Chapter 268
[ 496 words ]
Chapter 268:
Just as we arrived at the center of the altar, Ethan suddenly reached out and clasped my wrist tightly.
His palm burned against my skin, and his voice came out rough. “Lianne, let me mark you one last time. I want you to remember it.”
I met his eyes, filled with a plea so deep it was almost humble, and remembered how he had held my hand in much the same way the last time he marked me, vowing that he would protect me forever.
But by now, our souls were already torn full of wounds, and no mark could ever repair the trust that had been broken to pieces.
I yanked my hand free and walked on in silence toward the center of the altar.
An Elder slowly made his way up the stone steps and took the badges from our hands.
Just as he was about to begin the incantation, he stopped all at once.
He lifted his eyes, surprise dimming them, then turned toward Ethan. “Alpha, are you certain you wish to cut apart the mate bond granted by the Moon Goddess and leave your fated mate?”
J𝗈i𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝖼𝗈𝗺mu𝘯і𝘵у 𝘢𝘵 𝗴а𝘭𝗇о𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀.𝖼o𝗆
Ethan’s lips quivered, but before he could answer, I spoke over him in a voice sharp as ice. “Yes.”
The Elder let out a sigh, then looked at me, his tone weighed down with warning. “You must know that tearing apart a mate bond by force will leave a wound upon your spirit that can never be healed. This suffering is harder to bear than death of the flesh. Have you truly decided?”
Many werewolves spent their entire lives without ever finding the one destined for them.
Once, I had believed meeting Ethan was the Moon Goddess’ blessing to me. Later, I came to understand it was both a blessing and a curse.
“I have.” I held the Elder’s gaze, my voice cold as winter ice. “Compared to this wound, remaining beside him makes living itself unbearable.”
Ethan’s whole body trembled violently. He shut his eyes and at last let out a strained growl that sounded more beast than man.
“Begin.”
The Elder lifted his scepter, and ancient, unfamiliar chants rang through the stone hall.
Ethan opened his eyes and fixed them on me with savage intensity, each word seeming to be ripped straight from his chest in torment.
“I, Ethan Voss, Alpha of the Thorn Pack, hereby reject you, Lianne Riley, as my mate.”
I looked back at him, the faintest trace of relief touching my lips, and answered with perfect clarity, “I, Lianne Riley, accept your rejection.”
A dazzling silver light burst open from the very center of the altar.
In that instant, I felt the invisible, crushing chain around my neck disappear without a trace.
At once, an unspeakable pain spread out from my heart, as though a hand had plunged into my soul and torn half of it away.
The agony was so fierce I could hardly remain standing, and cold sweat drenched my back.
And yet, inside that pain, I felt a freedom I had never known before.
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