors, I watched the Barrens shrink in the distance.

On the other end of that broken link, Kael was about to lose his mind.