Chapter 1
The wine glass hit the floor with a sharp crack, shattering into shards. Crimson liquid pooled out like blood, soaking the floor–just like the bond between Damon and me, fractured beyond repair.
“I now declare,” the Elder of the pack announced coldly, “you are no longer mates.”
At the moment the mate bond broke, it felt like something ruptured in the air–a low, guttural snap of energy, like a soul being torn apart, howling from
within.
Damon flicked the blood from his palm, crimson trailing down his pale fingers, drawing a stark line across his wrist.
He glanced at his watch.
“The serum will kick in in two minutes. Over the next three days, you’ll forget every memory of loving me. And once you take the antidote, even those three days will be wiped clean.”
He paused, his eyes dark, his voice nearly ice. “You won’t have a chance to be heartbroken, Zoey.”
“This mate bond break is only temporary. Once everything’s over, we’ll rebond. I promise you, Zoey, my real Luna will always be you.”
I stared at him in silence. There wasn’t a flicker of hesitation in his eyes–but his certainty shoved me straight into a bottomless pit.
I knew there would be
be no second chance.
I had created this drug myself. I knew bette
than anyone what it could do.
It didn’t erase memories in one clean sweep. It crept in, slow and cruel, peeling back everything from the edges until the one you loved was erased from your very soul.
And the so–called antidote? Nothing more than an unfinished formula I’d never complete.
But Damon… he had no idea.
My voice was low, trembling with the growl of my wolf beneath the surface. “Are you sure you won’t regret this?”
He smiled. Gently, like he used to, as he cupped my face. But his hand felt cold now–strange and distant.
“When we found out we were fated mates, Clara had already loved me for years. And now… she has cancer. She doesn’t have much time left.‘
“Her last wish is to wear a wedding dress. To have a mating ceremony.”
“Isn’t that what every she–wolf dreams of? How could I refuse her?”
His voice was sincere–yet heartless. “I’ve made up my mind. I won’t regret it.”
“Zoey, you’ve always been considerate. I know you wouldn’t hold it against a patient. Once this is over, we’ll go
I clenched my jaw. A bitter laugh tugged at my lips. The ache in my chest twisted like a silver blade turning inside me. “Bastard,” my wolf snarled inside, her voice hoarse with fury. “He broke our mate bond–for someone else!”
I shut my eyes.
happy life.”
Images flooded in–our best year together. Me, fighting beside him at the border, soaked in blood, never backing down. Him, begging pack doctors across packs to save me.
I’d once teased him, “What if I grow old and forget you someday?”
His eyes had gone crimson as he held me close, kissing me hard. “Zoey, I love you. Please, never forget me. I’ll go insane.”
But now, he was the one forcing me to forget.
All so Clara could have three perfect days.
He hadn’t just severed our bond. He wanted my blessing. My sacrifice.
And still, he spoke of rebonding? That was nothing more than a backup plan–a safety net for his guilt.
I laughed coldly, the curve of my lips razor–sharp.
Then pain ripped through my skull. Like claws tearing my soul apart. My knees gave out, and I collapsed.
“Zoey!” Damon rushed to catch me, panic flashing in his eyes. He held me close, his voice low and desperate. “Are you okay? If you’re scared I won’t Chapter 1
100+
come back, I’ll let you keep the bond–breaking deal and the silver dagger. I swear, I won’t break my word.”
I forced myself upright, my vision swimming.
“Bond–breaking deal…?” I murmured, dazed.
Damon froze. He hesitated, then asked carefully, “Zoey, do you remember? The mate bond–we severed it.”
I blinked at him, confused. “Severed the bond?”
A flicker of relief crossed his face. Swiftly, he snatched the bond–breaking document from my hand before I could read whose name was written on it.
He gripped my shoulders and leaned in, voice gentle and coaxing: “Yes. I’m… I’m not your mate.”
“Then who are you?”
Chapter 1
