Ethan stood beside me, gently took my hand, and led me toward the ceremony site.
The moonlight, silver and soft, shimmered over every leaf. Ethan’s wolf, Snowfang, stood silently nearby, its green eyes glowing
with loyalty and protectiveness.
I followed Ethan to the altar, my little wolf, Shadow, wagging his tail in joy, as if finally sensing a sense of belonging.
After the ceremony, Ethan took me to Moonlight Bay, a healing sanctuary, to rest and recover.
The moonlight here was gentle, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of herbs. I had never felt so relaxed before.
Sitting beneath an ancient tree, I closed my eyes, letting the breeze brush gently across my face.
Then I heard footsteps approaching.
Thinking it was Ethan, I opened my eyes with a smile – but the moment I saw who it was, my expression froze.
It was Luke.
In just a few days, his amber eyes had lost their vitality, replaced with a vacant, defeated look. His face was unshaven, a stark contrast to the man who had once smiled confidently in photos with Alina.
1/2
Chapter 7
+15 Bonus
“Emma, how could you bond with Ethan Stonevale from the Farstone Tribe? Have you forgotten that I’m your mate?”
Hearing his shameless words, I didn’t bother to reply. I stood up and turned to leave.
But Luke was faster, grabbing my arm. The wound had barely begun to heal, and his touch sent a sharp pain through me. I
winced, crying out, and shook off his hand.
It was only then that he seemed to remember–he was the one who had stabbed me, leaving a wound so deep you could see bone.
“I… I was wrong, Emma. Of course you’re angry. I hurt you.”
“But I was out of my mind back then, Emma. Please, try to understand me.”
I said nothing, clutching my aching arm as I moved past him.
“Oh, I get it now,” he said, blocking my path with a shameless grin. “You’re just pretending to bond with Ethan to make me
regret everything, right?”
“Luke Blaze, if you don’t move, I’ll call the guards.”
“Emma, you’re punishing me for making you wait all those years. You’re trying to show me it’s too late, that I’ve lost you.”
“I bonded with Ethan not to make you regret, nor to put on a show. I love him, and I truly want to be his Luna.”
Luke stared at me in disbelief. “Emma, don’t lie to me. You grew up in my house. We’ve had over twenty years together.”
“You’ve been waiting for me to marry you! How could you possibly fall in love with someone else so quickly?”
So, he knew.
He knew all along.
I met his gaze calmly and coldly. “Do you want a war between our packs?”
Luke sank to his knees in the grass, his voice breaking. “Emma, my mother’s gone. What am I supposed to do now?”
“That’s your problem.”
Without another glance, I turned and walked away.
It seemed he finally understood – I had chosen to leave him behind.
And this time, he didn’t dare follow me.
