Chapter Five

Liora felt someone slapping her cheeks harshly when she finally regained consciousness. 

“Wake up, mutt,” Nerissa sneered. 

Liora opened her eyes and tried to recall what happened to her. When the memories came flooding back, she all but jumped off the bed.

“The Alpha is my mate?!” She squeaked. Nerissa looked at her scornfully, towering over her until she had no choice but to sit. Her eyes darted around the lavish room but they were alone. She was cornered by Nerissa, no doubt to endure another round of torture.

“Don’t get any ideas. He doesn’t want you.”

Of course, he didn’t want her, she thought bitterly. Who would want an omega like her as a mate?

“You’re weak,” Nerissa continued, “Pitiful. You are not fit to be a Luna. I’m glad our Alpha had the good sense to realize this before making this cosmic mistake permanent.”

“Our Goddess doesn’t make mistakes,” Liora huffed. Her wolf was clawing to get back to her mate. It was sweet and sickening at the same time. She had never felt so much longing in all her life. Their mating pull was so strong.

Another second more and Alpha Ronin would’ve ravished her right in the middle of his birthday party. 

“If tonight was any indication, I’d say that he very much wants me.” Liora crossed her arms. She could smell the jealousy on Nerissa. 

Nerissa laughed, “That was just a freak incident. Since then, He has come to his senses and has given the order to prepare you for the Aionios Koptis.”

Liora paled, her heart dropping to the floor. The Aionios Koptis was an ancient ritual where two wolves would sever their mating bond forever. It was a brutal rite, the ultimate form of rejection that could never be undone. It would destroy her.

Tears pooled in her eyes. Did he despise her that much?

“You’re lying,” Liora took a deep breath to calm her wolf down. Every fiber of her being was pushing her to find him and plead with him to reconsider. “The Aionios Koptis hasn’t been performed in 70 years due to how cruel it is.”

Nerissa shrugged, “I’m not lying. It may not have been done in a while, but records of all rites have been kept sacred by the Elders. You would know that if you paid attention during Lupine History lessons.” She picked up a strand of Liora’s hair and tugged it. 

Liora brushed her hand away. She refused to cry in front of this antagonizing bitch. “He wants to reject me? Fine, whatever. Is there anything else you need, Gamma Nerissa?”

As Nerissa was about to retort, a flustered figure burst into the room. It was Gamma Maia.

“Nerissa!” She scolded, grabbing Nerissa’s arm and hauling her away from Liora, “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from the pup and let me handle this? This is a sensitive matter. Go back to your den right now!”

“Yes Gamma,” Nerissa took one final leer at Liora, lowered her head, and walked away.

Liora took one look at Maia’s sympathetic expression and suddenly she couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. 

“There there,” Maia rushed to her and gathered her pup to her chest. “I am so sorry that this is happening to you.”

“The Aionios Koptis, Gamma?” Liora sobbed, unable to tame the emotions churning through her body. Everything was heightened since discovering who her mate was. She was so distraught that she slipped into speaking Greek, her mother tongue, “To alfa me misei toso poly?” the alpha hates me that much?

Maia felt her own eyes pricked with tears, “It’s way more complicated than you think, pup. He means to erase every trace of the bond. He says it’s for the greater good. The council has tried to talk him out of it but our Alpha has made up his mind. The only thing I can do now is to prepare you so that you will be able to survive it.”

“Giati Gamma? Giati?”

“Why? Oh, I don’t know why he’s doing this.” Maia rubbed her back in a circular motion. She could tell by the fact that Liora had started speaking Greek that the poor omega was overwhelmed. Maia wished she could spend more time to comfort her but she had to get Liora prepared for the ritual- tonight.

She pulled rank, “Stop crying. We have a long night ahead of us for preparation and you are not allowed to fall apart now.”

Liora felt the well in her eyes dry up, her emotions receding until all that was left was a numb sensation in her chest. All she wanted to do was fall apart but the direct command kept her together at the seams. Trembling slightly, she put on her bravest face, “Thank you, Gamma. I will not make this task harder on you.”

—-----

The morning sky was a perfect reflection of the rite that was about to be executed. Rich orange rays fought to push through, only to be suffocated by the thick gray clouds. The entire pack gathered in the fighting pit to witness the Alpha renounce his mate. They sat on the ground on each side of the long stone platform, their legs crossed and grouped according to their rank and designation. 

Ronin stood at one end of the stone platform, and Liora at the other. The path between them was blanketed with the blossoms from the wolfsbane plant. Though exhausted, Liora refused to look away from his eyes. She was up the entire night in preparation, soaking in spices. It was almost as if they were embalming her in advance of her death. 

She was appropriately dressed in black, a thin dress that left the entirety of her back exposed. Along her spine was intricately decorated with ancient Greek symbols. Carved in using a blade dipped in wolfsbane to keep the wounds from healing.

Maia explained everything to her; They would cross the wolfsbane towards each other. As they walked, the Elders would use thin blades to strike out each symbol that was carved on their backs. They would recite the words of the Aionios koptis and the bond would be seared from their souls forever.

There were twelve elders present, their faces shrouded in the darkness of their hooded cloaks. Liora looked around to see if anyone would step up to stop the madness. No one made a single sound.

Why would they? They all wanted the Alpha to reject her.

Ronin kept his expression blank, but on the inside, he was warring with his wolf. He just needed to hold on a little longer until the ritual was complete.

As if on cue, the Elders took their positions, holding out their blades and speaking in a legion of voices. “Walk the path and know you can never return.”

“As far as the east is from the west,” Ronin began, taking his first step. The soles of his feet were engulfed with a searing pain. He grunted as the first Elder struck out the first symbol at the base of his neck.

“So will my heart be from thee,” Liora’s eyes pricked with tears as she felt their bond being ripped from her. She swallowed, “So will our souls forever divide; As far as the heavens are from the seas.”

Another symbol was struck.

“Ne'er to embrace nor cherish, let this fated bond between us perish.” 

And another.

The tears in her eyes finally welled over, spilling onto her cheeks. There were only three left. Three strikes and they would be dead to each other. “I Liora Sabine, renounce you, Ronin Ashenthorn. Mind, Soul, and Wolf.” She trembled as two more slashes were made across her back. She could feel blood running down, and the last thread of their bond holding on for dear life.

Hot searing pain bloomed in Ronin’s chest. He clenched his fists and forced the final words from his mouth, “I Ronin Ashenthorn, renounce you, Li-”

Before he could finish saying her name, a sickening crack could be heard. He dropped to one knee, looking back at his leg which was bent at an odd angle. 

‘How dare you?’ His wolf growled within him, ‘Did you really think I would let you renounce our mate? We are as good as dead without her.’

Ronin’s hand shot up involuntarily, his fingers morphing into lethal claws. The red in his eyes was slowly consumed by black. “Stay back!” He warned when the Elders rushed to assist him. 

Liora frowned, her tears clearing slightly. This wasn’t part of the ritual. What was he doing?

As if seeming to answer, Ronin’s index claw came down across his chest. Liora flinched as blood spurted toward her. There was a collective gasp from the pack as Ronin fell onto his back.

“Ronin!” Caius shouted, sprinting to the platform where his Alpha was bleeding out, “For fuck sake- someone get the doctor!” He pressed his hand against Ronin’s chest to staunch the flow of blood. There was so much blood.

It was too much for Liora to handle- the harrowing night, being cut and carved, her mating bond being ripped apart- and Ronin, bleeding to death. 

The world turned sideways, 

And she went with it.