Julian POV"You guys can talk. I'll head out first," Cecilia said, giving me a quick look before walking away.I nodded and invited Vahn into my room, closing the door behind us."If you have any questions, just ask.""I'd like to know more about you and Freeda's battle in Ashfall.""Didn't we file a report on that? It clearly states that Ashfall was overrun by Rogues. I led a team of thirty as the vanguard, infiltrating the city to destroy their arsenal. We were surrounded and engaged in a tough fight. Luckily, Freeda arrived with a support team of a hundred and captured over a dozen Rogues, including their leader. This forced over five hundred Rogues to retreat from Ashfall. To secure the captives, the Rogue King proposed a ceasefire three days later." Vahn recounted this with the ease of someone who had told the story many times."I know the basics, but how did Freeda manage to capture the enemy commander? They outnumbered her," I pressed."Are you doubting Freeda's abilities?
Cecilia POV"Does he often treat you like this?" Julian asked as he walked with me back to my room."Not often, but it's not the first time," I replied.Noticing the murderous look on Julian's face, I quickly added, "I'm fine. It's just childish behavior. He's the one who should be embarrassed, not me.""If anyone bullies you again in the future, just let me know," he offered."Do I look like a pushover? Didn't you hear Rosie calling me sly and malicious this afternoon?" I blinked at him playfully.Julian smiled at that."That glass of wine will have to wait until tomorrow," I said as I opened the door to my room."The wine here isn't the best. Once you're no longer the Luna of the Thorn Pack, I'll take you to taste the finest wine you've ever had," Julian promised.After wishing Julian goodnight, I lay down in bed, feeling a sense of satisfaction as I awaited the arrival of the next morning.The following day, Pearly accompanied me to the square where Vahn was already waitin
Julian POVCecilia fainted on stage.Some said that breaking a mate bond felt like being cut by a dull knife, while others said it was like being pierced by thousands of arrows. There were also those who said it would feel like being burned by fire. I couldn't tell what Cecilia was experiencing at that moment.Vahn, too, didn't appear to be faring much better. His Beta and girlfriend helped him leave the scene.I carried Cecilia back to her room and had her maid, Pearly, assist in changing her into a nightgown before laying her down on the bed. Even unconscious, Cecilia's brows remained furrowed.Pearly called a doctor to inquire about ways to ease Cecilia's pain. Henry's response was that this was the Moon Goddess' punishment for those who defied fate. The mate bond was destined, and breaking it required enduring 24 hours of pain, with no way to alleviate it but to endure.Upon hearing this, Pearly began to cry, sitting beside Cecilia's bed and lamenting, "The Moon Goddess is be
Cecilia POVIt felt as though I had been in a long dream.In my dream, I was back at the Lotus Pack. My eldest brother, Mark, was showing me how to shoot."Lift your arm higher. You're supposed to hit the target, not the bugs on the ground," Mark chided, his tone as sharp as ever.Meanwhile, James and Jericho were wrestling, their bodies and faces covered in mud as they yelled at each other. I always thought teenage boys were like roosters just learning to crow—loud and messy.Pearly, dressed in a pink dress, approached with a picnic basket. James and Jericho rushed toward her but soon began fighting over a piece of cherry cake from the basket."Why don't you four have a race?" Pearly suggested, pointing to the top of the mountain. "Whoever picks a cherry from the tree at the top of the mountain first gets to eat the cherry cake.""One, two, three…"Before Pearly could finish saying "Go," I was already sprinting ahead. I reached the cherry tree first, jumped up to pick a cherry
Julian POVCecilia had woken up, but I still didn't feel the mate bond between us. My wolf, Zevin, was particularly frustrated. He had seen Cecilia's wolf, Nana, and really liked her.'Nana is stronger than I imagined. I thought she'd be as petite as Cecilia,' Zevin remarked in my mind.Zevin was a black wolf, the same color as Hogan's wolf. The black fur allowed us to blend in perfectly at night, making us more effective in combat. Despite this, Zevin took great pride in his strength and believed he didn't need camouflage. Apart from Hogan, Zevin hadn't met a werewolf who could defeat him.I felt a heavy weight in my heart and said to Zevin, "Didn't Dr. Pearce say that one must endure 24 hours of punishment from the Moon Goddess after breaking a mate bond? Maybe the Moon Goddess will arrange a new fate for Cecilia after 24 hours."Zevin nodded, but the words felt more like a comfort to me.After leaving Cecilia's room, I headed to a bar in the Thorn Pack, where Pearly had told
Cecilia POVWhen I woke the next morning, the pain in my body had lessened, though my wolf and I were still quite weak. Pearly had already packed our belongings, and I was eager to leave this dreadful place."Pearly, book an afternoon flight. Let's go home," I said."Okay!" Pearly exclaimed, hopping onto my bed and pulling out her phone to search for flights.Just as we were about to leave, Mindy entered my room. The moment she entered, she burst into tears, catching both Pearly and me off guard."What's wrong? Don't cry. Talk to us," Pearly said, moving to Mindy and placing a comforting arm around her shoulder. But the more Pearly tried to soothe her, the harder Mindy cried."You have to help me," Mindy sobbed."Calm down. Tell us what's happening," I said, gently patting her back."Rosie told me to get Dr. Pearce to bring her some medicine. But no matter how many times I called, he hung up on me. Rosie threatened to kick me out of the pack if I didn't get Dr. Pearce to her.
Vahn POVStanding at the door of Cecilia's bedroom, I found nothing but the bare bed. Even the wicker chair and small table from the balcony had been removed overnight. I remembered how Cecilia used to sit on the balcony with her tea, saying that she loved watching the sunset over the Thorn Pack."Such a sunset makes me feel healthy and optimistic," she used to say before she became Luna.Now, she was really gone—she had even erased all traces of herself from this place.I loved Freeda, but I never denied the mate bond I shared with Cecilia. 'Is Cecilia's heart made of stone?'I pounded on the door, cracking the panel.'Isn't this what you wanted?' Kai, my wolf, taunted."Shut up!"After enduring this torment for 24 hours, Kai and I were drained. When I finally returned to my room to collapse into bed, Freeda came over."How are you feeling?""I'm okay.""You've moved on. Congratulations!"I forced a smile, hiding my resentment."I came to discuss our wedding. I've picked
Cecilia POVIt took us an hour to reach the airport, followed by a two-hour flight. Finally, we arrived in Monia, the nearest city to the Lotus Pack.Since the Lotus Pack was situated in a valley, we had another three-hour drive to reach Lotus Mountain."It's already 9.00PM. Why don't we spend the night in Monia and head up tomorrow?" I suggested.As much as I wanted to get home, the mountain roads weren't safe at night. I didn't want to trouble Julian any further. He had already driven Pearly and me all day, essentially acting as our unpaid bodyguard—a task far beneath his status."Now that we're on your turf, we'll follow your lead," Julian said with a smile."Pearly, book us the priciest hotel in town," I instructed, channeling my inner girl-boss attitude.After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, I took Julian and Pearly out to try some local Monian cuisine. I hadn't been very hungry on the flight, but now that we were back, I felt rejuvenated. My appetite seemed to have