Chapter 5

Aurora POV

The day before leaving Stormborn Pack, I was in my room doing final route confirmations.

Suddenly, there was faint movement outside the door.

I opened it to find Mara.

She looked even weaker than yesterday, her whole body swaying.

"Luna..." She kept her head down, her voice trembling, not even daring to look at me. "Alpha Julian asked me to give you a message."

I stopped what I was doing.

"Tomorrow night is the full moon ceremony. He requires you to attend as Luna." Mara swallowed and continued, "The Alpha also said... if you don't go, he'll use all the cruelest punishments in the dungeon on me."

My hand clenched tight, nails digging deep into my palm.

Julian, just how low can you sink?

Using an innocent Omega's life to threaten me while still not forgetting to pressure me with Luna responsibilities.

"I understand." I took a deep breath, soothing her trembling. "I'll go."

I'll go see it with my own eyes. Consider it a final closure to these five absurd years.

When Sabrina learned of this, she nearly smashed up my room in rage.

"Are you crazy, Aurora?!" She grabbed my shoulders, hissing angrily. "Julian forcing you to attend the full moon ceremony at this time is definitely up to no good! Elara will definitely humiliate you in front of the entire pack!"

"I know."

I pushed her hands away, my tone calm.

"This is the last time I'll stand there as Stormborn Pack's Luna. Sabrina, I need this final time to sever all the resentment in my heart."

Sabrina looked at me and finally sighed helplessly, giving up on persuading me.

After she left, I opened the drawer and took out the third gift Julian had given me.

It was a wolf totem wooden carving he'd personally carved for me.

Once, I'd treasured it as proof of his love.

I pressed the lighter. Flames instantly consumed the dry wood.

I watched coldly as the totem turned to charcoal in the firelight, then to ashes.

Looking at what remained in the cabinet, there were very few gifts left.

I proactively contacted Julian.

"I'll attend the full moon ceremony."

Julian's voice on the other end clearly carried relief. He said everything was arranged, just waiting for me to come.