Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

SELENE`S POV

Staged and ambushed by rogues, I howled, screamed and called for my mate for rescue. My mate never came.He never responded.

He didn’t even flinch despite my cries.

Instead, he declined my calls, while he cuddled with his mistress Aria, his beta on our mated matrimonial bed.

Eventually, they dragged me to the cliffs and tossed me into the freezing sea.

I might have died if not for a Lone wolf, who fought them off and carried me to the Moon stone pack safely.

I didn`t get to see his face as he masked himself.

The moment I could walk, I didn`t hesitate but went to the Oath Reaper to break my bond with Julian-My fated mate.

"Oath Reaper, I want my mate's bond with Alpha Julian broken and resign from Moonstone Corp. Please prepare your spells."

The Oath Reaper raised a brow, his eyes gleaming beneath the temple’s cold moonlight.

“Selene,” he said, his voice calm but filled with power. “You were chosen by the Moon Goddess herself to be his mate. Breaking a fated bond is not a choice to make lightly.”

I had been Julian Blackthorn’s mate for four years. Our bond had been sealed by blood.

But he never treated me as his Luna, rather he treated me as a maid, always locked indoors to perform pack duties. While he flaunts his mistress-Aria around.

That same night, Aria sent a photo album that was filled with their love triangles right from childhood. Another file showing Julian in a luxury mountain resort with her.

My world shattered. The years I had spent guarding his secrets, loving him in silence, believing our bond meant something… meant everything.

But now, I am done.

“I’ve made up my mind, and Julian will not object.

He never wanted the bond. He just wanted control.”

I knew in my heart that he never loved me. Not as a mate. Not as anything.

I had loved him since our bond was sealed by the Moon Goddess when he finally agreed to bond with an orphan like me, I had sobbed with joy under the moon blessings.

I thought I had found home, endured all his differences and infidelity but now, I`m done.

On the next Moon rise, I would give him what he had always wanted.

Freedom. Mine and his.

The next night, I returned to the moonstone training grounds, not our den, but the field where warriors trained under Julian`s command.

He stood in the middle of the field, shirtless, his skin gleaming with sweat under the moon.

A crowd of young wolves watched him with admiration. Even now, Julian was a catch, an Alpha with powerful and commanding presence.

“You are just in time," he said as I stepped in. Midnight needs a run.”

He smiled like nothing had happened. Like I hadn`t spent the last two nights missing from the pack.

I smiled back.

Calm. Controlled.

Titan.

“I didn’t know you still rode him,” I said, walking closer. “You always said you preferred wolves over horses.”

Julian shrugged. “Aria loves him. Said he looked like something out of a storybook. I Figured it was time I gave him more attention”

“Of course, Aria loves horses,” I replied.

For four years, Julian hadn't noticed I don't ride with horses but wolves.

He had never studied my preference but here he was giving more attention to a horse because Aria loved it.

He offered me the reins.

I took them slowly. My fingers brushed his. No spark. No heat. The bond had frayed so much I barely felt the pull anymore.

“Ride with me?” he asked. “Like old times.”

Immediately, I climbed into the saddle with practiced ease. “Sure.”

My face fell.

I would ride beside him one last time.

I would laugh when he could hear it, play my part, and wear Luna's mask.

But when the Moon rose next, I would return to the Oath Reaper. To seal the bond break.

And leave nothing of this bond behind.

Not even a goodbye.

Suddenly, Julian halted, his gaze snapped to his phone.

The reins slipped from his grasp, and I felt myself falling.

My back landed hard on the rocky ground.

Julian didn’t flinch.

He stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the screen as Aria`s name flashed across it.

My face reddened as I simmered in anger.

He hadn`t even noticed I fell.

I struggled to sit up, my eyes locking onto a small cup lying nearby.

Without a word, I picked it up and held it out to Julian.

My eyes locked onto his.

“Cut yourself, “I said my voice low and cracked “I need your blood.”

Julian's gaze snapped at mine, but he didn’t hesitate, didn’t even question.

Immediately, he sliced his palm and let the blood flow into the cup.

My eyes never left his face as I quickly took the cup from him.

“I have got a meeting tonight. I won`t be home for dinner. Don’t wait up.”

I let out a bitter laugh as he left on the horse, leaving me out cold.

If he ever cared, he would have let me go with him or ask me the reason I need his blood.

Immediately, I dust myself, shifting to my wolf form as I left to the cabin.

Julian had always loved Aria, his beta.

I was just a substitute for her in Julian`s world.

It was believed that Aria was supposed to be the Luna of the Blackthorn`s Pack but unfortunately, she was fated to an Elite Alpha in the Hungales Pack.

Not long after that, Julian`s Father died and he was meant to provide a Luna in order to secure his position as an Alpha, Luckily the Moon Goddess found his fated mate.

The news came as a dream come through to me because I had always wished to leave the Nightingale Pack- away from my foster parents who wanted me dead.

They called me Cursed, threw thugs on me, called me a cursed rogue and never let me feel happy for a day. So leaving their home was a dream come through but I never knew I was leaving into another home of torment.

I thought I found home, despite Julian's ill-treatment I still stayed, to me, it was better than being treated like a cursed rogue.

Unexpectedly, Aria returned and Julian started his infidelity with her. Banished his previous beta and made her his beta in order to spend more time with her.

Weeks ago, I heard them whisper.

“Since you already sealed the bond with Selene, it can`t be possible to break the bond with her, except she willingly gives you her blood. Now make her suffer and humiliate her so she won`t be able to stay, ” Aria said.

To him, if he ever asked for a mate break, I would never accept.

“We need to make her train hard and ruin her reputation so that the Elders can accept willingly” he responded.

“I love you Aria, you know she was just a stand-in, now you are back let’s do all we can do to be together” he added.

Hearing his words, my stomach clinched.

For four years, I had once believed that Julian`s heart could be earned through patience and sincerity.

Unfortunately, I had been mistaken. Julian would never fit me into his heart.

He only loves Aria.

Tears streamed down my eyes as I recalled their conversations

Immediately , I picked up the cup filled with Julian`s blood, drank it.

My voice trembled as I recited the spell charm the Oath Reaper had given to me.

With that, the bond was broken.

When the next moon rises, I would seal and replace the bond.

Julian had been too distracted to feel the pain. His wolf bond had absorbed it quickly, and he would never have thought I’d truly go through with breaking it.

Immediately, I stared down at my phone, another notification.

I was expecting to see the usual notification from Aria, but this time, it wasn`t from Aria.

“How ungrateful are you Selene?"The message popped.