He Gave My Luna Ring To Beta, I Broke Bond

Chapter 3

"Will it last until morning, or until I come and get you myself?"

Darian removed his coat and tossed it over the back of a chair.

A dusting of silver glitter clung to his cuff, the same shade Megan had worn at the corners of her eyes that night.

He didn't notice it.

"I'm not coming back," I said.

"Of course you are."

He crossed to the table, poured two glasses of water, and pushed one toward me.

"Because we never completed the Moonmark, you won't even be able to mask your scent once you leave Ravenridge. Any rival pack that realizes I never fully marked you will use you as leverage."

"What's your point?"

"My point is that I won't let you endanger yourself just to punish me."

He always did this. He turned "I won't allow it" into "I'm protecting you."

"Starting tomorrow, the keep staff, your guards, the carriage fleet, and your personal expenses will all report directly to you," Darian said. "I'll personally approve your medical requests. Megan won't be involved again."

He watched my face, certain he had finally found what I wanted.

"Are you satisfied now?"

"No."

His expression turned cold.

"Then what else do you want?"

"I want the bond ended."

Silence filled the room for several seconds.

Darian set his glass down hard.

"You say all of this started because Megan took over your authority. Now I'm giving it back, and you still don't want it. Elara, what exactly do you expect me to do?"

"I never said Megan was the only problem."

"If it isn't her, then are you saying I'm the problem?"

I looked at him without answering.

The mockery slowly left his face.

"Fine." Darian nodded once. "Since you're convinced I stripped you of your authority, we'll settle this right now."

I picked up my leather bag.

"Come with me to the Moonwell."

He mistook my request for a willingness to negotiate and followed me.

At that hour, the Moonwell entrance was deserted. Silvery water flowed behind the stone gate. A black moonstone embedded in the center served as its authorization seal.

I pressed my palm against it.

The moonstone lit up.

A cold, mechanical voice announced, "Identity confirmed: Elara Thorne, Luna of Ravenridge Pack."

A red light flashed immediately afterward, and the voice continued, "No resource-release authorization. Contact the holder of the Luna signet ring."

Darian's expression finally changed.

I tried again.

The result was the same.

"I stood right here 3 days ago," I said. "Blood was running down my legs, and the pack doctor told me we would lose the child if we waited another 30 minutes."

Darian stared at the red light.

"Why did no one tell me the access had been restricted this way?"

"I did tell you."

"You only said Megan was deliberately blocking your requests."

"I called you seven times."

"I was in the victory council session." His familiar excuse came at once. "We had just secured a ceasefire on the northern front, and eight affiliated packs were waiting for my decision. I couldn't interrupt the meeting over every medical request."

He put his hand against the moonstone.

The gate slid open at once, releasing a wash of silver moonlight.

"Look." He turned to me. "It's open now. From now on, come directly to me. This won't happen again."

The open gate only made the whole thing feel more absurd.

"When our child needed it, you weren't here."

"That was an accident."

"You chose not to answer my calls. You also chose to give the signet ring to Megan."

Darian's face darkened.

"So this is still about who gets to wear the signet ring."

He stepped closer and lowered his voice.

"I admit there's a problem with the authorization system. I'll have it changed tomorrow morning. Do you really expect me to get on my knees and beg over something that can still be fixed?"

"No."

I looked past him at the Moonwell, open now that it was too late.

"You don't have to do anything anymore."

Before Darian could respond, an emergency summons sounded from his comm stone.

The wards along the northern sentry line had suddenly become unstable, and all the elders were waiting for him.

He looked at me once.

"Go back to your room and wait for me. You're not leaving the keep tonight."

"What if I do?"

"I'll seal the pack gates."

There was no hesitation in his voice.

"When you've come to your senses, I'll personally bring you back."

He turned and left without even ordering anyone to guard me.

It wasn't because he trusted me.

He was simply certain I had nowhere to go without his permission.

Just 1 hour later, I stood at Ravenridge's northern border.

A silver-robed Council witness was already waiting for me.

I handed over the Luna necklace, my Ravenridge Keep access stone, and every item registered to Ravenridge. All I kept was my old leather bag.

"Elara Thorne," the witness said, "do you understand that by rejecting your fated mate, you will permanently lose your title and protection as Luna of Ravenridge Pack?"

"I understand."

"Are you acting under coercion?"

"No."

Clouds covered half the moon above us.

For the last time, I felt Darian's presence in my blood.

It was powerful and familiar, something I had once believed would stay with me for life.

I drew a breath and spoke.

"I, Elara Thorne, reject Darian Blackwood as my mate."

Agony ripped through my chest.

I gritted my teeth and stepped across the boundary marker.

At that instant, the fated mate bond shattered.

A wild, uncontrollable howl erupted from Ravenridge Keep behind me.

It rolled through the valley, sending flocks of birds bursting from the trees.

I didn't look back.