Alpha,Our Marriage Died Long Ago.

chapter 6

Alpha River's eyes widened as he let out an incredulous howl. "No, Vera, I refuse. I will not sever our bond."

 I looked at him, my heart heavy with sorrow, my wolf long since resigned to despair.

 He fell silent for a moment, his wolf wrestling within his mind, then said, "Vera, give me time. I'll sort everything out. I won't let you leave me."

 I said nothing more, turning my head away, my heart a frozen void. My wolf, too, fell silent.

 At the pack doctor's, he rushed me into the doctor's arms.

 The cub couldn't be saved after all. The blood loss was severe, and I needed treatment and rest in the cabin.

 Alpha River stayed by my side the entire time, his face etched with regret and heartache, his wolf equally burdened with guilt.

 I looked at him, my heart a tangled knot of emotions.

 Once, I too believed that if my wolf and I tried hard enough, were good enough, he and his wolf would surely see us, love us.

 But now, I finally understood: the mate bond was never something that could be earned through effort alone.

 I stayed in the pack doctor's cabin for a month. Alpha River visited daily to check on me, inquiring about my condition, yet never once mentioned dissolving our bond.

 If he didn't bring it up, I wouldn't either.

 On the day the pack doctor declared I could return to my own cabin, Alpha River had originally planned to fetch me. Yet at the last moment, he said Scarlett had urgent business and he had to go to her.

 Truth be told, I saw the tribal announcement.

 Today was her first wolf dance performance at the Moonlight Sanctuary.

 Alpha River and Lucas went together.

 Hence he couldn't come to fetch me home.

 I returned alone and gathered my belongings.

 Afterwards, I went back to my mother's place.

 Seeing how much weight I'd lost, Mother wept with heartache, while her old wolf gave a worried whimper.

 I held her and reassured her, "Mother, I'm fine. Don't worry."

 She nodded repeatedly. "As long as you're alright. That Alpha of River's doesn't seem like the understanding sort. If your wolf ever suffers any injustice, you must tell your mother, understand?"

 I smiled. "Yes, Mother. I know."

 Late that night, Alpha River called for me.

 I did not respond. He called out several times.

 "Vera, what do you think you're playing at?"

 "Where have you gone? Answer me!"

 "Vera, stop joking about it, alright? Answer me!"

 I shut down our telepathic link outright, slept soundly, and rested peacefully.

 My mother's health was fragile, and her wolf was old and frail, so I had no intention of leaving the tribal territory.

 Having resolved to sever my bond with Alpha River, I would return to care for my mother and take her to live in another tribe.

 My father perished during a major hunt, and I was raised by my mother alone from childhood. I know full well how hard she's had it.

 Ever since awakening my wolf spirit, I'd assisted the tribe's hunts to supplement our household income. Even after reaching adulthood, I still gave most of my prey to my mother.

 Mother's health is poor, requiring special medicinal herbs. Truthfully, most resources were spent on procuring these herbs.

 Later, when I became Alpha River's mate, I cared for him and Lucas full-time in the hut. He provided me with regular resources so I could obtain the herbs for my mother.

 The Blood Moon tribe was resource-rich, and Alpha River never lacked for supplies.

 After just two days in my mother's cabin, she sensed something was amiss. Her old wolf also detected the disturbance and asked if I'd fallen out with Alpha River.

 Fearing the truth might upset her, I didn't tell her.

 Unexpectedly, Alpha River came to the door himself, his wolf pacing anxiously outside the cave.

 Standing outside the cave, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw me, but it quickly faded into composure.

 "Vera, why did you not answer my call?" His tone carried a hint of reproach, yet it was tinged with more concern.

 I ignored him, attempting to close the door, only for him to forcefully block it.

 "Vera, I know you're still angry with me, but you can't just leave without a word. What about Lucas and me?"

 I looked at him, letting out a cold, mocking laugh. "Alpha River, isn't it a bit ridiculous for you to be saying things like that now?"

 He took my hand, pleading, "Vera, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance? I promise I'll treat you right from now on."

 I shook my head. "Alpha River, this isn't the first or second time we've had this problem. Your wolf simply doesn't feel mated to mine. You've always loved Scarlett, and you know it."

 He grew frantic, his wolf growling impatiently. "Vera, don't say that. I do care for you. I just didn't realise it myself until now."

 I didn't want to argue any further. I pushed him away forcefully. "Go. I don't want to see you again."

 Yet he refused to leave, his wolf radiating Alpha dominance. "Vera, you must tell me clearly today. What exactly must I do for you to forgive me?"

 Watching his stubbornness, I felt a deep sadness welling up inside me, mingled with a sense of absurdity. "Alpha River, don't you understand by now? The problem between us isn't about forgiveness. It's that you don't love me, and I... I don't love you either."

 He froze, his wolf's roar abruptly halting in stunned silence, seemingly unprepared for such words.

 "Don't love me?" he murmured the words, his wolf emitting an incredulous whimper before suddenly laughing. "Vera, don't be ridiculous. How could your wolf not love mine? Impossible."

 He drew closer, his hands clamping around my shoulders, his wolf's eyes flashing. "Vera, how could your wolf not love mine? You love us most of all, don't you?"

 "The entire clan knows it, don't they?"

 I shoved him away forcefully, my wolf echoing my refusal. "I simply don't love you anymore! I demand we sever our bond! If you refuse, I'll send my wolf into eternal slumber!" I threatened, knowing this was my only path to liberation.

 "I, Vera, reject you, Alpha River, as my mate!"

 "I, Alpha River, accept your refusal, Vera."

 A wrenching pain rippled through my entire body. The rupture of the mate bond left both Alpha River and me utterly drained.

 Alpha River trembled, attempting to draw near once more, when a sudden noise erupted outside the wooden hut.

 I rushed outside to find my mother standing at the door, her face etched with tension and shock. Her old wolf seemed restless too. "You've broken the bond?"

 As she spoke, her brow furrowed and she clutched her chest in agony. Her old wolf let out a wretched howl before collapsing unconscious.

 "Mother!" I cried out in terror.